The Starlings | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Antwerp, Belgium |
| Genres | Pop |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Labels | Universal Music Group |
| Members | Tom Dice Kato Callebaut |
The Starlings are a Belgian musical duo founded in 2018, consisting of Tom Dice and Kato Callebaut. The group released their first single "Mine" in 2019. In 2020, the couple participated in the sixth season of Liefde voor muziek . [1] In May 2020, they released their debut album Don't Look Back.
The two members of the group are well-known artists in Flanders. Dice previously represented Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 with the song Me and My Guitar, while Callebaut participated in the fourth edition of the Flemish talent show Idool , finishing second. [2] They met in 2013 when they recorded the single "Breaking Up Slow" together, and officially founded The Starlings in 2018. [3]
In 2020, the duo took part in the Flemish TV show Liefde voor muziek , where they received praise for their reinterpretation of the song "Liefdeskapitein" by K3. [4] In the same year they released their debut album Don't Look Back, [5] which reached number 2 in the Flemish chart, selling 10,000 copies and obtaining a gold record. [6] Their second album, Seaside, reached number 5 in the Flemish charts in 2022. [7]
In November 2022, they were announced as one of seven participants in Eurosong 2023, the Belgian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. [8] They chose to perform in the final with the song "Rollercoaster". They came in second place with 277 points (94 points from the juries and 183 points from the televoting). [9] [10] After the show, Dice complained about the juries for not respecting them. [11]
Belgium has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 64 times since making its debut as one of seven countries at the first contest in 1956. The only countries with the same number or more appearances are Germany (66), France (65) and the United Kingdom (65). 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.
Natalia Willy Druyts, known mononymously as Natalia, is a Belgian singer. She became known in Flanders during the VTM program Idool 2003, in which she finished in second place. She is currently a coach in Flemish TV-programs The Voice van Vlaanderen, The Voice Kids and The Voice Senior.
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.
Thor Salden, better known as Thor!, is a former child singer. Salden rose to fame in 2006, being the Belgian contestant at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with "Een tocht door het donker". The song topped the Flemish Ultratop charts for one week. Salden withdrew from the stage at the age of 11.
Belgium participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999 with the song "Like the Wind" written by Ilia Beyers, John Terra, Emma Philippa-Hjälmås and Wim Claes. The song was performed by Vanessa Chinitor. The Belgian entry for the 1999 contest in Jerusalem, Israel was selected through the national final Eurosong '99, organised by the Flemish broadcaster Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie (VRT). The competition featured twenty-five competing entries and consisted of three shows. In the final on 28 February 1999, "Je t'adore" performed by Kate Ryan was selected as the winner via the votes of three televoting groups and two jury groups.
Belgium participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 with the song "Sister" written by Dirk Paelinck and Marc Paelinck. The song was performed by the group Sergio and the Ladies. The Belgian entry for the 2002 contest in Tallinn, Estonia was selected through the national final Eurosong 2002, organised by the Flemish broadcaster Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie (VRT). VRT returned to the Eurovision Song Contest after a one-year absence following their relegation from 2001 as one of the bottom six countries in the 2000 contest. The competition featured twenty-eight competing entries and consisted of five shows. In the final on 17 February 2002, "Sister" performed by Sergio @ the Ladies was selected as the winner via the votes of five voting groups. The group was renamed as Sergio and the Ladies for the Eurovision Song Contest.
Belgium was represented in the Eurovision Song Contest 1957, on 3 March 1957, by Bobbejaan Schoepen with the song "Straatdeuntje", written by Harry Frekin and Eric Franssen and performed in Dutch. The song was chosen during a national final with Schoepen performing all entries.
Belgium participated at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 with the song "Me and My Guitar" written by Tom Dice, Jeroen Swinnen and Ashley Hicklin. The song was performed by Tom Dice, who was internally selected by the Flemish broadcaster Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie (VRT) in November 2009 to represent the nation at the 2010 contest in Oslo, Norway. The song, "Me and My Guitar", was presented to the public on 7 March 2010 during the television special Eurosong 2010: een song voor Tom Dice!.
Tom Eeckhout, known professionally as Tom Dice, is a Belgian singer-songwriter. He finished runner-up in the Flemish version of The X Factor in 2008 using his birth name Tom Eeckhout, but soon after changed his name taking the stage name Tom Dice.
Belgium was represented by Lize Marke, with the song "Als het weer lente is", at the 1965 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 20 March in Naples. Marke was chosen internally to be the Belgian representative, and the song was chosen in the national final on 13 February. Marke had previously finished second in the Belgian preselection in 1963.
Astrid Roelants, known professionally as Ameerah, is a Belgian singer and songwriter based in Los Angeles, United States.
Belgium participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song "What's the Pressure" written by Sanne Putseys, Louis Favre, Birsen Uçar and Yannick Werther. The song was performed by Laura Tesoro. The Belgian entry for the 2016 contest in Stockholm, Sweden was selected through the national final Eurosong 2016, organised by the Flemish broadcaster Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie (VRT). The competition featured five competing acts and consisted of two presentation shows and a final. In the final on 17 January 2016, the winner was selected over two rounds of voting: the first selected the top two via the votes of ten international jury groups and a public televote, while the second selected the winner solely by public televoting. "What's the Pressure" performed by Laura Tesoro was the winner after placing first during both rounds of voting.
Laura Tesoro is a Belgian singer and actress. She represented Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song "What's the Pressure". Tesoro is also known for portraying Charlotte on the Flemish soap opera Familie and placing second on season three of The Voice van Vlaanderen. The singer is also one of the four coaches on The Voice Kids.
Het Grote Songfestivalfeest is a Dutch television concert programme starring artists of the Eurovision Song Contest, produced by PilotStudio in collaboration with the Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS and held at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam. Three editions of the show have been held, on 15 December 2019, 17 November 2022 and 16 November 2023.
Sean Dhondt is a Belgian musician and presenter. He became known as the singer of the Belgian pop punk group Nailpin from 2001 until 2009 and as a video jockey on channels TMF and JIM. He has also been the lead vocalist of the Manoeuvres (2014–2019) and a presenter on VTM and Qmusic.
Michaja Nicolaï, known simply as Mia Nicolai, is a Dutch singer, songwriter and actress. She represented the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 alongside Dion Cooper with the song "Burning Daylight".
Belgium participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool, United Kingdom, with the song "Because of You" performed by Gustaph. The Belgian entry for the 2023 contest was selected through the national final Eurosong 2023, organised by the Flemish broadcaster Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie (VRT). 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.
Chérine Mroue, known mononymously as Chérine, is a Belgian singer and songwriter.
"Because of You" is a song by Belgian singer Gustaph, released as a single on 13 January 2023. The song represented Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 after winning Eurosong 2023, Belgium's national final for that year's Eurovision Song Contest. At the contest in finished in 7th place at the final, with 182 points. It reached number two on the Belgium Singles Charts and was certified Platinum. Elsewhere it reached the charts in Australia, Lithuania, Sweden, Netherlands, and UK.
Stef Caers, known professionally as Gustaph, is a Belgian singer-songwriter, producer and vocal coach. He represented Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool, United Kingdom with the song "Because of You" and finished 7th place.
