Everything came down to Yugoslavia. It was the final jury of the night, and the scores were razor-thin. Representing the United Kingdom, Scott Fitzgerald had 136 points. Céline Dion, singing for Switzerland, trailed closely behind with 131.

Just five points separated the two, with one jury left to vote. Host Pat Kenny addressed the final panel: “Good evening, Yugoslavia, good evening Ljubljana.” This was still the era when national juries determined the outcome — and their decisions were called in live.

The Final Votes That Changed Everything

Ljubljana announced their points, building suspense from the bottom up:

• 1 point: Israel

• 2 points: Ireland

• 3 points: Luxembourg

• 4 points: Spain

• 5 points: Italy

• 6 points: Switzerland

A murmur swept through the audience. “Oh,” remarked the British commentator, recognizing the dramatic shift. Céline Dion now led by one point: 137 to 136. The UK needed more points to reclaim the lead.

The tension rose as the next votes came in:

• 7 points: Netherlands

• 8 points: Germany

• 10 points: Norway

The crowd held its breath. Fitzgerald needed the final 12 points to win. But then came the verdict: “And finally… France.” Zero points for the UK. Dion had done it — she won by a single point.

A Voice Europe Had Yet to Know

Backstage, the Swiss team embraced. A tearful 20-year-old Céline Dion stood overwhelmed in her white tulle dress. At the time, she was a virtual unknown across much of Europe.

But during her three-minute performance of “Ne partez pas sans moi,” written by Nella Martinetti and Attilla Şereftuğ, her powerful voice left a lasting impression. The song culminated in a dramatic finale that captivated viewers and hinted at her immense potential.

Germany’s Turnaround in 2024

In recent years, Germany’s Eurovision record had been disappointing. But in 2024, singer Isaak changed that narrative. With his song “Always on the run,” he placed twelfth in Malmö, breaking a streak of poor results.

Global Stardom Beyond Eurovision

Céline Dion’s Eurovision victory proved to be the start of something much bigger — a global career rivaling that of ABBA’s after their 1974 win. The world would come to know her for timeless hits like “Because You Loved Me,” “My Heart Will Go On” from the Titanic soundtrack, and “A New Day Has Come.”

Today, she ranks among the most successful female artists in music history. Yet back in 1988, no one could have predicted the scale of her rise — not even Dion herself.