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Belgium in 1986
Sandra Kim
Song
J'aime la vie
Rosario Marino Atria
Composer(s)
Jean-Pierre Furnémont, Angelo Crisci
More information
Biography
Sandra Kim's real name is Sandra Caldarone. She is Belgian of Italian extraction, born in 1971. She grew up surrounded by music: her father is an accordionist and a bass player, and her grandparents always sang much. Since she was 7 she has participated in various contests, particularly "La voix de l'avenir" (twice). When she was 14 in 1985 she participated in the Italian Song Festival accompanied by the group Musiclub, winning several prizes.
In the same year she performed at the International Festival in Milano where she won a fourth prize in a contest between 14 European countries. After that she issued her first single "Ami-ami". This year Sandra Kim was chosen among 130 candidates to represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest in Bergen with "J'aime la vie". On the 3rd of April the song was released in two versions: a short one for the Contest and a longer one for disco use. Sandra Kim's great chance was her meeting the two musicians of the group Musiclub who believe in her: Jean-Paul Furnémont and Angelo Crisci, who have composed the Belgian ESC contribution.
Jean-Paul Furnémont began his artistic career when he was quite young. At ten he was enrolled at a music school and at the Conservatoire of Liège when he was 14, winning prizes in trumpet and classical guitar. He has been teaching music since he was 21. With his old friend Angelo Crisci and two other musicans he formed the group "Musiclub", which accompanied Sandra Kim. Incidentally, one of the first songs that he composed at the age of 16 was "Music for Sandra"!
Angelo Crisci, Belgian of Italian extraction, was born in 1953. He began playing with bands at the age of 8, even on tours. At the time he was the youngest and most gifted drummer in Belgium. He was awarded the gold medal of the Belgian Government at the Grétry Academy of Liège. At the same time he studied graphic arts; quite useful now when he prints photos and posters of Sandra Kim. He met Sandra at an Italian festival in 1984 and was taken with her voice and personality. Angelo Crisci and his inseparable best friend Jean-Paul Furnémont suggested to Sandra that they should accompany her. Their cooperation has resulted in today's Eurovision Song Contest song.
Marino Atria is also of Italian extraction and arrived in Belgium at the age of three. He studied theatre and music from the age of 18. Then he met Frédéric François and is since the permanent writer of lyrics for him. Together they have issued 14 records in France and Belgium. Marino Atria is a producer since 1978. His first hit was "Comme un gitan". In March 1985 he met Sandra Kim and was greatly impressed by her and has done everything possible to make her a successful singer.
Joe Carlier has studied music since the age of six and has played the trumpet since he was ten. He was a student at the Liège Conservatoire and played in a big jazz band since he was 14. He was also first trumpet in the orchestra of one of the biggest music-halls in Belgium and its conductor after two years. In 1964 he participated in the creation of the Spa Festival for French Song, and for 20 years he has been the conductor of the big Spa orchestra, accompanying many famous singers. He has conducted orchestras during many international professional dance competitions in Switzerland, Germany and France. He has released 17 LPs and 15 singles. The RTBF of Belgium chose him to conduct the orchestra for the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest, and now again in 1986 in Bergen.
One of the backing singers was Patricia Maessen who participated earlier for the Netherlands (1970) and Belgium (1977). [Notes from the official 86 programme by NRK]
Country profile
Do you want to learn more about Belgium ? At worldatlas.com you can read a detailed country profile, including maps, flags and you can even listen to the national anthem!
History
We are currently updating our country history pages and therefore, they are temporarily unavailable! How many times they won? Who represented the country in 1960? This and a lot more is available in the history section soon!
