Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest

Luxembourg

Member station RTL
National selection events
Participation summary
Appearances 37
First appearance 1956
Last appearance 1993
Best result 1st: 1961, 1965, 1972,
1973, 1983
Worst result Last: 1958, 1960, 1970
Nul points: 1970
External links
Luxembourg's page at Eurovision.tv
For the most recent participation see
Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest 1993

Luxembourg has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 37 times since making their debut at the first contest in 1956. From 1956 to 1993, Luxembourg missed only one contest, in 1959. Since 1994, Luxembourg has not participated in the contest.

Luxembourg has won the contest a total of five times. The only countries with more victories are Sweden, with six, and Ireland, with seven. Their first victory was in 1961 when Jean-Claude Pascal won with the song "Nous les amoureux". France Gall gave them their second victory in 1965 with "Poupée de cire, poupée de son". Luxembourg then achieved back to back victories in the early 1970s, with Vicky Leandros winning in Edinburgh in 1972 with the song "Après toi" and Anne-Marie David winning in 1973 with "Tu te reconnaîtras". Luxembourg's fifth victory was in 1983 when Corinne Hermes won with "Si la vie est cadeau".

Over the next decade, the country struggled to make an impact, failing to reach the top ten in seven of nine contests from 1985–1993, the exceptions were Sherisse Laurence, who was third in 1986 and Lara Fabian, who was fourth in 1988. Since being relegated from taking part in 1994, the country withdrew from the contest indefinitely.

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" by the Culture Minister.[4] A collaboration with San Marino has been proposed,[5] but later SMRTV clarified that there have only been talks between the two countries and that the broadcaster is evaluating other proposals.[6] 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. 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 eight were native to Luxembourg: Camillo Felgen, Chris Baldo, Monique Melsen, Sophie Carle, Franck Olivier, Sarah Bray, Marion Welter and Modern Times.

Table key
  Winner
  Second place
  Third place
  Last place
Year Artist Language Title Place Points
1956 Michèle Arnaud French "Ne crois pas" 13 [24]
1956 Michèle Arnaud French "Les amants de minuit" 6 [24]
1957 Danièle Dupré French "Amours mortes (tant de peine)" 4 8
1958 Solange Berry French "Un grand amour" 9 1
1959 Did not compete
1960 Camillo Felgen Luxembourgish "So laang we's du do bast" 13 1
1961 Jean-Claude Pascal French "Nous les amoureux" 1 31
1962 Camillo Felgen French "Petit bonhomme" 3 11
1963 Nana Mouskouri French "À force de prier" 8 13
1964 Hugues Aufray French "Dès que le printemps revient" 4 14
1965 France Gall French "Poupée de cire, poupée de son" 1 32
1966 Michèle Torr French "Ce soir je t'attendais" 10 7
1967 Vicky Leandros French "L'amour est bleu" 4 17
1968 Chris Baldo & Sophie Garel French "Nous vivrons d'amour" 11 5
1969 Romuald French "Catherine" 11 7
1970 David Alexandre Winter French "Je suis tombé du ciel" 12 0
1971 Monique Melsen French "Pomme, pomme, pomme" 13 70
1972 Vicky Leandros French "Après toi" 1 128
1973 Anne-Marie David French "Tu te reconnaîtras" 1 129
1974 Ireen Sheer French, English "Bye Bye I Love You" 4 14
1975 Geraldine French "Toi" 5 84
1976 Jürgen Marcus French "Chansons pour ceux qui s'aiment" 14 17
1977 Anne-Marie B French "Frère Jacques" 16 17
1978 Baccara French "Parlez-vous français?" 7 73
1979 Jeane Manson French "J'ai déjà vu ça dans tes yeux" 13 44
1980 Sophie & Magaly French "Papa Pingouin" 9 56
1981 Jean-Claude Pascal French "C'est peut-être pas l'Amérique" 11 41
1982 Svetlana French "Cours après le temps" 6 78
1983 Corinne Hermès French "Si la vie est cadeau" 1 142
1984 Sophie Carle French "100% d'amour" 10 39
1985 Margo, Franck Olivier, Diane Solomon,
Ireen Sheer, Chris & Malcolm Roberts
French "Children, Kinder, Enfants" 13 37
1986 Sherisse Laurence French "L'amour de ma vie" 3 117
1987 Plastic Bertrand French "Amour, Amour" 21 4
1988 Lara Fabian French "Croire" 4 90
1989 Park Café French "Monsieur" 20 8
1990 Céline Carzo French "Quand je te rêve" 13 38
1991 Sarah Bray French "Un baiser volé" 14 29
1992 Marion Welter & Kontinent Luxembourgish "Sou fräi" 21 10
1993 Modern Times French, Luxembourgish "Donne-moi une chance" 20 11
Did not participate from 1994 to present

NOTE: The full results for the first contest in 1956 are unknown, only the winner was announced. The official Eurovision site lists all the other songs as being placed second.

Voting history

As of 1993, Luxembourg's voting history is as follows:

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

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(s) Television commentator Radio commentator Spokesperson
1956 Commentary via RTF between 1956 and 1961 No radio broadcast No Spokesperson
1957 Unknown
1958
1959 Did not participate
1960 Unknown
1961
1962 Nicole Védrès Jacques Navadic
1963 Commentary via ORTF between 1963 and 1965 Unknown
1964
1965
1966 Jacques Navadic Camillo Felgen
1967 Unknown
1968
1969
1970 Camillo Felgen
1971 No Spokesperson
1972
1973
1974 Unknown
1975
1976 André Torrent Jacques 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 Sarn Frédérique Ries
1986
1987
1988 Jean-Luc Bertrand
1989
1990
1991
1992 Maurice Molitor Unknown Unknown
1993
19942017 No broadcast No broadcast Did not participate

Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest

Table key
  Winner
  Second place
  Third place
  Last place
Year Artist Language Title Final Points Semi Points Place (1965) Points (1965)
1965 France Gall French "Poupée de cire, poupée de son" Failed to qualify 14 37 1 32

Photogallery

References

  1. "Luxembourg plans return to Eurovision?". eurovision.tv. EBU. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 Bettega, Tania (26 October 2014). "Culture Minister agrees to Luxembourg's Eurovision return". Luxemburger Wort. Luxemburger Wort. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  3. 1 2 Fiden, Mustafa (26 October 2014). "Luxembourger culture minister agrees to the country’s return". eurovoix.com. Eurovoix. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  4. 1 2 Bettega, Tania (28 October 2014). "Luxembourg's Eurovision return is "misunderstanding"". Luxemburger Wort. Luxemburger Wort. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Luxembourg could return to Eurovision in San Marino collaboration". Luxemburger Wort. Luxemburger Wort. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Eurovision Song Contest: rumors sulla partecipazione, la precisazione di Rtv". smtvsanmarino.sm. SMRTV. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  7. 1 2 "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. 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. 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. 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. 1 2 Barclay, Simon (June 17, 2010). The Complete and Independent Guide to the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. Silverthorn Press. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-4457-8415-1.
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