Robert Cogoi
Encyclopedia
Robert Cogoi is a Belgian
singer, best known for his participation in the 1964 Eurovision Song Contest
.
to Yugoslav
parents. In 1961 he picked up a contract with Philips Records
, and the following year, won first prize at the Grand Prix International des Variétés at the Casino in Ostend
with the song "Si un jour", which went on to sell 100,000 copies in France
, earning Cogoi a gold disc.
" ("Close By My River") in the ninth Eurovision Song Contest
which took place on 21 March in Copenhagen
. For the first time since the inaugural contest in 1956, the Belgian entry was chosen by internal selection on the part of TV channel RTBF
rather than by a public or jury vote. "Près de ma rivière" received only two votes (from Monaco
and Portugal
), which was enough for a joint tenth-place finish of 16 entries, as four other songs received no votes at all.
After many years out of the public eye, Cogoi made a guest appearance, along with several other former Eurovision participants, at the Belgian Eurovision national final in 2005.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
singer, best known for his participation in the 1964 Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
.
Early career
Cogoi was born in ChâteletChâtelet, Belgium
Châtelet is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, on the river Sambre. As of January 1, 2006, Châtelet had a total population of 35,621. The total area of the municipality is 27.03 km² which gives a population density of 1,318 inhabitants per km². It is composed of...
to Yugoslav
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
parents. In 1961 he picked up a contract with Philips Records
Philips Records
Philips Records is a record label that was founded by Dutch electronics company Philips. It was started by "Philips Phonographische Industrie" in 1950. Recordings were made with popular artists of various nationalities and also with classical artists from Germany, France and Holland. Philips also...
, and the following year, won first prize at the Grand Prix International des Variétés at the Casino in Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
with the song "Si un jour", which went on to sell 100,000 copies in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, earning Cogoi a gold disc.
Eurovision Song Contest
In 1964, Cogoi was chosen as the Belgian representative to perform his self-penned song "Près de ma rivièrePrès De Ma Rivière
Près de ma rivière was the Belgian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1964, performed in French by Robert Cogoi.The song was performed fifteenth on the night...
" ("Close By My River") in the ninth Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1964
The Eurovision Song Contest 1964 was the ninth Eurovision Song Contest. It was held in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark after the Danish victory the previous year. Sweden did not participate because of a boycott by singers. They did however broadcast it...
which took place on 21 March in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. For the first time since the inaugural contest in 1956, the Belgian entry was chosen by internal selection on the part of TV channel RTBF
RTBF
Radio Télévision Belge Francophone is the public broadcasting organization of the French Community of Belgium, the southern, French-speaking part of Belgium...
rather than by a public or jury vote. "Près de ma rivière" received only two votes (from Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
), which was enough for a joint tenth-place finish of 16 entries, as four other songs received no votes at all.
Later career
Cogoi continued releasing albums and singles, with modest success, until the late 1960s. In 1976 he appeared in the Belgium film Les arpents dorés.After many years out of the public eye, Cogoi made a guest appearance, along with several other former Eurovision participants, at the Belgian Eurovision national final in 2005.