All Participations for Belgium
| Year | Artist | Song | Points | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 0 | 27 | ||
| 2008 | Ishtar | O julissi na jalini | 6 | 16 |
| 2007 | The KMG's | Love power | 14 | 26 |
| 2006 | Kate Ryan | Je t'adore | 69 | 12 |
| 2005 | Nuno Resende | Le grand soir | 29 | 22 |
| 2004 | Xandee | 1 Life | 7 | 22 |
| 2003 | Urban Trad | Sanomi | 165 | 2 |
| 2002 | Sergio & the Ladies | Sister | 33 | 14 |
| 2000 | Nathalie Sorce | Envie de vivre | 2 | 24 |
| 1999 | Venessa Chinltor | Like the wind | 38 | 12 |
| 1998 | Mélanie Cohl | Dis oui | 122 | 6 |
| 1996 | Lisa del Bo | Liefde is een kaartspel | 22 | 16 |
| 1995 | Frédéric Etherlinck | La voix est libre | 8 | 20 |
| 1993 | Barbara | Iemand als jij | 3 | 25 |
| 1992 | Morgane | Nous on veut des violons | 11 | 19 |
| 1991 | Clouseau | Geef het op | 23 | 16 |
| 1990 | Philippe Lafontaine | Macédomienne | 46 | 12 |
| 1989 | Ingeborg | Door de wind | 13 | 19 |
| 1988 | Reynaert | Laissez briller le soleil | 5 | 18 |
| 1987 | Liliane Saint-Pierre | Soldiers of love | 56 | 11 |
| 1986 | Sandra Kim | J'aime la vie | 176 | 1 |
| 1985 | Linda Lepomme | Laat me nu gaan | 7 | 19 |
| 1984 | Jacques Zegers | Avanti la vie | 70 | 5 |
| 1983 | Pas de Deux | Rendez-vous | 13 | 18 |
| 1982 | Stella | Si tu aimes ma musique | 96 | 4 |
| 1981 | Emly Starr | Samson | 40 | 13 |
| 1980 | Telex | Euro-vision | 14 | 17 |
| 1979 | Micha Marah | Hey Nana | 5 | 18 |
| 1978 | Jean Vallée | L'amour ça fait chanter la vie | 125 | 2 |
| 1977 | Dream Express | A million in one, two, three | 69 | 7 |
| 1976 | Pierre Rapsat | Judy et cie. | 68 | 8 |
| 1975 | Ann Christy | Gelukkig zijn | 17 | 15 |
| 1974 | Jacques Hustin | Fleur de liberté | 10 | 9 |
| 1973 | Nicole and Hugo | Baby, baby | 58 | 17 |
| 1972 | Serge and Christine Ghisoland | À la folie ou pas du tout | 55 | 17 |
| 1971 | Lily Castel and Jacques Raymond | Goeie morgen, morgen | 68 | 15 |
| 1970 | Jean Vallée | Viens l'oublier | 5 | 8 |
| 1969 | Louis Neefs | Jennifer Jennings | 10 | 7 |
| 1968 | Claude Lombard | Quand tu reviendras | 8 | 7 |
| 1967 | Louis Neefs | Ik heb zorgen | 8 | 7 |
| 1966 | Tonia | Un peu de poivre, un peu de sel | 14 | 4 |
| 1965 | Lize Marke | Als het weer lente is | 0 | 15 |
| 1964 | Robert Cogoi | Près de ma rivière | 2 | 10 |
| 1963 | Jacques Raymond | Waarom | 4 | 10 |
| 1962 | Fud Leclerc | Ton nom | 0 | 13 |
| 1961 | Bob Benny | September, gouden roos | 1 | 15 |
| 1960 | Fud Leclerc | Mon amour pour toi | 9 | 6 |
| 1959 | Bob Benny | Hou toch van mij | 9 | 6 |
| 1958 | Fud Leclerc | Ma petite chatte | 8 | 6 |
| 1957 | Bobbejaan Schoepen | Straatdeuntje | 5 | 8 |
| 1956 | Fud Leclerc | Messieurs les noyés de la Seine | 0 | 2 |
| 1956 | Mony Marc | Le plus beau jour de ma vie | 0 | 2 |
