One performance, one result, and a career that soared: Celine Dion achieved the impossible at Eurovision 1988 – winning for a nation that wasn’t her own. How did it happen, Why Switzerland chose a Canadian singer, and what led to the dramatic final?

She was young, almost unknown, Canadian by birth, and had no connection to Switzerland – yet in just three minutes on the stage in Dublin, Ireland, she changed her life forever. Celine Dion, only 20 years old, stood on the stage at the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest and sang a heartfelt love song. At the end of an especially close competition, she delivered Switzerland its second-ever victory in the contest – and entered the pages of history. This is the story of one of the most dramatic and unforgettable wins in Eurovision history.

Searching for Identity: Switzerland’s Unconventional Choice

Switzerland was not a country that had stood out over the years in Eurovision history. Aside from a single win in 1956 at the very first contest, with singer Lys Assia, the nation’s glory days seemed behind it. Ahead of Eurovision 1988, set to take place in Dublin, Ireland, Switzerland decided to take a new direction and select a foreign artist to bring a fresh spirit.

The choice fell on Celine Dion, a young French-speaking Canadian singer who already had an impressive record in Quebec, Canada, but was virtually unknown in Europe. She was selected from among several Swiss and French candidates after an internal selection process conducted by the French-speaking Swiss national broadcaster. The intention was clear-to seek high-quality representation, a powerful voice, and the potential to go far.

The song chosen for Celine Dion was “Ne partez pas sans moi” (in English: “Don’t Leave Without Me”), a powerful ballad in French. The song was written by Nella Martinetti, who had penned Switzerland’s entries in 1981, 1983, and 1986, and composed by Atilla Şereftuğ, who wrote Switzerland’s 1986 entry. Both were well-known figures in the European music scene. The song didn’t carry a political message or bold statement, but rather spoke of love and a personal plea not to be left behind-a simple yet touching message

The Stage in Dublin: A Simple Setting, a Powerful Performance

The 1988 Eurovision Song Contest was held on April 30th at the Radio and Television Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. 21 countries participated, including all the permanent participants of that era, except Cyprus which withdrew from the 1988’s edition. Celine Dion performed ninth in the lineup, out of 21 acts.

Although her performance did not feature elaborate sets or dramatic choreography – as seen in other productions – Celine Dion captivated the audience with her powerful voice, impressive vocal control, and commanding stage presence. She wore a white dress with simple embellishments, a design that stood out precisely because of its simplicity. The camera focused on her face, her voice, and her measured hand movements-conveying emotion directly to viewers at home.

The performance received loud applause from the audience in the hall, but it was doubtful anyone realized at that moment they were witnessing a historic event. After all 21 performances, the voting began-unleashing one of the greatest dramas in Eurovision history. Watch Celine Dion’s winning Eurovision 1988 performance:

A Historic and Close Vote: The Final Country Changed Everything

The voting system at Eurovision 1988 was traditional – each country awarded 1 to 8, then 10 and 12 points to their favorite songs. After the first votes were tallied, a tight race developed between the two leading countries: Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom, represented by singer Scott Fitzgerald with the song “Go”, appeared to be on the verge of victory. Toward the end of the voting, the United Kingdom led Switzerland by a narrow margin – it seemed the win was theirs.

But everything changed when only one country remained to vote – Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia awarded Switzerland 6 points, exactly the number needed to surpass the United Kingdom – and win the contest by a single point.

Here is the full scoreboard for the top five countries:

From a Contestant to a Global Superstar

Despite her victory, Celine Dion did not immediately achieve international fame. Her Eurovision win did not bring instant success outside the French-speaking world. However, thanks to the exposure from the contest, she received new opportunities, revitalized her career with new albums, and began building an international audience – especially after transitioning to singing in English in the early 1990s. Eurovision served as her launchpad. In retrospect, many see Celine Dion’s victory as one of the clearest examples of how Eurovision can change destinies-not only for countries, but also for individual artists.

Celine Dion’s international career truly took off in 1989, a year after her victory, when she performed her first English-language song, “Where Does My Heart Beat Now”, at the 1989 Eurovision final in Lausanne, Switzerland. The following year, she released her first English album, “Unison”, which blended soft ballads with modern pop influences and opened doors to the American market. Her participation in the soundtrack of the film “Beauty and the Beast” in 1991, performing the title song, brought her not only worldwide recognition but also an Academy Award for Best Original Song-awarded on her 24th birthday. The success of the song and her second English album, “Celine Dion”, established her as an international star and ushered in a new era in pop music.

In 1993, with the release of “The Colour of My Love”, Celine Dion became one of the world’s most successful singers. The album, which sold over 20 million copies, included unforgettable hits such as “The Power of Love”, which topped the US charts, “Think Twice”, which conquered the UK, and “To Love You More”, which dominated the charts in Japan. Her success continued with the French-language album “D’eux” in 1995, which became the best-selling French-language album of all time. In 1996, she released “Falling into You”, which sold over 32 million copies and earned her two Grammy Awards. Songs like “Because You Loved Me”, “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now”, and “All By Myself” cemented her as a symbol of power and emotion. Her success peaked in 1997 with the historic hit “My Heart Will Go On” from the film “Titanic”, which won an Oscar and topped charts worldwide.

In 1994, Celine Dion married René Angélil, who had been her agent and personal manager for many years. Angélil, a Canadian of Syrian and Lebanese descent, became a central figure in her personal life, and together they had three children – a firstborn son in 2001 and twins in 2010. In 2016, Angélil passed away following complications from cancer. In 2022, Dion revealed that she had been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that affected her muscles and forced her to cancel a tour. Films released since, including the biopic “Aline” and the documentary “I Am: Celine Dion”, which premiered on Amazon Prime in June 2024, document her extraordinary career and her courageous battle with illness.

Switzerland Celebrates – and History Is Made

For Switzerland, this was only its second Eurovision victory. The first, as mentioned, was in 1956 with Lys Assia’s “Refrain” – the first-ever winner of the contest. From then until 1988, 32 years passed without a win, but Celine Dion’s triumph gave the country a moment of international pride – and one of the most memorable figures ever seen on the European stage.

In the years that followed, Switzerland was unable to replicate this success – and in many cases did not even qualify for the final – but that victory remains, for many, the greatest moment in its Eurovision history. Until Nemo Mettler arrived.

Despite all the heights she scaled, the arenas she filled, and the songs that became anthems for millions, the story of Celine Dion is, above all, a story of one strong heart that keeps beating. She lost the love of her life, battled a serious illness, and faced difficult choices time and again – but always chose her voice, her emotion, and life itself. The song with which she won is not just a love song – it is living proof that even from pain, one can sing, fight, and touch the hearts of the world. Switzerland may have won that contest – but the whole world gained one of the greatest singers of our time.