What's It All About?

EUROVISION AND MORE...

 

This Site was established in February 2001 for the results, news and views of the OGAE Second Chance Contest (Eurovision could have beens). It has since developed to include other similar events. But what is OGAE? What is the Second Chance Contest? And what are these other events?

The following notes should clarify what this site is all about.

OGAE ( www.ogae.net )

OGAE (Organisation Générale des Amateurs d'Eurovision) is the World's largest fanclub for the Eurovision Song Contest. The aim of OGAE is to bring fans of the Eurovision Song Contest together, exchange information and work together with other organisations to promote interest in the Eurovision Song Contest.

OGAE SECOND CHANCE CONTEST

An annual OGAE Contest for countries that held a Eurovision selection for the year in question. Songs from each Country's Eurovision selection (which did not get through to the international final) are given a Second Chance. This Contest has been held each year since 1987 via the OGAE Clubs. In the early years, the contest was called ‘Europe’s Favourite’.

OGAE SECOND CHANCE RETROSPECTIVE CONTEST

In 2003, Sechuk.com initiated the idea of holding Second Chance Contests for the years preceding 1987 (in reverse order). The first of these was held towards the end of 2003 for songs entered in National Eurovision Selections of 1986. 2004 saw the 2nd Retro event take place, this time for 1985 and the event for 1984 took place in 2005 (etc, etc....). Also started in 2004 for 1985, Guest Juries have their own Contest 'GUEST JURY HITS' (entering a Hit Song from their country for 1985 voted on by the same juries as RETRO 85, but as separate Contest). This new tradition continues. (NB - Guest Jury Hits was set up to encourage Guest Juries to vote on Second Chance Retro - it is not intended as a Retro OGAE Song Contest).

WE ARE ALL THE WINNERS (held 2003)

This one-off event in 2004 brought together the winners of Second Chance 1987-2003 and the winner of Second Chance Retrospective 1986 to determine the best Second Chance song ever. Voters around the World decided the ultimate Second Chance Song to date.

OGAE SONG CONTEST

This OGAE Contest has been held annually since 1986. Each OGAE Club may enter a non-Eurovision song (non-International Hit) for a Eurovision-style competition. Sechuk.com was the web resource for the 2003 Event held in Southampton in the UK. This was the second time the UK hosted the OGAE Song Contest, following Cardiff in 1988. 2010 will be the third hosting for the UK.

OGAE VIDEO CONTEST

OGAE Turkey initiated and hosted the first ever OGAE Video Contest in 2003. OGAE Clubs may enter a non-Eurovision Video for this annual Eurovision-style competition.

WORLD PEACE SONG FESTIVAL

OGAE Italy agree entrance to this World-Wide annual event for songs, with an emphasis on minority languages. This has been held annually since 1996.

SONG 4 WALES

Wales enters the annual World Peace Song Festival. In the Song 4 Wales Contest, an international Jury helps decide the Welsh Entries (not held every year).

BIG ZERO CONTEST  (held 2003)

This one-off event in 2003, saw voters around the World determine their favourite zero-scoring Eurovision Song and thereby agreeing the Best of the Zero Pointers. This event was sparked by the UK's first ever Zero score in Eurovision in 2003.

EUROVISION SONG CONTEST

If you need to ask what that is, you should probably not be viewing this site! Eurovision is musical heaven (most of the time) and a show and a half for the millions of followers around Europe and beyond.

Any more questions? Email secondchance87@aol.com