Olympic flame and dress to burn in Dutch final

by Sietse Bakker 125 views

As Greece will be hosting this year's Eurovision Song Contest, Dutch 2005 representative Glennis Grace will carry an 'Olympic flame' into the venue for the Nationaal Songfestival. A former participant's dress will be burned, most likely to make the symbolic statement that the Netherlands is leaving its Eurovision Song Contest history behind to make a new, fresh start.

Three dresses are nominated to be burned, live on stage; the dress of Maribelle (1984), Heddy Lester (1977) and Alice Maywood (1990; actually, the group Maywood consisted of Alice May and Karen Wood (stagenames), who both wore de same dress). Through mooiweerdeleeuw.vara.nl people can vote. With 51%, Alice Maywood's dress is currently leading.

The Dutch final takes place this Sunday in Amsterdam's Heineken Music Hall. Maud, Treble and Behave will all sing three songs, a jury selects the best song of each contestant. The televoters can finally pick the winning song. The show will be streamed live on the web.