winner, 1961
Jean-Claude Pascal
Jean-Claude Pascal sang at two Eurovision Song Contests, in 1961 and 1981, for Luxembourg, and won in 1961 with “Nous les amoureux”.
- who
- French comedian and singer
- born
- 24 October 1927, 7th arrondissement of Paris, France
- died
- 5 May 1992 (aged 64), Beaujon Hospital, France
- contests
- 1961, 1981
- win
- 1961
- music
- ballad
- active
- 1950 to 1985
- studied at
- University of Paris, Sorbonne, Lycée Janson-de-Sailly
- sang for
- Luxembourg
Biography
Jean-Claude Pascal was a French actor, singer and writer. Pascal won the 1961 contest for Luxembourg with “Nous les amoureux”, and sang for Luxembourg again twenty years later, finishing joint eleventh in Dublin in 1981.
Written by ESC Predictions, 8 October 2026. Sources: Wikipedia, “Jean-Claude Pascal”.
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The act’s own accounts, as listed on Wikidata. If one is wrong or out of date, tell us and we’ll take it down.
At Eurovision
Two songs, oldest first, and what became of each.
-
1961 Cannes
“Nous les amoureux”
Winner Won the contest with 31 points, ahead of 15 other songs.
- Sung in
- French
- Written by
- Jacques Datin, Maurice Vidalin
- Conductor
- Léo Chauliac
- Running order
- 14th of 16
- Age on the night
- 33
Play: Jean-Claude Pascal — “Nous les amoureux”, the winning performance at Eurovision 1961 hear it YouTube the contest’s channel Spotify search Apple Music search
The story of Eurovision 1961: Sixteen countries, a garden on stage, and a love song with a secret
-
1981 Dublin
“C'est peut-être pas l'Amérique”
11th of 20 Finished 11th of 20, with 41 points.
- Sung in
- French
- Written by
- Sophie Makhno, Jean-Claude Petit, Jean-Claude Villemino
- Conductor
- Joël Rocher
- Running order
- 4th of 20
- Age on the night
- 53
- Won that year
- United Kingdom: Bucks Fizz, “Making Your Mind Up”
The story of Eurovision 1981: Bucks Fizz, a bomb scare and a first glimpse of Riverdance
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Away from Eurovision
Awards
- Croix de guerre 1939–1945 1945
- Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres
- Knight of the Legion of Honour
As recorded on Wikidata, which is rarely the whole list.
In the drama file
The two scenes from our index of scandals, mishaps and lore that Jean-Claude Pascal is part of.
- 1962 Nul points Nul points and bad nights
- 1961 What the song was about Moments people still talk about
In our contest stories
What we wrote about Jean-Claude Pascal, year by year. Follow a link for the rest of that night.
- 1961 The result
Luxembourg won for the first time. "Nous les amoureux", sung by the French singer and actor Jean-Claude Pascal, took 31 votes. It was the first of five Luxembourgish victories.
- 1961 What the song was about
The words speak of a love that society frowns on and religion forbids, and of the hope that one day it won't have to be hidden. Pascal, who was gay and never said so publicly in his lifetime, later confirmed the reading. In 1961 it could not have been sung any other way: sex between men was still a crime in almost half the countries competing that night, West Germany, Austria, Spain and the United Kingdom among them.
- 1962 Nul points
The winner's medallion carried a winged lion, the emblem of the host broadcaster. Jean-Claude Pascal, the previous year's winner, presented it.
- 1981 Old hands
Jean-Claude Pascal, the winner of 1961, sang for Luxembourg again and came eleventh.
Results as published by the European Broadcasting Union. Biographical details from Wikidata. The photo is from Wikimedia Commons and is credited beside it. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll fix it.