Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009

Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Country	Netherlands
National selection
Selection process	Artist: Internal Selection Song: Nationaal Songfestival 2009 1/3 Jury 2/3 Televoting
Selection date(s)	Artist: September 2008 Song: 1 February 2009
Selected entrant	De Toppers
Selected song	"Shine"
Finals performance
Semi-final result	Failed to qualify (17th)

The Netherlands were present at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, sending their 50th entry. Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS), the Dutch broadcaster, sent De Toppers to Moscow after they were internally selected. The competing song was selected at Nationaal Songfestival contest on 1 February, where "Shine" was announced the winner.^[1][2][3]

Rumoured artists

De Toppers in February 2009

Dutch Eurovision fans set up an internet poll in July 2008 with the intent of selecting the best artist to sent for the Netherlands. ^[4] Anouk was selected by the poll, and she has also stated that she would represent the Netherlands in 2009, but would prefer not to participate in a national final.^[5][6]

However, in September 2008, Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) announced that De Toppers would represent the Netherlands in Moscow. The trio, consisting of René Froger, Jeroen van der Boom and Gordon (Dutch national final contestant in 1990 and 2003), are highly popular in the Netherlands, and NOS hoped that they would boost Eurovision figures in the Netherlands, as well as ratings of the national final.^[7]

Possible withdrawal

Since De Toppers were announced as the Dutch representatives for Eurovision 2009, complications within the band and with TROS and NOS have resulted in their entry to Eurovision coming under threat.

Disagreements between the band and TROS over the planned docusoap "Op weg naar Moskou" have become the main reason for the row in the band. The main reason for no agreement between the two bodies is due to the band's manager, Benno de Leeuw, being hospitalised for a week.^[8]

Since the disagreement started, Gerard Joling has since stated that he has pulled out of the band, and NOS would have to look for a new Dutch representative. NOS has stated that they are trying to patch things up between the band, and if it cannot be solved then NOS will have to look for another entrant: "We made a choice for De Toppers, and that means all three of them or none of them."^[9][10]

On November 11th 2008, it was confirmed that Jeroen van der Boom will take Gerard Joling's place in the group, and that De Toppers will still represent The Netherlands in Moscow with the national song selection taking place on February 1st 2009.^[11]

Nationaal Songfestival 2009

Nationaal Songfestival 2009, the Dutch national final used to select the song that De Toppers will sing at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 was held on 1 February 2009. An open call for songs was held until 31st October 2008. ^[12] Due to the public feud between the band members, the deadline was extended to 23 November.^[13]

A total of 330 songs were submitted to TROS, which De Toppers listened to without knowing the composers, removing possible bias that may arise.^[14][15] It was announced on 5th December that De Toppers had selected the songs that will be sung in February.^[16][17] The six songs selected and their titles and authors were released on 18th December 2008. The group has said that they are all "happy and powerful compositions".^[18][19][20]

During the show, the past representatives Saskia & Serge, Ben Cramer, Heddy Lester, Getty Kaspers from Teach-In, Bill van Dijk, Frizzle Sizzle's Laura Vlasblom, Rosina Brochard from Harmony and Marcha acted as the jury. ^[21]

The winning song was "Shine", written by Bas van den Heuvel and Gordon (under the pseudonym Ger van de Westelaken).^[22] The song was preferred by the televoting public, which made up two-thirds of the votes, however the second placed song, "Angel of the Night", was preferred by the jury members which made up the remaining one-third of the result.^[1][2][3]

Nationaal Songfestival 2009 - 1st February, 2009

Draw	Song	Author(s)	Jury	Televote	Total	Place
1	"Our Night"	Rutger Kanis, Robert Dorn	28	13	41	6th
2	"Angel of the Night"	Edwin de Groot, Edwin van Hoevelaak, Bruce R.F. Smith	60	130	190	2nd
3	"Everybody Can Be a Star"	Ferdi Bolland	22	21	43	5th
4	"Three Is The Magic Number"	Kees Tel, Christiaan Hulsebos	16	34	50	4th
5	"No One Loves Me Like You"	Rob le Cardinale	36	21	57	3rd
6	"Shine"	Bas van den Heuvel, Ger van de Westelaken	48	201	249	1st

