Welcome to Eurovision Ireland’s first ever A-Z of the Eurovision Song Contest. Over the next few weeks, we will be bringing you some alphabetical memories from everyone’s favourite Song Contest. Today, we are at the letter C.

Cannes

Cannes, famous for the International Film Festival, hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in both 1959 and 1961 – at the “Palais des Festivals et des Congres”.

In 1959, 11 countries took part in the Contest. Monaco debuted in the Contest, the United Kingdom returned and Luxembourg withdrew. Teddy Scholten took victory for The Netherlands, with “Ten beetje”. The Netherlands won with 21 points, 5 points ahead of the United Kingdom.

In 1961, 16 countries took part in the Contest. Finland, Spain and Yugoslavia debuted in the Contest. Jean-Claude Pascal took victory for Luxembourg, with “Nous les amoureux”. Luxembourg won with 31 points, 7 points ahead of the United Kingdom.

Celine Dion

Celine Dion is probably one of the Contest’s most famous ever winners and was Switzerland’s second and most recent back in 1988, when the Contest took place in Dublin.

Celine Dion took victory with her entry “Ne partez pas sans moi”. 137 points were enough to claim victory back in the late eighties, 1 point ahead of the United Kingdom.

Corsican

Corsican first appeared at the Eurovision Song Contest as recent as 2011. It took the language 55 years to appear at the Contest.

Amaury Vassili represented France, with his entry “Sognu”. France finished in 15th place in 2011, with Corsican yet to appear again at the Eurovision Song Contest.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest as recent as 2007. During eight attempts, the country has only reached the Grand Final three times.

2018 saw the Czech Republic’s most successful entry. Mikolas Josef performed his entry “Lie To Me”. Mikolas achieved a 6th place, with a total of 281 points.

Conchita Wurst

Conchita Wurst is probably one of the Contest’s most famous recent winners, in Copenhagen, 2014. Conchita had tried to enter the Contest two years before, however finished in second place with “That’s What I Am”, at the Austrian National Final.

Conchita took victory with her entry “Rise Like A Pheonix”. Conchita recently placed 2nd during the United Kingdom’s Eurovision Come Together show – one of the replacement programmes for the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest.

Author: Richard Taylor

Source: Eurovision Ireland