1972 Luxembourg: Vicky Leandros - Après toi (1st place at Eurovision Song Contest in Edinburgh)

Performed by: Vicky Leandros
Music by: Mario Panas, Klaus Munro
Lyrics by: Yves Dessca, Klaus Munro
Conductor: Klaus Munro
Language: French
Placing: 1st (128 points)
Other versions: German, English, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Japanese

"Après toi" (French for "After you") was the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest 1972 performed in French by Greek singer Vicky Leandros, representing Luxembourg. The song was co-written by Leandros' father Leandros Papathanasiou, also known as Leo Leandros, under his pseudonym Mario Panas. This was Vicky Leandros' second entry in the Contest. In 1967 she had finished fourth with "L'amour est bleu" (better known under its English title "Love is Blue") which subsequently went on to become a worldwide hit when covered by French orchestra leader Paul Mauriat.

"Après toi" is a dramatic ballad, with the singer telling her lover what will happen to her once he has finally left her for someone else; "After you I will be nothing but the shadow of your shadow".

The song was performed seventeenth on the night (following Belgium's Serge & Christine Ghisoland with "À la folie ou pas du tout" and preceding the Netherlands' Sandra & Andres with "Als het om de liefde gaat"). By the close of voting, it had received 128 points, placing it first in a field of 18.

Vicky Leandros also recorded the song in an English language version "Come What May" which was widely released around the world . In South Africa it was a number one hit. In Britain and Ireland it reached number two in the charts of both countries . Leandros also recorded the song in Italian ("Dopo Te"), German ("Dann kamst du"), Spanish ("Y Despues"), Greek ("Mono Esi") and Japanese ("Omoide Ni Ikiru ").

"Après toi" was succeeded as Contest winner in 1973 by Anne-Marie David singing "Tu te reconnaîtras", also for Luxembourg.

As with "L'amour est bleu", "Après toi" has been afforded a number of translated cover versions including "Jak mám spát" (Czech) recorded by Helena Vondráčková, "Keď si sám" (Slovak) recorded by Eva Kostolányiová, "Rakastan saavuthan" (Finnish) recorded by Carola Standertskjöld, "Posle tebe" (Serbian) recorded by Lola Novaković, "Vắng bóng người yêu" (Vietnamese) recorded by Thanh Lan, "Si te vas" (Spanish) recorded by Paloma San Basilio, "Vad än sker" (Swedish) recorded by Ann-Louise Hanson and "След теб" (Bulgarian, "Sled teb"), recorded by Lili Ivanova.

The English version "Come What May" was covered by Filipina singer Pilita Corrales on her 1976 album Live At The Riveira With Pilita Amado Vol. 2.

On 15 October 2006 Vicky Leandros was elected town councillor of the Greek harbour town of Piraeus on the Pasok list. Her task concerned the Cultural and International development of Piraeus. She was also Deputy Mayor of Piraeus. It was announced in June 2008 that Leandros decided to leave her position in Greek politics with immediate effect stating that she had underestimated the work load and time needed to fulfil her political obligations and that it had become impossible to combine those duties with her singing career.

Leandros was born in Palaiokastritsa, Corfu. Her father wanted to expand his career and went to Germany while she grew up at her grandmother's house until the age of eight. In 1958 her parents took her to Germany where she stayed with her father permanently after her parents' divorce. She revealed her talent at a young age while taking guitar, music, dance, ballet and voice lessons.

In 1965 Leandros released her first single "Messer, Gabel, Schere, Licht". This was the beginning of a successful career for her with her father as composer, manager and producer. In 1967 she received an offer to sing for Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "L'amour est bleu". She finished in fourth place but the song became one of the biggest worldwide hits of the year and was covered by other artists.

