The Dutch national final for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest is about to be held. The Topper will present all six entries and the winner will be chosen by televoting (2/3) and a jury (1/3).
A WEBCAST is provided on eurovision.tv here.
Another WEBCAST is provided here in case the link above does not work for you.
Entries
- Our Night (Rutger Kanis, Robert Dorn)
- No one loves me like you (Rob le Cardinale)
- Shine (Bas van den Heuvel, Ger van de Westelaken)
- Angels of the light (Edwin de Groot, Edwin van Hoevelaak, Bruce R.F. Smith)
- Everybody can be a star (Ferdi Bolland)
- Three is the magic number (Kees Tel, Christiaan Hulsebos)
LIVE
The show has started. We begin with a colourfoul dance performance to instrumental versions of former Dutch entries including I see a star (1974) and Ding-a-dong (1975). The host informs the audience about the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest and the fact that the Netherlands will take part in the second semi final on 14th May. He promises an exciting evening – so be prepared!
The jury is introduced. It isformed of Tatjana Simic (actress and singer), Daniel Dekker (radio dj), Emile Hartkamp (lyricist and producer), Getty Kaspers (leading singer of the 1975 winning song Ding a dong) and Tony Berk (managing director of a record company and former dj). The jury will have a third say in the votingand televoting will decide the remaining two third of the result.
We now can watch a retrospective of the career of the group that will represent the Netherlands in 2009. We are informed that they are one of the most succesful Dutch stage acts right now. We also gotta warn that you will probably have to see some outifts tonight that are beyond imagination.
1. Our Night (Rutger Kanis, Robert Dorn)
The songs follows the typical structure of a stage song starting with a high-flown instrumental intro, a slow and calm introduction and then turning up-tempo with many pitching notes. The vocals are flawless as expected, the simple performance works with the song and the silver suits are surprisingly reserved.
2. Angels of the light (Edwin de Groot, Edwin van Hoevelaak, Bruce R.F. Smith)
The second song follows the exact same structure as the first one, but the arrangement is a bit more in a rock kind of way. The idea of illustrating the title of the song by a woman dressed as an angel hanging from the ceiling seems a bit half-harted and could have been better developped. Another stage song, that is still a little bit more modern than the first one. The jury is rather positive about the entry saying that it has an "international aura".
The first interval acts sees the performance of a medley of Eurovision Song Contest entries: Eres tú, the Spanish entry in 1973 and the song Power to all our friend by Cliff Richard from the UK that finished right behind it. His 1968 entry Congratulations is up next. We stay in the United Kingdom with Save your kisses for me, the 1976 winning song, the most sold Eurovision Song Contest winning song ever (even beating Waterloo). Johnny Logan won the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest with What's another year, which is up next. In 1984, Diggiloo-diggiley won for Sweden while Hallelujah did so for Israel in 1979.
3. Everybody can be a star (Ferdi Bolland)
The suits are becoming… more outstanding. The structure of this song is a bit different from the first two ones, although it is of course in the same genre. In the 1970s this might have been succesful, but if this could do well in 2009? It is the most simpletune so far and the lyrics are very old-fashioned. The jury is very modest with the reaction simple stating that it is "a bit old".
4. Three is the magic number (Kees Tel, Christiaan Hulsebos)
The fourth song tonight is in the same style as the previous ones, which is of course no surprise. With the lyrics and the choreography, it leaves the impression of a Sesame street performance by Count von Count. Worth noting that a very similar song will be presented by J. Anvil in the Maltese national final. The jury has mixed opionions about the song saying it is not very original but praising Gordon's vocal performance.
The second interval performance is up. This time, we can enjoy a medley of former Dutch entries. We start with former Topper Gerald Joling's Shangri-la and continue with the Dutch version of Ding-a-dong, the 1975 winning song. Heddy Lester now performs her 1977 entry De mallomolen herself. Maggy MacNeal is up next with her 1980 entry Amsterdam that finished 5th, when the contest was held in The Hague actually. Lenny Kuhr won in 1969 with De troubadour – she was the first female lyricist to win the competition.
5. No one loves me like you (Rob le Cardinale)
Costume-wise we're in the navy now. The song is not better or worse than previous songs but it might get lost in the line-up tonight. The Toppers could be more in synchrony while performing. The jury says it is a pleasant song but is not sure if it is good enough for the Eurovision Song Contest.
6. Shine (Bas van den Heuvel, Ger van de Westelaken)
We are back with a song that follows the structure of the first two song. The rather cheesy lyrics with some rather odd rhymes are illustrated by heavy light effects. "Maybe the answer is just this simple song" they sing – if that really can be seen as sure?
The lines are now open. The results will be presented during the second part of the show at 22:25 CET.
We are back with the second part of the show. Song two got all top marks from the jury memebers. Shine has one the national final.
