Joeri or Wouter? Flanders will choose its second Idol tomorrow. For the occasion, Flemish newspaper De Morgen interviewed Peter De Smet, vocal coach in the talent show. The interview however turned out in criticism on the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
De Morgen asked vocal coach Peter De Smet whether Idols has an influence on music schools and the vocal lessons he is giving. “Without a doubt.” answered De Smet. “Fathers of 11 year-old kids already phoned me to ask me if I could do a vocal test with their son or daughter or if I could coach them. I resolutely refuse that!”
De Smet found the time was right to reveal that he had also refused to coach the children participating in Eurosong for Kids, the contest held by Flemish broadcaster VRT in which the Belgian representative for the 2003 Junior Eurovision Song Contest was chosen. “I find it perverse…” explains De Smet. “You give those children a completely wrong image of worked up success, screaming crowds and handing out autographs. How can you still make a normal student of such a 12 year-old after it?”
It's not the first time the Junior Eurovision Song Contest has openly been criticized in Flanders. In 2003 Luc Versteylen found it inacceptable that VRT used children for this kind of commercial activity. The Jesuit priest and politician compared the contest with paedophilia and exhorted Belgium to withdraw from the contest in Copenhagen.
