“I had to shed a tear”: Hugo Sigal moved by tribute to Nicole & Hugo at the Eurovision Song Contest

Ltd“Unimaginable.” Hugo Sigal (76) is amazed by the striking tribute to him and his Nicole during the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest. During the vote, the presenter spoke highly of their performance in 1973, something that did not escape Hugo’s attention. “We will forever be the first to dance at the Eurovision Song Contest,” says a proud Hugo.

“In 1973, Belgium made history at the Eurovision Song Contest when they sent the happily married couple Nicole and Hugo as an entry. They designed their own costumes and came up with their own choreography,” said the Eurovision Song Contest vote. A remarkable tribute that also moved Hugo. “It’s wonderful to hear and see something like this. It is presented very serenely and with love, I can only be happy about that. “I shed a tear yesterday,” Hugo tells us.

At first, Europe was not a fan of their performance. They even finished in last place in the competition in 1973. “ ‘Baby, Baby’ is and remains a strong song, but we distracted the audience with those purple costumes and those dance moves. At the time we were indeed laughed at for that,” Hugo reflects. “But now, fifty years later, we are actually the big trendsetters. We were simply too early, and that has now been proven once again. We will forever be the first duo to appear in costume and also dance. I have always been very proud of it – just like Nicole – but the tribute only makes me prouder of it,” he continues.

LOOK. The Eurovision Song Contest paid tribute during the first semi-final

The tribute Tuesday evening came as no surprise. Commentator Peter Van de Veire had already warned him in advance. “I was actually giving singing lessons, but because Peter Van de Veire had already informed me, we were able to stop earlier. At eleven o’clock I sat down in front of the TV and saw the tribute,” he explains. It was no longer a surprise, but according to Hugo that did not take away from the message. “It is just a shame that Nicole died and we are only now receiving recognition that we did mean something.” The singer died unexpectedly in November 2022 after a fall, she had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for some time. “The loss is still great. There are days when I feel better, but I still feel very down on a regular basis,” he says.

Nicole & Hugo were supposed to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin in 1971 with the song ‘Goeiemorgen, morgen’, but just before the competition Nicole developed jaundice. They were hastily replaced by Jacques Raymond and Lily Castel. In 1973 they appeared on stage, then in Luxembourg, with ‘Baby, baby’. “It has been a wonderful period,” he finally reflects. “Nicole would also have been very proud of us.”