1978–1986: First Eurovision win Logan adopted the stage name
Johnny Logan after the
main character of the film
Johnny Guitar and released his first single in 1978. He first attempted to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1979, when he placed third in the Irish National Final with the song "Angie". Readers of
The Connaught Telegraph in Ireland voted Logan as Best New Male Artist. In 1980, Logan again entered the Irish National selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with the
Shay Healy song "
What's Another Year", winning the Irish final on 9 March in Dublin. Representing Ireland in the
Netherlands, Logan won the
Eurovision Song Contest on 19 April. The song became a hit all over Europe and reached number one in the UK. "
In London" was released in June and "Save Me" shortly after. With confusion by radio stations over which to play, both singles flopped. Another single released in late 1980, a cover of a recent
Cliff Richard song, "Give A Little Bit More" was a more concerted effort and although it narrowly missed the chart. Logan blames his lack of success in the UK on poor management and his inexperience. In early 1983, Logan attempted a comeback in the UK with the song "Becoming Electric" with a new sound and image and promotional push, but the song failed to chart. In 1985, Logan released his third studio album
Straight From The Heart which failed to chart. He also collaborated on the chart topping charity single "
You'll Never Walk Alone" in aid of the
Bradford City Disaster Fund. Logan released a cover of the
10cc song "
I'm Not in Love", produced by
Paul Hardcastle as a follow-up, and an album
Hold Me Now. In 1988, Logan released "Heartland" which became a hit in the Irish charts and from then on, concentrated on his career in Ireland and Europe. In 1990, Logan recorded a country version of "
Miss You Nights" with
Elvis Presley's backing band The Jordanaires. Author and historian John Kennedy O'Connor notes in his book
The Eurovision Song Contest – The Official History that Logan is the only lead singer to have sung two winning entries and one of only five authors/composers (all men) to have written/composed two winning songs. On 16 April 1997 Logan left his handprints in concrete on the Walk of Fame in Rotterdam, the largest boulevard of stars in Europe. 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. Logan was one of the recording artists that appeared in the Irish TV series
The Hit going against
Duke Special. He shortlisted the song "
Prayin'" by Alan Earls and Jamie Wilson's "Rain" from the pitching rooms. He chose to release "
Prayin'" for the chart battle against Special who chose a song called "1969" by Aaron Hackett. Logan won the chart battle with his song charting at number three in the charts while Special's charted at number five. Logan returned for the final where he performed "Prayin" with the
RTÉ Concert Orchestra and was runner-up to
Finbar Furey. In 2024, he appeared in
Malmö during the first semi-final of that year's
Eurovision Song Contest, covering "
Euphoria" by Loreen. He also performed on
Willkommen 2025 on
ZDF later that year. ==In popular culture==