Eurovision winner Dana: ‘I bought my parents a £10k house, that was a lot of money’

Are you a spender or saver?

Somewhere in the middle. I’m not a big spender, but money is there to do things with, not for stashing in a vault.

You shot to fame winning Eurovision, but did you make a fortune?

Definitely. I was contracted to a little distribution company for Decca Records, and my contract had been running out before Eurovision. My new contract was worth £15,000, which was unbelievable because you could buy a house for £7,000 or less. We lived in a council flat, and I remember thinking I could buy a house for mum and dad, which was an incredible feeling.

Did your life change overnight?

It was a huge change. When we left for Eurovision, two cleaning ladies and a porter waved us off. But when we landed back in Dublin Airport, it was in a plane with “Operation Dana” emblazoned on the side.

They presented a beautiful menu with name places all significant to me, such as “Derry Potatoes and Foyle Salmon”. I was followed everywhere by four international film crews, who camped on the veranda of our flat.

Was it hard not letting money go to your head?

Not at all. I had really solid parents whose feet were on the ground.

Immediately after Eurovision was quite a difficult adjustment period for me. It was physically and emotionally exhausting.

At one point, I ran away, but my parents did a wonderful thing. They sat me down and explained: “Look, we got by when we didn’t have any money, and we’ll get by again. So if you’re not happy, we don’t have to do this.” Just hearing that felt tremendously freeing.

All Kinds of Everything sold three million records. How did your lifestyle change?

Well, my second single was a flop, which was the best thing that could have happened. My agent said: “You can stay and fight or go back home and live a normal life.” I thought about it, and I stayed to fight.

What gave you a bigger buzz, performing for the Queen and the Pope or serving as an MEP?

I don’t think my biggest buzzes are anything to do with career success, although I’ve had some beautiful experiences.

We try to have an annual holiday with our children and grandchildren. Family time gives me my biggest buzz, but, professionally, I love recording in the studio. My new album features some amazing musicians, recorded in composer Ennio Morricone’s studio in Rome, with music oozing out of the walls, making it very atmospheric. I could stay in there all my life.

What did you blow your record royalties on?

Buying a four-bedroom house for my parents in Derry was one of the loveliest moments of my life. It probably cost £10,000 – a lot of money. We lived in a council flat during the middle of the Troubles with running battles every day.

I told mum to go looking, because I was travelling all over Europe with dad. We came home from one trip, and mum told us: “I’ve found my dream house!” We bought it and it was the happiest thing. When I handed the key to my mother, her eyes just filled up.

So how did you treat yourself?

I had no time as I’d often be in three countries in one day. I still have the same group of friends from back then. We met every Saturday at a little café, buy two colas between five of us, and share one slice of chocolate cake, which we’d make last. It was the place to be, because one of the hardest things was loneliness on the road.

I missed my friends badly, so one weekend back in Derry I arranged to treat them. We each ordered a Coke and our own slice of chocolate cake, which felt special. But when I went up to pay, I had nothing in my pocket, so everyone had to bunch in to pay.

We still meet regularly, and I’ve tried to make it up, but they’ve never let me forget it!

What’s been your most indulgent purchase?

I bought a Steinway grand piano in 1979 from the Steinway shop in Belfast. I think we paid £9,000 and, though I’m not sure what it’s worth now, it’s certainly in the tens if not hundreds of thousands. It has so much history, but I bought it because I always wanted a beautiful piano.

Have you ever struggled to pay the bills?

At the peak of my career, I was about to launch in America, when a growth was discovered on my vocal cords. Doctors didn’t know if it was malignant until they operated, but it took five years to get back to normal singing.

A low point was when I was due to open in Manchester Opera House for Christmas, but I couldn’t work, and I really hit rock bottom. My father suffered a heart attack, just weeks before my surgery. I was so close to finalising on a new house, but couldn’t complete. I worried about being the breadwinner, as both my brothers were studying and my dad couldn’t work. I definitely lost sleep, and considered going into teaching. It was very worrying.

What have been your best and worst financial moves?

We’ve lived in Northern Ireland, America and London, but we’ve been really lucky in the homes we bought.

The one I really regret was our beautiful apartment on St John’s Wood Road, London. In 1983, we paid the going rate; it had four bedrooms and was full of character. We sold it in the mid-Nineties, because we lived in America, and it was a liability looking after it. But I so regret that, because nowadays, it would probably be worth £2m.

What little things do you fritter money on?

Every time I go to buy something for me, I end up buying a present for one of my six grandchildren.

Does money make you happy?

It can’t make you happy, but if you don’t have money, it can make you miserable. I’ve only ever wanted enough to feed, clothe, house and educate my children.

Dana’s 30th album, My Time, is out now with FOD Records