Performed by: Johnny Logan
Music by: Shay Healy
Lyrics by: Shay Healy
Conductor: Noel Kelehan
Language: English
Placing: 1st (143 points)
Other versions: German, Spanish
If you want to read the lyrics please click the SUBTITLES button. And if you wish to understand them, select the language of your choice in the settings.
"What's Another Year" was Johnny Logan's first Eurovision Song Contest winner, achieving success in the 1980 edition of the Contest. This was Ireland's second Contest victory. Composed by Shay Healy, the song reached number one in the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in May.
The song is often misinterpreted as a power ballad, sung from the point of view of a man who has been waiting for the girl of his dreams to fall in love with him. On some level, he seems to recognise that she will never share his feelings, but he still holds them regardless. The title appears in the chorus, specifically "What's another year/To someone who is getting used to being alone?" In other words, he is prepared to wait as long as it takes. In reality, the song was written by Shay Healy (who also wrote "the Ultimate Country and Western Song" performed by Billy Connolly) about watching his father coming to terms with the death of his wife and companion, Mairin.
When showband frontman Glen Curtin, the original choice of singer, turned down "What's Another Year", the song was rearranged by Bill Whelan to suit Johnny Logan's singing style. Whelan later composed Riverdance for the interval entertainment slot at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin. Musically, the song is easily identifiable by its saxophone introduction played by Scottish musician Colin Tully, who now lives and teaches in Wales. The success of "What's Another Year" launched Logan's Eurovision career (he would go on to success in 1987 with "Hold Me Now"). In addition, the song was selected as one of the 14 greatest Eurovision entries in a special to mark the 50th anniversary of the contest. It was covered by Shane MacGowan of The Pogues in the "Song for Eurotrash" cover album of 1998.
Famously, after being announced as the winner of the Contest, Logan was overcome with emotion and could not achieve the high notes near the end of the song in his reprise. Instead, he called out "I love you Ireland", a phrase he would repeat seven years later.
The song was performed seventeenth on the night (following France's Profil with "Hé, hé M'sieurs dames" and preceding Spain's Trigo Limpio with "Quédate esta noche"). At the close of voting, it had received 143 points, placing 1st in a field of 19.
Logan first won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1980, with the song "What's Another Year" written by Shay Healy. In 1984, Logan composed the song "Terminal 3" which placed second at Eurovision, performed by Linda Martin. He won the contest for a second time in 1987 with "Hold Me Now", which he also wrote himself. His third win came in 1992, as composer of Linda Martin's winning entry "Why Me?".
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. He has continued his love of participating in musical theatre, having toured Norway with Which 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 in Copenhagen, 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.
In 2009 and 2010, he performed in the Celtic rock opera Excalibur, and continued to do so in 2011.
Johnny Logan released a German-language and Spanish-language version of "What's Another Year". You can watch the German version from the "ZDF-Hitparade" here:
[ Ссылка ]
Lyrics of the song:
What's another year
I've been waitin' such a long time
Lookin' out for you, but you're not here
What's another year?
I've been wakin' such a long time
Reachin' out for you, but you aren't near
What's another year?
What's another year
For someone who's lost everything that he owns?
What's another year
For someone who's gettin' used to bein' alone?
I've been prayin' such a long time
It's the only way to hide the fear
What's another year?
What's another year
For someone who's lost everything that he owns?
What's another year
For someone who's gettin' used to bein' alone?
I've been cryin' such a long time
With such a lot of pain in every tear
What's another year
(For someone who is getting used to being alone?)
Johnny's VEVO is here:
[ Ссылка ]
