| "Nous les amoureux" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single byJean-Claude Pascal | |
| Language | French |
| Released | 1961 |
| Label | La Voix de son maître |
| Composer | Jacques Datin |
| Lyricist | Maurice Vidalin [fr] |
| Eurovision Song Contest 1961 entry | |
| Country | |
| Artist | Chevalier de Villemont |
| As | Jean-Claude Pascal |
| Language | |
| Composer | Jacques Datin |
| Lyricist | Maurice Vidalin |
| Conductor | |
| Finals performance | |
| Final result | 1st |
| Final points | 31 |
| Entry chronology | |
| ◄ "So laang we's du do bast" (1960) | |
| "Petit bonhomme" (1962) ► | |
| Official performance video | |
| "Nous les amoureux" onYouTube | |
"Nous les amoureux" (French pronunciation:[nulez‿amuʁø]; "We, the Lovers" or "Us Lovers") is a song recorded by French singerJean-Claude Pascal with music composed byJacques Datin and French lyrics written byMaurice Vidalin [fr]. Itrepresented Luxembourg in theEurovision Song Contest 1961 held inCannes, resulting in the country's first ever win at the contest.
"Nous les amoureux" was composed byJacques Datin with French lyrics byMaurice Vidalin [fr] (1924–1986) and was recorded byJean-Claude Pascal. In addition to the French original version, he also recorded the song in German and Italian.[1]
The song tells the story of a thwarted love between the singer and his lover ("they would like to separate us, they would like to hinder us / from being happy"). The lyrics go on about how the relationship is rejected by others but will finally be possible ("but the time will come. [...] and I will be able to love you without anybody in town talking about it. [...] [God] gave us the right to happiness and joy."). Pascal later claimed that the song was about a homosexual relationship and the difficulties it faced.[2]
TheCompagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion (CLT) internally selected the song asits entrant for the6th edition of theEurovision Song Contest.[3]
On 18 March 1961, the Eurovision Song Contest was held at thePalais des Festivals et des Congrès ofCannes hosted by theRadiodiffusion-Télévision Française (RTF), and broadcast live throughout the continent. Pascal performed "Nous les amoureux" fourteenth on the evening, followingDenmark's "Angelique" byDario Campeotto and preceding theUnited Kingdom's "Are You Sure?" byThe Allisons.Léo Chauliac conducted the event's live orchestra in the performance of the Luxembourgian entry.[4]
By the close of voting, it had received 31 points, placing it first in a field of sixteen and thus helping Luxembourg to achieve the rare feat of moving from last to first in successive years.[5] The song was succeeded as contest winner in1962 by "Un premier amour" byIsabelle Aubret forFrance. It was succeeded as Luxembourgian representative that year by "Petit bonhomme" byCamillo Felgen.
Due to the contest overrunning in time, the reprise of this song was not shown in the United Kingdom, as theBBC's coverage ended shortly after the voting had finished and the winning song was declared.
Pascal performed his song in the Eurovision twenty-fifth anniversary showSongs of Europe held on 22 August 1981 inMysen.[6]
The song was also featured on Season 2, Episode 6 ofA Very Secret Service.
| Preceded by | Eurovision Song Contest winners 1961 | Succeeded by |
