Johnny Logan | |
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 Logan performing in 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Seán Patrick Michael Sherrard (1954-05-13)13 May 1954 (age 71) Frankston, Victoria, Australia |
| Origin | Ireland |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1978–present |
| Website | johnnylogan |
Seán Patrick Michael Sherrard (born 13 May 1954), also known professionally asJohnny Logan, is an Australian-born Irish singer, songwriter and musician. He is known for being the only person to have won theEurovision Song Contest three times, twice as a lead singer and a third time as a song writer.[1][2]
Logan won the Eurovision Song Contest in1980 with the song "What's Another Year", which topped the charts in eight countries. He won for a second time in1987 with the song "Hold Me Now", which topped the charts in Israel, Ireland and Belgium and was a top ten hit in ten other music markets. For 36 years he was only solo artist to have won the contest twice, untilLoreen's second victory in2023.[3]
Logan has also composed two Eurovision songs forLinda Martin, "Terminal 3" in1984 and "Why Me?" in1992. The former placed second, while the latter came first; therefore making Logan one of only five people to have composed two winning Eurovision entries.[4]
Johnny Logan was born Seán Patrick Michael Sherrard on 13 May 1954 inFrankston, Victoria.[5] His father, Charles Alphonsus Sherrard, was aDerry-born Irishtenor better known asPatrick O'Hagan, and happened to be touring Australia at the time of Logan's birth.[6][7] The family moved back to Ireland when Logan was three years old. He settled in Howth, Co. Dublin and learnt the guitar and began composing his own songs by the age of 13. On leaving school, he apprenticed as an electrician while performing in pubs and cabaret acts. His earliest claim to fame was starring as Adam in the 1977 Irish musicalAdam and Eve,[8] and Joseph inJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.[9]
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Logan adopted the stage nameJohnny Logan after themain character of the filmJohnny Guitar and released his first single in 1978. He first attempted to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1979, when he placed third in the Irish National Final with the song "Angie".[10][11] Readers ofThe Connaught Telegraph in Ireland voted Logan as Best New Male Artist.[9]
In 1980, Logan again entered the Irish National selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with theShay Healy song "What's Another Year", winning the Irish final on 9 March in Dublin.[12] Representing Ireland in theNetherlands, Logan won theEurovision Song Contest on 19 April.[13] The song became a hit all over Europe and reached number one in the UK.[14]
"In London" was released in June and "Save Me" shortly after. With confusion by radio stations over which to play, both singles flopped. Another single released in late 1980, a cover of a recentCliff Richard song, "Give A Little Bit More" was a more concerted effort and although it narrowly missed the chart. Logan blames his lack of success in the UK on poor management and his inexperience.[15]
In early 1983, Logan attempted a comeback in the UK with the song "Becoming Electric" with a new sound and image and promotional push, but the song failed to chart. In 1985, Logan released his third studio albumStraight From The Heart which failed to chart. He also collaborated on the chart topping charity single "You'll Never Walk Alone" in aid of theBradford City Disaster Fund.[9] In 1986, Logan rebranded himself asLogan with the song "Stab in the Back", which also failed to chart.
In 1987, Logan made another attempt at Eurovision and with his self-penned song, "Hold Me Now", he represented Ireland at theEurovision Song Contest inBelgium. The song won the contest and Logan became the first person to win the contest twice. "Hold Me Now" became a major European hit and reached number two in the UK.[16][17] Logan released a cover of the10cc song "I'm Not in Love", produced byPaul Hardcastle as a follow-up, and an albumHold Me Now. In 1988, Logan released "Heartland" which became a hit in the Irish charts and from then on, concentrated on his career in Ireland and Europe.[18]
In 1990, Logan recorded a country version of "Miss You Nights" withElvis Presley's backing band The Jordanaires.[9] He also wrote and sang the theme song Angels Don't Hide for the German television show Blue Blood.[9]
Having composed the IrishEurovision Song Contest 1984 entry forLinda Martin, "Terminal 3" (which finished in second place), Logan repeated the collaboration in1992 when he gave Martin another of his songs, "Why Me". The song became the Irish entry at the finals in Sweden. The song took the title and cemented Logan as the most successful artist in Eurovision history with three wins.[2]
Author and historian John Kennedy O'Connor notes in his bookThe Eurovision Song Contest – The Official History that Logan is the only lead singer to have sung two winning entries and one of only five authors/composers (all men) to have written/composed two winning songs.[19]
On 16 April 1997 Logan left his handprints in concrete on the Walk of Fame in Rotterdam; The largest Star Boulevard in Europe.[9]
Logan continues to perform and write songs. He is sometimes referred to as "Mister Eurovision" by fans of the contest and the media at large.[1] He has continued his love of participating in musical theatre, having toured Norway withWhich Witch, an opera-musical originating in that country.
