Every Eurovision Winner 1990 to 1999

Having covered the 1980s Eurovision winners, it’s now time to turn to the 90s decade. So were there any famous Eurovision winners during the decade preceding the millenium? You’ll have to read on to find out!

All I can say is that I was in Australia in 1997, so I missed the show that year. Was it significant? It was a big year for the UK in several ways, let’s just leave it at that for now. A near neighbour of ours, meanwhile, did very well for a second decade – and one of the previous Eurovision winners had a hand in that too.

Some famous faces graced the stage during the 90s, including an A-ha star, a couple of famous Irishmen and a former model. After 11 and 12 year olds competing during the 80s, the 90s saw some of the oldest winners so far.

I now stand corrected regarding the placing of the UK’s 1996 entry too. Which I though was 1997’s. Super catchy song though!

Here is every Eurovision winner of the 90s. Plus a few interesting facts and figures about each contest.

Eurovision winner 1990

35th Eurovision Song Contest

• Country: Italy
• Artist: Toto Cutugno
• Song: Insieme: 1992
• Location: Zagreb, Croatia
• UK position: 6th

The winner of Eurovision 1990 became part of history, as the contest has never ben held in the Balkans before. It was also the first to take place in a socialist or communist state. A mascot – Eurocat – was also used for the first time.

Toto Cutugno was almost 47 when he claimed victory for Italy. A minimum age requirement was also introduced from 1990 onwards, after a couple of performers the year before were aged only 11 and 12. From the first contest of the 90s, contestants had to be 16 or over.

Eurovision winner 1991

36th Eurovision Song Contest

• Country: Sweden
• Artist: Carola
• Song: Fångad av en stormvind
• Location: Rome, Italy
• UK position: 6th

Sweden clinched victory with Carola’s entry in 1991. There was a tie-break with France, but the fact that Sweden got more scores of 10 made them victorious.

Samantha Janus – now Womack – competed for the UK in 1991. She came 10th. Since then, she has focused more on TV and theatre acting than singing. The entry, A Message to Your Heart, was her only single. She is now well known as a former Eastenders star.

Eurovision winner 1992

37th Eurovision Song Contest

• Country: Ireland
• Artist: Linda Martin
• Song: Why Me?
• Location: Malmö, Sweden
• UK position: 2nd

Johnny Logan wrote Ireland’s winning entry for 1992, after clinching victory himself in the 80s. Twice. Linda Martin was 41, so several years older than Toto Cutugno who won for Italy in 1990.

Linda had also competed for Ireland previously, in 1984, when she came second. Despite Michael Ball’s One Step Out Of Time being the bookies’ favourite, she pipped him at the post.

Eurovision winner 1993

38th Eurovision Song Contest

• Country: Ireland
• Artist: Niamh Cavanagh
• Song: In Your Eyes
• Location: Millstreet, Ireland
• UK position: 2nd

Ireland clinched a second consecutive victory in 1993 with In Your Eyes by Niamh Cavanagh. The UK also came second again – this time with Sonia’s Better the Devil You Know.

After Yugoslavia was dissolved, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia competed at Eurovision 1993 as separate nations in their own right.

Eurovision winner 1994

39th Eurovision Song Contest

• Country: Ireland
• Artist: Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan
• Song: Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids
• Location: Dublin, Ireland
• UK position: 10th

Ireland made history in 1994 by winning their third Eurovision Song Contest in a row. Satellite voting was also used for the first time, so viewers could see each reporter on screen.

Riverdance was performed during the interval at the contest, which sparked a worldwide phenomenon. Michael Flatley was one of the dancers.

Eurovision winner 1995

40th Eurovision Song Contest

• Country: Norway
• Artist: Secret Garden
• Song: Nocturne
• Location: Dublin, Ireland
• UK position: 10th

The UK came 10th again in 1995 with Love City Groove by the band of the same name. There was some discussion over Ireland would host for the thrid year in a row, but the contest did indeed return to Dublin.

As Ireland came 13th, some claimed that they deliberately chose a track with little chance of victory, but apparently they had already stated they would not host the contest for a fourth year.

Eurovision winner 1996

41st Eurovision Song Contest

• Country: Ireland
• Artist: Eimear Quinn
• Song: The Voice
• Location: Oslo, Norway
• UK position: 8th

1996 was the year that saw my personal favourite UK Eurovision entry – Ooh Aah Just a Little Bit by Gina G. In fact I thought for years – erroneously – that the track had won the contest. But it actually placed eighth.

A-ha’s chiselled lead singer Morten Harket hosted, alongside Ingvild Bryn. Lucky Ingvild!

Eurovision winner 1997

42nd Eurovision Song Contest

• Country: UK
• Artist: Katrina and the Waves
• Song: Love Shine a Light
• Location: Dublin, Ireland
• UK position: 1st

Though they’re better known for Walking On Sunshine, british band Katrina and the Waves scored a huge Eurovision hit with Love Shine a Light.

Ronan Keating from Boyzone co-presented the contest, which was held at the same Dublin venue for a thrid time.

Eurovision winner 1998

43rd Eurovision Song Contest

• Country: Israel
• Artist: Dana International
• Song: Diva
• Location: Birmingham, UK
• UK position: 2nd

The UK did pretty well during the 90s – we came second in 1998 after winning the previous year. Terry Wogan took centre stage to host the contest with Ulrika Jonsson – he normally commentated for TV.

1998 saw the UK hosting Eurovision for the eighth time – a new record.

Eurovision winner 1999

44th Eurovision Song Contest

• Country: Sweden
• Artist: Charlotte Nilsson
• Song: Take Me To Your Heaven
• Location: Jerusalem, Israel
• UK position: 12th

The UK slipped out of the top 10 in 1999 for the first time during the 90s. Poor Precious (who?).

Apparently there was contraversy over Israel hosting the contest after protests. The government intervened, however, and it went ahead.

Who’s your favourite Eurovision Winner 1990 to 1999?

My favourite pre-millenium entry from the UK was 1996’s – even though we didn’t actually clinch victory until 1997. What’s yours?

Ireland did incredibly well for a second decade – and again Johnny Logan featured. As a writer rather than a singer, however.

Marcy x

Related posts:

• 80s Eurovision song contest winners
• Best 90s bands
• 90s best selling albums
• Top 90s dance albums
• Manchester in the 90s
• Best 90s party songs

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