This article needs additional citations for verification .(October 2021) |
Eurovision Song Contest 1981 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Participating broadcaster | Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT) | |||
Country | Belgium | |||
National selection | ||||
Selection process | Eurosong 1981 | |||
Selection date(s) | Heats 14 February 1981 21 February 1981 28 February 1981 Final 7 March 1981 | |||
Selected artist(s) | Emly Starr | |||
Selected song | "Samson" | |||
Selected songwriter(s) |
| |||
Finals performance | ||||
Final result | 13th, 40 points | |||
Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest | ||||
|
Belgium was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1981 with the song "Samson", written by Kick Dandy, Giuseppe Marchese, and Penny Els, and performed by Emly Starr. The Belgian participating broadcaster, Flemish Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT), selected its entry through a national final.
In 1980, Flemish broadcaster Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT) asked Toots Thielemans to write and accompany a song for the Eurovision Song Contest 1981. The BRT had requested a song in the style of his 1963 hit "Bluesette" and had planned for Sofie Verbruggen to sing the song. However, Thielamans was too busy with studio work and other performances to be able to compose a song. The BRT instead decided to host another edition of Eurosong. [1]
Eurosong 1981 consisted of three semi-finals, followed by a final on 7 March 1981. Public voting for the semi-finals opened one day after the third heat, after a show was broadcast featuring one minute of all 36 competing songs. The top ten songs qualified to the final. [1]
All the shows took place at the Amerikaans Theater in Brussels and were hosted by Luc Appermont. There was no live orchestra and all the music and some of the backing vocals had been pre-recorded. This led to the BRT receiving several complaints after the final, as many people believed that since the singing in the Eurovision Song Contest has to be live this should be reflected in the national final. [1]
A jury of people from BRT and SABAM chose 40 songs out of 134 submissions. Four songs were then removed from the competition as they were invalid and did not meet all the rules of Eurosong 1981. Among the chosen songs were future and past Dutch and Belgian representative Stella Maessen (Netherlands 1970 –as part of Hearts of Soul–, Belgium 1977 –as part of Dream Express–, and Belgium 1982) and Future Belgian representative Liliane Saint-Pierre (1987). [1]
Artist | Song | Songwriter(s) |
---|---|---|
Ann Michel | "Ik ben gelukkig" | Gilbert Neilburt |
Anne-Marie | "Twee is teveel" | Pol Kessels, Chris Bossers |
Bea Cardon | "Elke traan" | Ronald Driesen |
Cindy | "Ik ben verliefd" | Kick Dandy, Els Van den Abbeele |
Claire | "Zonder jou" | Guido Desimpelaere |
De Opera | "De opera" | Charles Dumolin, Greta Mestdagh |
Della Bosiers | "Mij kan niets meer gebeuren" | Della Bosiers, Jaak Dreesen |
Dorina | "Het ware geluk" | Gerda Chantraine |
Emly Starr | "Samson en Delilah" | Kick Dandy, Els Van den Abbeele |
Fancy Free | "De wereld is een showtoneel" | Roger Op 't Eynde, Hugo Van Diepenbeeck |
Gene Summer | "Zing het maar" | Heinz Bzik |
Jacky Lafon | "Dag meneer" | Paul Quintens, Phil Van Cauwenbergh |
Jef Elbers | "Gummibal" | Jef Elbers |
Jennifer | "In mijn armen" | Chris De Braekeleer, Pol Schoors |
Jo Vally | "De wereld draait" | Luc Smets, Jo De Clercq |
Johann Stollz | "Hello, Hello" | Rijosa, André Jean, Henk André |
John Sates | "Topconditie" | Jan Staes |
Johnny White | "Op dat kamertje voor ons twee" | Theo Scheveneels, Roland Serpierre |
Karin Setter | "Er was een tijd" | Mary Loss, Bobby Setter |
Kathy and Nancy | "Zaterdagavond" | Ghislain Slingeneyer |
Lester and Denwood | "Bonnie" | Charles Dumolin, Roland Vanblaere |
Liliane Saint-Pierre | "Brussel" | Sergio Popovski, Theo Vanhaeren |
Lode de Ceuster | "Dit wijsje vond ik in jouw ogen" | Lode de Ceuster |
Mark Manuel | "Marianne uit vroeger dagen" | Mark Uyttersprot |
