CHRISTOFF

Born Christoff de Bolle on June 18, 1976, Belgian pop crooner Christoff rose to prominence as one of Belgium’s most recognizable musical exports across the continent after twice serving as his country’s entrant in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1993 and again in 2002. Launching his solo career, he first entered the charts in 1991 via the single “Ik Voel Me Zo Goed” (“I Feel So Good”). Greater commercial traction arrived through collaborations with his sister Lindsay, herself an established pop singer; their early-nineties pairings “Love Is More Than One Word” and “Through Rain and Wind” each hovered near the upper reaches of the charts. Following his 1993 Eurovision appearance, Christoff resumed releasing solo singles in Belgium and maintained consistent chart presence over the ensuing decade, highlighted by another Top Five duet with Lindsay.

Marking a decade on the stage in 2001, he issued a career-spanning compilation alongside a fresh hit single. Returning to Eurovision in 2002, Christoff failed to advance beyond the preliminaries, yet continued scoring successes; his 2007 album Blauwe Ogen (Blue Eyes) peaked at number three on the Belgian album chart. The following year Zeven Zonden climbed to number two, initiating a run of number-one releases that began with 2009’s 1001 Nachten and the compilation Alle Hits. Subsequent chart-toppers included the 2011 set Christoff & Vrienden, its 2013 sequel Christoff & Vrienden, Vol. 2, and 2014’s Altijd Onderweg. The streak paused with the 2015 holiday release Kerstmis met Jou, which still reached number three, before 2016’s Hou Me Vast restored him to the summit.