Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest

Luxembourg has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 37 times since making its debut at the first contest in 1956. Between 1956 and 1993, Luxembourg missed only the 1959 contest. Luxembourg has not participated in the contest since its last participation in 1993. Luxembourg has won the contest five times. Only Ireland (seven) and Sweden (six) have more wins.

Luxembourg
Member stationRTL
National selection events
Participation summary
Appearances37
First appearance1956
Last appearance1993
Best result1st: 1961, 1965, 1972, 1973, 1983
Worst resultLast: 1958, 1960, 1970
Nul points1970
External links
Luxembourg's page at Eurovision.tv
For the most recent participation see
Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest 1993

Luxembourg's first victory was in 1961 when Jean-Claude Pascal won with "Nous les amoureux". France Gall then won in 1965 with "Poupée de cire, poupée de son". Luxembourg achieved back-to-back victories in the early 1970s, with Vicky Leandros winning with "Après toi" in 1972 and Anne-Marie David with "Tu te reconnaîtras" in 1973. Luxembourg's fifth victory was in 1983, when Corinne Hermes won with "Si la vie est cadeau". Luxembourg then struggled to make an impact over the next decade, only reaching the top ten twice, with Sherisse Laurence third (1986) and Lara Fabian fourth (1988). Since being relegated from taking part in 1994, the country withdrew from the contest indefinitely.

In 2014, Luxembourg's Minister of Culture, Maggy Nagel, expressed her desire for the country to return to the contest.[1][2][3] This was later explained as a "misunderstanding".[4] A collaboration with San Marino (SMRTV) was proposed,[5][6] but it was later announced that the project would not move forward due to funding problems.[7]

Recent history

In 2004, RTL were to return to Eurovision after an absence of 11 years.[8] However, after monetary issues, Luxembourg withdrew.[9][10] Strong rumours indicated that RTL would participate at the 2005 contest.[11] However, RTL later decided against it, and said that they would "never" return.[12] In 2008, RTL later reiterated their lack of interest in returning to the contest.[13][14]

OGAE Luxembourg

In recent years the Luxembourg branch of OGAE has been campaigning for Luxembourg to return to the contest. The 2008 convention held by the organization, featuring Luxembourgish entrants Corinne Hermès and Marion Welter, as well as the Portuguese entrant of the 2008 contest Vânia Fernandes, received major media attention within the country, with RTL reporting twice on the event, and were present to interview Hermès.[15][16]

Chances of returning

It has been suggested that RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg's public service remit, which contains a strong focus on delivering Luxembourgish news and information content to the Luxembourgish television audience, as well as RTL's status as a publicly traded company, present significant obstacles for the country's return to the ESC.[17]

RTL Group, however, is still a member of the EBU,[18] which is a requirement for entering the ESC.

It was announced in September 2009 that RTL was in serious considerations regarding returning to the contest in 2010. However, they would have had to secure fees regarding participation and the artist's expenses.[19] Although it was rumoured that Luxembourg would return in the 2012 edition of the contest, RTL has announced that no such intentions exist at present.[20]

On 31 July 2014, RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg confirmed that Luxembourg would not be returning to the contest in 2015.[21] It was reported on 26 October 2014 that the country's Minister of Culture, Maggy Nagel, expressed her desire for the country to return to the contest.[2][3] This was later confirmed by Nagel to be a "misunderstanding" and that the country would not be returning.[4] A collaboration with San Marino has been proposed by the broadcaster SMRTV and singer Thierry Mersch,[5] but later SMRTV clarified that there have only been talks between the two countries and that the broadcaster is evaluating other proposals.[6] However, on 24 November 2014, it was announced that Mersch had failed to raise the necessary funds in time for the project to move forward.[7]

On 21 June 2016, the Petitions Committee of the Government of Luxembourg received five petitions on various matters in relation to the Grand Duchy. One of which was for Luxembourg to return to the Eurovision Song Contest. The Luxembourg Government will therefore hold a debate to discuss the proposals set out on the petition, and the possible return of the country to the contest.[22] Nevertheless, RTL reiterated its intention not to participate on 22 August.[23]

Absences

Between 1956 and 1993 Luxembourg was only absent from the Contest once, in 1959. However, in 1993 Luxembourg was relegated from taking part in the 1994 Contest, and has yet to return.

Contestants

Due to the country's small size and the national broadcaster's penchant for internal selection, most of Luxembourg's entrants came from outside the Grand Duchy, mainly from France. Solange Berry, Plastic Bertrand and Lara Fabian were from Belgium, Nana Mouskouri and Vicky Leandros from Greece, David Alexandre Winter and Margo from the Netherlands, Ireen Sheer and Malcolm Roberts from the United Kingdom, Geraldine from Ireland, Jürgen Marcus and Chris Roberts from Germany, Baccara from Spain, Jeane Manson, Maggie Parke and Diane Solomon from the United States and Sherisse Laurence from Canada. All five of the winning artists from Luxembourg were foreign, four were French and one was Greek. Out of 38 entries in total and even more performers, only the following nine were native to Luxembourg: Camillo Felgen, Chris Baldo, Monique Melsen, Sophie Carle, Franck Olivier, Park Café, Sarah Bray, Marion Welter and Modern Times.

