A history of Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest

12 May 2023 at 19:04 CEST
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg LMIH/Focalize
Despite an impressive 5 victories, 2023 marks 30 years since we last saw Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest. Following on from the news of the country's return to the Contest, we take a tuneful trip down memory lane via Luxembourg's Eurovision history.

On Friday 12 May, Luxembourg announced that it would be returning to the Contest for its 68th edition in 2024. To celebrate the occasion, we take a look back over the Grand Duchy's grand moments at the Eurovision Song Contest of yesteryear.

One of the founding nations competing in the 1956 Eurovision Song Contest, Luxembourg didn't take long in getting to experience both the highs and lows of results at the Contest.

Finishing in last place on both their 3rd and their 4th outings at the Contest, in 1958 and 1960 respectively, the Grand Duchy's perseverence was rewarded on a 5th outing in 1961 - where the country won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, with Nous Les Amoureux by Jean-Claude Pascal.

1965 winner France Gall Keystone-France

Fast-forward just 4 years to 1965, and Luxembourg rounded off the first decade of the Eurovision Song Contest by achieving a second win. The song, Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son by France Gall, went on to become an enormous hit around Europe, and remains one of the most iconic winners in the Contest's 67 year history. 

The early '70s was a period of the Eurovision Song Contest that Luxembourg can look back on fondly. Not only did they score a win in 1972, thanks to Vicky Leandros and her song Après Toi, but they went and won it again in 1973, with Anne-Marie David and Tu Te Reconnaîtras.

Vicky Leandros 1972 winner Harry Pot

10 years after hosting the 1973 Contest, Luxembourg won a 5th and final time, when Corinne Hermès lifted the trophy at Eurovision 1983, with her song Si La Vie Est Cadeau. Corinne's win meant that Luxembourg equalled France's trophy tally of 5 Eurovision Song Contest wins. 

Luxembourg's final decade at the Contest saw a swift decline in their results, with the country finishing 20th or lower in 4 of their last 7 Contests. A poor result in 1993 led to relegation from the 1994 Contest, with Luxembourg then declining to enter the Eurovision Song Contest ever again. 

Until now, that is!

Anne-Marie David 1973 winner Harry Pot

Despite that disappointing final chapter it experienced up until now, with 37 appearances and 5 victories, Luxembourg remains one of the most successful participating countries in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest. It's also brought some fairly big names to the Eurovision Song Contest too!

Greek pop star Nana Mouskoury competed for Luxembourg in 1963, while Spanish pop duo Baccara represented them in 1978. And at the 1988 Contest, Lara Fabian kick-started her pop career by performing for Luxembourg, finishing in 4th place.

We're already looking forward to the next generation of songs and artists that Luxembourg will be contributing to the Eurovision Song Contest over the coming decades.

Listen to all 37 songs of the Eurovision Song Contest via your favourite streaming services, and watch the official music videos on our YouTube channel:

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