Johnny Logan did it again! To be more specified, 'Mr. Eurovision' managed to reach the semi-finals of the Dutch Nationaal Songfestival again. The song, entitled How does it feel, will be performed by Tony Neef, Stephen Stephanou, Laura Vlasblom and Birgitte Nijman.

Esctoday.com can report exclusively that Johnny Logan wrote an up-tempo song for the Dutch selection, recorded by the bigband of the Royal Air Force Orchestra, in the style of Wham. Something we are not used of Logan, as he's famous for his sensitive ballads.

It's not a coincidence these people submitted a song together. Johnny Logan, Tony Neef, Stephen Stephanou, Laura Vlasblom and Birgitte Nijman feature in the theatre- and music show Songfestival in Concert, which will tour through the Netherlands in 2005. “Of course it's good promotion for the show to have a song in the Dutch selection, but that was not the main reason to submit an entry”, Ron Geurts of Songfestival in Concert told us.

The team behind the song would like to see the bigband playing live during the performance: “From the organisation of Nationaal Songfestival we heard that this is not possible, as all songs have to be recorded on tape and only six people are allowed on stage. You can write down that, although we understand it, we are disappointed to know this is not possible”, Geurts said.

Tony Neef participated in the Dutch selection in 1990 (semi-final with Alles) and 1992 (together with Hella Koffeman, with the song Nooit geweten), Birgitte Nijman did the same in 1989, as part of the duo Two hearts singing Johnny en Mandy. In 1986 and 1992, Laura Vlasbom participated in Nationaal Songfestival. In 1986 she won, as part of the group Frizzle Sizzle, and she represented the Netherlands with Alles heeft ritme at the Eurovision Song Contest in Bergen, Norway, together with Karen Vlasblom, Marjon Keller and Mandy Huydts.

Songwriter and composer Johnny Logan won the Eurovision Song Contest for Ireland twice as singer, in 1980 with What's another year and in 1987 with Hold me now, and once as composer of Linda Martin's Why me. In 1984 he composed Terminal 3 for Linda Martin, reaching the second place. In 2004, Logan wrote The story of my life for Arno Kolenbrander, which failed to survive the Dutch semi-finals.

Some other names already known for the Dutch selection are Dennis & Renée, Meander (with a song in Frisian), Rachel Kramer & Willem Nijkerk, Nadeem Ilahibaks, True Colours and Barbara Lok. Dennis was part of the group Suzy 'n' the Hi-Rollers, that finished 6th in the Nationaal Songfestival 2004, Barbara Lok already participated in the semi-finals in 2003.