Mary Helena | "Liefde is..." | Will Tura, Johan Verminnen |
Mary Scott | "Ik ga weg van jou" | Ghislain Slingeneyer |
Mik Deboes | "Ik kom terug" | Mik Deboes |
Nancy Dee | "Blij bij je te zijn" | Gus Roan, Mark Malyster |
Patty Devick | "Daar waar liefde is" | Antoine Verheyen |
Perte Totale | "Compagnie verliefd" | Wim De Craene |
Peter En Zout | "Eens was het anders" | Luc De Smet, Peter Hens, Walter Buts |
Ria Geraerts | "Dromen bouwen" | Ria Geraerts |
Rick Heylen Group | "Vanavond en vannacht" | Jan Boonen, Frank Dingenen |
Ronald | "Als men iemand zo bemint" | Ronald Driesen |
Stella | "Veel te veel" | Luc Smets, Jo De Clercq |
Venus | "Talisman" | Heidi Czajkowski, Rick Vervecken, Fred Beeckmans |
Three semi-finals were held with twelve songs in each, from which the top ten songs across the three semi-finals qualified to the final. The songs were not voted on at the time, but on the day after the third semi-final (1 March 1981) a recap of all 36 songs was broadcast and viewers were then invited to vote for ten of the songs. Voting took place by filling out and submitting a lottery-style form which cost 50 francs each. People were allowed to buy as many as they wanted and did not have to prove they had seen the semi-finals. Voters were not asked to vote for their ten favourite songs but the ten songs they believed would qualify. Prizes such as cars, holidays and home entertainment equipment were on offer to those who managed to forecast all ten qualifying songs correctly and out of the 184,052 lottery forms that were submitted, 36 successfully predicted the ten qualifying songs. [1] [2]
Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Della Bosiers | "Mij kan niets meer gebeuren" | Eliminated |
2 | Ronald | "Als men iemand zo bemint" | Eliminated |
3 | Jacky Lafon | "Dag meneer" | Eliminated |
4 | Jef Elbers | "Gummibal" | Eliminated |
5 | Fancy Free | "De wereld is een showtoneel" | Advanced |
6 | Jo Vally | "De wereld draait" | Eliminated |
7 | Anne-Marie | "Twee is teveel" | Eliminated |
8 | John Sates | "Topconditie" | Eliminated |
9 | De Opera | "De opera" | Advanced |
10 | Gene Summer | "Zing het maar" | Advanced |
11 | Perte Totale | "Compagnie verliefd" | Eliminated |
12 | Johnny White | "Op dat kamertje voor ons twee" | Eliminated |
Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
---|---|---|---|
13 | Jennifer | "In mijn armen" | Eliminated |
14 | Rick Heylen Group | "Vanavond en vannacht" | Eliminated |
15 | Stella | "Veel te veel" | Advanced |
16 | Dorina | "Het ware geluk" | Eliminated |
17 | Patty Devick | "Daar waar liefde is" | Eliminated |
18 | Cindy | "Ik ben verliefd" | Eliminated |
19 | Mary Helena | "Liefde is..." | Eliminated |
20 | Bea Cardon | "Elke traan" | Eliminated |
21 | Peter En Zout | "Eens was het anders" | Eliminated |
22 | Ria Geraerts | "Dromen bouwen" | Eliminated |
23 | Ann Michel | "Ik ben gelukkig" | Advanced |
24 | Claire | "Zonder jou" | Eliminated |
Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
---|---|---|---|
25 | Johann Stollz | "Hello, Hello" | Advanced |
26 | Nancy Dee | "Blij bij je te zijn" | Eliminated |
27 | Mary Scott | "Ik ga weg van jou" | Eliminated |
28 | Mark Manuel | "Marianne uit vroeger dagen" | Eliminated |
29 | Kathy and Nancy | "Zaterdagavond" | Eliminated |
30 | Emly Starr | "Samson en Delilah" | Advanced |
31 | Lester and Denwood | "Bonnie" | Advanced |
32 | Lode de Ceuster | "Dit wijsje vond ik in jouw ogen" | Eliminated |
33 | Mik Deboes | "Ik kom terug" | Eliminated |
34 | Venus | "Talisman" | Advanced |
35 | Liliane Saint-Pierre | "Brussel" | Advanced |
36 | Karin Setter | "Er was een tijd" | Eliminated |
The final was held on 7 March 1981 and before the first song was performed, Jo Van Backlé announced the numbers of the winning lottery forms and announced the prizes. The results were decided by a 7-member jury. The members of the jury were: chairman Nest Van der Eyken, Johnny Steggerda, Jef Van den Berg, Pieter Verlinden, Gaston Nuyts, Claude Blondeel, and Bob Boon. Only the winner was announced, but it was rumoured and later confirmed in an interview in 2020 with one of the jury members, Claude Blondeel, that Liliane Saint-Pierre came second. [1] [3]
