Ne partez pas sans moi
"Ne partez pas sans moi" (English: "Don't Leave Without Me") is a French-language power ballad written by Nella Martinetti with music composed by Atilla Şereftuğ, performed by Canadian singer Céline Dion to represent Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest 1988, where it won the competition held in Dublin, Ireland, on 30 April 1988, earning 137 points and marking Switzerland's second and, until 2024, last victory in the event.[1][2] The song was selected through Switzerland's national final, known as the Concours Eurovision de la Chanson '88, held on 6 February 1988 at the Théâtre de Beausobre in Morges, where Dion, then a 19-year-old rising star from Quebec, outperformed other candidates to secure the entry after an internal process by the French-speaking Swiss broadcaster Télévision Suisse Romande (TSR).[1] Dion, who had already achieved domestic success in Canada and France with albums like Incognito (1987), was chosen for her vocal prowess and stage presence, marking her first major international competition despite not being Swiss-born.[3] At the contest, performed ninth in the running order following Portugal's entry, "Ne partez pas sans moi" featured Dion accompanied by backing vocalists Bruno Schwarz, Donald Häfliger, and Walter Parolo, with Şereftuğ conducting the orchestra; the lyrics depict a plea to join a heroic figure on a cosmic journey, blending themes of adventure and longing.[4] The performance edged out the United Kingdom's Scott Fitzgerald by a single point in a dramatic voting sequence, with Yugoslavia's jury delivering the decisive votes, and it remains the last entirely French-language winning entry in Eurovision history as of 2025.[2][1] Post-contest, the victory propelled Dion to global fame, serving as her international breakthrough and leading to her English-language debut album Unison (1990); the single achieved moderate commercial success, peaking at number 36 on the French Singles Chart for one week and becoming a radio hit in Switzerland, though it did not chart highly elsewhere due to its Eurovision association.[3][5] The song has since been re-recorded in German as "Hand in Hand" and performed by Dion at subsequent events, including as the opening act at the 1989 Eurovision in Lausanne, underscoring its enduring legacy in the contest's history.[4][6]Background and development
Selection process
The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) organized the national selection for its Eurovision Song Contest 1988 entry through a competitive national final titled Concours Eurovision 1988. The event took place on 6 February 1988 at the Théâtre de Beausobre in Morges, hosted by Serge Moisson, and featured nine competing songs performed live.[7] The song "Ne partez pas sans moi" was composed by Turkish-Swiss musician Atilla Şereftuğ, who wrote the music, and Swiss lyricist Nella Martinetti, who penned the French lyrics; the pair submitted the ballad to the SRG SSR as one of the entries for consideration in the final.[8] Şereftuğ and Martinetti scouted and selected 19-year-old Canadian singer Céline Dion to perform their song, drawn by her rising profile as a French-language artist who had already achieved commercial success in Quebec with albums such as Incognito (1987).[9] Voting in the national final combined input from three regional juries representing Switzerland's linguistic areas (accounting for 60% of the total), an expert jury (20%), and a press jury (20%), emphasizing balanced representation across the country's German-, French-, Italian-, and Romansh-speaking regions. "Ne partez pas sans moi", performed by Dion, emerged victorious with 44 points, securing Switzerland's entry for the international contest in Dublin.[7][10]Composition and recording
The lyrics for "Ne partez pas sans moi" were written by Swiss songwriter Nella Martinetti, who crafted verses depicting a plea to join a heroic figure on a cosmic journey to stars and planets, blending themes of adventure and longing.[11] The music was composed by Turkish-Swiss songwriter Atilla Şereftuğ, resulting in a power ballad structure that blends melodic accessibility with dramatic swells to heighten the lyrical sentiment.[3] The track was produced by Şereftuğ alongside Urs Peter Keller, with recording taking place in early 1988 to prepare for Switzerland's national selection process.[12] Céline Dion's vocal sessions emphasized her command of French phrasing, delivering the piece with a poised yet impassioned tone that aligned with the song's narrative urgency.[13] She also recorded a German-language adaptation titled "Hand in Hand," adapting the original's themes for broader European audiences.[4]Eurovision Song Contest 1988
National final
The Swiss national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 1988, titled Concours Eurovision 1988, took place on 6 February 1988 at the Théâtre de Beausobre in Morges.[7] The event was hosted by Serge Moisson and featured nine competing songs selected from submissions across Switzerland's linguistic regions.[7] Céline Dion performed "Ne partez pas sans moi" as one of the entries, with the staging described in contemporary accounts as straightforward, centering on Dion's vocal delivery supported by a small ensemble of backing singers.[14] The performance highlighted the song's emotional ballad style without elaborate production elements.[14] Voting was determined by a combination of three regional juries accounting for 60% of the total, an expert jury for 20%, and a press jury for the remaining 20%, reflecting Switzerland's multilingual composition.[7] "Ne partez pas sans moi" emerged victorious, outperforming the runner-up "Sentiments" by Furbaz and securing Dion's representation of Switzerland at the international contest in Dublin.[7] Upon winning the national final, Dion described the moment as a pivotal step in her burgeoning career, opening doors to broader European exposure ahead of the Eurovision stage.[1] This selection triumph laid the foundation for her subsequent international breakthrough, as the opportunity to compete for Switzerland marked her first major pan-European platform.[3]International contest
