Gelukkig zijn - Ann Christy

Ann Christy was born as Christianne Leenaerts on 22 September 1945 in Antwerp, Belgium. She began a singing career with The Adams Orchestra. She later married the drummer, Marc Hoyois. Her first solo recordings met with little success. In 1968 she won the Knokke Cup singing contest.

Her first attempt to represent Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest came in 1970 with the song 'Le temps, le vent'. She also tried the next year with 'Dag vreemde man', which finished second in the national final. A third attempt in 1973, when each of five chosen acts performed two songs, ended in third place for 'Bye Bye'. She finally had success in 1975 when 'Gelukkig zijn' ('Being happy') was chosen to represent Belgium in Stockholm. Christy sung the first half of the song in Dutch and the second half in English, and although the song had been tipped to do well, it ended the evening in a very disappointing 15th place out of 19 entries.

Christy was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1982, and died on 7 August 1984, aged 38.

My collection: 7" single no. 5181
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Gelukkig zijn' / 'Er is zoveel verdriet in de wereld'