As Eurovision week draws closer, so to does the end of our review season. Will the Superfans have enough bile to see them through? Of course they will, and they savage four more entries this week. As the Grand Duchy returns to the contest, we celebrate the history of Luxembourg in our Triple Play and, as always, catch up on the biggest stories from another week of Eurovision News…

Oliver Alexander Thornton is an English singer, actor and LGBT+ activist. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of the pop band Years & Years and is set to represent the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö with his song 'Dizzy', which marked his first release under his own name.

Marina Satti is a Greek singer, songwriter, actress and music producer. Her music combines traditional Greek, Arab, and Balkan sounds with urban elements, rhythm, and production. She is set to represent Greece at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song 'Zari.'

Luxembourg has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 37 times since its debut at the first contest in 1956. The nation participated in all but one event between 1956 and 1993, only missing the 1959 contest. After finishing among the bottom seven countries in 1993, Luxembourg was relegated and prevented from competing in 1994. The nation did not return to the contest in 1995, and would make no further appearances over the next three decades. The country is set to return to the event for the first time in 31 years in 2024.

With five wins, Luxembourg is one of the contest’s most successful nations, and between 1983 and 1994 the nation jointly held the record for most contest wins by a single country. Luxembourg won the contest in 1961, with the song “Nous les amoureux” performed by Jean-Claude Pascal, in 1965, with the song “Poupée de cire, poupée de son” performed by France Gall, recorded back-to-back wins in 1972 and 1973, when the nation was represented by “Après toi” by Vicky Leandros and “Tu te reconnaîtras” by Anne-Marie David, and most recently in 1983, with the song “Si la vie est cadeau” performed by Corinne Hermès. The contest has been held in Luxembourg four times, in 1962, 1966, 1973 and 1984, all of which took place in Luxembourg City. In addition to its five wins, Luxembourg recorded two third-place finishes in 1962 and 1986, and in total has placed within the top five 13 times and within the top ten 20 times. Luxembourg’s fortunes in the contest changed in later years, with the nation’s last seven appearances resulting in four placements in the bottom five.

The band Modern Times, consisting of Simone Weis and Jimmy Martin, was the last (until 2024) participants for Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest and performed the song “Donne-moi une chance” in the 1993 contest . The song finished in 20th place with 11 points. This was to be the last entry for the Grand Duchy until 2024.

The band were Luxembourg nationals and were the last of 9 acts to have sung for their country in 37 attempts. They were backed on stage by Patrick Alessi who had provided backing vocals previously at the Eurovision Song Contest 1983 for Luxembourg and was also in the 1996 Belgian national final.