Isabelle Aubret | es

Isabelle Aubret (born Thérèse Coquerelle on July 27, 1938 in Lille, France) is a French singer.

Aubret won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1962 representing France and singing "Un premier amour" (A first love) with music composed by Claude-Henri Vic and lyrics by Roland Stephane Valade. In 1968, she returned to the contest, again representing France, finishing third, and singing "La source" (The spring) with music by Daniel Faure and lyrics by Henri Dijan, and Guy Bonnet
Aubret won the French national gymnastics championship in 1958


Eurovision Song Contest 1962 - Luxembourg
Entry for France

Performer: Isabelle Aubret
Song title: Un Premier Amour
Song writer(s): Roland Valade
Song composer(s): Claude Henri Vic

Sang in Position: 9
Final Position: 1
Total Points: 26

After the victory in Cannes in 1961, Luxembourg was the host of the seventh Eurovision Song Contest. The stage was decorated with twinkling stars, but unfortunately they could not be seen for parts of the evening because there were some problems with the lights in the big auditorium of the Villa Louvigny.

The number of participants of this year's contest remained stable at 16 with no new countries entering. However, there was a change in the voting system: the national juries - which still consisted of 10 persons - had to attribute 3, 2 and 1 points to their three favourite songs.
About the winner

France managed to win the Eurovision Song Contest for the third time with a dramatic performance by Isabelle Aubret who won by a landslide: Aubret collected 26 points altogether, outclassing Monaco's entry Dis Rien by 13 points!

The German entry Zwei Kleine Italiener by Conny Froboess went on to be an enormous commercial success in lots of European countries despite a rather moderate 6th place;

Belgian Fud Leclerc took part for the fourth time in the history of the song contest, but came last with no points at all.



Eurovision Song Contest 1968 - London
Entry for France

Performer: Isabelle Aubret
Song title: La Source
Song writer(s): Guy Bonnet, Henri Dijan
Song composer(s): Daniël Faure

Sang in Position: 10
Final Position: 3
Total Points: 20

France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom broadcast the 1968 contest in colour despite the fact that very few TV-viewers at home owned a colour TV set. However, colour was here to stay and all song contests since then have been broadcast primarily in colour. Some countries hired foreign singers to sing for them: Germany was represented by Norwegian Wenche Myhre and Austria's entry was performed by Karel Gott from Prague.
About the winner

The 1968 Eurovision Song Contest turned out to have a nailbiting finish when the United Kingdom entry and big favourite Congratulations by Cliff Richard was beaten by just one point by Spain's Massiel. Originally Massiel's song La La La was supposed to be sung by Spanish singer Joan Manuel Serrat who wanted perfom the song La, La, La in Catalan. However, Juan Manuel Serrat's wish of singing in his native tongue was not met by the Spanish officials, and Juan Manuel was replaced by Massiel who sang the same song in Spanish.

The 1968 Eurovision Song Contest was not only broadcast in the participating countries, but also all of Eastern Europe and Tunisia could follow it;

For Katie Boyle, it was already her third Eurovision Song Contest as a presenter, but not her last: Mrs. Boyle would return for yet another contest just as the unlucky Cliff Richard! .