The Japanese version of "Après toi" can be heard here:

Lyrics:

Après toi
Tu t'en vas, l'amour a pour toi le sourire d'une autre
Je voudrais, mais ne peux t'en vouloir
Désormais, tu vas m'oublier
Ce n'est pas de ta faute, et pourtant tu dois savoir

Qu'après toi, je ne pourrai plus vivre
Non plus vivre qu'en souvenir de toi
Après toi, j'aurai les yeux humides
Les mains vides, le cœur sans joie

Avec toi, j'avais appris à rire
Et mes rires ne viennent que par toi
Après toi, je ne serai que l'ombre
De ton ombre, après toi

Même un jour, si je fais ma vie
Si je tiens la promesse qui unit deux êtres pour toujours
Après toi, je pourrai peut-être donner de ma tendresse
Mais plus rien de mon amour

Après toi, je ne pourrai plus vivre
Non plus vivre qu'en souvenir de toi
Après toi, j'aurai les yeux humides
Les mains vides, le cœur sans joie

Avec toi, j'avais appris à rire
Et mes rires ne viennent que par toi
Après toi, je ne serai que l'ombre
De ton ombre, après toi.

[alltownarentwe]

There must have been over 1000 songs in the history of the ESC and this is my all time fave and her 1967 entry in my top 5, god bless you Vicky

[vordman]

Finest song and performance in the history of the ESC. Simple as that.

[Kirkee]

The days when Eurovision was worth listening too.

[mikiebart]

Still as beautiful 50 years later!!absolute class

[Knoyle]

⏳⏳⏳ The I970s : When they knew how to produce beautiful melodies, beautiful music, well, in short, great songs !! 🎶🎶🎶 Nowadays... well, nowadays, things are very, very different... 😟😟😟

[ah]

She was so professional even at her very early years.

[andrealders]

The Eurovision Song Contest can be that good and simple. After another disappointing festival, the umpteenth in recent years, I ended up here.

[ristokorhonen]

Best song forever. Vicky is so beautiful and how she can be so great singer. Wow.

[Knoyle]

🎼🎼🎼 A beautiful song, a beautiful young lady and a beautiful voice !! 🎶🎶🎶 She deserved her victory undoubtedly !! 😍😍😍

[veroniqueregondeau]

Vicky Meilleure vendeuse au monde de l'année 1972 avec cette chanson eternelle Apres toi ❤️❤️

[berniemclaughlin]

BEAUTIFUL SONG ALWAYS AND GREAT SINGER XXX

[darenwright]

One of the few great euro contest songs, beautiful words beautifully sung.

[andrewmcilwraith]

50 years and I still think it's fantastic. This got me to love Eurovision - at 9 years old. I rue the day!

[jonfishsorth]

I think my favourite winning song ever.

[t.j.]

Wow ... Klaus “Nick” Munro himself conducted the orchestra ... rest in peace great master 🙏

[davidhargreaves]

wow the greatest romantic -sad /happy love song ever beautiful song equely beautiful woman -vicky gives alltime best ever performance sublime in french or english such raw emotion heartfelt emotion i too remember watching live i was only 14 at the time it is forever my all-time favourite romantic record it has so immaculate composition everything is perfect thank you vicky all enjoy dave

[AYouTubeUser]

Thank you so much for posting this amazing recording of Vicky Leandros singing Apres Toi at the 1972 Eurovision Song Contest. I watched it live on BBC TV in the UK with my Mum and Dad.
We had a strong feeling Vicky would win and of course she did. Well deserved.
Apart from Vicky's superb performance of this beautiful song, it is also very memorable for me for one other reason: my lovely Mum (for whom I am now 24/7 carer), looked identical to Vicky Leandros in 1972. Same face, profile, hair style and slim figure.
Or should I say, Vicky modelled herself on my beautiful Mum!

[Knoyle]

😍😍😍 Beautiful, romantic and elegant !! 🎶🎶🎶 Moreover, she had a charming accent ! 😍😍😍

[yuriylenev]

Великолепна песен. И то от преди 50 години . Бях вече младеж... :-)

[peterahrensfeld]

Très bien Vicky Leandros. Auch die Französische Sprache.