Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie (VRT). VRT returned to the Eurovision Song Contest after a one-year absence following their relegation from 2001 as one of the bottom six countries in the 2000
contest. The competition featured twenty-eight competing entries and consisted of five shows. In the final on 17 February 2002, "Sister" performed by Sergio @ the Ladies was selected as the winner via the votes of five voting groups. The group was renamed as Sergio and the Ladies for the Eurovision Song Contest.
Belgium competed in the Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 25 May 2002. Performing during the show in position 16, Belgium placed thirteenth out of the 24 participating countries, scoring 33 points.
Prior to the 2002 contest, Belgium had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest forty-three times since its debut as one of seven countries to take part in 1956.[1] Since then, the country has won the contest on one occasion in 1986 with the song "J'aime la vie" performed by Sandra Kim. In 2000, Nathalie Sorce represented the country with the song "Envie de vivre" and placed twenty-fourth (last).
The Belgian broadcaster for the 2002 contest, who broadcasts the event in Belgium and organises the selection process for its entry, was
Eurosong national final would be held to select their entry.[2]
Before Eurovision
Eurosong 2002
Top to bottom, left to right: Sergio Quisquater, Jody Pijper, Ingrid Simons, and Ibernice MacBean
Eurosong 2002 was the national final that selected Belgium's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002. The competition consisted of five shows that commenced on 20 January 2002 and concluded with a final on 17 February 2002 where the winning song and artist were selected. All shows took place at the Studio 100 in
Twenty-eight entries were selected to compete in Eurosong. Four semi-finals took place on 20 January 2002, 27 January 2002, 3 February 2002 and 10 February 2002 with each show featuring seven entries. The winner of each semi-final qualified to the final, and the three highest scoring second placed acts in the semi-finals were also selected to advance. The final took place on 17 February 2002 where the winner was chosen.
Radio Donna and public televoting. Each voting group had an equal stake in the result during all shows with the exception of the public televote which had a weighting equal to the votes of two groups.[6] For the radio voting, listeners of the two stations was able to vote in advance prior to each of the five shows via televoting between Tuesday and Friday and their votes were combined with a jury consisting of representatives of the respective stations.[7]
During each of the five shows, the expert jury provided commentary and feedback to the artists as well as selected entries to advance in the competition. The experts were:[8]
A submission period was opened on 6 June 2001 for artists and songwriters to submit their entries until 31 October 2001.[2] The twenty-eight acts selected for the competition from 351 entries received during the submission period were announced on 3 December 2001.[9][10]
Artist
Song
Songwriter(s)
3 for You
"You and Me"
Evi van de Moortel, Tine van den Bulck, Bieke Mattheussen
Patsy Verfaille, Vincent Goeminne, Kristof Lesure, Pallieter van Buggenhout
Wuyts and Schepens
"Without Love"
Danny Wuyts, Jan Schepens
Wim Leys
"Nooit een dag te laat"
Ruud Houweling
Yasmina
"Take This Heart"
Rudolf Hecke, Mark van Hie
Shows
Semi-finals
The four semi-finals took place on 20 January, 27 January, 3 February and 10 February 2002. In each show seven entries competed and the combination of results from two jury groups, two radio voting groups and a public televote determined the winner that qualified to the final. The three highest scoring second placed acts in the semi-finals also proceeded to the final.[11]
Semi-final 1 – 20 January 2002
Draw
Artist
Song
Jury
Radio
Televote
Total
Place
1
Wuyts and Schepens
"Without Love"
16
18
18
52
1
2
3 for You
"You and Me"
4
7
6
17
5
3
Wim Leys
"Nooit een dag te laat"
5
7
2
14
6
4
Sonny
"All Out of Love"
14
12
14
40
2
5
Mistery
"Hollywood Star"
3
4
4
11
7
6
Kim 'Kay
"The Sun Shines"
12
12
10
34
3
7
Léa Dan
"Comme une enfant"
8
2
8
18
4
