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"Ne partez pas sans moi" was released as a single in selected countries in Europe in May 1988. It topped the chart in Belgium for three consecutive weeks.
Background
Conception
"Ne partez pas sans moi" was written by Turkish composer Atilla Şereftuğ and Swiss lyricist Nella Martinetti and recorded by Celine Dion. She also recorded a German version, titled "Hand in Hand".
On 30 April 1988, the Eurovision Song Contest was held at the RDS Simmonscourt Pavilion in Dublin hosted by Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ), and broadcast live throughout the continent. Dion performed "Ne partez pas sans moi" ninth on the night, following Israel's "Ben Adam" by Yardena Arazi and preceding Ireland's "Take Him Home" by Jump the Gun. Şereftuğ conducted the live orchestra in the performance of the Swiss entry. The contest was followed by 600 million viewers worldwide.
At the close of voting, the song had received 137 points, winning the contest beating the United Kingdom's entry "Go" performed by Scott Fitzgerald by just one point in one of the closest finishes in Eurovision history.
Aftermath
"Ne partez pas sans moi" is considered to be one of the most popular Eurovision entries, mainly because of Dion's subsequent international success. It was included on Dion's 1988 album The Best of Celine Dion released in selected European countries in May 1988. The song appeared in Canada as B-side to "D'abord, c'est quoi l'amour". It was also featured on the French version of Dion's Incognito album. In 2005, it was included on her French compilation album, On ne change pas.
As the winning broadcaster, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) gave SRG SSR the responsibility to host the following edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. This contest, held on 6 May 1989, opened with Dion performing "Ne partez pas sans moi" and the premiere of her first English language single "Where Does My Heart Beat Now". She also presented the trophy to the winner.
"Ne partez pas sans moi" (instrumental version) – 3:07
German 7-inch single
"Hand in Hand" – 3:08
"Hand in Hand" (instrumental) – 3:07
Release history
Region
Date
Format
France
May 1988
7"
Chart history
"Ne partez pas sans moi" debuted at number one in Belgium and stayed at the top of the chart for four consecutive weeks; then the single directly dropped to number 45. In Switzerland, the song peaked at number eleven and in France at number thirty-six. While the single sold 200,000 copies in Europe in two days and over 300,000 copies in total, it is one of the less commercially successful Eurovision winners. It was the first winning song not to be released in the United Kingdom or in Ireland. Although not released as a single in Canada, the song entered the chart in Quebec on 1 October 1988, spending twenty-three weeks on it and peaking at number ten.
Ne partez pas sans moi (European 7" single liner notes). Celine Dion. Carrere. 1988. 14.454.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
Ne partez pas sans moi (German 7" single liner notes). Celine Dion. Carrere. 1988. CAR 6.15100.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
