Eurovision 2023: 12 Musicians You Forgot Had Taken Part In The Song Contest
The lead-up to Eurovision is always a massively nostalgic time, as we take a moment to look back at some of the all-time greats from past years, from ABBA and Conchita Wurst to Bucks Fizz and Måneskin.
But with so many acts competing every year, it’s inevitable that some will be less memorable than others – and it turns out that includes some pretty famous faces.
As we get ready for this year’s crop of performances, here are 12 musicians you’d probably forgotten once competed at the Eurovision Song Contest...
Jedward
Represented: Ireland
Year: 2011 and 2012
How did they do? Eighth and 19th place, respectively
Best known for annoying Simon Cowell on The X Factor back in 2008, Jedward made a colourful return to our screens as the representatives for Ireland at Eurovision with the surprisingly catchy Lipstick.
A year later, they returned to the contest with the surprisingly-even-catchier Waterline. However, they didn’t fare quite as well second time around, and are yet to make it a Eurovision hat-trick (though knowing Eurovision – and Jedward – we wouldn’t ever rule that out).
Since competing, Jedward have continued making music, as well as appearing on Celebrity Big Brother (twice!) and a recent season of Celebrity Coach Trip, where they butted heads with their fellow passengers.
Samantha Womack
Represented: UK
Year: 1991
How did she do? Joint 10th place
Long before we knew her as EastEnders’ Ronnie Mitchell, Samantha Womack – or Samantha Janus, as she was then known – had embarked on a singing career, making it all the way to Eurovision in 1991.
Her song A Message To Your Heart ended up being her only single, after landing just within the top 10 at the contest that year, where she was supported on backing vocals by none other than Hazell Dean.
Michael Ball
Represented: UK
Year: 1992
How did he do? Second place
A year after Samantha Janus’ entry, we sent West End staple Michael Ball to Malmö, where he seriously impressed and finished in a respectable second place.
While Michael may now be best known for his rendition of weepy ballads, his Eurovision offering One Step Out Of Time was a bit more of a toe-tapper. And if you don’t believe us, you can check out his *ahem* energetic performance in the video above. Nice moves, Michael!
Blue
Represented: UK
Year: 2011
How did they do? 11th place
The BBC was met with controversy in 2011 when they announced they were ditching their usual Eurovision selection shows and would instead try and reverse the UK’s fortunes by choosing our representatives without any help from the public.
With a string of hits to their name in the 2000s (including three number ones), we sort of get what the BBC was going for when Blue were selected, and at one stage it looked like they were actually going to do quite well.
Unfortunately, on the night things didn’t quite go to plan, and while 11th place is nothing to be sniffed at, Blue fell short of some people’s expectations with their performance, and wound up just outside the top 10. Still, that was nothing compared to what would befall the UK at Eurovision in the decade to come...
Cascada
Represented: Germany
Year: 2013
How did they do? 21st place
Who doesn’t love a bit of Cascada on a night out, eh? Everytime We Touch, Evacuate The Dancefloor, What Hurts The Most – all indisputable bops.
Still, it has to be said that what they turned out at Eurovision in 2013 didn’t quite hit the mark, and they ended up falling near the bottom of the leaderboard on the night with just 18 points (to put that in perspective, the night’s winner Emmelie de Forest had 281).
Darude
Represented: Finland
Year: 2019
How did he do? Failed to qualify past the semi-finals
Darude is known for his huge club bangers, so people were really intrigued when it was announced he’d be teaming up with Sebastian Rejman to compete at Eurovision.
Unfortunately, the song failed to cause a storm, sandy or otherwise. After their performance in the semi-finals, Darude and Sebastian failed to secure enough votes to make it through to the final stage of the competition.
If it’s any consolation, Darude, Finland is one of Eurovision’s unluckiest entrants, finishing last on eight separate occasions, three of which were with the unenviable nul points.
Julio Iglesias
Represented: Spain
Year: 1970
How did he do? Fourth place
The legendary crooner (and dad to fellow singer Enrique Iglesias) was already a big star when he agreed to compete on behalf of Spain at Eurovision in 1970.
His song Gwendolyne was one of the night’s biggest successes, landing comfortably within the top five on the scoreboard, with Ireland achieving one of their record-breaking seven wins that year.
Olivia Newton-John
Represented: UK
Year: 1974
How did she do? Fourth place
The UK really thought they had it in the bag in 1974 when we sent the late, great Olivia Newton-John to the contest. Olivia was already a popular singer by this stage, with a string of UK hits, though this was still years before she’d shoot to international stardom in Grease.
What the UK hadn’t banked on was the popularity of a certain Swedish act by the name of ABBA. The story goes that the UK jury even went as far as allegedly giving the band’s offering Waterloo zero points, as a tactical move to boost Olivia’s Long Live Love higher up the scoreboard.
If that’s true, it was all in vain. Waterloo stormed ahead regardless, going on to become one of the most recognisable Eurovision hits ever, while ABBA would only go from strength to strength from that point on.
tATu
Represented: Russia
Year: 2003
How did they do? Third place
Just a year after topping the charts with their breakthrough hit All The Things She Said, tATu caused quite the stir when they arrived in Riga in 2003, due to supposed diva behaviour, which included slating their fellow acts, criticising production (leading to them being booed during a press conference) and turning up late to rehearsals.
There was also reportedly some nervousness from Eurovision bosses around whether the pair would – shock horror! – kiss during their performance.
In the end, tATu gave a rather pitchy performance in Latvia – as did a fair few other acts on the night – but that didn’t stop them landing in third place, with just three points separating them from eventual winner Sertab from Turkey.
Céline Dion
Represented: Switzerland
Year: 1988
How did she do? First place
Alongside ABBA, Céline Dion is undoubtedly one of Eurovision’s biggest ever success stories, to the point many don’t even realise that’s where she got her international break.
Long before Titanic, Las Vegas and the Met Gala came calling, the Canadian star performed her French-language song Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi on behalf of Switzerland, beating the UK’s entry by just one point.
Since then, Céline has become world-renowned as one of the best vocalists of a generation, continuing to perform all over the world.
Lúcia Moniz
Represented: Portugal
Year: 1996
How did she do? Sixth place
You may think you’re not familiar with Lúcia Moniz, but there’s actually every chance you sit down to watch her every festive season.
Although best known as a singer in her home country of Portugal, rom-com fans might recognise Lúcia as Aurélia, the love interest of Colin Firth, in the Christmas classic Love Actually.
Domenico Modugno
Represented: Italy
Year: 1958
How did he do? Third place
Again, even if you think you’re not familiar with Domenico Modugno, we promise you’ll know his song Nel Blu, Dipinto Di Blu, perhaps better known as Volare.
Although Domenico only took the bronze in 1958 at the third ever Eurovision, his song has definitely stood the test of time, even scooping both Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year at the inaugural Grammys. It’s also been covered by everyone from Dean Martin to the Gipsy Kings.
Give the song a play and we guarantee you’ll have heard it – even if it is just at a football match or while waiting for your pizza at a Frankie & Benny’s somewhere.