“I have no right to go on stage and sing poorly”: Luxembourg’s Eurovision 1963 representative, Nana Mouskouri, talks about her fear of disappointing her audience and announces retirement from the stage.
The legendary singer Nana Mouskouri, Luxembourg’s representative at Eurovision 1963 and one of the most influential musical figures in 20th-century European music, has announced her official retirement from the stage and the end of her musical career. The dramatic announcement was made during an interview with the German magazine “Der Spiegel,” where she shared her personal feelings about the decision. “I believe I’ve done enough,” Mouskouri noted, expressing deep satisfaction with her artistic journey spanning more than six decades and over 1500 recorded songs.
From Crete to International Stardom
Nana Mouskouri was born in Crete and grew up in Athens, where she discovered exceptional musical talent from a young age, despite a congenital defect in her vocal cords. After studying classical music at the prestigious Athens Conservatory, she began singing jazz in local clubs. Her big break came when she met composer Manos Hatzidakis, who wrote songs for her that brought her success in Greek and international festivals. One of her biggest hits, “Weiße Rosen aus Athen”, made her an international singer with sales of over a million copies in Germany.
The singer will soon celebrate her 90th birthday and shared that she will perform a few more shows before retiring permanently. According to her, the retirement is a result of understanding that her career has reached its natural end, and she wants to finish it at her peak. “I feel like I’ve come full circle,” she added, describing the personal feeling of completing her musical journey.
A Career Defined by Dedication to Fans
During the interview, Mouskouri emphasized her care for the audience and the high standards she set for herself over the years. “I don’t want to pretend I’m young,” she shares honestly, describing the challenge of advanced age against the physical and vocal demands of live performances. “I don’t want to make my audience suffer. I have no right to go on stage if I can’t sing well, even if the audience applauds out of love,” the singer stated, emphasizing her deep connection with fans, the respect she holds for them, and her desire to give them the full and best artistic experience without compromising on her performance quality.
Eurovision and International Recognition
Many remember Mouskouri for her soft and unique voice, but one of the most defining moments in her career was in 1963 when she represented Luxembourg in the Eurovision contest with the song “À force de prier“. Although Mouskouri didn’t win, coming in 8th out of 16, her participation in the competition was a significant step up in her international career. The Eurovision performance gave her great exposure and paved the way for wide global recognition.
Mouskouri remembers this moment as one of the most important in her career and as an event that helped establish her status as one of the leading singers on the international stage. After Eurovision, she continued a glorious career with dozens of successful albums and performances worldwide.
This is not the first time the singer has announced a farewell to the stage. In 2008, she held an emotional farewell concert in Athens, her hometown, marking what seemed then to be the end of her career. But soon after, in 2009, she returned to live performances after realizing she found it difficult to distance herself from her audience. “I couldn’t stay away from my audience,” she said in the past, describing her longing to return to performances.
Now, it seems the decision to retire is final, and Mouskouri is confident that the time has come to bid farewell to the stage permanently. She appears at peace with the decision, yet one can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia when thinking about the decades she conquered stages around the world, touching the hearts of millions of fans.
Mouskouri will release a farewell album this month, as she celebrates her 90th birthday, featuring renewed versions of her greatest hits with orchestral accompaniment. “When I hear these recordings, I can’t stop the tears,” Mouskouri shared candidly, describing the deep emotional experience she had while working on the album.
Source: eurovisionfun.com, spiegel.de, greekreporter.com
Eurovision 2025: This will be Luxembourg’s 39th participation in Eurovision. Luxembourg joined the competition in 1956, was one of the seven founding countries, and has won it five times over the years. Luxembourg’s last victory was at Eurovision 1983 with the song “Si la vie est cadeau” performed by singer Corinne Hermès. In 2024, Luxembourg returned to the competition after a 31-year absence.
