ESC: Célin Dion, Abba and Co. – They became stars through the ESC

Eurovision Song Contest: These artists became stars thanks to the ESC

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Berlin.

• From Abba to Celine Dion: Some participants in the Eurovision Song Contest became stars
• You may not even know that some of them have already been on the ESC stage
• Our overview shows who made the song contest famous

Every year around three dozen hopeful artists compete in the Eurovision Song Contest. They want to convince Europe with their song – and get the win. Some who have succeeded have been ESC to stars. The acts in our list are definitely among them.

Through the ESC to world stars: ABBA

The Swedish band Abba is one of the most successful music groups of all time – and they owe this at least in part to the ESC. On April 6, 1974, the musicians were able to celebrate the victory of the 19th Euro Vision Song Contest to back up. But the career of the four Swedes didn’t really want to start. It was only some time later that they finally made their breakthrough – with glittering costumes and high platform shoes.

The band had already tried to go to the ESC in 1973 with “Ring, Ring” – but only took third place in the Swedish preliminary round. A year later, this was no longer an issue in Great Britain: the country juries liked the unconventional performance, and Abba took first place with a clear lead.

Famous songs by Abba:

song	album	Year
Waterloo	Waterloo	1974
Mamma Mia	ABBA	1975
dancing queen	Arrival	1976
Knowing Me, Knowing You	Arrival	1976
Fernando	Greatest Hits Vol. 2	1976
Take A Chance On Me	TheAlbum	1978
The winner takes it all	Super Trooper	1980

A Canadian pop diva secures Switzerland’s ESC victory: Celine Dion

Canadian singer Celine Dion made a stopover at the Eurovision Song Contest on her way to the pop Olympus. With the song “Ne partez pas sans moi” she went in 1988 at the 33rd ESC for the Switzerland into the race and took victory just one point ahead of Brit Scott Fitzgerald. She landed her first number one hit in Germany in 1997 with “My Heart Will Go On” from the soundtrack of the blockbuster Titanic.

Famous songs by Celine Dion:

song	album	Year
Ne partez pas sans moi	Incognito	1988
Beauty and the Beast	Celine Dion	1991
The Power of Love	The Color of My Love	1993
To Love You More	Let’s Talk About Love	1995
All by myself	Falling into You	1996
My Heart Will Go On	Let’s Talk About Love	1997
The Prayer (duet with Andrea Bocelli)	Sogno (Bocelli album)	1999
That’s the way it is	All the Way… A Decade of Song	1999

The legendary ESC double winner: Johnny Logan

Johnny Logan is the only singer to have won the Eurovision Song Contest twice. Once with “What’s Another Year” in 1980 at the 25th ESC in The Hague and in 1987 with his self-composed ballad “Hold Me Now” in Brussels at the 32nd Concours Eurovision de la Chanson, as the competition was then called. In 1992 he appeared as the composer of the title “Why me?”, sung by Linda Martin, at the 37th ESC in Malmö, Sweden – and again took first place.

Famous songs by Johnny Logan:

song	album	Year
What’s Another Year	What’s Another Year	1980
please stay	Straight From The Heart	1985
love hurts	love hurts	1987
hold me now	single	1987
We All Need Love	hold me now	1987
Lonely Lovers	Irishman In America	1988
I’m Not In Love	The Irish Connection	2007

A star even before the ESC: Bonnie Tyler

Bonnie Tyler was celebrated for her smoky voice, especially in the 1970s and 1980s. With her titles “Lost in France” and “It’s a Heartache” she managed to make the leap into French and Belgian music again in the 1990s Charts. After a quieter phase, the 61-year-old managed to return to the limelight at the 58th Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. She had been a star for a long time – but that didn’t help much. “Believe In Me” landed Tyler in 19th place.

Famous songs by Bonnie Tyler:

song	album	Year
It’s a heartache	It’s a heartache	1978
Lost in France	The World Starts Tonight	1977
Total Eclipse of the Heart	Faster Than the Speed ​​of Night	1983
straight from the heart	Faster Than the Speed ​​of Night	1983
Holding Out for a Hero	Faster Than the Speed ​​of Night	1984
If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)	Faster Than the Speed ​​of Night	1986

Toto Cutugno: With Italo-Pop to ESC victory

The Italian singer and songwriter Toto Cutugno celebrated his greatest successes in the 1980s. Especially with his hit “L’Italiano” he sang his way into the hearts of many Italo pop fans. He was able to surpass the success of his previous hits in 1990 when he won “Insieme 1992” at the 35. Euro Vision Song Contest competed in Zagreb. “Unite, unite, europe” (United, united, Europe!) – Cutugno thrilled the audience with the first verse and got the second victory for Italy.

Known songs by Toto Cutugno:

song	album	Year
L’Italian	L’Italian	1983
Solo noi	L’Italian	1983
serenata	Innamorata, Incavolata…	1985
Voglio l’anima	Azzurra malinconia	1986
inside	Inside: 1992	1990
E’ la mia vita	Voglio l’anima	1992
L’ultimo amico	Canzoni nascoste	1997
Il treno va	Cantando	2010
Mediterranean	Mediterranean	2020

Also read: All winners of the Eurovision Song Contest at a glance