"Ne partez pas sans moi" was performed by Céline Dion as Switzerland's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1988, held on 30 April 1988 at the Simmonscourt Pavilion of the Royal Dublin Society in Dublin, Ireland.[15] Switzerland drew position 9 in the running order, meaning Dion took the stage ninth out of 21 participating countries, following Israel's "Ben Adam" by Yardena Arazi and preceding Ireland's "Take Him Home" by Jump the Gun.[2] The event was hosted by Pat Kenny and Michelle Rocca, broadcast live by host broadcaster RTÉ, and featured a modern production with two giant video walls and a computerized scoreboard for the first time.[15] Dion's performance featured her accompanied by three backing singers, all dressed in coordinated outfits, while she wore a white double-breasted blazer paired with a light pink tulle skirt, emphasizing a chic yet simple 1980s style.[16] The staging was straightforward, focusing on Dion's vocal delivery, with a pivotal moment occurring toward the end when she hit a soaring high note on the word "moi," captivating the audience and underscoring the song's emotional climax.[17] This delivery highlighted her powerful range and contributed to the performance's impact during the live broadcast. In the voting, Switzerland amassed 137 points, securing victory by a narrow margin of one point over the United Kingdom's "Go" performed by Scott Fitzgerald, who scored 136.[18] Key contributions included maximum 12 points from Germany, Portugal, and Sweden; 10 points each from Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the UK; 8 points from Norway and Spain; 7 points from Iceland and Italy; 6 from Yugoslavia; 5 from Finland; 4 from Belgium and Israel; and 1 point each from France and Luxembourg.[18] The close contest built tension, with the final Yugoslav jury's votes tipping the balance in Switzerland's favor. Following the announcement, immediate celebrations erupted on stage, with Dion visibly emotional as she accepted the trophy, followed by a press conference where she expressed gratitude to the Swiss delegation and reflected on the win's significance for her career.[19] The 1988 contest reached an estimated global audience of approximately 600 million viewers across more than 40 broadcasters, marking it as one of the most watched non-sporting events of the era and amplifying the exposure for all entrants, including Switzerland's winning performance.[20]Release and promotion
Formats and track listings
"Ne partez pas sans moi" was first released as a 7-inch vinyl single in May 1988 by Carrère Records in France, with the A-side featuring the vocal version of the song lasting 3:07 and the B-side an instrumental version of the same duration. The single's catalog number is 14.454. This release served as a promotional tie-in following Céline Dion's victory with the song at the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest. A German edition was issued as a 7-inch vinyl single by Carrère Records, featuring "Hand in Hand"—the German-language version of the song (3:08)—as the A-side and an instrumental version (3:07) as the B-side, under catalog number CAR 6.15100. Another German pressing under CAR 6.15099 AC included the original French version on the A-side with the instrumental on the B-side.[21] Later reissues appeared in digital and CD formats, including on the 1988 reissue of Dion's album Incognito in Canada, where it appears as track 7. The song was also included on the 1995 European compilation album Gold Vol. 1 by Versailles (catalog VER 480287 2), as track 3 (3:08), and on the 1996 compilation album Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi by BR Music (catalog BX 511-2), listed as the opening track (3:08). It has been available on major digital streaming platforms since the 2010s. The single sold 200,000 copies in France.[22][23][24]| Format | Label | Country | Year | Catalog Number | Track Listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7-inch vinyl single | Carrère | France | 1988 | 14.454 | A: "Ne partez pas sans moi" (3:07) B: "Ne partez pas sans moi" (instrumental, 3:07) |
| 7-inch vinyl single | Carrère | Germany | 1988 | CAR 6.15100 | A: "Hand in Hand" (3:08) B: "Hand in Hand" (instrumental, 3:07) |
| CD compilation | Versailles | Europe | 1995 | VER 480287 2 | Track 3: "Ne partez pas sans moi" (3:08) [from Gold Vol. 1] |
| CD compilation | BR Music | Europe | 1996 | BX 511-2 | Track 1: "Ne partez pas sans moi" (3:08) [from Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi] |
Music video and live performances
The official music video for "Ne partez pas sans moi" was released in May 1988 in Canada.[25] Dion performed the song to open the 1989 Eurovision Song Contest held in Lausanne, Switzerland, on May 6, marking a return to the event as the previous year's winner. The rendition served as the ceremonial kickoff, highlighting the song's enduring association with the competition.[26] The track featured prominently in Dion's Incognito Tour from 1988 to 1989, where it was included in setlists across over 80 concerts promoting her album of the same name.[27] A notable instance occurred on July 11, 1989, during the Festival d'été de Québec in Quebec City, Canada, where it closed the show with a full band arrangement.[27] As part of post-Eurovision promotion in 1988, Dion appeared on European television programs, including the German show Wetten, dass..?, delivering live renditions with orchestral backing to capitalize on her victory.[28] These appearances emphasized the song's dramatic ballad style, often featuring simple staging focused on her vocal delivery. Over time, performances evolved from the contest's straightforward presentation to more elaborate tour setups in the late 1980s, incorporating live instrumentation and audience engagement, though retaining the core emotional intensity of the original.[27]Commercial performance and reception
Chart performance
"Ne partez pas sans moi" experienced significant commercial success primarily in European markets following its Eurovision victory, with strong performance in French-speaking regions driven by the contest's exposure. The single topped the Belgian charts (Flanders) for four consecutive weeks in June and July 1988, spending a total of 15 weeks on the chart and earning a gold certification for 50,000 units sold. In Switzerland, it reached number 11 and charted for 4 weeks, while in France, it peaked at number 36 on the SNEP chart, remaining for 7 weeks with estimated sales of 20,000 units. Additionally, the song entered the Quebec ADISQ chart at number 10 in October 1988.[29][30][5]| Country | Peak Position | Weeks on Chart | Certification/Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium (Flanders) | 1 | 15 | Gold (50,000) |
| Switzerland | 11 | 4 | 10,000 |
| France (SNEP) | 36 | 7 | 20,000 |
| Quebec (ADISQ) | 10 | Unknown | Unknown |