Table key
1
Winner
2
Second place
3
Third place
Last place
Year Artist Language Title Final Points Semi Points
Michèle Arnaud French "Ne crois pas" 2[lower-alpha 1] N/A No semi-finals
Michèle Arnaud French "Les amants de minuit" 2[a]
Danièle Dupré French "Amours mortes (tant de peine)" 4 8
Solange Berry French "Un grand amour" 9 ◁ 1
Camillo Felgen Luxembourgish "So laang we's du do bast" 13 ◁ 1
Jean-Claude Pascal French "Nous les amoureux" 1 31
Camillo Felgen French "Petit bonhomme" 3 11
Nana Mouskouri French "À force de prier" 8 13
Hugues Aufray French "Dès que le printemps revient" 4 14
France Gall French "Poupée de cire, poupée de son" 1 32
Michèle Torr French "Ce soir je t'attendais" 10 7
Vicky Leandros French "L'amour est bleu" 4 17
Chris Baldo & Sophie Garel French "Nous vivrons d'amour" 11 5
Romuald French "Catherine" 11 7
David Alexandre Winter French "Je suis tombé du ciel" 12 ◁ 0
Monique Melsen French "Pomme, pomme, pomme" 13 70
Vicky Leandros French "Après toi" 1 128
Anne-Marie David French "Tu te reconnaîtras" 1 129
Ireen Sheer French, English "Bye Bye I Love You" 4 14
Geraldine French "Toi" 5 84
Jürgen Marcus French "Chansons pour ceux qui s'aiment" 14 17
Anne-Marie B French "Frère Jacques" 16 17
Baccara French "Parlez-vous français?" 7 73
Jeane Manson French "J'ai déjà vu ça dans tes yeux" 13 44
Sophie & Magaly French "Papa Pingouin" 9 56
Jean-Claude Pascal French "C'est peut-être pas l'Amérique" 11 41
Svetlana French "Cours après le temps" 6 78
Corinne Hermès French "Si la vie est cadeau" 1 142
Sophie Carle French "100% d'amour" 10 39
Margo, Franck Olivier, Diane Solomon,
Ireen Sheer, Chris & Malcolm Roberts
French "Children, Kinder, Enfants" 13 37
Sherisse Laurence French "L'amour de ma vie" 3 117
Plastic Bertrand French "Amour, Amour" 21 4
Lara Fabian French "Croire" 4 90
Park Café French "Monsieur" 20 8
Céline Carzo French "Quand je te rêve" 13 38
Sarah Bray French "Un baiser volé" 14 29
Marion Welter & Kontinent Luxembourgish "Sou fräi" 21 10
Modern Times French, Luxembourgish "Donne-moi une chance" 20 11 Kvalifikacija za Millstreet

Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest

Artist Language Title At Congratulations At Eurovision
Final Points Semi Points Year Place Points
France Gall French "Poupée de cire, poupée de son" Failed to qualify 14 ◁ 37 1965 1 32

Hostings

Year Location Venue Presenter
1962 Luxembourg Villa Louvigny Mireille Delannoy
1966 Josiane Chen
1973 Nouveau Théâtre Luxembourg Helga Guitton
1984 Théâtre Municipal Désirée Nosbusch

Conductors

Year Conductor Musical Director Notes Ref.
1956 Jacques Lasry N/A [24]
1957 Willy Berking Host conductor
1958 Dolf van der Linden
1960 Eric Robinson
1961 Léo Chauliac
1962 Jean Roderes [lower-alpha 2]
1963 Eric Robinson N/A Host conductor
1964 Jacques Denjean
1965 Alain Goraguer
1966 Jean Roderes [lower-alpha 3]
1967 Claude Denjean N/A
1968 André Borly
1969 Augusto Algueró Host conductor
1970 Raymond Lefèvre [25]
1971 Jean Claudric
1972 Klaus Munro
1973 Pierre Cao
1974 Charles Blackwell N/A
1975 Phil Coulter
1976 Jo Plée
1977 Johnny Arthey
1978 Rolf Soja
1979 Hervé Roy
1980 Norbert Daum [26]
1981 Joël Rocher
1982 Jean Claudric
1983 Michel Bernholc
1984 Pascal Stive Pierre Cao [lower-alpha 4]
1985 Norbert Daum N/A
1986 Rolf Soja
1987 Alec Mansion
1988 Régis Dupré
1989 Benoît Kaufman Host conductor
1990 Thierry Durbet
1991 Francis Goya
1992 Christian Jacob
1993 Francis Goya

Commentators and spokespersons

Through the 37 years Luxembourg took part in the Eurovision Song Contest, the contest was broadcast on two channels (RTL TV and RTL Hei Elei), but the contest was mostly broadcast on the French section of RTL until it was divided in 1991 and after that it was broadcast in Luxembourgish. However, only one commentator (Maurice Molitor) was native to Luxembourg.

