J'aime la vie
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| J'aime la vie | ||
|---|---|---|
| Eurovision Song Contest 1986 entry | ||
| Country | Belgium | |
| Artist(s) | Sandra Kim | |
| Language | French | |
| Composer(s) | Jean Paul Furnémont Angelo Crisci |
|
| Lyricist(s) | Rosario Marino | |
| Conductor(s) | Jo Carlier | |
| Place | 1st | |
| Points | 176 | |
"J'aime la vie" (English translation: "I Love Life") was the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1986, performed for Belgium by Sandra Kim. Belgium had finished the 1985 Contest in last place, and thus achieved the rare turnaround from last to first in the space of one year. The song also marks the only time to date that Belgium has won the Contest.
The song was performed thirteenth on the night (following Ireland's Luv Bug with You Can Count On Me and preceding Germany's Ingrid Peters with Über Die Brücke Geh'n). Its winning tally was 176 points, finishing first in a field of 20. The entry received points from every jury.
Performed in French, the song is a positive one, dealing with the pleasure to be had in life. In the lyrics, Kim describes herself as being "fifteen", although she was later proven to be only thirteen at the time of her performance. She thus remains the youngest ever Eurovision winner and one of the youngest-ever performers at the Contest. Her record is unlikely to be challenged, as the Contest rules were changed to specify that performers must turn at least 16 in the year that they perform. According to author and historian John Kennedy O'Connor in his book The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History, the Swiss (who had placed 2nd) petitioned to have the Belgian win nullified after Kim's age was revealed.[1]
In a 2006 online interview with 12points.be, Kim was asked if she sings "J'aime la vie" "with pleasure" at concerts and events now, to which she responded, "Not always." She then said, "It's a little girl's song, with little girl's lyrics, with a young adolescent's atmosphere. Nowadays, singing 'J'aime la vie'...do you like life every day? Me neither."[2]
[edit] References
- ^ O'Connor, John Kennedy. The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History. Carlton Books, UK. 2007. ISBN 978-1-84442-994-3
- ^ Video interview with 12points.be
| Preceded by La Det Swinge by Bobbysocks |
Eurovision Song Contest winners 1986 |
Succeeded by Hold Me Now by Johnny Logan |
 |
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