Swiss legend Lys Assia, the first-ever winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, has passed away aged 94.

She won over Europe at the inaugural contest in 1956 with her French-language song “Refrain”, which explored love, loss and the memory of what was. Today, as friends, family and Eurovision fans mourn her loss, the themes of her song— melancholy and remembrance — come into sharper focus.

The days are gone and we have grown
Love hurt us, time healed us
But only and without spring
I run in vain, in the woods, the fields
Telling me to remember you, our love of another time

Born Rosa Mina Schärer on March 3, 1924, she was the youngest of twelve siblings. She took ballet and attended a conservatory, landing her first recording contract while she was still a teenager.

Known for her confidence and her charm in equal measure, she later said she entered Eurovision as a curiosity. She wasn’t particularly surprised she won.

“I was the best. I also looked good,” she said. “And my song was the best, the most beautiful of them all. No rock ‘n’roll, but plain and simple: text and melody. Finished.”

That experience sparked a life-long love of Eurovision.

She returned to the contest again in 1957, placing eighth of ten acts, and in 1958, when she placed second.

Eurofans will remember her failed bid in 2012 with “C’était ma vie“, which made the Swiss final but lost out to Sinplus’ “Unbreakable”.

In Baku she told us she wasn’t amused…particularly when Sinplus didn’t qualify for the final.

In 2013 her song  “All In Your Head” didn’t get past the submission round in Switzerland. But she won over a new generation of fans by taking the risk of collaborating with a rap group.

As we wrote at the time:

Lys Assia, the first-ever winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, has dropped a hot rap number with Bernese rap group New Jack. ‘All In Your Head’ has attitude and spunk, and it’s very now. We have a feeling that the combination of old meets young, wrinkles meet porcelain skin, could see New Jack featuring Lys Assia dropping it like it’s hot at Eurovision 2013. Have a listen, and read the lyrics here.

The song encouraged us to step out of our heads, and to put the demons that lurk there to bed. It was an anthem of empowerment from a woman who continued to life her life on her terms until the very end.

As the lyrics said: “We all have of our ups and downs, all our dreams will not come true, some we love and some we lose, and it all depends on you.”

“And it’s all in your head, everything’s in your mind, all in your head, so listen to what you find…”

Lys, whose annual list of favourite was always a highlight of Eurovision season, never shied from being candid. Her outspoken approach was at times amusing, but it ultimately conveyed how much she grabbed life by the horns — and how she fully embraced her own emotions.

As she told us in 2015: “You can’t sing if you don’t have a certain feeling.”

Our thoughts are with her friends and family at this difficult time.

ALL OF OUR SWITZERLAND EUROVISION NEWS HERE

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Emmeline
Emmeline
6 years ago

RIP Lys Assia. You were a trailblazer. I totally thought Salvador was going to go first.

Joe
Joe
6 years ago

It surprises me that the closest Eurovision’s ever gotten to an “In Memoriam” was the short tribute to Udo Jurgens in 2015. At this point, we’ve lost so many winners (Lys Assia, Cory Brokken, the Ingmanns, France Gall, Frida Boccara), conductors (Noel Kelehan, Ronnie Hazlehurst), composers (Serge Gainsbourg), and countless other performers that it would take a long time for one segment to cover them all. I will say that Salvador singing “Amar pelos dois” and/or “Refrain” would be a beautiful spot to do it.

Ern
Ern
6 years ago

She lived a long and productive life. May we all be so lucky.

RIP

steven
steven
6 years ago

ils doivent absolument rendre un grand hommage le 12 mai not the 8 or 10 !!!!This lady was so beautiful .Her life was so rich !!!!

Kit Kat
Kit Kat
6 years ago
Reply to  steven

Franchement je les vois mal zapper, le 12, les décès de Lys (1° en 1956), la Française France Gall (1° en 1965) et la Portugaise Madalena Iglésias (13° en 1966). Quel début d’année pour l’ESC…
RIP et merci les filles.

Leo M
Leo M
6 years ago

A big loss to the Eurovision community. I loved hearing what her favourite entries were in the past few years. RIP Lys Assia.

Maxx
Maxx
6 years ago

How about awarding a Lys Assia prize ? for the best lyrics? Keep the memory alive

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
6 years ago
Reply to  Maxx

Such a sweet idea!

Belle
Belle
6 years ago

Rest in peace, Lys Assia. Sad news.

Héctor
Héctor
6 years ago

Can’t believe it! So unexpected. May she rest in peace.