In October 2005, "Hold Me Now" was voted as the third most popular song in Eurovision history at the 50th anniversary concert inCopenhagen, Denmark. "What's Another Year" was also nominated amongst the 14 finalists. Logan has sold more than 3 million copies worldwide. "Hold Me Now" is also a global million-seller.
Logan has continued to have success, particularly in the Scandinavian countries. His 2007 album,The Irish Connection went platinum in Denmark, twice platinum in Norway and gold in Sweden.[20]
In 2009 and 2010, he performed in the Celtic rock operaExcalibur, and continued to do so in 2011.
Logan was one of the recording artists that appeared in the Irish TV seriesThe Hit going againstDuke Special. He shortlisted the song "Prayin'" by Alan Earls and Jamie Wilson's "Rain" from the pitching rooms. He chose to release "Prayin'" for the chart battle against Special who chose a song called "1969" by Aaron Hackett. Logan won the chart battle with his song charting at number three in the charts while Special's charted at number five. Logan returned for the final where he performed "Prayin" with theRTÉ Concert Orchestra and was runner-up toFinbar Furey.
In 2024, he appeared inMalmö during the first semi-final of that year'sEurovision Song Contest, covering "Euphoria" by Loreen. He also performed onWillkommen 2025 onZDF later that year.
In 2002, he took part in the UK television quiz showNever Mind the Buzzcocks as a team panelist in a Eurovision-special.[21]
"Hold Me Now" has been adopted by fans ofBohemian F.C. (Bohemians) as their anthem and it is played inDalymount and sung with gusto at both home and away matches.[22]
In 2007, Logan advertisedMcDonald's Eurosaver menu in Ireland.[23] In 2007, he sang "A State of Happiness", advertising the DutchCenter Parcs.
In 2011, Logan received some publicity over comments perceived as an attack onJedward, that year's Irish Eurovision entry. When the identical twins appeared onThe Late Late Show, presenterRyan Tubridy asked them how they felt about Logan calling them "an embarrassment to Ireland". Logan later clarified those comments: "What I said was that I find them embarrassing to watch. It's like watching twoFrank Spencers inSome Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. It's like watching a train crash – you can't look away, but at the same time you don't want to see it".[24] He subsequently refused an interview with RTÉ broadcasterDerek Mooney as, according to Mooney, "he thought we were going to stitch him up". Logan gave an interview toToday FM broadcasterRay D'Arcy instead.[25]
On 16 December 2012, Logan appeared as musical guest on Romanian edition ofX Factor.[26]
In May 2012,Anmary, theLatvian representative to2012 Eurovision Song Contest held inBaku, Azerbaijan sang "Beautiful Song" where, in the opening lyrics, she sings: "I was born in distant 1980 / The year that Irish Johnny Logan won / Thirty years or more, they still remember / So dream away, today's the day I'm singing my song" referring to Logan's 1980 Eurovision win "What's Another Year".
In 2020,The Sunday Times revealed a movie about the life and career of Logan was in the works - calledMr Eurovision.[27]
Logan performed "What's Another Year" during theEurovision: Europe Shine a Light programme, held on 16 May 2020 as a replacement for the cancelledEurovision Song Contest 2020. He performed the song with the programme's presentersChantal Janzen,Edsilia Rombley andJan Smit, alongside a choir of Eurovision fans.
In June 2021 Logan released a new single "Just one look" with Finnish singer Jannike.
In 2022, he was a contestant in the second season ofThe Masked Singer in Belgium, as 'the red deer'.[28]
Logan lives in Ireland. Logan has three sons Adam, Fionn and Jack with Ailis Sherrard.[29] He also has a daughter, Ece Robyn (born in 1988) withTurkish dancer and actressBurçin Orhon [tr].[30][31] He rarely gives media interviews, claiming to have been frequently misquoted.[24]
| Awards and achievements | ||
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| Preceded by | Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1980 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1987 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1987 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
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| People | |
