Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest

Balance sheet

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Broadcasting company

, 

First participation

1956

Number of participations

61 (as of 2019)

Highest ranking

1 ( 1986 )

Highest Score

363 ( 2017 )

Lowest Score

0 ( 1962 , 1965 )

Points average (since first post)

48.23 (as of 2019)

Average points per voting country in the 12-point system

1.95 (as of 2019)

This article looks at the history of Belgium as a participant in the Eurovision Song Contest .

Regularity of participation and successes in competition

Blanche got Belgium's highest score to date in 2017

Belgium took part in the first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. However, apart from the Swiss victory, the remaining placements were never announced. From 1957 to 1965 Belgium was not very successful. Overall, the country took many below-average places during the period. There are also three last places in 1961, 1962 and 1965. Even if these last places were always shared with other countries. The best place in this period was 5th place out of ten participants in 1958.

From 1966 to 1969 Belgium was quite successful, reaching places in the top half of the field. Also in 1970 a place among the top ten was achieved with 8th place. However, measured against the number of participants from twelve countries, that was a rather average place. Belgium was less successful in the years that followed. In 1971 there was again only an average place with place 14. In 1972 Belgium was penultimate and in 1973 the country was again last. In 1974 there was again a place in the top ten with place 9. This was followed in 1975 again only in 15th place. From 1976 to 1978 Belgium was more successful and only got places in the top ten. In 1978 Belgium even finished second. In 1979 Belgium ended up in shared last place.

From 1980 fluctuations in Belgium's placements at the ESC have been recorded. In 1980 and 1983 the country was third from bottom, in 1981 it was 13th and in 1982 and 1984 there was a place in the top five with 4th and 5th respectively. In 1985 Belgium was then the sole last. Then came the surprise victory in 1986 with the then 13-year-old Sandra Kim and her song J'aime la vie . However, that was the last success for Belgium for a long time and it remained Belgium's only victory in the competition to this day.

From 1987 to 1992 Belgium only achieved placements in the middle or lower part of the table. In 1993 Belgium finished last for the seventh time. Due to the rules of the time, Belgium was not allowed to participate in 1994 and was therefore absent for the first time in the history of the competition in 38 years. But the return in 1995 was not very successful either. Belgium only came in 20th out of 23 participants. Also in 1996 there was only 16th place, so that Belgium was not allowed to participate again in 1997. In 1998, however, the return was successful. Mélanie Cohl reached 6th place and thus the best placement since the victory in 1986. In 1999, with 14th place, there was an average place again. In 2000 Belgium came in last, so that the country was not allowed to participate in 2001. When we returned in 2002, there was an average place again with 13th place. In 2003 it was surprisingly second. There were only three points missing to win.

In 2004, when the semi-finals were introduced, Belgium reached the final, but, like the Netherlands, was only able to achieve one place in the back of the table. Belgium participated every year from 2005 to 2009, but never qualified for the final. In the semifinals, the country only ended up in the back places. In 2010, Tom Dice was able to reach a final for the first time in six years. Belgium even won the semi-finals and reached 6th place in the final. In 2011 and 2012, however, the country was again unable to qualify for the final. In 2011, however, only two points were missing to qualify for the final. In 2013 Belgium was able to reach the final again and achieved a good result for Belgium with 12th place. In 2014, however, Belgium failed again in the semi-finals. However, Belgium was very successful for the next three years.

From 2015 to 2017, Belgium qualified for the final every year and placed in the top ten every year. In 2015 and 2017 Belgium took 4th place and in 2016 10th place respectively. In 2017, the highest number of points in Belgium was achieved with 363, after a new point record was set with 217 in 2015. After these three successful years, Belgium failed to qualify for the final in 2018 for the first time since 2014.

A total of 18 of the 60 entries ended up in the left half of the table. With eight last places, Belgium is one of the countries that came last most often. Like North Macedonia and Slovenia, the country missed the final ten times, making it one of the countries that most often failed to qualify for the final. Only Switzerland failed more often in the semifinals with eleven missed finals. So Belgium is one of the less successful countries in competition. Nevertheless, with 61 participations, Belgium is one of the longest participating countries in the competition. After all, the country has never voluntarily suspended and only had to take breaks in 1994, 1997 and 2001.

