Belgium debuted at the first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 and since has participated a total of fifty-one times. The country was only absent three times in its history: 1994, 1997, and 2001, when low scores in the previous year's contest prevented re-entry. Belgium won the contest once, in 1986 in Bergen, Norway with the song "J'aime la vie" sung by Sandra Kim. The country achieved second place in 1978 and 2003, however has finished in last place a total of eight times. Since 2005 Belgium has failed to appear in any final of the Contest.