Udo Jürgens: The Heart of Eurovision
Udo Jürgens, a legendary Austrian singer-songwriter, etched his name in music history by securing Austria’s first Eurovision victory in 1966 with the timeless ballad "Merci, Chérie." This enchanting song, a poignant blend of German and French, beautifully conveys the bittersweet emotions of parting from a loved one. Jürgens, who both composed and co-wrote the piece with Thomas Hörbiger, captured the hearts of audiences, earning 31 points and performing 9th in the competition.
"Merci, Chérie" not only showcased Jürgens’ musical prowess but also his ability to evoke deep emotional resonance through his lyrics. This win marked his third consecutive participation in Eurovision, solidifying his legacy as a pioneering figure in the competition.
Release Date: 1966
Chart Position: Winner of Eurovision Song Contest 1966
Join Eurovision in celebrating this iconic artist, and stay tuned for more musical journeys!
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Video “Udo Jürgens – Merci, Chérie | Austria 🇦🇹 | Winner of Eurovision 1966” was uploaded on 07/18/2025 to Youtube Channel Eurovision Song Contest
" 3rd time's the charm "
I really don't like that my least favorite entry of his won
My second place of all time (after Amar Pelos Dois ,my number 1, the most beautiful song in the world)
Merci, Chérie its also a beautiful song.
I hope they release his other two songs in 1964 (at least the audio since we don't have the footage) and 1965.
❤👍
❤👍
Together with AbbA and Celine he had one of the most successful career's after winning the contest 🤔
FUN FACT:
Udo Jürgens took part at Eurovision 5 consecutive years:
In 1964 with the song "Warum, nur warum?" finishing in 6th place with 11 points.
In 1965 with the song "Sag ihr, ich lass sie grüßen" finishing in 4th place with 16 points.
In 1966 with the song "Merci, Chérie" finishing in 1st place with 31 points.
In 1967, Udo conducted the orchestra in the opening ceremony and gave the winning award to Sandie Shaw.
In 1968, Udo composed the song "Tausend Fenster" performed by Karel Gott finishing in 13th place with 2 points. Karel Gott was the first singer born in Czechia who took part at Eurovision.
Matt Monro (United Kingdom 1964) made a cover in English of Udo's song "Warum nur, warum?" called "Walk Away".
What a gray quality.
One of the best winning songs of all time. I wish ESC could get back to this kind of quality sometime soon.
I prefer this over any of the recent winners