Logan was born in Frankston near Melbourne, Australia. His father was an Irish tenor, Patrick O'Hagan, who performed three times at The White House, for John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon. The family moved back to Ireland when Johnny was aged three. He learned the guitar and began composing his own songs by the age of thirteen. On leaving school he apprenticed as an electrician, while performing in folk and blues clubs. His earliest claim to fame was starring as Adam in the 1977 Irish musical "Adam and Eve".
Having adopted the stage name Johnny Logan, he released his first single in 1978 and took part in the Irish national final for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1979, but did not win. The following year, Logan entered the contest again with the Shay Healy song "What's Another Year" and won. Representing Ireland in the Netherlands, Logan won the Eurovision Song Contest on April 19. The song became a hit all over Europe and reached No.1 in the UK.
Due to a mix-up, two follow up singles were released almost simultaneously; "Save Me" and "In London". With confusion by radio stations over which to play, both singles flopped. Another single released in late 1980, a cover of a recent [arist]Cliff Richard song, "Give A Little Bit More" was a more concerted effort and although it narrowly missed the chart, the momentum from Eurovision was now lost. 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 was unsuccessful and again in 1986 when he rebranded himself Logan with the song "Stab In The Back".
In 1987, he decided to make another attempt at Eurovision and with his self-penned song "Hold Me Now", he represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest in Belgium. The song won the contest and again, Logan had a major European hit with the song and reached No.2 in the UK (although it outsold "What's Another Year"). Keen to continue this success, Logan released a cover of the 10cc song "I'm Not In Love", produced by Paul Hardcastle as a follow-up, and an album. Both single and album made the UK charts but were not significant enough to sustain a continued chart career. The following year, Logan released his next single, "Heartland" which became a hit in the Irish charts and from then on, concentrated on his career in Ireland and Europe.
Having composed the Irish 1984 Eurovision Song Contest entry for Linda Martin, "Terminal 3" (which came 2nd), Logan repeated the collaboration in 1992 when he gave Martin another of his songs, "Why Me". The song became the Irish entry at the finals in Sweden. The song took the title and cemented Logan as the most successful artist in Eurovision history with three wins.
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.
He is sometimes referred to as "Mister Eurovision" by fans of the contest and the media at large. "Hold Me Now" has been adopted by fans of Bohemian FC as their anthem and it is sung primarily at away games. He mentioned on "TTV" on RTÉ that he was considering writing a song for Ireland in the 2010 Eurovision.
"Hold Me Now" was voted as the 3rd most popular song in Eurovision history at the 50th anniversary concert in Copenhagen, Denmark in October 2005. "What's Another Year?" was also nominated amongst the 14 finalists. It has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. "Hold Me Now" is also a global million-seller.
Throughout his career, which spans four decades, Logan has issued no less than 40 singles and 19 albums. He has continued his love of participating in musical theatre, having toured Norway with Which Witch, an opera-musical originating in that country. In 2002 Logan took part in the UK TV Quiz show Never Mind The Buzzcocks as a team panelist in a Eurovision-special.
Logan continues to perform and write songs. In 2007 he advertised McDonald's Eurosaver menu in Ireland. In 2007 he sang "A State of Happiness", advertising the Dutch Center Parcs. In 2009 he performed in the Celtic rock opera Excalibur.
Logan lives in Ashbourne, County Meath, Ireland.
What´s Another Year
Johnny Logan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
looking out for you
But you're not here
What's another year?
I've been waking such a long time,
reaching out for you
But you're not near
What's another year
to someone who's lost everything that he owns?
What's another year
to someone who's getting used to being alone?
I've been praying such a long time
It's the only way to hide the fear
What's another year?
What's another year
to someone who's lost everything that he owns?
What's another year
to someone who's getting used to being alone?
I've been crying such a long time
With such a lot of pain in every tear
What's another year?
To someone who is getting used to being alone
What's another year?
For someone who is getting used to being alone
What's another year?