TV channel

The two Belgian TV channels, the French-speaking RTBF and the Dutch- speaking VRT , take turns participating every year, but the competition is broadcast each year by both channels with commentary in the respective language. The Walloon broadcaster first took part in 1956, and the change has been made steadily ever since. Was Belgium like For example, in 1994 the Flemish broadcaster was not entitled to participate due to a poor result in the previous year, but the French broadcaster only got a chance in 1995.

Overall, however, RTBF is significantly more successful than VRT: not only did the French-speaking channel achieve its only victory in 1986, but also two second places in 1978 and 2003. The Flemish channel's highest placements are sixth in 2010 and seventh 1967, 1969 and 1977. In addition, there are only two of the last eight places from RTBF, namely 1962 and 2000. Before the sixth place in 2010, there had been no Flemish place in the top ten for more than 30 years, reaching 1977 the group Dream Express took seventh place. On the other hand, from 2005 to 2009, as well as from 2011 and 2012, neither of the two channels managed to qualify for the final. This only changed in 2010 with a contribution from the VRT. In 2013 RTBF was able to qualify for this and achieved twelfth place. While VRT failed to qualify again in 2014, RTBF achieved the final again in 2015 and achieved the best result in years: fourth place with 217 points. The following year, the Flemish broadcaster achieved one of its best results with tenth place. In 2017, RTBF was ranked in the top 10 for the second time in a row, with another fourth place and the highest number of points in Belgium ever. VRT then failed again in the final qualification in 2018, but also RTBF 2019 for the first time since 2011.

List of posts

Color legend: - 1st place. - 2nd place. - 3rd place. - Equal points with last place. - Eliminated in the semifinals / in the qualification / in the Eastern European preliminary decision. - no participation / not qualified. - Cancellation of the Eurovision Song Contest.      

