Belgian singer le Grand Jojo, author of the hit We are thirsty at the turn of the 1980s, died on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, December 1 at the age of 85 from a long illness, a relative announced on social networks.
Known for his eternal mustache and his jovial air, this native of Brussels was nicknamed “the king of the atmosphere”, with songs formatted to party, dance in farandole or support the national football team in bistros.
Perhaps his best-known song tells the story of a former legionary who feared dying of thirst in the desert: “Chef a little glass we are thirsty, a small beer we are thirsty!”. Composed in 1979, it ensured its notoriety as far as France, especially in the north of the country. The Grand Jojo was known to supporters of Lille OSC for having sung an anthem of this professional football club in the 1980s.
“Belgium is losing a great man of song … The King of the atmosphere, the popular icon, is no more”, announced on the artist’s Facebook page the one who presents himself as his “friend-archivist”, Cyril Forthomme.
Le Grand Jojo, whose real name is Jules Jean Vanobbergen, “it is the joy that crosses generations of Belgians. A lover of Belgium and the Belgians”, tweeted for his part the mayor of Brussels, Philippe Close.
His most famous songs, We’re thirsty, Julius Caesar or E Viva Mexico, were to be broadcast on the Grand Place in the Belgian capital during a public tribute on December 1 at the end of the day.
E Viva Mexico was the anthem of the Belgian national team for its participation in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. The Red Devils had finished fourth in the competition, one of the best memories for football fans in Belgium.
At the end of June, the Grand Jojo, or “Lange Jojo” for the Dutch-speaking part of the country, announced that he was ending his career, on the eve of his 85 years.