Speculation is already rising currently in Belgium, with a number of names coming to the forefront in regards to the possible Belgian representative at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest, including 2 competitors from the previous season of The Voice Belgique.
Back in May within weeks of the 2016 edition coming to an end, the French-speaking Belgian broadcaster RTBF confirmed to ESCToday their participation in the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest, announcing that further selection details would be released in the months to come. However in recent days, Eurovision speculation has been rising with 2 names being heavily suggested in the current rumour-mill in Belgium; Pierre Lizée and Olivier Kaye.
Having both competed in the fifth season of The Voice Belgique earlier this year, with Kaye even going on to place in the final 4 of the competition, the 2 up and coming stars with 2 very different styles are said to be current candidates in discussion amongst the Belgian national broadcaster.
With a music style similar to that of Noel Gallagher and Jake Bugg, 20-year-old Lizée is reportedly the current frontrunner in the latest set of speculated acts, having been one of the most hyped artists since The Voice Belgique 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jpVina5lIs
Being described as a more pop-electronic artist, Kaye is the most recent name to be rumoured in the Eurovision speculation. The 22-year-old is no stranger in the competition world, having previously attempted to compete in the Belgian version of the X Factor at the age of 16 before participating in The Voice Belgique this year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_f6U8YKluk
With 2 former The Voice Belgique stars having already represented Belgium in 2013 (Roberto Bellarosa, 12th place) and 2015 (Loïc Nottet, 4th place), this would not be the first time this selection method has been used by RTBF, having both brought Belgium some of their most successful results in recent years.
2016 saw the nation being represented by Laura Tesoro, the runner-up of The Voice van Vlaanderen (the Flemish version of the competition), who went on to receive a total of 181 points in the Grand Final, finishing in 10th position in Stockholm.
More details in regards to the 2017 Belgian representative at the forthcoming Ukraine-hosted Eurovision Song Contest are set to be revealed in the coming months.
