With the grand final for 2023 just a few hours away, it’s time for us to remember those who walked on the Eurovision Song Contest stage before, sometimes Eurovision winners, and who (since the last Contest) are sadly no longer with us. What is Eurovision if not one big family?
On the day of the 2022 Grand Final, Robert Cogoi, who represented Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 1964, died at age 82. He finished 10th with “Près de ma rivière”. In 1982, he was picked to sing the French version of the official Belgian World Cup song and in 2004, was awarded the Order of the Crown by King Albert II of Belgium for services to music.
Dame Olivia Newton John died aged 73 on August 8 2022. She performed ‘Long live love’ for the United Kingdom in 1974, coming fourth in the year Abba won. She later revealed she was no fan of the song – or the frankly hideous frock the BBC found for her to wear. Olivia went on to star in Greece and Xanadu, get Totally Hot and Physical, and in her later years gave her time to work as a campaigner for cancer awareness.
Margot Eskens, who represented Germany at the 1966 Eurovision Song Contest with “Die Zeiger der Uhr” died on 29 July 2022, just days before her 86th birthday. At the end of the 1980s she began to record more traditional “Schlagermusik” and continued to be a frequent guest on television programs into the 2000s.
Finnish actor, comedian and musician Vesa-Matti Loiri passed away aged 77 on August 10, 2022. He performed in the 25th Eurovision Song Contest in The Hague with the song Huilumies. He scored six points finishing in 19th place, but went on to record more than 30 albums and become one of the biggest-selling singers in the Finnish music scene.
Ann-Christine Nyström-Silén, also known by her stage name Ann-Christine died in Stockholm on 5 October 2022, at the age of 78. She was a Finnish singer who performed in the Eurovision Song Contest 1966 for Finland with the song “Playboy”.
After having successfully battled cancer twice and suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, Nicole Josy died on 4 November 2022, after falling at home. She was 76. Nicole (and husband Hugo) represented Belgium at Eurovision in 1973 with ‘Baby Baby’. n 2004, they tried again, after 29 years, at the Eurovision Song Contest. They entered the Flemish pre-selections, with “Love is all Around”. They placed second in the first round, but scored lowly with the jury, so failed to make it to the final round
Claes-Göran Hederström died on 8 November 2022. Best known for his participation in the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest, where he sang for Sweden with “Det börjar verka kärlek banne mej”. The song reached fifth place.
Mattis Hætta died on 9 November 2022, aged 63. Together with Sverre Kjelsberg , he represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980, ending in sixteenth place, though marked the first mainstream appearance of the Sami minority language marked joiking on a global stage.
The Israeli singer Galit Burg, who represented her country at the Eurovision Song Contest 1989 in Lausanne, was killed in a car accident on November 22 2022. She was 54 years old. She sang the song “Derech hamelech” as part of the duo Gili & Galit and reached the 12th place out of 22 participants.
Heddy Lester passed away on 29 January 2023, aged 72. She was a Dutch singer and actress, best known outside the Netherlands for her participation in the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest with ‘De Mallemolen”. Although the Dutch song had been considered a strong contender prior to the contest, it could only manage a disappointing 12th-place finish of 18 entries.
Ahinora Kumanova better known by the stage name of Nora Nova, died on 9 February 2022. She was a Bulgarian and German singer, and became the first Bulgarian to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1964. Sadly, she failed to score any points and ended last in 13th place.
Anita Thallaug passed away on 20 March 2023, aged 85. The Norwegian singer graced the Eurovision stage in 1963 with the song “Solhverv”, where she finished 13th (last), becomoing the first of four Norwegian entrants to score no points at the Contest.
Danish Dario Campeotto died aged 84 on 1 April 2023. Campeotto started performing at the age of ten, but his breakthrough was a victory in the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix with the song “Angelique”, which went on to finish fifth in the 1961 Eurovision Song Contest.
This is so sad to read.. I really do think this should be a part of the show – thanks Mr Phil and the team for dong this