Detailed Jury Votes
Draw
Song
Expert
International
Total
1
"Without Love"
9
7
16
2
"You and Me"
3
1
4
3
"Nooit een dag te laat"
2
3
5
4
"All Out of Love"
5
9
14
5
"Hollywood Star"
1
2
3
6
"The Sun Shines"
7
5
12
7
"Comme une enfant"
4
4
8
Detailed Radio Votes
Draw
Song
Radio 2
Donna
Total
1
"Without Love"
9
9
18
2
"You and Me"
3
4
7
3
"Nooit een dag te laat"
4
3
7
4
"All Out of Love"
5
7
12
5
"Hollywood Star"
2
2
4
6
"The Sun Shines"
7
5
12
7
"Comme une enfant"
1
1
2
Semi-final 2 – 27 January 2002
Draw
Artist
Song
Jury
Radio
Televote
Total
Place
1
Incredible Time Machine
"The Magic Times"
8
6
8
22
4
2
Bennett and Bosman
"Everything"
4
16
6
26
3
3
Ivan
"Time of My Life"
7
4
10
21
5
4
Tanya Dexters
"When I Look in Your Eyes"
6
2
2
10
7
5
Luc Schuit
"Meer"
5
9
4
18
6
6
Severine Doré
"Wherever You'll Be"
18
16
18
52
1
7
Raf Van Brussel
"Flyin'"
14
9
14
37
2
Detailed Jury Votes
Draw
Song
Expert
International
Total
1
"The Magic Times"
4
4
8
2
"Everything"
1
3
4
3
"Time of My Life"
2
5
7
4
"When I Look in Your Eyes"
5
1
6
5
"Meer"
3
2
5
6
"Wherever You'll Be"
9
9
18
7
"Flyin'"
7
7
14
Detailed Radio Votes
Draw
Song
Radio 2
Donna
Total
1
"The Magic Times"
3
3
6
2
"Everything"
7
9
16
3
"Time of My Life"
2
2
4
4
"When I Look in Your Eyes"
1
1
2
5
"Meer"
5
4
9
6
"Wherever You'll Be"
9
7
16
7
"Flyin'"
4
5
9
Semi-final 3 – 3 February 2002
Draw
Artist
Song
Jury
Radio
Televote
Total
Place
1
Raffaele
"I ragazzi di oggi"
8
9
8
25
4
2
Danaë
"What Goes Up"
10
14
10
34
2
3
Jimmy
"Shine On"
2
3
2
7
7
4
Patrick Vinx
"Ik kan jou niet vergeten"
8
8
4
20
5
5
Iris
"Forever Yours"
12
7
14
33
3
6
Wade and C
"Paco y Pacita"
4
3
6
13
6
7
Spark
"Someday"
18
18
18
54
1
Detailed Jury Votes
Draw
Song
Expert
International
Total
1
"I ragazzi di oggi"
4
4
8
2
"What Goes Up"
7
3
10
3
"Shine On"
1
1
2
4
"Ik kan jou niet vergeten"
3
5
8
5
"Forever Yours"
5
7
12
6
"Paco y Pacita"
2
2
4
7
"Someday"
9
9
18
Detailed Radio Votes
Draw
Song
Radio 2
Donna
Total
1
"I ragazzi di oggi"
5
4
9
2
"What Goes Up"
7
7
14
3
"Shine On"
1
2
3
4
"Ik kan jou niet vergeten"
3
5
8
5
"Forever Yours"
4
3
7
6
"Paco y Pacita"
2
1
3
7
"Someday"
9
9
18
Semi-final 4 – 10 February 2002
Draw
Artist
Song
Jury
Radio
Televote
Total
Place
1
Indiana
"Imitation Love"
8
7
6
21
4
2
Christoff
"Op naar de top"
4
4
4
12
6
3
Peter Elkins
"If I..."
9
12
10
31
3
4
Yasmina
"Take This Heart"
18
16
14
48
1
5
Sergio @ the Ladies
"Sister"
14
14
18
46
2
6
Fantasie
"Nananana"
2
3
2
7
7
7
VandaVanda
"All My Love"
7
6
8
21
4
Detailed Jury Votes
Draw
Song
Expert
International
Total
1
"Imitation Love"
5
3
8
2
"Op naar de top"
2
2
4
3
"If I..."
4
5
9
4
"Take This Heart"
9
9
18
5
"Sister"
7
7
14
6
"Nananana"
1
1
2
7
"All My Love"
3
4
7
Detailed Radio Votes
Draw
Song
Radio 2
Donna
Total
1
"Imitation Love"
4
3
7
2
"Op naar de top"
3
1
4
3
"If I..."
7
5
12
4
"Take This Heart"
9
7
16
5
"Sister"
5
9
14
6
"Nananana"
1
2
3
7
"All My Love"
2
4
6
Final
The final took place on 17 February 2002 where the seven entries that qualified from the preceding four semi-finals competed. The winner, "Sister" performed by
Sergio @ the Ladies, was selected by the combination of results from two jury groups, two radio voting groups and a public televote.[12] "Sister" received 220,436 of the record 330,140 televotes registered during the show.[13]
According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the bottom six countries in the
France.[16] The group performed at the contest under the new name Sergio and the Ladies, and Belgium finished in thirteenth place with 33 points.[17][18]
The contest was broadcast in Belgium by both the Flemish and Walloon broadcasters. VRT broadcast the show on
TV1 with commentary in Dutch by André Vermeulen and Bart Peeters.[19] RTBF televised the shows on La Une with commentary in French by Jean-Pierre Hautier.[20] The show was also broadcast by VRT on Radio 2 with commentary in Dutch by Julien Put and Michel Follet, and by RTBF on La Première with commentary in French by Laurent Daube and Éric Russon. The Belgian spokesperson, who announced the Belgian votes during the final, was Geena Lisa Peeters.[21]
Voting
Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Belgium and awarded by Belgium in the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to Spain in the contest.
