Eurovision Song Contest 1988 was the second victory for Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest after winning its first edition in 1956, and the last time a song in French won the contest, the language having dominated the event in earlier years. The contest helped launch an international career for two artists, the winner for Switzerland Céline Dion and Luxembourg’s representative Lara Fabian. French-Canadian Céline Dion was only famous in the French-speaking world at the time of the contest, shortly afterwards started recording songs in English. Belgian-Canadian Lara Fabian started a successful career after the contest with becoming established in various countries worldwide, with
Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest Austria has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 51 times since its debut in . The country has won twice, in and , and currently holds the record for the longest gap between wins, with 48 years between victories. The contest is broadcast in Austria by ORF. Vienna was the host city on both of the occasions that the contest was held in Austria, in and . Having finished sixth at the contest and fourth in , Udo Jurgens won at his third attempt in with the song "Merci Chérie". This was Austria's only