Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010
Encyclopedia
Belgium participated at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, with Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep
(VRT) having selected the 52nd Belgian entry for Eurovision. Tom Dice
was selected by VRT to represent Belgium at the Contest, held in Oslo
, Norway
in May 2010, performed the song "Me and My Guitar
". It ended 1st in the Semi Final 1, and 6th in the Final.
and since has participated a total of fifty-one times. The country was only absent three times in its history: 1994
, 1997
, and 2001
, when low scores in the previous year's contest prevented re-entry. Belgium won the contest once, in 1986
in Bergen
, Norway
with the song "J'aime la vie
" sung by Sandra Kim
. The country achieved second place in 1978
and 2003
, however has finished in last place a total of eight times. Since 2005
Belgium has failed to appear in any final of the Contest.
Belgium is represented by two broadcasters at the contest (Radio télévision belge de la communauté française
(RTBF) and Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep
(VRT)), each taking turns sending entries to the contest; RTBF is French-speaking, while VRT is Dutch-speaking (Flemish
). All entries prior to 1999
except for 1977
, where sung in either French or Dutch, but Belgium has never sent a representative singing in German, its third official language. While VRT usually organizes a long-lasting national final, RTBF has a history of internal selections with varying levels of success, from a second place for Urban Trad
in 2003
to a bottom 5 place in the semi final for The KMG's
in 2007
.
The 2010 Belgian entry was organised by the Flemish broadcaster VRT. While in previous years VRT has held a national final to select the Belgian entries – Eurosong
– VRT decided to use a new format for the 2010 Contest, despite huge interest in Flanders for Eurosong, after years of bad placings.
, Norway
. The broadcaster stated that it would consider new possibilities related to an adjustment of the format of Eurosong. In August, with no announcement having been made by VRT concerning Eurosong 2010, the Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws
reported that VRT might chose to hold a partially-internal selection for 2010, with two possible options: the broadcaster would either internally select one artist to represent Belgium in Oslo, with a series of televised shows being held to select the song by public vote; or one song would be chosen by VRT and a number of artists would take part in a televised final, with a public vote selecting who would go to Oslo. A number of artists were rumoured to be candidates for selection, including Eurosong '04
runner-up Natalia, Milk Inc.
and Eurovision 2003
runner-up for Belgium Urban Trad
.
VRT revealed in September that Eurosong in its previous format would not be held in 2010 - the broadcaster instead contacting several representatives in the Flemish music industry to find new selection formats. Het Laatste Nieuws
published a list of seven criteria, made by VRT, that the Belgian entry should follow for 2010.
On 25 November VRT announced that it had selected Tom Dice
, runner-up of the Belgian version
of The X Factor
in 2008, internally to represent Belgium at the contest in May. It has been announced that Dice would compose a number of possible entries on his own or in collaboration with other songwriters.
Dice's song, "Me and My Guitar
", written by Tom, Jeroen Swinnen and Ashley Hickin, was presented on 7 March on an hour-long presentation show, Eurosong 2010: een song voor Tom Dice!, hosted by Bart Peeters
from the Eén
TV studios. Dice performed a number of other songs during the show, including a covers of Leona Lewis
' "Bleeding Love
", Kings of Leon
's "Use Somebody
", and Madonna
's "Like a Virgin
". A number of guests gave Dice suggestions and tips for his performance at Eurovision, including Marcel Vanthilt, Siska Schoeters, André Vermeulen, Peter Van de Veire
and Belgium's 2002
entry Sergio
.
Eurosong 2010: een song voor Tom Dice! received high viewing figures on één, with more than 35% of the market share watching the presentation of "Me and My Guitar", with a drop in viewing figures from previous years due to a change in the format of the show.
Ultratop
. In the Flemish charts
, the song entered at number 2, beaten only by Natalia & Gabriel Ríos
' cover of Leonard Cohen
's "Hallelujah", in aid for relief after the 2010 Haiti earthquake
. In the Walloon charts
"Me and My Guitar" entered at number 24. "Me and My Guitar" also entered into the Dutch Top 100 at number 85.