Year Television commentator Radio commentator Spokesperson Ref.
1956 Commentary via RTFNo radio broadcastNo spokesperson
1957 Pierre Bellemare
1958
1959 Did not participate
1960 Unknown
1961
1962 Nicole VédrèsRobert Diligent
1963 Commentary via ORTFUnknown
1964
1965
1966 Jacques NavadicCamillo Felgen
1967 Unknown
1968
1969
1970 Camillo Felgen
1971 No spokesperson
1972
1973
1974 Unknown
1975
1976 André TorrentJacques Harvey
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981 Jacques Navadic and Marylène Bergmann
1982 Marylène Bergmann
1983 Valérie Sarn
1984 Valérie Sarn and Jacques Navadic
1985 Valérie SarnFrédérique Ries
1986
1987
1988 Jean-Luc Bertrand
1989
1990
1991
1992 Maurice MolitorUnknownUnknown
1993
19942019No broadcastDid not participate

Photogallery

Notes and references

Notes

  1. The full results for the first contest in 1956 are unknown, as only the winner was announced. The official Eurovision site lists all the other songs as being placed second.
  2. Also conducted the Spanish entry.
  3. Also conducted the Belgian and Swiss entries.
  4. Cao conducted the Cypriot and German entries.

References

  1. "Luxembourg plans return to Eurovision?". eurovision.tv. EBU. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  2. Bettega, Tania (26 October 2014). "Culture Minister agrees to Luxembourg's Eurovision return". Luxemburger Wort. Luxemburger Wort. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  3. Fiden, Mustafa (26 October 2014). "Luxembourger culture minister agrees to the country's return". eurovoix.com. Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  4. Bettega, Tania (28 October 2014). "Luxembourg's Eurovision return is "misunderstanding"". Luxemburger Wort. Luxemburger Wort. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  5. "Luxembourg could return to Eurovision in San Marino collaboration". Luxemburger Wort. Luxemburger Wort. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  6. "Eurovision Song Contest: rumors sulla partecipazione, la precisazione di Rtv". smtvsanmarino.sm. SMRTV. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  7. "No Eurovision deal for Luxembourg and San Marino". Luxemburger Wort. Luxemburger Wort. 24 November 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  8. Bakker, Sietse (2003-04-22). "Luxembourg back in Eurovision next year?". ESCToday. Retrieved 2003-04-22.
  9. Bakker, Sietse (2003-10-19). "Luxembourg might withdraw again from Eurovision". ESCToday. Retrieved 2003-10-19.
  10. Bakker, Sietse (2003-11-03). "Luxembourg won't participate in 2004". ESCToday. Retrieved 2003-11-03.
  11. Philips, Roel (2004-01-29). "Luxembourg back in 2005?". ESCToday. Retrieved 2004-01-29.
  12. Philips, Roel (2004-10-13). "'Luxembourg never to return to the contest'". ESCToday. Retrieved 2003-10-13.
  13. "RTL not interested in Eurovision 2009". Oikotimes. 2008-06-12. Archived from the original on 2008-06-17. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  14. Kuipers, Michael (2008-06-12). "Luxembourg: "No interest!"". ESCToday. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
  15. Costa, Nelson (2008-10-16). "Marion, Vânia and Corinne Hermès in OGAE gala". Oikotimes. Archived from the original on 2008-11-22. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  16. Floras, Stella (2008-11-01). "OGAE Luxembourg: Eurovision fun and glamour". ESCToday. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  17. Lucas, John (16 September 2015). "Après Toi… How Luxembourg Fell Out Of Love With Eurovision". ESC Insight. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  18. "EBU - Active Members". Ebu.ch. Retrieved 2014-06-26.
  19. Al Kaziri, Ghassan (2009-09-01). "CLT will decide on Eurovision in December". Oikotimes. Archived from the original on 2009-09-07. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
  20. Archived January 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  21. Jiandani, Sanjay (30 July 2014). "Luxembourg: RTL will not return to Eurovision in 2015". ESCToday. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  22. Granger, Anthony (21 June 2016). "Luxembourg government committee to debate Eurovision return". Eurovoix. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  23. Jiandani, Sanjay (22 August 2016). "Luxembourg: RTL will not return to Eurovision in 2017". ESCToday. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  24. Roxburgh, Gordon (2012). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume One: The 1950s and 1960s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. pp. 93–101. ISBN 978-1-84583-065-6.
  25. Roxburgh, Gordon (2014). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume Two: The 1970s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. pp. 142–168. ISBN 978-1-84583-093-9.
  26. Roxburgh, Gordon (2016). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume Three: The 1980s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84583-118-9.
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