Philip
Philip
6 years ago

Can’t believe she died on 94, look how old she looks like in 1956.. like at least 50.. yet she was 32… so awkward..

Stan
Stan
6 years ago
Reply to  Philip

it is not the original footage from her 1956 performance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyqIPvOkiRk

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
6 years ago
Reply to  Philip

You do know they had no color in TVs, don’t you?

Philip
Philip
6 years ago
Reply to  Roy Moreno

Dude, that was centuries ago..

Felix
Felix
6 years ago

I hope they play ‘Refrain’ in Lisbon – an interval act or something. But maybe not because I’d likely cry

R
R
6 years ago

In 2014’s Festival da Canção there was a moment where there was a triubute to the all long gone people envolved in Festival da Canção, from artists to techinicians. You can see it here: https://youtu.be/PH-EvxZ13Q4

Ariso Light
Ariso Light
6 years ago

R.I.P. Lys Assia, you will never be forgotten! I loved and still love you very much! 🙁

brennan
brennan
6 years ago

NO

brennan
brennan
6 years ago
Reply to  brennan

bruh i can’t deal she was living history

CJGE
CJGE
6 years ago

I was looking forward for her appearance this year!! Sad for her to miss out Portugal’s first Eurovision though.

RIP Lys Assia
A legend to be remembered 🙂

Mari(o)Vision
Mari(o)Vision
6 years ago

Sad news…
I thought that she would reach the 100…
The first ever winner of EuroVision is no longer with us….

R.I.P. Lys Asia
#Adio

C
C
6 years ago

I will miss her so much. She was honestly so iconic. What a fantastic ambassador for the contest. We are so lucky to have had her as our first winner. Lys had such a genuine love for Eurovision and so much pride for her victory. She had so much zest and vigor – I knew she was 94 but she was honestly one of those people that I could imagine going on forever. It certainly won’t be the same without her this year. RIP Lys

Kirby
Kirby
6 years ago

RIP Ms. Assia. Thank you for lighting the flame of Eurovision, thank you for your voice, life and charm; and for being among us.

aaron
aaron
6 years ago

Always loved Lys she had such a great spirit.
Loved All In Your Head, they definitely should have sent it.

Even if it’s not your style of music, don’t dismiss it because it’s rap/fun. Read the actual lyrics it’s such a powerful and inspirational meaning!

EnjaESC
EnjaESC
6 years ago

RIP.We will always love you <3 .

storytellur
storytellur
6 years ago

Rest In Peace, it was truly an honor seeing her on the ESC stage even though I was almost half a century away from being born when she won, that just speaks to her legacy. She’ll always be remembered <3

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
6 years ago

I’m so upset and suprised, I always thought she was somewhere there, I remembered her in Baku… and now this. I wonder if it will be mentioned during the contest in Lisbon, it would be nice.

Apple
Apple
6 years ago
Reply to  Skiwalko

Oh, it definitely will. I bet there will be some kind of tribute to her.

argantine
argantine
6 years ago

There is no meaning of saturdays when there are no national finals or any eurovision shows. I miss those days soooo muchh TT_TT

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
6 years ago

Legend. So sad She passed away, She should get a minute of silene in Lisbon, or at least it should be mentioned.

Romeo Lewis
Romeo Lewis
6 years ago

Amazing woman! A true legend! Beautiful inside and out. This world will miss this amazing woman

L'oiseau
L'oiseau
6 years ago

Ms. Lys Assia was a lady! She has led such a full life. She reconnected us to the Eurovision as it once was and that was wonderful. Thank you so much for everything Ms. Assia

Jonas
Jonas
6 years ago

Very sad indeed. Rest in peace.

Pablo
Pablo
6 years ago

Legends never die. A new chapter for ESC from now on, and hoping a good interval is to be had in Lisbon

Rock Me
Rock Me
6 years ago

I agree that a nice tribute in Lisbon would be appropriate.Lys Assia = a true icon.

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

Sad news indeed! The first ever Eurovision winner. We will always remember her. R.I.P.

Charli Cheer Up
Charli Cheer Up
6 years ago

Oh dear this is sad news indeed! I was looking forward to another Top 10 list from her this year. May she rest in peace 🙁

PowDown
PowDown
6 years ago

She has the soul of Eurovision. So warm, kind and loveable person. It was wrong that she didn’t get chosen in 2012. C’etait ma vie is such a beautiful ballad. ?

azaad
azaad
6 years ago

So sad. RIP Lys, and heartfelt condolences to her friends and family.