Draw | Artist | Song | Place |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Fancy Free | "De wereld is een showtoneel" | — |
2 | De Opera | "De opera" | — |
3 | Gene Summer | "Zing het maar" | — |
4 | Stella | "Veel te veel" | — |
5 | Ann Michel | "Ik ben gelukkig" | — |
6 | Johann Stollz | "Hello, Hello" | — |
7 | Emly Starr | "Samson en Delilah" | 1 |
8 | Lester and Denwood | "Bonnie" | — |
9 | Venus | "Talisman" | — |
10 | Liliane Saint-Pierre | "Brussel" | 2 |
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. [4] The Belgian jury awarded its 12 points to Denmark. [5]
|
|
Belgium has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 65 times since making its debut as one of seven countries at the first contest in 1956. The only countries with more appearances are Germany (67), France (66) and the United Kingdom (66). Belgium have been absent only three times in total, in 1994, 1997, and 2001, due to low scores in the previous contests that relegated them from the contest. Belgium has won the contest once, in 1986.
Belgium participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with the song "Je t'adore" written by Kate Ryan, Niklas Bergwall, Niclas Kings and Lisa Greene. The song was performed by Kate Ryan. The Belgian entry for the 2006 contest in Athens, Greece was selected through the national final Eurosong '06, organised by the Flemish broadcaster Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie (VRT). The competition featured twenty-eight competing entries and consisted of seven shows. In the final on 19 February 2006, "Je t'adore" performed by Kate Ryan was selected as the winner via the votes of seven jury groups and a public televote.
Belgium participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 with the song "1 Life" written by Dirk Paelinck and Marc Paelinck. The song was performed by Xandee. The Belgian entry for the 2004 contest in Istanbul, Turkey was selected through the national final Eurosong '04, organised by the Flemish broadcaster Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie (VRT). The competition featured twenty-eight competing entries and consisted of five shows. In the final on 15 February 2004, "1 Life" performed by Xandee was selected as the winner via the votes of five voting groups.
Belgium was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1993 with the song "Iemand als jij", composed by Marc Vliegen, with lyrics by Marc Dex, and performed by Barbara Dex. The Belgian participating broadcaster, Flemish Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep Nederlandstalige Uitzendingen (BRTN), selected its entry through the national final Eurosong '93.
Belgium was represented by Ingeborg, with the song "Door de wind", at the 1989 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place in Lausanne, Switzerland on 6 May. Ingeborg was the winner of the Belgian national final for the contest, held in Brussels on 18 March.
Belgium was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1987 with the song "Soldiers of Love", written by Gyuri Spies, Marc de Coen, and Liliane Saint-Pierre, and performed by Saint-Pierre herself. The Belgian participating broadcaster, Flemish Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT), selected its entry through a national final. In addition, Walloon Radio-télévision belge de la Communauté française (RTBF) was the host broadcaster and staged the event at the Centenary Palace in Brussels, after winning the previous edition with the song "J'aime la vie" by Sandra Kim.
Belgium was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 with the song "Liefde is een kaartspel", composed by John Terra and Siirak Brogden, with lyrics by Daniël Ditmar, and performed by Lisa del Bo. The Belgian participating broadcaster, Flemish Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep Nederlandstalige Uitzendingen (BRTN), selected its entry through a national final.