To someone who is getting used to being alone
The lyrics of Johnny Logan's "What's Another Year" speak of longing, heartbreak, and the fear of being alone. The repetitive phrase "What's another year?" suggests a resigned acceptance of the situation, as if the person singing has been waiting for so long that another year wouldn't make much of a difference. The song is open to interpretation, but it seems to be about a person who is waiting for someone they love to return or to finally notice them, but they are constantly disappointed. The lines "I've been waiting such a long time, looking out for you...but you're not here" and "I've been waking such a long time, reaching out for you...but you're not near" convey a sense of vulnerability and desperation. Despite the pain, the person is still praying and hoping, although it's unclear if they have any faith that their prayers will be answered.
The chorus of the song highlights the loneliness that the person is feeling. "What's another year to someone who's lost everything that he owns?" suggests that the person has already lost so much that another year of waiting wouldn't make much difference. "What's another year to someone who's getting used to being alone?" reinforces the idea that waiting has become a way of life, and the person is slowly learning how to be alone.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been waiting such a long time, looking out for you
I have been patiently waiting for a significant period of time, constantly keeping watch for you
But you're not here, What's another year?
However, you aren't present and it doesn't make much of a difference to wait another year
I've been waking such a long time, reaching out for you, But you're not near, What's another year?
I have been trying to connect with you for a while, but you're still distant so what's the point of waiting any longer?
What's another year to someone who's lost everything that he owns?
Waiting another year doesn't matter much to someone who has already lost all their possessions
What's another year to someone who's getting used to being alone?
Waiting another year isn't significant to someone who has been learning to live alone
I've been praying such a long time, It's the only way to hide the fear, What's another year?
I have been constantly praying, as it is my only way to cope with the fear. However, waiting another year doesn't make much difference
I've been crying such a long time, With such a lot of pain in every tear, What's another year?
I have been shedding tears filled with great pain for a long time, but another year of waiting doesn't seem significant
For someone who is getting used to being alone, What's another year?
Another year of waiting isn't meaningful for someone who is accustomed to being by themselves
to someone who is getting used to being alone, What's another year?
Waiting another year doesn't matter much to someone who is used to being lonely
Contributed by Christopher C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TheTruthness2011
'Irish' is a made-up concept
😆😂.
The people who live on this island came here from warmer climates to get away from the same twisted bloodline-rulers that oppress the world today. Those that came here were mixed, anyway and many more that came in mid-to-recent times - 'English', 'Scottish', 'Welsh', 'European' have mixed with the 'Irish'.
Surely, you realise this based-on different skin-tones.
Also, you do realise, more recently - 'Ukrainians' that have gotten citizenship are now considered Irish.
The likes of you are totally lost 💙🌿.
@necmiyardm8248
İ ve been waiting
Such a long time
Looking out for you
But you renot here
Whats another year
İ ve been waiting
Such a long time
Reachi ng out for you
But youarenot here
Whats another year
İ ve been praying
Such a long time
İtiş the only way
To hide to fear
Whats another year
Thanks J Logan 1980
@AboutFocusTV
To think this ballard came out 42years ago and it is still as fresh today as it was then. Having effectively lost my Wife to Alzheimers this song means so much to me these days.
@niamhlenihan8292
Hope you are okay❤️so sorry to hear about your wife hope you continue to find comfort in this song xxxxxx
@jenny4204
I looked after my mum for 8 years with Dementia then finally cancer It's so hard to watch them die a little each day My grandchildren tell me I'm an orphan now 💔 😢 😔
@geertfieuw8315
hugs
@angelaandersons7918
So very sorry 😞 that's awful... this song Is stunning! Hold Me Now is special too x
@pmacc3557
Sorry to hear it...
@ruthfuller8256
One of the best winners of Eurovision. Johnny Logan can really sing.
@djme-ft3zs
Now THAT’s how you do Eurovision. Quality song and quality vocals. Simple.
@javaquickscope7300
djme123 exactly, not Justin the turkey
@formacioncurso2640
Nowadays Eurovision is just a lot of shit