All entries in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest are known, but the actual contest is still two months away. As a warm-up, we introduce one of the entries every day in random order. Part five is dedicated to the entry from the Netherlands.

Basic information

Performers:	De Toppers
Song:	Shine
Language:	English
Music:	Bas van den Heuvel, Ger van de Westelaken (Gordon)
Lyrics:	Bas van den Heuvel, Ger van de Westelaken (Gordon)
Draw:	19th in the second semi final

The song

Shine is a love and peace anthem in a nostalgic up-tempo disco schlager style. The obviously wittingly naive lyrics tell that the problems in the world may be saved if all people just take on a positive and optimistic manner by letting their light shine:

There are so many wars right now in this world
There are so many things not right
There are too many people hurt in this world
There are too many men that fight

People, let your light shine, letthe darkness fade away
Step into a brighter day, don't forget about our world today

The group

The show band De Toppers was founded in late 2004 by René Froger, Gordon and Gerard Joling, who had represented the Netherlands in the1988 Eurovision Song Contest. Their concerts turned out to become a huge success in the Netherlands andDe Toppers went on to become one of the most successful live acts in their country.

Originally, the band mostly covered classics from various acts all around the world. Their repertoire also includes a medley of Eurovision Song Contest entries. Four live albums have been released to date and all of them reached the top three of the Dutch charts. De Toppers were also in the top ten of the single charts twice with the songs Live at the ArenA (part 1) and Can you feel it.

In 2008, it was announced that they were chosen to represent the Netherlands in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow. After a dispute, Gerard Joling left the group and was replaced by Jeroen van der Boom. In the national final the song Shine was chosen as 51st Dutch entry in the competition. The single currently peaks at number 12 of the charts and is therefore the most successful Dutch entry since 2006.

The national selection

De Toppers were selected internally to represent the Netherlands in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. In the national final, which was called Nationaal songfestival again, they performed six songs and the winning entry was chosen by a jury and televoting. The song Angel of the night was the clear favourite of the jury getting the top mark from all jury members, but the televoters could turn the result around placing Shine first. During the press conference after the national final, it was revealed that Gordon had co-written the song, a fact that was even hidden from the other group members.

The Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest

The Netherlands took part in the very first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 and the country had one of the most remarkable starts in the competition. Between 1957 and 1969, the country could win the contest no less than three times, but was placed in the second half of the scoreboard on every other occasion during those years. In 1975, they won again and they have been waiting for their fifth victory since. The last top ten result in a final to date came in 1999 and the country has not even qualified for the final the last four times.

We wensen Nederland en De Toppers veel geluk en een goed resultaat in Moskou!

Videos

De Toppers in the national final:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q18GJcLJ2oM&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

The preview video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0V3m0qrWfM&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

Motown medley in 2005:

Medley in 2008:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlEIMzURh0w&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0

Other parts of this series

1. France
2. Portugal
3. Romania
4. Denmark

Tomorrow, we will take a look at the Cypriot entry.

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