year	Interpreter	Title Music (M) and Text (T)	language	translation	final		Semi-final / qualification		National preliminary decision
					space	Points	space	Points
1956	Mony Marc	Le plus beau jour de ma vie M: Claude Alix; T: David Bee	French	The best day of my life	k. A. / 14	k. A.	Direct participation		internal selection
	Fud Leclerc	Messieurs les noyés de la Seine M: Jean Miret, Jacques Say; T: Robert Montal	French	You drowned lords of the Seine	k. A. / 14	k. A.
1957	Bobbejaan Schoepen	Straatdeuntje M: Harry Frekin; T: Eric Franssen	Dutch	Street melody	8/10	5			Eurosong 1957
1958	Fud Leclerc	Ma petite chat M / T: André Dohet	French	My little sweetheart	5/10	8th			Eurosong 1958
1959	Bob Benny	Hou toch van my M: Hans Flower; T: Ke Riema	Dutch	So love me	6/11	9			Eurosong 1959
1960	Fud Leclerc	Mon amour pour toi M: Jack Say; T: Robert Montal	French	My love for you	6/13	9			Eurosong 1960
1961	Bob Benny	September, gouden roos M: Hans Flower; T: Wim Brabants	Dutch	September, you golden rose	15/16	1			Eurosong 1961
1962	Fud Leclerc	Tone nom M: Eric Channe; T: Tony Golan	French	Your name	13/16	0			Eurosong 1962
1963	Jacques Raymond	Waarom M: Hans Flower; T: Wim Brabants	Dutch	Why	10/16	4th			Eurosong 1963
1964	Robert Cogoi	Près de ma rivière M: Robert Cogoi	French	Close to my river	10/16	2			internal selection
1965	Lize brand	As het weer lente is M: Jef van den Berg; T: Jaak Dreesen	Dutch	When it's spring again	15/18	0			Eurosong 1965
1966	Tonia	Un peu de poivre, un peu de sel M: Paul Quintens; T: Phil van Cauwenbergh	French	Some pepper, some salt	4/18	18th			Eurosong 1966
1967	Louis Neefs	Ik heb zorgen M: Paul Quintens; T: Phil van Cauwenbergh	Dutch	I am worried	7/17	8th			Eurosong 1967
1968	Claude Lombard	Quand tu reviendras M: Jo van Wetter; T: Roland Dero	French	When you come back	7/17	8th			Eurosong 1968
1969	Louis Neefs	Jennifer Jennings M: Paul Quintens; T: Phil van Cauwenbergh	Dutch	-	7/16	10			Eurosong 1969
1970	Jean Vallée	Viens l'oublier M / T: Jean Vallée	French	Come and forget him	8/12	5			Eurosong 1970
1971	Jacques Raymond & Lily Castel	Goeiemorgen, tomorrow M: Paul Quintens; T: Phil van Cauwenbergh	Dutch	Good morning	14/18	68			Eurosong 1971
1972	Serge & Christine Ghisoland	À la folie ou pas du tout M: Daniël Nelis, Bob Milan; T: Daniël Nelis	French	Idolatrous or not at all	17/18	55			Eurosong 1972
1973	Nicole & Hugo	Baby, Baby M: Ignace Baert; T: Erik Marijsse	Dutch a.	-	17/17	58			Eurosong 1973
1974	Jacques Hustin	Fleur de liberté M: Jacques Hustin; T: Franck F. Gérald	French	Flower of freedom	9/17	10			Eurosong 1974
1975	Ann Christy	Successful zijn M / T: Mary Boduin	Dutch, English	Could it be luck	15/19	17th			Eurosong 1975
1976	Pierre Rapsat	Judy et cie M: Pierre Rapsat; T: Eric van Hulse	French	Judy and Co.	8/18	68			Eurosong 1976
1977	Dream Express	A Million in One, Two, Three M / T: Luc Smets	English	A million in one, two, three	7/18	69			Eurosong 1977
1978	Jean Vallée	L'amour ça fait chanter la vie M / T: Jean Vallée	French	Love makes life sing	2/20	125			Eurosong 1978
1979	Micha Marah	Hey na na M: Charles Dumolin; T: Guy Beyers	Dutch	-	18/19	5			Eurosong 1979
1980	telex	Euro-Vision M / T: Michel Moers, Dan Lacksman, Marc Moulin	French	Eurovision	17/19	14th			Eurosong 1980
1981	Emly Starr	Samson M: Kick Dandy, Giuseppe Marchese; T: Kick Dandy, Penny Els	Dutch	-	13/20	40			Eurosong 1981
1982	Stella	Si tu aimes ma musique M: Fred Bekky, Rony Brack, Bobott; T: Jo May	French	If you like my music	4/18	96			Eurosong 1982
1983	pas de deux	Rendez-vous M: Walter Verdin; T: Paul Peyskens, Walter Verdin	Dutch	meeting	18/20	13			Eurosong 1983
1984	Jacques Zegers	Avanti la vie M: Henri Seroka; T: Jacques Zegers	French	Get on in life	5/19	70			Eurosong 1984
1985	Linda Lepomme	Laat me nu gaan M: Pieter Verlinden; T: Bert Vivier	Dutch	Let me go now	19/19	7th			internal selection
1986	Sandra Kim	J'aime la vie M: Jean-Paul Furnémont, Angelo Crisci; T: Rosario Marino Atria	French	I love the live	1  /20	176			Eurosong 1986
