Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009

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Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Country Netherlands
National selection
Selection processArtist: Internal selection
Song: Nationaal Songfestival 2009
Selection date(s)Artist: 19 September 2008
Song: 1 February 2009
Selected entrantDe Toppers
Selected song"Shine"
Selected songwriter(s)
Finals performance
Semi-final resultFailed to qualify (17th)
Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2008 2009 2010►

The Netherlands participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the song "Shine" written by Bas van den Heuvel and Gordon Heuckeroth. The song was performed by the group De Toppers, which was internally selected by the Dutch broadcaster Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) to represent the Netherlands at the 2009 contest in Moscow, Russia. De Toppers' appointment as the Dutch representative was announced on 19 September 2008, while the national final Nationaal Songfestival 2009 was organised in order to select the song. Six songs competed in the national final on 1 February 2009 where "Shine" was selected as the winning song following the combination of votes from a five-member jury panel and a public vote.

The Netherlands was drawn to compete in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 14 May 2009. Performing as the closing entry during the show in position 19, "Shine" was not among the 10 qualifying entries of the second semi-final and therefore did not qualify to compete in the final. It was later revealed that the Netherlands placed seventeenth out of the 19 participating countries in the semi-final with 11 points.

Background

Prior to the 2009 contest, the Netherlands had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest forty-nine times since their début as one of seven countries to take part in the inaugural contest in

nul points on two occasions; in 1962 and 1963.[7]

The Dutch national broadcaster, Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS), broadcasts the event within the Netherlands and organises the selection process for the nation's entry. The Netherlands has used various methods to select the Dutch entry in the past, such as the Nationaal Songfestival, a live televised national final to choose the performer, song or both to compete at Eurovision. However, internal selections have also been held on occasion. Since 2007, the broadcaster has internally selected the Dutch entry for the contest. For 2009, the broadcaster opted to select the Dutch artist through an internal selection, while Nationaal Songfestival was organised to select the song.[8]

Before Eurovision

Artist selection

Shangri-La", and Gordon Heuckeroth who had previously attempted to represent the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2003, placing second in the national final with the song "I'll Be Your Voice".[14] On 30 September 2008, it was revealed that their Eurovision song would be selected through the national final Nationaal Songfestival 2009.[8]

On 5 November 2008, it was revealed that complications within Joling and Gordon as well as TROS and NOS, mainly of disagreements over the planned docusoap Op weg naar Moskou, have resulted in the Dutch participation coming under threat. De Toppers' manager Benno de Leeuw was hospitalised for a week during the incident and therefore no agreement could be made.[15] Joling left the group on 9 November 2008, and singer Jeroen van der Boom was confirmed as the replacement member on 11 November 2008 despite reports that NOS would have to select another artist for the contest.[16][17]

Nationaal Songfestival 2009

A submission period was opened by the Dutch broadcaster on 30 September 2008 where composers were able to submit their songs until 23 November 2008.[18] 365 songs were received by the broadcaster at the closing of the deadline, and the six selected competing songs were announced on 18 December 2008.[19][20] The selection of the songs for the competition occurred through the decision of De Toppers from 20 shortlisted by the group.[21][22]

The national final took place on 1 February 2009 at the Studio 22 in

Marga Bult (1987) were also present during the show.[28] The first part of the national final was watched by 1.835 million viewers in the Netherlands with a market share of 24.4%, while the second part was watched by 1.848 million viewers with a market share of 30.3%.[29]

Final – 1 February 2009
Draw Song Songwriter(s) Jury Televote Total Place
1 "Our Night" Rutger Kanis, Robert Dorn 28 13 41 6
2 "Angel of the Night" Edwin de Groot, Edwin van Hoevelaak, Bruce R.F. Smith 60 130 190 2
3 "Everybody Can Be a Star" Ferdi Bolland 22 21 43 5
4 "Three Is the Magic Number" Kees Tel, Christiaan Hulsebos 16 34 50 4
5 "No One Loves Me Like You" Rob le Cardinale 36 21 57 3
6 "Shine" Bas van den Heuvel, Ger van de Westelaken 48 201 249 1
Detailed Jury Votes
Draw Song T. Berk T. Simić D. Dekker G. Kaspers E. Hartkamp Total
1 "Our Night" 4 10 2 8 4 28
2 "Angel of the Night" 12 12 12 12 12 60
3 "Everybody Can Be a Star" 6 4 4 2 6 22
4 "Three Is the Magic Number" 2 2 6 4 2 16
5 "No One Loves Me Like You" 8 6 8 6 8 36
6 "Shine" 10 8 10 10 10 48