The following week, "Me and My Guitar" went to number one in Flanders and number 18 in Wallonia.
, which was released in April.
Tom Dice promoted his entry for Eurovision in Europe, attending and performing at the Eurovision in Concert preview event in Zaanstad
, the Netherlands
on 24 April, alongside acts from 17 other countries in Eurovision.
Belgium was also the host of a Eurovision party, held in Antwerp on 30 April, with entries from Armenia
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
, Greece
, Ireland
, Malta
and Serbia
joining Tom Dice in the line-up. Almost all the participants also appeared on regional TV channel TV Limburg.
's Marcin Mroziński
and before Malta
's Thea Garrett
. It ended 1st.
Belgium then competed in the final of the contest on 29 May, performing 7th on stage, after Bosnia and Herzegovina
and before Serbia
. It ended 6th.
Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep
The Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie , or VRT, is a publicly-funded broadcaster of radio and television in Flanders ....
(VRT) having selected the 52nd Belgian entry for Eurovision. Tom Dice
Tom Dice
Tom Dice is a Belgian singer-songwriter, who finished second in the Flemish version of The X Factor in 2008. Dice represented Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 final on 29 May in Oslo. Tom Dice ended up in sixth, one of Flanders best placements ever in the contest...
was selected by VRT to represent Belgium at the Contest, held in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
in May 2010, performed the song "Me and My Guitar
Me and My Guitar (Tom Dice song)
"Me and My Guitar" is a song performed by Belgian singer-songwriter Tom Dice from his debut album Teardrops. The song was written by British singer-songwriter Ashley Hicklin, writer-producer Jeroen Swinnen and Tom Dice himself...
". It ended 1st in the Semi Final 1, and 6th in the Final.
Background
Belgium debuted at the first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956Eurovision Song Contest 1956
The Eurovision Song Contest 1956 was the first edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, held at the Teatro Kursaal in Lugano, Switzerland on 24 May 1956...
and since has participated a total of fifty-one times. The country was only absent three times in its history: 1994
Eurovision Song Contest 1994
The Eurovision Song Contest 1994 was the 39th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 30 April 1994 in the Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. The presenters were Cynthia Ní Mhurchú and Gerry Ryan. The pair hosted the evening in French, English and Irish...
, 1997
Eurovision Song Contest 1997
The Eurovision Song Contest 1997, was the 42nd Eurovision Song Contest and it was held at the Point Theatre Dublin, Ireland, on 3 May 1997. Boyzone member Ronan Keating and Carrie Crowley were the presenters of the show....
, and 2001
Eurovision Song Contest 2001
The Eurovision Song Contest 2001 was the 46th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 12 May 2001 in the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was the first time in 36 years that Denmark hosted the Eurovision Song Contest, thanks to the Olsen Brothers' win the previous year in Stockholm...
, when low scores in the previous year's contest prevented re-entry. Belgium won the contest once, in 1986
Eurovision Song Contest 1986
The Eurovision Song Contest 1986 was the 31st Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 3 May 1986 in the Grieg Hall in Bergen, Norway. It was the first occasion on which Norway played host to the contest...
in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
with the song "J'aime la vie
J'Aime La Vie
"J'aime la vie" was the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1986, performed for Belgium by Sandra Kim. Belgium had finished the 1985 Contest in last place, and thus achieved the rare turnaround from last to first in the space of one year...
" sung by Sandra Kim
Sandra Kim
Sandra Caldarone , better known as Sandra Kim, is a Belgian singer of Italian descent who won the Eurovision Song Contest 1986 held in Bergen, Norway, on 3 May 1986....
