Every Monday for the next few weeks, we will be looking back at former participating nations at the Eurovision Song Contest. This week, we look back at Monaco, a country that competed 24 times – the last in 2006, after failing to qualify from a single Semi Final.

Monaco debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest back in 1959, when the Contest was held in Cannes, France. Jacques Pills represented Monaco in 1959 with his entry “Mon ami Pierrot”.

Video: YouTube/EuroRainbow

While participating in the Contest, Monaco had chosen to sing predominately in French. While French was the main choice, we saw Tahitian used during their 2006 and to date, final entry.

In 1971, Monaco took victory at the Eurovision Song Contest for the first and only time. In 1971, Severine took victory with “Un banc, un arbre, une rue”. Monaco didn’t host the Contest the following year, that honour went to Edinburgh in the United Kingdom.

Video: YouTube/JoaoVelada

Monaco have not participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since they last entered in 2006, in Athens. TMC have yet to show an interest in returning, despite various rumours over the years. Only time will tell if the micro-state will make a return.

Author: Richard Taylor

Source: Eurovision Ireland