Jane Bogaert

Early Life and Modeling Career

Jane Bogaert was born on August 5, 1967, in Solothurn, Switzerland. She first entered the public eye as a beauty queen in the mid-1980s. In 1986, at age 19, she was crowned Miss Switzerland. Despite her modeling fame, Bogaert’s true passion was music. Jane pursued formal musical training after her pageant days. She studied at the Biel Conservatory in Switzerland and later at the Munich Music School in Germany. Equipped with professional training, she began performing and soon toured internationally as a singer, building valuable stage experience across Europe and beyond.

Musical Beginnings and Television Projects

By the late 1980s, Jane Bogaert was actively working in music and television. In 1989, she recorded “Children of Love,” the title song for the ZDF television series Laura und Luis, marking one of her first notable releases. Around the same time, she contributed to film soundtracks. For example, she performed a song for the 1989 musical film Sternberg – Shooting Star, showcasing her vocal talent in a movie setting. Bogaert’s early career was diverse. She was not only singing but also dancing and acting in various productions. The singer collaborated with German composer Eberhard Schoener on an innovative “virtual opera” project (called VirtOpera). 

Eurovision Song Contest 2000

Jane Bogaert is best known to Eurovision fans for representing Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2000. In May 2000, she took the stage in Stockholm with the Italian-language pop ballad “La vita cos’è” (“What Is Life?”). She earned her spot by winning the Swiss national selection that year. Her Eurovision performance was a high-profile moment in her career. In the grand final, Bogaert delivered a show backed by, among others, Italian star Al Bano. Despite a strong performance, the song finished 20th out of 24 entries in the final. 

Collaborations and International Tours

After Eurovision, Jane Bogaert continued to thrive as a live performer and collaborator. Throughout the 2000s, she frequently toured with well-known artists across different genres. She joined soul singer Joss Stone on stage at a festival performance, and toured with artists like the late Jimi Jamison (lead vocalist of Survivor) and Swiss pop sensation DJ BoBo. Bogaert even reunited with Eurovision legends  for live concerts. In addition to touring, she worked as a vocalist or session singer for an array of international stars. Over the years, she has collaborated with pop icons and rock legends such as Robbie Williams, Lionel Richie, Ronan Keating, Anastacia, and James Arthur. Her rock credentials are notable too. She has performed with or for artists like Nina Hagen and Toto Cutugno, and even contributed vocals for the German rock band Dominoe in 2002. 

Recording Career and Solo Album

While much of Jane Bogaert’s work was as a featured or backing singer, she also stepped forward with her own music. In 2010, she released her first full solo album, “Fifth Dimension”. The album was produced by German guitarist Robert Papst and recorded in Bavaria. Fifth Dimension had a melodic rock style and featured an impressive lineup of guest contributors. Several renowned musicians played on the album, including John “Rhino” Edwards of Status Quo on bass and Charlie Morgan (who has drummed for Elton John and Tina Turner) on drums. The record also included special guest vocal appearances by American rock singers Jeff Scott Soto and Joe Lynn Turner, who performed duets with Bogaert.

These high-profile collaborations gave the album a rich sound and drew attention from rock music circles. Upon release, Fifth Dimension demonstrated Bogaert’s vocal range and songwriting skills. This was a proud accomplishment for Bogaert, coming a decade after her Eurovision appearance, and it expanded her discography with original material.

Television, Voice Acting and Recent Work

Beyond live performances and studio recordings, Jane Bogaert has been active in television and voice acting, further broadening her career. She appeared on numerous European TV programs over the years, often as a musical guest. For example, she performed on Germany’s popular entertainment show “Wetten, dass..?” alongside other artists, and took part in the ZDF network’s live music show Fernsehgarten. In Switzerland, she was featured on variety shows like Benissimo and made appearances related to talent programs such as MusicStars and The Voice of Switzerland. 

In recent years, Bogaert has also built a reputation as a voice-over artist and dubbing singer for films. She has lent her voice (in German, and sometimes other languages) to characters in major film productions. Notably, in 2020 she provided the singing voice for the character Ms. Johnston in the Netflix musical film Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, taking over the role’s vocals for the German-language version.

Her voice can be heard in many animated movies and family films. She voiced a singing Muse in Disney’s Hercules, and contributed to the German soundtracks of animated hits like Trolls, The Princess and the Frog (German title: Küss den Frosch), The Little Mermaid (Arielle), Toy Story, Stuart Little, The Emperor’s New Groove (Ein Königreich für ein Lama), and more. This voice acting work shows another side of Bogaert’s talent and has made her a familiar voice to children and families in German-speaking countries.

Current Endeavors

Today, Bogaert is still active in music. She works as a vocal coach and performance coach. Bogaert helps train new singers, and continues to do session singing in her studio in Switzerland. She occasionally performs live.