. The country achieved second place in 1978
Eurovision Song Contest 1978
The Eurovision Song Contest 1978 was the 23rd of its kind, and was held on 22 April 1978 in Paris. With Denise Fabre and Léon Zitrone as the presenters - the first time more than one presenter hosted the contest - the contest was won by Izhar Cohen & the Alphabeta who represented Israel, with their...
and 2003
Eurovision Song Contest 2003
The Eurovision Song Contest 2003 was the forty-eighth Eurovision Song Contest, held at the Skonto Hall in Riga, Latvia on 24 May 2003. The hosts were Marie N and Renārs Kaupers. Sertab Erener, the Turkish entrant, won the contest with "Everyway That I Can", scoring 167 points. The winning...
, however has finished in last place a total of eight times. Since 2005
Eurovision Song Contest 2005
The Eurovision Song Contest 2005 was the 50th Eurovision Song Contest, which was held at the Palace of Sports, Kiev, Ukraine. The winner was Greece's My Number One, written by Christos Dantis and Natalia Germanou and performed by Swedish-born Greek singer Elena Paparizou, who scored 230 points,...
Belgium has failed to appear in any final of the Contest.
Belgium is represented by two broadcasters at the contest (Radio télévision belge de la communauté française
RTBF
Radio Télévision Belge Francophone is the public broadcasting organization of the French Community of Belgium, the southern, French-speaking part of Belgium...
(RTBF) and Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep
Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep
The Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie , or VRT, is a publicly-funded broadcaster of radio and television in Flanders ....
(VRT)), each taking turns sending entries to the contest; RTBF is French-speaking, while VRT is Dutch-speaking (Flemish
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
). All entries prior to 1999
Eurovision Song Contest 1999
The Eurovision Song Contest 1999 was the 44th Eurovision Song Contest, held on 29 May 1999 in Jerusalem, Israel after Dana International won the contest the previous year in the United Kingdom. The venue for the contest was the International Convention Center...
except for 1977
Eurovision Song Contest 1977
The Eurovision Song Contest 1977 was the 22nd edition series, and was held on 7 May 1977 in London. With Angela Rippon as the presenter, the contest was won by Marie Myriam who represented France, with her song "L'oiseau et l'enfant" . This was France's fifth victory, a record, which was equalled...
, where sung in either French or Dutch, but Belgium has never sent a representative singing in German, its third official language. While VRT usually organizes a long-lasting national final, RTBF has a history of internal selections with varying levels of success, from a second place for Urban Trad
Urban Trad
Urban Trad is a Belgian folk music group, consisting of both Flemish and French speaking people and a close connection with Galicia.-Members:*Yves Barbieux: flutes and Galician bagpipe*Veronica Codesal: vocals*Soetkin Collier: vocals...
in 2003
Eurovision Song Contest 2003
The Eurovision Song Contest 2003 was the forty-eighth Eurovision Song Contest, held at the Skonto Hall in Riga, Latvia on 24 May 2003. The hosts were Marie N and Renārs Kaupers. Sertab Erener, the Turkish entrant, won the contest with "Everyway That I Can", scoring 167 points. The winning...
to a bottom 5 place in the semi final for The KMG's
The KMG's
The KMG's is a Belgian group that won the chance to represent Belgium with the song "LovePower" in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 in Helsinki, Finland....
in 2007
Eurovision Song Contest 2007
The Eurovision Song Contest 2007 was the 52nd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It was won by first-time appearance as an independent country Serbia and was held at the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland from 10 May to 12 May. The host broadcaster was YLE.Finland earned the right to host...
.
The 2010 Belgian entry was organised by the Flemish broadcaster VRT. While in previous years VRT has held a national final to select the Belgian entries – Eurosong
Eurosong (Belgium)
Eurosong was the Flemish selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. It selected the Belgian entry to the Contest every second year. The last Eurosong was in 2008. Due the good result of Tom Dice in 2010, who was chosen internally, the VRT decided to cancel Eurosong....
– VRT decided to use a new format for the 2010 Contest, despite huge interest in Flanders for Eurosong, after years of bad placings.
