Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 1981

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Eurovision Song Contest 1981
CountryFlag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
National selection
Selection processEurosong
Selection date(s)Heats
14 February 1981
21 February 1981
28 February 1981
Final
7 March 1981
Selected entrant Emly Starr
Selected song"Samson"
Selected songwriter(s)
  • Kick Dandy
  • Giuseppe Marchese
  • Penny Els
Finals performance
Final result13th, 40 points
Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄198019811982►

Belgium was represented by Emly Starr, with the song "Samson", at the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place in Dublin on 4 April.

Contents

Before Eurovision

Eurosong

The Belgian preselection consisted of three heats, followed by the final on 7 March 1981. All the shows took place at the Amerikaans Theater in Brussels, hosted by Luc Appermont. Future Belgian representatives Stella Maessen (1982) and Liliane Saint-Pierre (1987) also took part in the selection.

Heats

Three heats were held with twelve songs in each, from which the top ten songs across the heats went forward to the final. The songs were not voted on at the time, but after the final heat a recap of all 36 songs was broadcast and viewers were then invited to vote for ten of the songs. Voting took place by the unusual means of filling out and submitting a lottery-style form. Prizes such as cars, holidays and home entertainment equipment were on offer to those who managed to forecast all ten qualifying songs correctly, and it is believed that over 180,000 forms were sent in. This led to some criticism that viewers were being asked to vote not for their own favourite songs, but rather for those which they thought would have the widest appeal to other people. [1]

Heat 1 – 14 February 1981
DrawArtistSongResult
1Della Bosiers"Mij kan niets meer gebeuren"Eliminated
2Ronald"Als men iemand zo bemint"Eliminated
3 Jacky Lafon "Dag meneer"Eliminated
4Jef Elbers"Gummibal"Eliminated
5Fancy Free"De wereld is een showtoneel"Advanced
6Jo Vally"De wereld draait"Eliminated
7Anne-Marie"Twee is teveel"Eliminated
8John Sates"Topconditie"Eliminated
9De Opera"De opera"Advanced
10Gene Summer"Zing het maar"Advanced
11Perte Totale"Compagnie verliefd"Eliminated
12Johnny White"Op dat kamertje voor ons twee"Eliminated
Heat 2 – 21 February 1981
DrawArtistSongResult
1Jennifer"In mijn armen"Eliminated
2Rick Heylen Group"Vanavond en vannacht"Eliminated
3 Stella "Veel te veel"Advanced
4Dorina"Het ware geluk"Eliminated
5Patty Devick"Daar waar liefde is"Eliminated
6Cindy"Ik ben verliefd"Eliminated
7Mary Helena"Liefde is..."Eliminated
8Bea Cardon"Elke traan"Eliminated
9Peter En Zout"Eens was het anders"Eliminated
10Ria Geraerts"Dromen bouwen"Eliminated
11Ann Michel"Ik ben gelukkig"Advanced
12 Claire "Zonder jou"Eliminated
Heat 3 – 28 February 1981
DrawArtistSongResult
1Johann Stollz"Hello Hello"Advanced
2Nancy Dee"Blij bij je te zijn"Eliminated
3Mary Scott"Ik ga weg van jou"Eliminated
4Mark Manuel"Marianne uit vroeger dagen"Eliminated
5Kathy and Nancy"Zaterdagavond"Eliminated
6 Emly Starr "Samson en Delilah"Advanced
7Lester and Denwood"Bonnie"Advanced
8Lode de Ceuster"Dit wijsje vond ik in jouw ogen"Eliminated
9Mik Deboes"Ik kom terug"Eliminated
10Venus"Talisman"Advanced
11 Liliane Saint-Pierre "Brussel"Advanced
12Karin Setter"Er was een tijd"Eliminated

Final

The final was held on 7 March 1981 with the winning song chosen by a 7-member "expert" jury. Only the winner was announced, but it is understood that Liliane Saint-Pierre came second. [2]

Final – 7 March 1981
DrawArtistSongPlace
1Fancy Free"De wereld is een showtoneel"
2De Opera"De opera"
3Gene Summer"Zing het maar"
4 Stella "Veel te veel"
5Ann Michel"Ik ben gelukkig"
6Johann Stollz"Hello, Hello"
7 Emly Starr "Samson en Delilah"1
8Lester and Denwood"Bonnie"
9Venus"Talisman"
10 Liliane Saint-Pierre "Brussel"2

At Eurovision

Prior to the contest, the song title was shortened to "Samson". On the night of the final Starr performed 16th in the running order, following Portugal and preceding Greece. At the close of the voting "Samson" had received 40 points (the highest being 8 from Yugoslavia), placing Belgium 13th of the 20 entries. [3] The Belgian jury awarded its 12 points to Denmark. [4]

Voting

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References

  1. ESC National Finals database - Belgium semi-finals 1981
  2. ESC National Finals database - Belgium final 1981
  3. "Final of Dublin 1981". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  4. ESC History - Belgium 1981
  5. 1 2 "Results of the Final of Dublin 1981". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.