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Sophie & Magaly

© Nationaal Archief Den Haag

Group Members:Sophie Gilles
Magaly Gilles
Active:1980-1981
Nationality:French
   
National Finals:Luxembourg
ESC Entries:Papa pingouin (1980)
   
Website:

Biography

Sophie and Magaly were twin sisters and a musical duo hailing from France, born on 24 August 1962. The pair is most renowned for their performance for Luxembourg at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1980, where they showcased the song “Papa Pingouin”. Though they secured the ninth position in the contest, their song achieved immense commercial acclaim in France, recording sales of over one million copies.

After the success of “Papa Pingouin”, they released “Arlequin”. However, this single did not fare well in the market. Their collaboration with German producer Ralph Siegel and the Ariola label came to an end after this. Yet, producer Charles Talar decided to give the duo another opportunity. But their subsequent tracks, “Toi” and “Les nanas de Zorro”, did not make a mark either, leading to the disbandment of the duo.

Tragedy struck in the late ’80s when Magaly was diagnosed with HIV, eventually succumbing to AIDS in 1996. Sophie, battling severe depression, chose to live in the south of France until she passed away in 2019.

Entries

Country:Luxembourg
Year:1980
Language:French
   
Artist:Sophie & Magaly
Song:Papa pingouin
Lyrics:Pierre Delanoë
Jean-Paul Cara
Bernd Meinunger
Composer(s):Ralph Siegel
Conductor:Norbert Daum
   
Backings:a.o:
Jean-Paul Cara
Results 
Points:56
Position:9
Running order:4