Selection method
VRT announced immediately after the 2009 Contest that it would be taking part at Eurovision 2010, in OsloOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The broadcaster stated that it would consider new possibilities related to an adjustment of the format of Eurosong. In August, with no announcement having been made by VRT concerning Eurosong 2010, the Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws
Het Laatste Nieuws
Het Laatste Nieuws is a Dutch language newspaper based in Brussels, Belgium. It was founded by Julius Hoste Sr. on 7 June 1888. It is now part of De Persgroep, and has a circulation of 292,410 copies, making it the most popular newspaper in Flanders and Belgium.- Comics :During World War II, The...
reported that VRT might chose to hold a partially-internal selection for 2010, with two possible options: the broadcaster would either internally select one artist to represent Belgium in Oslo, with a series of televised shows being held to select the song by public vote; or one song would be chosen by VRT and a number of artists would take part in a televised final, with a public vote selecting who would go to Oslo. A number of artists were rumoured to be candidates for selection, including Eurosong '04
Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004
Belgium was represented by Xandee and the song "1 Life". VRT's organized the Belgian National Final 'Eurosong 2004', which took place on February 15, 2004. Four preselection programmes were produced and broadcast on 18th and 25th of January and 1st and 8th of February, 2004...
runner-up Natalia, Milk Inc.
Milk Inc.
Milk Inc. is a Euro House band that formed in the commercial house-scene in Belgium in 1996. The Discography of the band includes a total of six studio albums and thirty-four singles In 2006, to celebrate their 10th anniversary, Milk Inc...
and Eurovision 2003
Eurovision Song Contest 2003
The Eurovision Song Contest 2003 was the forty-eighth Eurovision Song Contest, held at the Skonto Hall in Riga, Latvia on 24 May 2003. The hosts were Marie N and Renārs Kaupers. Sertab Erener, the Turkish entrant, won the contest with "Everyway That I Can", scoring 167 points. The winning...
runner-up for Belgium Urban Trad
Urban Trad
Urban Trad is a Belgian folk music group, consisting of both Flemish and French speaking people and a close connection with Galicia.-Members:*Yves Barbieux: flutes and Galician bagpipe*Veronica Codesal: vocals*Soetkin Collier: vocals...
.
VRT revealed in September that Eurosong in its previous format would not be held in 2010 - the broadcaster instead contacting several representatives in the Flemish music industry to find new selection formats. Het Laatste Nieuws
Het Laatste Nieuws
Het Laatste Nieuws is a Dutch language newspaper based in Brussels, Belgium. It was founded by Julius Hoste Sr. on 7 June 1888. It is now part of De Persgroep, and has a circulation of 292,410 copies, making it the most popular newspaper in Flanders and Belgium.- Comics :During World War II, The...
published a list of seven criteria, made by VRT, that the Belgian entry should follow for 2010.
On 25 November VRT announced that it had selected Tom Dice
Tom Dice
Tom Dice is a Belgian singer-songwriter, who finished second in the Flemish version of The X Factor in 2008. Dice represented Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 final on 29 May in Oslo. Tom Dice ended up in sixth, one of Flanders best placements ever in the contest...
, runner-up of the Belgian version
X Factor (Belgium)
X Factor, the Belgian version of the British show The X Factor that was created by Simon Cowell. The new X Factor series was a postcursor to Idool 2003 / 2004 which features contestants & jury members from both seasons.-Series summary:...
of The X Factor
The X Factor (TV series)
The X Factor is a television talent show franchise originating in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for Pop Idol. It is a singing competition, now held in various countries, which pits contestants against each other. These contestants are aspiring pop singers drawn from...
in 2008, internally to represent Belgium at the contest in May. It has been announced that Dice would compose a number of possible entries on his own or in collaboration with other songwriters.
Dice's song, "Me and My Guitar
Me and My Guitar (Tom Dice song)
"Me and My Guitar" is a song performed by Belgian singer-songwriter Tom Dice from his debut album Teardrops. The song was written by British singer-songwriter Ashley Hicklin, writer-producer Jeroen Swinnen and Tom Dice himself...