1987	Liliane Saint-Pierre	Soldiers of Love M: Gyuri Spies, Marc de Coen; T: Liliane Saint-Pierre	Dutch b.	Soldiers of love	11/20	56			Eurosong 1987
1988	Reynaert	Laissez briller le soleil M: Joseph Reynaerts, Dany Willem; T: Joseph Reynaerts, Philippe Anciaux	French	Let the sun shine	18/21	5			Eurosong 1988
1989	Ingeborg	Door de wind M / T: Stef Bos	Dutch	Through the wind	19/22	13			Eurosong 1989
1990	Philippe Lafontaine	Macédomienne M / T: Philippe Lafontaine	French	My Macedonian	12/22	46			internal selection
1991	Clouseau	Geef het op M / T: Kris Wauters, Jan Leyers, Koen Wauters, Bob Savenberg	Dutch	Give it up	16/22	23			Eurosong 1991
1992	Morgane	Nous on veut des violons M: Claude Barzotti; T: Anne-Marie Gaspard	French	We want violins	20/23	11			Eurosong 1992
1993	Barbara Dex	Someone as jij M: Marc Viegen; T: Tobana	Dutch	Someone like You	25/25	3			Eurosong 1993
1994	Not qualified
1995	Frédéric Etherlinck	La voix est libre M / T: Pierre Theunis	French	The voice is free	20/23	8th	Qualified directly for the final		Eurosong 1995
1996	Lisa del Bo	Liefde is a kaartspel M: John Terra, Siirak Brogden; T: Daniel Ditmar	Dutch	Love is a card game	16/23	22nd	12/29	45	Eurosong 1996
1997	Not qualified
1998	Mélanie Cohl	Dis oui M / T: Philippe Swan	French	say yes	6/25	122	Qualified directly for the final		Eurosong 1998
1999	Vanessa Chinitor	Like the Wind M / T: Ilia Beyers, J. Terra, Emma Hjälmås, Wim Claes	English	Like the wind	12/23	38			Eurosong 1999
2000	Nathalie Sorce	Envie de vivre M / T: Silvio Pezzuto	French	Lust to live	24/24	2			Eurosong 2000
2001	Not qualified
2002	Sergio & the Ladies	Sister M: Marc Paelinck; T: Dirk Paelinck	English	sister	13/24	33	Qualified directly for the final		Eurosong 2002
2003	Urban Trad	Sanomi M / T: Yves Barbieux	Constructed language	-	2 / 26th	165			internal selection
2004	Xandee	1 Life M: Marc Paelinck; T: Dirk Paelinck	English	One life	22/24	7th			Eurosong 2004
2005	Nuno Resende	Le grand soir M / T: Alec Mansion, Frédéric Zeitoun	French	The big evening	Eliminated		22/25	29	Eurosong 2005
2006	Kate Ryan	Je t'adore M / T: N. Kings, L. Greene, N. Bergwall, K. Ryan	English	I adore you	Eliminated		12/23	69	Eurosong 2006
2007	The KMG's	Love Power M: Paul Curtiz; T: Paul Curtiz, Sexyfire	English	The power of love	Eliminated		26/28	14th	internal selection
2008	Ishtar	O Julissi M: Michel Vangheluwe; T: Michel Vangheluwe	Constructed language ("Ishtar")	-	Eliminated		17/19	16	Eurosong 2008
2009	Copycat	Copycat M: Miam Monster Miam; T: Jacques Duvall	English	Imitators	Eliminated		17/18	1	internal selection
2010	Tom Dice	Me and My Guitar M: Tom Dice, Jeroen Swinnen; T: Tom Dice, Ashley Hickin	English	Me and my guitar	6/25	143	1/17	167	Eurosong 2010
2011	Witloof Bay	With Love Baby M / T: Benoît Giaux, RoxorLoops	English	With love baby	Eliminated		11/19	53	Eurosong 2011
2012	iris	Would you? M / T: Nina Sampermans, Jean Bosco Safari, Walter Mannaerts	English	Would you?	Eliminated		17/18	16	Eurosong 2012
2013	Roberto Bellarosa	Love Kills M / T: Jukka Immonen, Iain Farquharson, Andreas Anastasiou	English	Love kills	12/26	71	5/16	75	Eurosong 2013
2014	Axel Hirsoux	Mother M / T: Ashley Hicklin , Rafael Artesero	English	mother	Eliminated		14/16	28	Eurosong 2014
2015	Loïc Nottet	Rhythm Inside M / T: Loïc Nottet, Beverly Jo Scott	English	Rhythm within	4/27	217	2/16	149	internal selection
2016	Laura Tesoro	What's the Pressure M / T: Sanne Putseys , Louis Favre, Birsen Uçar	English	What is the pressure?	10/26	181	3/18	274	Eurosong 2016
2017	Blanche	City Lights M / T: Ellie Delvaux , Emmanuel Delcourt, Pierre Domoulin	English	City lights	4/26	363	4/18	165	internal selection
2018	Sennek	A Matter of Time M / T: Laura Groeseneken	English	A question of time	Eliminated		12/19	91	internal selection
2019	Eliot	Wake Up M / T: Pierre Dumoulin	English	Wake up	Eliminated		13/17	70	internal selection
2020	Hooverphonic	Release Me M: Alex Callier , Luca Chiaravalli; T: Alex Callier	English	let me go	Cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic by the EBU				internal selection
2021	Hooverphonic								internal selection