At Eurovision

Since the Netherlands was not one of the "Big Four" nor the host of the 2009 contest, The Toppers had to compete in one of the two semi-finals. The Netherlands competed in the second semi-final on 14 May, performing 19th and last in the running order, following Estonia. However the group failed to qualify The Netherlands to the final for the fifth successive contest.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} van Tongeren, Mario (2009-02-01). "Netherlands: De Toppers to sing "Shine" in Moscow!". Oikotimes. http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=4995. Retrieved 2009-02-01. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Klier, Marcus (2009-02-01). "Netherlands: Eurovision entry chosen". ESCToday. http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/13128. Retrieved 2009-02-01. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Bakker, Sietse (2009-02-01). "The Netherlands: Toppers bring 'Shine' to Moscow". Eurovision.tv. http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=1878. Retrieved 2009-02-01. 
4. ^ Romkes, René (2008-07-12). "Dutch fans start search for 2009 already". ESCToday. http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12148. Retrieved 2008-07-29. 
5. ^ Viniker, Barry (2008-08-18). "Anouk: "I would sing for Netherlands"". ESCToday. http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12212. Retrieved 2008-08-19. 
6. ^ "Anouk says 'yes' to song contest". Dutch News. 2008-07-12. http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2008/08/anouk_says_yes_to_song_contest.php. Retrieved 2008-07-29. 
7. ^ Viniker, Barry (2008-09-19). "De Toppers confirmed for Eurovision". ESCToday. http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12306. Retrieved 2008-09-19. 
8. ^ Romkes, René (2009-11-05). "The Netherlands: De Toppers to split?". ESCToday. http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12475. Retrieved 2008-11-09. 
9. ^ Romkes, René (2008-11-09). "Netherlands: Joling leaves De Toppers!". ESCToday. http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12494. Retrieved 2008-11-09. 
10. ^ Langeslag, Mark (2008-11-07). "Joling niet naar Songfestival" (in Dutch). AD.nl. http://www.ad.nl/cultuurenshow/2756019/Joling_niet_naar_Songfestival.html. Retrieved 2008-11-09. 
11. ^ Romkes, Rene (2008-11-11). "Netherlands: Jeroen van der Boom is the new Topper". ESCToday. http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12504. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
12. ^ Romkes, René (2008-09-30). "Exclusive interview with De Toppers". ESCToday. http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12336. Retrieved 2008-10-01. 
13. ^ van Tongeren, Mario (2008-11-23). "Netherlands: Submission for 2009 entries closed". Oikotimes. http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=4414. Retrieved 2008-11-24. 
14. ^ Viniker, Barry (2008-11-24). "330 Eurovision submissions in the Netherlands". ESCToday. http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12561. Retrieved 2008-11-24. 
15. ^ "Netherlands: TROS announce 330 submitted entries". Oikotimes. 2008-11-24. http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=4418. Retrieved 2008-11-24. 
16. ^ Konstantopoulos, Fotis (2008-12-05). "Netherlands: De Toppers found their songs for Moscow". Oikotimes. http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=4500. Retrieved 2008-12-05. 
17. ^ Bakker, Sietse (2008-12-05). "The Netherlands: Toppers picked their six-pack". Eurovision.tv. http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=1616. Retrieved 2008-12-05. 
18. ^ Floras, Stella (2008-12-18). "Netherlands: De Toppers songs revealed today". ESCToday. http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12730. Retrieved 2008-12-18. 
19. ^ Bakker, Sietse (2008-12-18). "Netherlands: The Toppers reveal song titles". Eurovision.tv. http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=1642. Retrieved 2008-12-18. 
20. ^ Murray, Gavin (2008-12-18). "Netherlands: The Toppers reveal song titles". ESCToday. http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12734. Retrieved 2008-12-18. 
21. ^ Romkes, René (2009-01-28). "Netherlands: More details about Dutch final". ESCToday. http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/13066. Retrieved 2009-01-28. 
22. ^ Romkes, René (2009-02-02). "The Netherlands: Press Conference". ESCToday. http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/13132. Retrieved 2009-02-02. 

External links

• The Toppers - Shine - The Netherlands 2009