Belgium debuted at the first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 and since has participated a total of fifty times. The country was only absent three times in its history: 1994, 1997, and 2001, when its low score the year before prevented reentry. Belgium won the contest once, in 1986 in Bergen, Norway with the song "J'aime la vie" sung by Sandra Kim. It achieved second place in 1978 and 2003 and was last eight times. Since the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004, Belgium has failed to appear at the contest final.