^a.in a few words in English, French and Spanish

^b. with English title

National preliminary decisions

The majority of the Belgian contributions were selected via the Eurosong preliminary decision . Only in 1956, 1964, 1985, 1990, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2015 and since 2017 did the state select its contributions internally. For many years the Flemish television broadcaster made use of elaborate national preliminary rounds, which usually contained semi-finals and in 2006 also quarter-finals. Many of the preliminary stages were national hits. B. Belle Pérez ' Un mundo bailando 2006. The French-speaking broadcaster, in contrast to the Dutch-speaking broadcaster, relied on preliminary decisions with very few participants. In 2012 and 2013 the interpreter was selected internally and the contribution was selected from two or three songs. In 2014 VRT hosted a large-scale Eurosong with three casting rounds, a callback round, three semi-finals and a final. Ruslana , the winner of the ESC 2004, was a member of the jury . The last preliminary decision took place in 2016 with five participants.

languages

According to the change of television channel, the language in which the contributions are presented usually also changes. The Walloon contributions were presented entirely in French up to and including 2000 and 2005, in 2003 Sanomi was presented in a fantasy language before one contribution was presented completely in English in the semifinals in 2007 and 2009. However, since 2009 Belgium has been singing in English throughout.

In the past, however , VRT has often used the opportunity to present its contribution in whole or in part in English, if the rules allowed it, e.g. B. 1975, when the song changed to English from the second verse, and in all Dutch contributions since 1999. In 1977, according to the rules, each country should have presented its song in the national language, but Belgium - like Germany - before the regulation was announced had already chosen his contribution, both countries were allowed to compete with an English-language song. In 2008 there was another song in imaginary language with O Julissi Na Jalini by Ishtar .

Some contributions were also recorded in the other national language as well as in the third national language German and English.

Commercial success

The only Belgian winner, Sandra Kim , hit the charts in several countries across Europe with her winning title J'aime la vie in 1986. It did best in the Netherlands (2nd place) and Austria (6th place). In Germany it only reached place 50, in Switzerland place 29.

Despite poor performances in 2004 and 2006, both Xandee and Kate Ryan's contributions became number one hits in Belgium. The Walloon contributions of recent years have been far less commercially successful. In the last few years the Belgian finalists reached the following positions: Tom Dice came in at number 1 in the Belgian and number 20 in the German charts. Roberto Bellarosa achieved 6th place in Belgium and 90th place in Germany with his contribution. In 2015 Loïc Nottet reached number 1 in Belgium, 21st in Germany, 31st in Great Britain and 50th in Austria.

Competitions held

year	city	venue	Moderation
1987	Brussels	Palais du Centenaire	Viktor Lazlo

List of conductors

year	conductor
1956	Léo Souris
1957	Willy Berking
1958	Dolf van der Linden
1959	Francis Bay
1960	Henri Segers
1961	Francis Bay
1962	Henri Segers
1963	Francis Bay
1964	Henri Segers
1965	Gaston Nuyts
1966	Jean Roderes
1967	Francis Bay
1968	Henri Segers
1969	Francis Bay
1970	Jack Say
1971	Francis Bay
1972	Henri Segers
1973	Francis Bay
1974	Pierre cipher
1975	Francis Bay
1976	Michel Bernholc
1977	Alyn Ainsworth
1978	Jean Musy
1979	Francis Bay
1980	1
1981	Giuseppe Marchese
1982	Jack Say
1983	Freddy Sunder
1984	Jo Carlier 2
1985	Curt-Eric Holmquist
1986	Jo Carlier
1987	Freddie Sunder
1988	Daniel Willem
1989	Freddie Sunder
1990	Ronny Brack
1991	Roland Verlooven
1992	Frank Fievez
1993	Bert Candries
1994	Not qualified
1995	Alec Mansion
1996	Bob Porter
1997	Not qualified
1998	1

¹ In 1980 and 1998 the Belgian contribution was presented without a conductor, instead the music was recorded from the tape.

