Eurovision Top 100, #88: Why Me (Ireland, 1992)

“Why Me” comes in at number 88 on the Eurovision Top 100 list, bringing Ireland onto the list for the first of five times.

Ireland was not an original seven country, and in fact did not join Eurovision until almost a decade in, but few nations have had as big an impact.  This song was one of seven Irish winners throughout history, tying Sweden for the most all-time.

Other than Johnny Logan – who was also involved in this song – few from Ireland have been as personally consequential as Linda Martin.  This was her second appearance at Eurovision, almost a decade after her first.  She found her way to the winner’s circle with a ballad about love (what else?)

Vital Information: “Why Me”

What I Liked

Linda Martin is the reason this song did so well.  She is a terrific singer and she sold it.  Perhaps I just had a residual positive impression of her from her 1984 entry, which was great and may or may not be on this list as well.  Yet, I knew in 1984 as I knew in 1992 that she is a talent.

The orchestral composition was also stirring.  Shout out to conductor Noel Kelehan, one of the best to ever do it.

Other Facts

• Irish Eurovision fans would know that this song started an unmatched stretch of dominance for their country at the contest.  Linda Martin’s victory was the first in a period of four wins in five years.
• Johnny Logan, at this point a two-time Eurovision winner, wrote both of Linda Martin’s Eurovision songs.  This song won and the other one came in second.  Logan came within a whisker of being involved in four Eurovision-winning songs, but had to settle for three.
• Linda Martin performed this song in 17th position in 1992.
• Three countries actually received more douze points than Ireland this year: Italy, Malta, and the United Kingdom all got four, while Linda got three.  However, she got seven 10 points.

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