Promotion

In the lead up to the Eurovision Song Contest, De Toppers' promotional activities occurred entirely within the Netherlands where they performed at live events, radio shows and talk shows. On 18 April, De Toppers performed during the Eurovision in Concert event which was held at the Amsterdam Marcanti venue and hosted by

Marga Bult and Maggie MacNeal.[30] Between 19 March and 7 May, the seven-episode docusoap Toppers op weg naar Moskou was broadcast on Nederland 1 which covered the group's promotional activities and preparations for the contest.[31][32]

At Eurovision

De Toppers at the Eurovision Opening Party in Moscow

According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "

Big Four" (France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top nine songs from each semi-final as determined by televoting progress to the final, and a tenth was determined by back-up juries. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. On 30 January 2009, a special allocation draw was held which placed each country into one of the two semi-finals. The Netherlands was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 14 May 2009.[33] The running order for the semi-finals was decided through another draw on 16 March 2009. As one of the six wildcard countries, the Netherlands chose to perform last in position 19, following the entry from Estonia.[34]

The two semi-finals and the final was broadcast in the Netherlands on Nederland 1 with commentary by Cornald Maas.[35] The Dutch spokesperson, who announced the Dutch votes during the final, was Yolanthe Cabau van Kasbergen.

Semi-final

De Toppers took part in technical rehearsals on 6 and 10 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 13 and 14 May.[36][37] The Dutch performance featured De Toppers wearing glittery suits and performing together with three backing vocalists, one of them carrying a DJ set. The performers also held lights in their palms.[38][39] The predominantly dark stage with deep blue colours on a black background at first transitioned to flashing bright lights with the LED screens displaying shapes in blue, silver and white colours as well as the word "Shine". Several effects including fireworks, coloured bolts and silver fountains were used at the end of the performance.[39][40][41] The three backing vocalists that joined De Toppers were: Dedre Twiss, Ingrid Simons and Sarina Voorn.[42]

At the end of the show, the Netherlands was not announced among the top 10 entries in the second semi-final and therefore failed to qualify to compete in the final. It was later revealed that the Netherlands placed seventeenth in the semi-final, receiving a total of 11 points.[43]

Voting

The voting system for 2009 involved each country awarding points from 1-8, 10 and 12, with the points in the final being decided by a combination of 50% national jury and 50% televoting. Each nation's jury consisted of five music industry professionals who are citizens of the country they represent. This jury judged each entry based on: vocal capacity; the stage performance; the song's composition and originality; and the overall impression by the act. In addition, no member of a national jury was permitted to be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently.

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to the Netherlands and awarded by the Netherlands in the second semi-final and grand final of the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to Norway in the semi-final and the final of the contest.

Points awarded to the Netherlands

Points awarded to the Netherlands (Semi-final 2)[44]
Score Country
12 points
10 points  Albania
8 points
7 points
6 points
5 points
4 points
3 points
2 points
1 point  Denmark

Points awarded by the Netherlands

Detailed voting results

The following members comprised the Dutch jury:[46]

  • Noordje Kandt – former Dutch Head of Delegation for the Eurovision Song Contest
  • Martin Gijzemijter – songwriter
  • Setske Mostaert – vocal coach, singer
  • Aron van der Ploeg – creative producer
  • Henk Schepers – manager of the Dutch Metropole Orchestra
Detailed voting results from the Netherlands (Final)[47][48]
Draw Country Results Points
Jury Televoting Combined
01  Lithuania
02  Israel 2 2
03  France 10 2 12 6
04  Sweden
05  Croatia
06  Portugal
07  Iceland 8 4 12 7
08  Greece 5 5 1
09  Armenia 10 10 5
10  Russia
11  Azerbaijan 7 6 13 10
12  Bosnia and Herzegovina 7 7 4
13  Moldova
14  Malta 1 1
15  Estonia 1 1
16  Denmark 5 5
17  Germany 6 6 2
18  Turkey 12 12 8
19  Albania 3 3
20  Norway 12 8 20 12
21  Ukraine
22  Romania
23  United Kingdom 4 3 7 3
24  Finland
25  Spain

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