The time has come again: The Eurovision Song Contest starts in the week of May 12th. After the successful comeback 2024 – after a 31 -year break – Luxembourg is also there again. Despite the long abstinence, the small country of ESC history wrote.
The Grand Duchy already took part in the first edition of the Eurovision Song Contest 1956 in Lugano, at that time with Michèle Arnaud and two songs, « Les Amant’s de Minuit » and « Ne Crois Pas ». At that time, however, the placements were never announced. In total, the country with five wins, two third and five fourth places is one of the most successful countries in the competition. The last victory – Corinne Hermès with « Si la vie est cadeau » – is now 42 years ago.
As early as 1961, Luxembourg achieved the first victory with the French singer and actor Jean-Claude Pascal (right) and « Nous Les Amoureux ». Photo: BNL/ LW archive
In 1962 the « Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson » was held for the first time in Luxembourg. At that time, Camillo rims competed with « Petit Bonhomme » – for the second time after 1960 with the purely Luxembourg song « Sou Laang Wéi s du Bast » (then spelling). Photo: LW archive
The Greek singer and politician Nana Mouskouri represented Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest 1963 in London with the song « A Force de Prier ». Photo: BNL/ LW archive
France Gall sang the title « Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son » at the Eurovision Song Contest in Naples and won the second victory. Would she ever have guessed that her song would be the template for this year’s contribution Luxembourg? Photo: AP
In 1966, Michèle Torr made the jump into the charts with « Ce soir Je T’Attendais ». Eleven years later she took part in the same competition for Monaco. Photo: BNL/ LW archive
In 1968 this duo started: Sophie Garel and Chris Baldo. The latter was a Luxembourg pop singer and radio presenter. Photo: Photo PPP Vogue / LW Archive
The Schlager continued in 1970: The Dutch David-Alexandre Winter started for Luxembourg, with his number « Je Suis Tombé du Ciel ». Photo: LW archive
This woman is likely to be known to many in Luxembourg: Monique Melsen, singer and cabaret artist. In 1971 she performed with the humorous hit « Pomme, Pomme, Pomme », which still has catchy tunes today. Photo: Electrola / Photo Trawinski / Cologne / LW Archive
The third victory won the German-Greek singer Vicky Leandros with « après toi » in 1972. Photo: LW archive
It is going well for the Grand Duchy, because just a year later, Anne-Marie David with « Tu Te Reconnaîtras » won the fourth victory. Photo: Le Sibenaler/ Photothèque de la Ville de Luxembourg
Baccara-a Spanish disco duo, sang in Paris for Luxembourg in 1978. If that doesn’t reflect the European idea? Photo: BNL/ LW archive
The French twins Sophie and Magaly started in 1980 with « Papa Pingouin », a song that only became a world hit years later and was composed by Ralph Siegel, among others. Photo: BNL/ LW archive
Luxembourg achieved the last victory with her: Corinne Hermès. In 1983 she competed for the country with « Si la vie est cadeau ». In the picture she can be seen with the composer Jean-Pierre Millers (left) and the songwriter Alain Garcia. Photo: private
In 1989 there was one of the rare appearances of a band: Park Café, a plot formation with none other than guest Waltzing (bottom right) on the trumpet. Photo: LW archive
The bank employee Monique Wersant met the composer Patrick Hippert in the mid -1980s, with whom she founded the duo Skara Bray. As Sarah Bray, she was finally selected to represent Luxembourg at the ESC in 1991 in Rome. Photo: LW archive
In 1992 Marion Welter for Luxembourg started with « Sou Fräi », the second contribution in Luxembourgish in the ESC history. Photo: LW archive
In 1993 the pop duo Modern Times, consisting of Simone Weis (vocals) and Jimmy Martin (vocals, guitar), recorded the song « Donne-Moi Une Chance », which contained a Luxembourg stanza in addition to the French. Photo: LW archive
After 31 years of abstinence, Luxembourg returned to the contest in 2024. All eyes were aimed at the artist Tali and her dance number « Fighter ». In all this time, a lot has not only happened, but also in terms of performance. Photo: dpa
From the language mix and the international breakthrough
In total, the country took part in the competition 38 times, with only a few artists being Luxembourg. Most came from France, Germany, Greece and Belgium. In addition, almost all contributions were sung entirely in French. In 1960 and 1992 the respective songs were completely sung in Luxembourgish, but without much success. The contribution of Modern Times from 1993 was presented in French and Luxembourg. The comeback 2024 was set in French and English. In 2025 it continues in French again.
For many participants, the competition was the springboard for an international career. Among others, Baccara, France Gall, Vicky Leandros, Jürgen Marcus, Nana Mouskouri or Lara Fabian were only really known after their appearance and also landed more hits beyond their ESC period. Whether this will also be the case with today’s participants from Luxembourg is a matter of time.
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