News - Athens 2006, the rendez-vous contest? | Eurovision Song Contest News - 2010 Oslo, Norway 

The 2006 Eurovision Song Contest might end up in the history books as the rendez-vous year! A number of former Eurovision Song Contest contestants bid again to represent their country (or another!) at the 51st edition of the contest! As many as 20 singers try again for sure, and several countries still have to announce their selection!

Sweden Carola, who represented Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1983 with Främling, which brought her a third place, and in 1991 with winning song Fångad av en stormvind, takes part in the semifinals of Melodifestivalen again with Evighet. Other participants in the Swedish selection that once took part in the Eurovision Song Contest are Anna Sahlene, who represented Estonia in 2002 with Runaway, Magnus Bäcklund and Jessica Andersson, singing Give me your love as the duo Fame back in 2003 and who now take part solo and Kayo, member of the Swedish 2001 group Afro-dite. Roger Pontare, represented Sweden at the 1994 and 2000 Eurovision Song Contest and Kikki Danielsson did that in 1982 and 1985. Now they both take part in Sweden's national selection for the upcoming contest in Athens. Germany In Germany, Vicky Leandros is one of the hopefuls in the national selection. She won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1972 for Luxembourg with Après toi and she participated as early as 1967 for Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest as well, singing L'amour est bleu. The fact that her home country Greece organises the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time might have been a reason for her to take part again. Iceland Earlier today, we exclusively revealed that Birgitta Haukdal will take part in the third Icelandic semifinal. Earlier she represented the Atlantic island at the 2003 contest in Riga with Open your heart. Gunnar Ólason, one half of the duo TwoTricky, takes part as well. He took the stage for Iceland in 2001 with Angel. Belgium Last Sunday, Barbara Dex won the second semifinal of the Belgian selection Eurosong 2006. In 1993, she represented her country at the Eurovision Song Contest with Iemand als jij. Unfortunately for the charming singer, the only thing most people remembered was her dress. This year , Dex goes for revenge! Vanessa Chinitor, contestant in 1999 with Like the wind, was less fortunate; during the first semifinal in Belgium she came last, which means she is not in the competition to represent Belgium in Athens anymore. Estonia Ines, who came fourth at the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest with Once in a lifetime, bids again to represent Estonia with Iseendale, her song for the Eurolaul 2006 competition. She wrote the song together with her brother Ivo Etti, who was part of the Estonian group Ruffus at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2003. Norway In Norway it is Geir Rønning taking part again! Last year, the Norwegian singer represented Finland with Why, which didn't qualify for the final of the Eurovision Song Contest. Apart from singing, he also wrote one of the other participating songs. Although he offered Finnish broadcaster to take part in the Finnish national selection for Athens, YLE rejected the offer. Tor Endresen never even made it to a Eurovision Song Contest final in nearly ten years of trying. When he finally did top the poll to sing for Norway, he ended up last in Dublin in 1997. Little wonder, perhaps, that Norwegian voters were reluctant to award him a second chance for his subsequent attempts in 1999 and 2005! This year, he takes part in the third Norwegian semifinal. Poland In Poland, the band Ich Troje is top favourite to win the national selection Piosenka dla Europy. With Zadnych granic - Keine Grenzen, the band came 7th at the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest. Now they try again with Follow my heart. Albania Although she didn't win, Anjeza Shahini did another bid to represent Albania in Athens. Two years ago, she was the first ever representative of Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest, singing The image of you. Luiz Ejlli took the first prize with Zjarr e ftohte and will be the third Albanian representative at the Eurovision Song Contest. Denmark I will never ever let you go was the song Søren Poppe brought to a second place at the 2001 Eurovision Song Contest in Denmark ánd for Denmark, as part of the duo Rollo & King. In this year's Danish national selection, he tries again, together with Lene Matthiesen Nørrelykke, singing En som dig. Trine Jepsen, who represented Denmark in 1999 with Michael Teschl singing This time I mean it, takes part again with Christian Bach, singing Grib mig. Malta The Maltese singer Fabrizio Faniello takes part again in the Maltese competition to win the ticket to Athens. In 2001, he represented the small but sunny island in Copenhagen with Another summer night. Greece? Anna Vissi participated in the Eurovision Song Contest twice; in 1980 with Autostop for Greece and in 1982 for Cyprus with the song Mono i agapi, which came fifth with 85 points. If the Greek diva will represent Greece again is unknown yet, but several sources claim to know she will. In a week or two, Greek broadcaster ERT will announce its participant for the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest! • Also read this interesting article about the actual results of those who take part for more than once!