Belgium was represented by Pas de Deux, with the song "Rendez-vous", at the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place in Munich on 30 April. The 1983 preselection has gone down as the most controversial in Belgian Eurovision history due to the extreme hostility shown by the audience towards Pas de Deux's victory.
Belgium was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1973 with the song "Baby, Baby", composed by Ignace Baert, with lyrics by Erik Marijsse, and performed by Nicole and Hugo. The Belgian participating broadcaster, Flemish Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT), selected its entry through a national final. Nicole and Hugo had won the 1971 national final with the song "Goeiemorgen, morgen", but days before the contest Nicole had fallen ill and was unable to travel to host city Dublin, so Jacques Raymond and Lily Castel had been drafted in as last-minute replacements.
Belgium was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1977 with the song "A Million in One, Two, Three", written by Luc Smets, and performed by Dream Express. The Belgian participating broadcaster, Flemish Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT), selected its entry through a national final.
Belgium was represented by Linda Lepomme, with the song "Laat me nu gaan", at the 1985 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place in Gothenburg, Sweden on 4 May. Flemish broadcaster BRT was responsible for selection of the 1985 Belgian entrant and, unusually for BRT at the time, opted for internal selection rather than a public final. The selection process was fraught with problems before the last-minute announcement of singer and song was made.
Belgium was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1975 with the song "Gelukkig zijn", written by Mary Boduin, and performed by Ann Christy. The Belgian participating broadcaster, Flemish Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT), selected its entry through a national final. Ann Christy had previously taken part in the 1971 and 1973 national finals. Future Belgian representatives Micha Marah (1979) and Dream Express (1977) also took part in the national final.
Belgium was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1979 with the song "Hey Nana", composed by Charles Dumolin, with lyrics by Guy Beyers, and performed by Micha Marah. The Belgian participating broadcaster, Flemish Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT), selected its entry through a national final, after having previously selected the performer internally.
Belgium was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1971 with the song "Goeiemorgen, morgen", composed by Paul Quintens, with lyrics by Phil van Cauwenbergh, and performed by Jacques Raymond and Lily Castel. The Belgian participating broadcaster, Flemish Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT), selected its entry through a national final.
Belgium was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1969 with the song "Jennifer Jennings", composed by Paul Quintens, with lyrics by Phil van Cauwenbergh, and performed by Louis Neefs. The Belgian participating broadcaster, Flemish Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT), selected its entry through a national final, after having previously selected the performer internally. Neefs had previously represented Belgium in 1967.
Belgium was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1963 with the song "Waarom?", composed by Hans Flower, with lyrics by Wim Brabants, and performed by Jacques Raymond. The Belgian participating broadcaster, Flemish Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT), selected its entry through a national final. Raymond had previously finished second in the 1961 national final, and would later represent the country in a duet with Lily Castel in 1971.
Belgium was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1965 with the song "Als het weer lente is", composed by Jef van den Berg, with lyrics by Jaak Dreesen, and performed by Lize Marke. The Belgian participating broadcaster, Flemish Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT), selected its entry through a national final, after having previously selected the performer internally. Marke had previously finished second in the 1963 national final.
Belgium was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1967 with the song "Ik heb zorgen", composed by Paul Quintens, with lyrics by Phil van Cauwenbergh, and performed by Louis Neefs. The Belgian participating broadcaster, Flemish Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT), selected its entry through a national final. Neefs would represent Belgium again in 1969.
Belgium was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1961 with the song "September, gouden roos", composed by Hans Flower, with lyrics by Wim Brabants, and performed by Bob Benny. The Belgian participating broadcaster, Flemish Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT), selected its entry through a national final. Benny had previously represented Belgium in the 1959 contest.
Belgium was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with the song "Because of You", written by Stef Caers and Jaouad Alloul, and performed by Caers himself under his stage name Gustaph. The Belgian participating broadcaster, Flemish Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie (VRT), organised the national final Eurosong 2023 to select the Belgian entry for the contest. The competition featured seven competing acts and consisted of five songclub shows and a final. In the final on 14 January 2023, "Because of You" performed by Gustaph was selected as the winner via the votes of a fifteen-member jury panel and a public vote.