Indonesian ESC Fan
Indonesian ESC Fan
6 years ago

Katie Boyle and Lys Assia all in a week..
RIP legends!

Fatima
Fatima
6 years ago

Spot on. The two strongest links to vintage Eurovision, both gone.

DyGh
DyGh
6 years ago

So sad. The queen has been taken away from us but her legacy will never be erased from history.

esc freak
esc freak
6 years ago

OMG no… Rest in peace… 🙁

Atte
Atte
6 years ago

Omg! Im shock!! Never cry before when esc star dead 🙁 rest in peace!! We will always love u and i hope there MUST be tribute for u in esc Lisbon. Maybe we can sing Refrain in arena!!

We gonna miss u so much!!

All love from ??!!

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
6 years ago
Reply to  Atte

I hope so too!
I really wish they would talk about her
I need it and she deserves it! <3
Rest in peace, Lys 🙁

luckyesc
luckyesc
6 years ago

im so sad for her family. it feels like I’ve lost a close family member.

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

R. I. P., Lys Assia. You will be really missed. Thank you for everything you have done. A true legend indeed.

Hada
Hada
6 years ago

R.I.P. Lyss. I’m gonna miss your rankings 🙁

N.N
N.N
6 years ago

R.I.P .
First winner of Eurovision, and she love Eurovision till hear death she was guest in Eurovision 2008, 2012, before Eurovision she made her TOP list for that year.. Many winners after wining Eurovision don t like Eurovision after that and said not good thing about Eurovision ( exaple winner from Sweden 1974, winner from UK 1967 , she said that did ntlike the song, who UK people chose for Eurovision)…

mad-professor
mad-professor
6 years ago

I would honestly be shocked and a little angry if there wasn’t a tribute to Lys at Eurovision this year. She brought a lot to the contest and it’s community over the decades and she will always be remembered.

opus1612
opus1612
6 years ago
Reply to  mad-professor

i’m pretty sure that we will have some kind of tribute to her.

i’d like to hear Salvador singing “Amar pelos Dois” and then start singing “Refrain”.Both songs sounds similar in style and essentially have the same theme of lost love.Besides it would be impactful since they represent the first and the last songs winning Eurovision.

Kyna
Kyna
6 years ago
Reply to  opus1612

Omg that’s a great idea! The sudden change of songs would hit right in the feels. Putting those together makes me feel like we’ve reached to full circle since those are really similar in style.

Fatima
Fatima
6 years ago
Reply to  opus1612

A super idea opus1612, let’s hope he’ll be up for it.

Sabrina
Sabrina
6 years ago
Reply to  opus1612

I really love this idea!

PP
PP
6 years ago
Reply to  mad-professor

It wili be great that in Eurovison final in interval act , we have tribute to peope who died in last year from singer, composer, authors of lyricks, conductor like Oscar tribute for people who died in year before Oscar ceremony.

allexo
allexo
6 years ago

First we lose, France Gall, then Katie Boyle and now Lys, let me guess Gigoliola next, i’m really sad at the moment.
My thoughts are with her friends and family at this difficult time.

Jonas
Jonas
6 years ago
Reply to  allexo

What? Gigliola is only in her late 60s, she can live another couple of decades at least. She is still looking and sounding great, as far as I know.

Soph
Soph
6 years ago

It is so sad to see so many Eurovision legends die recently. Lys will live on in our hearts!

DenizNL
DenizNL
6 years ago

I had this feeling it would happen very soon, it’s indeed very bizarre how a lot of Eurovision stars pass away the last years.

RIP

DJ Tiggeh
DJ Tiggeh
6 years ago

a sad week for eurovision indeed. Katie Boyle and now Lys Assia, two legends in their own rights!

Darren
Darren
6 years ago

Aw this truely saddens me! What an absolute icon in the Eurovision world. Thoughts are with her family and loved ones.
They may be very proud of the contribution that Lys made to European music and society with her win all those years ago. RIP

Oganesyan
Oganesyan
6 years ago

Rest in peace Lys

We love France Gall, we lost Katie Boyle, and now Lys Assia

Joe
Joe
6 years ago

The OG. She was the first to ever win it, and one of the best. Her impact on the contest and her legacy can’t be overstated, and I’m glad she lived a long, happy life aware of the joy she brought to Eurofans around the globe.
RIP Lys Assia.