uilty Pleasures?
A hard question, because over the years, I've collected way more than 20! But let's set aside my #2 for a moment: Yugoslavia’s iconic entry at Eurovision 1991, "Brazil" performed by Bebi Dol (real name: Dragana Šarić). Droll, dramatic, and undeniably memorable song.
Now onto my #1 guilty pleasure, a true gem that ended up… last! Yes, dead last with 58 points, a song which ended last place, meaning it's the best last place ESC song for me!
The year was 1968, and the artist was Claude Lombard, representing Belgium with a hauntingly beautiful performance. Later, she became a backing vocalist for none other than Nicole & Hugo, the duo originally selected to represent Belgium in 1971 with the bubbly “Goeiemorgen morgen.” Sadly, due to Nicole’s illness, they couldn’t make the trip to Dublin that year.
But fear not, they came back stronger in 1973 with the unforgettable …..”Baby Baby”, my ultimate guilty pleasure. They were trailblazers, the first Eurovision act to truly sing and dance at the same time. And let’s not forget those now iconic flared purple jumpsuits and tightly choreographed moves. Camp, charisma, and colour, what more could you want?
Nicole Josy (real name: Nicole Van Pamel) and Hugo Sigal met in 1970 and married a year later. Their love story lasted more than five decades, until Nicole’s passing on 4 November 2022, at the age of 76.
Their legacy? A joyful reminder that Eurovision isn’t just about winning, sometimes, the heart remembers what the scoreboard forgets.
Bonus info: Nicole & Hugo’s Eurovision journey didn’t end in the '70s. In 2004, a full 29 years after “Baby Baby”, they gave it another shot, entering the Flemish pre-selections for the Eurovision Song Contest with the feel-good track “Love Is All Around.”
They placed second in the first round, a respectable result that showed they still had fans cheering them on. But despite their enduring charm and iconic presence, the jury wasn’t as kind. Their low jury score meant they didn’t advance to the final round. Still, the attempt alone was a testament to their lasting passion for music and performance.
Even decades after their glittery debut, Nicole & Hugo continued to bring joy, sparkle, and a touch of Eurovision magic.
In 2004, they tried again, after 29 years, at the Eurovision Song Contest. They entered the Flemish pre-selections, with "Love is all Around". They placed second in the first round, but scored lowly with the jury, so failed to make it to the final round.