²At the same time also music director in the same year

Scoring

The following countries received the most points from or awarded the most points to Belgium (as of 2019):

Most of the points awarded in the final space country Points 1  France 186  Netherlands 186 3  United Kingdom 184 4th  Sweden 172 5  Germany 169

Most in the final received points space country Points 1  Netherlands 173 2  France 135 3  Ireland 124 4th  Portugal 122 5  United Kingdom 119

Most of the points awarded space country Points 1  Netherlands 268 2  Sweden 218 3  Ireland 208 4th  France 186 5  United Kingdom 184

Most total obtained points space country Points 1  Netherlands 229 2  France 179 3  Portugal 178 4th  Ireland 162 5  Spain 151

Award of the highest rating

Since 1975 Belgium has given the highest number of points in the final to 21 different countries, seven times of which to Great Britain. In the semi-finals, Belgium gave 13 different countries the points, three of which went to Armenia and the Netherlands.

Highest rating (final) year country Place (final) 1975  Ireland 9 1976  United Kingdom 1 1977  United Kingdom 2 1978  Israel 1 1979  Spain 2 1980  Ireland 1 1981  Denmark 11 1982  Switzerland 3 1983  Yugoslavia 4th 1984  Ireland 2 1985  Norway 1 1986  Switzerland 2 1987  Ireland 1 1988  United Kingdom 2 1989  Austria 4th 1990  United Kingdom 6th 1991  Switzerland 5 1992  United Kingdom 2 1993  United Kingdom 2 1994 Not qualified 1995  Spain 2 1996  United Kingdom 8th 1997 Not qualified 1998  Netherlands 4th 1999  Netherlands 9 2000  Latvia 3 2001 Not qualified 2002  Spain 7th 2003  Turkey 1 2004  Turkey 4th 2005  Greece 1 2006  Armenia 8th 2007  Turkey 4th 2008  Armenia 4th 2009  Turkey 4th 2010  Greece 8th 2011  France 15th 2012  Sweden 1 2013  Netherlands 9 2014  Austria 1 2015  Sweden 1 2016  Australia (J) 2  Poland (T) 8th 2017  Sweden (J) 5  Portugal (T) 1 2018  Austria (J) 3  Netherlands (T) 18th 2019  Italy (J) 2  Netherlands (T) 1 2020 Competition canceled

Highest rating (semi-finals) year country Place (semifinals) 2004  Netherlands 6th 2005  Netherlands 14th 2006  Armenia 6th 2007  Turkey 3 2008  Armenia 2 2009  Turkey 2 2010  Iceland 3 2011  Sweden 1 2012  Russia 1 2013  Netherlands 1 2014  Hungary 3 2015  Armenia 7th 2016  Australia (J) 1  Poland (T) 6th 2017  Sweden (J) 3  Portugal (T) 1 2018  Austria (J) 4th  Ireland (T) 6th 2019  Australia (J) 1  Estonia (T) 4th 2020 Competition canceled

various

• Among the seven countries that took part in the first edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956, Belgium was the one that had to wait the longest for its first victory: in 1986 it took part for the 31st time.
• Belgium has never voluntarily given up participation, the dropouts in 1994, 1997 and 2001 all resulted from a poor position in the previous year.
• The country that Belgium has given the most points on average is Armenia: including the 2006 semi-finals, the country received an average of 11.3 points - twice 12 and once 10. Belgium has received the most points since 1975 from its Dutch neighbors - 6 .3 on average.
• Belgium is the country whose contributions were most frequently recorded - at least not by the artist who presented the song in the competition (both contributions 1956, 1962, 1971 and 1979). In addition, in the competition in general, the Belgian entry in 1979 was the last to fall under this category.
• Belgian singer Fud Leclerc is the only singer in the competition who has represented the same country in the same language four times.
• In the 2007 semi-finals, Belgium received a total of 14 points - 12 of which came from Georgia, which was participating for the first time .

Impressions

• 

  Fud Leclerc 1958

• 

  Xandee 2004

• 

  The KMG's 2007

• 

  Ishtar 2008

• 

  Tom Dice 2010

• 

  Roberto Bellarosa 2013

• 

  Axel Hirsoux 2014

• 

  Loïc Nottet 2015

• 

  Laura Tesoro 2016

• 

  Blanche 2017

• 

  Sennek 2018

• 

  Eliot 2019

Individual evidence

1. ^ Glen Webb: Belgians Create Feel Good Factor. Eurovision.tv, May 11, 2008, accessed May 27, 2008 . 
2. ↑ Detailed overview: conductors for Belgium. Retrieved June 24, 2018 .