The 15th esctoday.com TOP TEN list starts today with the places 10, 9 and 8 being announced. As revealed on Saturday, this week's topic are the TOP TEN least successful returning winners.

The list features lead singers, composers and lyricists who returned to the Eurovision Song Contest after having already won it. The ranking is based on the placing compared to the number of participants. The following rules were taken into account for the list:

1. If someone returned more than once, only the participation right after the winning one is considered.
2. In the case of a tie, the number of points achieved is being considered.
3. Only returns in the same "category" are regarded, i.e. a singer had to return as a singer and a songwriter had to return as a songwriter to qualify for the ranking. Still, no difference between composer and lyricist is being made.
4. If a winning singer returned as a backing vocalist, this participation is not eligible for the list.

So here we start…

No. 11 – Shimrit Orr

Shimrit Orr wrote the lyrics to the 1979 winning entry Hallelujah from Israel. Performed by Gali Atari & Milk and Honey it scored 125 points giving Israel its second victory in a row. 22 years later, she returned to the Eurovision Song Contest as a lyricist with Ein Davar. The song was performed by Tal Sondak in Copenhagen and only got 25 points total thus finishing 16th among the 23 contestants. She probably did not take it too hard as the title translates as Never mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L6snm72ENM

No. 10 – Charlotte Perelli

Charlotte Nilsson won the 1999 Melodifestival with Tusen och en natt, which was later performed in English as Take me to your heaven in Jerusalem. Being one of the favourites, she scored 163 points winning ahead of Iceland. In 2008, she returned to the Swedish national final as Charlotte Perelli winning again despite being only seen in second place by the televoters. With the major fan favourite Hero, she went to Belgrade where she qualified from the semi final thanks to the juries and eventually finished 18th in the final getting 47 points including 12 from Malta.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qe1NNxeN7w

No. 9 – Udo Jürgens

Udo Jürgens represented Austria for the third year in a row in 1966 finally winning as a performer, composer and lyricist with Merci chérie. Although he recently stated in an interview in regard to Lena's victory for Germany that he would have never returned as a singer after winning, he did take part as a composer again in 1968. Tausend Fenster was performed by Karel Gott and only got two points coming in 13th place among 17 contestants. Curiously enough, both points came from Germany, a country that had never given any points to Austria before.

Tomorrow, we will continue with no. 8, 7 and 6 on the list.