Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006

ESC National Year
Year = 2006
Country = BEL
Preselection = Eurosong '06
Preselection date = Heats
8 January 2006
15 February 2006
22 January 2006
29 January 2006 Semifinals
5 February 2006
12 February 2006 Final
9 March 2008 |
Entrant = Kate Ryan
Song = "Je t'adore"
SF result = "Failed to qualify" (12th)
Final result =

Belgium chose their entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 using Flemish broadcaster VRT. The Belgian final, Eurosong '06, was staged on February 19th and favourite Kate Ryan managed to win with the song "Je t'adore". Ryan’s song is a Swedish dance track that she wrote the lyrics to in collaboration with a Swedish team. "Je t'adore" was one of the favourites among many others in the Belgian final.

Ryan, born as Katrien Verbeeck, is a Belgian singer-songwriter who gained international prominence with a cover of Mylène Farmer's "Désenchantée", which was a hit on European pop charts. Ryan is known internationally after the release of her first album called “Different.” She also extended her fan bases to North America after she released her second album, “Stronger,” in North America in 2005. Polls suggested the Belgian entry to be the early favourite to take the Eurovision crown. although the song title is French, the lyrics are in English.

Flemish Minister of Culture Bert Anciaux gave a subsidy of 60000 euros in order to promote Kate Ryan and her song in the other participating countries of this year's contest. The money will be used to pay for a promotional tour throughout these countries. The subsidy itself has been harshly criticized in the Flemish press.

Although considered to be one of the favorites before the contest, Belgium's 2006 Eurovision Song Contest entrance Ryan was surprisingly eliminated in the semi finals in 12th place with 69 points, which took place May 18, 2006. When giving the Belgian public vote for the Final, however, the spokeswoman was seen to be holding a placard with the words "We Love Kate Ryan" on it.

National Final

:"These are the results for the final only, for the results of the semi- and quarter-finals see Eurosong '06."

ee also

Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest

External links

[http://www.geocities.com/national_finals_90s_00s/Belgium2006.html Belgian National Final page]