Several short Eurovision Song Contest related news items have reached us from Belgium. Find out the latest news from Natalia, Bobbejaan Schoepen, Nicole & Hugo and Helena Paparizou…

Following the announcement of the rules for next year's Flemish selections of the Belgian representative for the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest, Flanders' most popular radio channel Radio 2 asked its listeners who should represent Belgium in Greece. The Radio 2 listeners massively reacted on the poll, held in the evening show De grote beer and these were the results:

1. Natalia (Eurosong 2004 runner-up)
2. Tom Helsen
3. Wouter (Idols 2004 runner-up)
4. Stash
5. Sandrine (Idols 2004, third)

The Radio 2 listeners prefered national stars rather than Belgian singers with international success. If Natalia participates in Eurosong 2006, she will be heading for some busy times. On 6th, 7th and 13th January 2006, Natalia will be performing at the Antwerp Sports Palace together with The Pointer Sisters.

Bobbejaan Schoepen (80), the first ever Flemish singer who represented Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest, is working on a comeback after he recovered from intestinal cancer. Accompanied by 100 accordion players, Bobbejaan will be performing at the Gulden Ontsporing, a concert to be held on the Grand Place in Brussels on 11th July, the Flemish national feastday.

Moreover, Bobbejaan Schoepen is working on new musical projects and a tribute concert to take place at the end of 2005. With the song Straatdeuntje, he finished 8th at the 1957 Eurovision Song Contest in Frankfurt.

Two weeks after a cancerous tumour has successfully been removed from Nicole Josy's left breast, the singer who, together with Hugo Sigal, represented Belgium at the 1973 Eurovision Song Contest, has started rehearsing again for a brand new summer show. Meanwhile, the duo climbs up the Flemish single charts with their latest single Ik denk aan jou.

This year's Greek Eurovision Song Contest winner Helena Paparizou has reached the top 10 of the Ultratop single charts in Flanders. My number one climbs from the 18th to the 10th spot. The single also entered the charts in Wallonia, at the 36th spot.