", written by Tom, Jeroen Swinnen and Ashley Hickin, was presented on 7 March on an hour-long presentation show, Eurosong 2010: een song voor Tom Dice!, hosted by Bart Peeters
Bart Peeters
Bart Peeters is a Belgian singer, drummer, television presenter and actor. Peeters studied Germanic philology and drama in Antwerp. There, he met Jan Leyers and Hugo Matthysen, with whom he worked later...
from the Eén
EEN
EEN may refer to:* Eastern Educational Television Network, the original name for American Public Television.* Elemental Energy, a Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game booster pack.* Emerald Energy, an oil company...
TV studios. Dice performed a number of other songs during the show, including a covers of Leona Lewis
Leona Lewis
Leona Louise Lewis is a British singer and songwriter. Lewis first came to prominence in 2006 when she won the third series of the British television series The X Factor....
' "Bleeding Love
Bleeding Love
"Bleeding Love" is a pop/R&B ballad co-written by Jesse McCartney and Ryan Tedder and produced by Tedder for British singer Leona Lewis's debut album, Spirit. The song is the album's lead single , released in the United Kingdom and Ireland in October 2007...
", Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon is an American rock band that originated in Albion, Oklahoma but formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 1999. The band is composed of brothers Anthony Caleb Followill , Ivan Nathan Followill and Michael Jared Followill Kings of Leon is an American rock band that originated in Albion,...
's "Use Somebody
Use Somebody
"Use Somebody" is a song by the American alternative rock group Kings of Leon. It was the second single from the band's fourth studio album Only by the Night , released on December 8, 2008....
", and Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
's "Like a Virgin
Like a Virgin
Like a Virgin is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released on November 12, 1984 by Sire Records. It was re-released worldwide in 1985, with the inclusion of the bonus track "Into the Groove". In 2001, Warner Bros. Records released a remastered version with two bonus...
". A number of guests gave Dice suggestions and tips for his performance at Eurovision, including Marcel Vanthilt, Siska Schoeters, André Vermeulen, Peter Van de Veire
Peter Van de Veire
Peter Van de Veire is a well known radio personality in Flanders.-Early life:Van de Veire grew up in the town of Waarschoot...
and Belgium's 2002
Eurovision Song Contest 2002
The Eurovision Song Contest 2002 was the 47th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place on 25 May 2002 at the Saku Suurhall Arena in Tallinn, Estonia....
entry Sergio
Sergio & The Ladies
Sergio, real name Serge Quisquater, is a Belgian musician born in Leuven in 1965. His first record was released in 1987. He became well-known as the male half of the duo "Taste of Joy", together with singer Sandy Boets. They released several singles and albums...
.
Eurosong 2010: een song voor Tom Dice! received high viewing figures on één, with more than 35% of the market share watching the presentation of "Me and My Guitar", with a drop in viewing figures from previous years due to a change in the format of the show.
Chart performance
The week after the song presentation, "Me and My Guitar" charted in the official Belgian charts in both Flanders and Wallonia,Ultratop
Ultratop
Ultratop is an organization which generates and publishes the official record charts in Belgium, and it is also the name of most of those charts...
. In the Flemish charts
Ultratop 50
Ultratop 50 singles, often just Ultratop 50, is the weekly chart of fifty best-selling singles in Flanders, Belgium, and is produced and published by the Ultratop organization. The chart has existed since March 31, 1995...
, the song entered at number 2, beaten only by Natalia & Gabriel Ríos
Gabriel Rios
Gabriel Ríos is a Puerto Rican musician currently residing in Brooklyn.-Biography:As a child Ríos was member of his church choir, and in addition to this early exposure to music his father also taught him to play the guitar. After finishing his studies at the Academia del Perpetuo Socorro high...
' cover of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
's "Hallelujah", in aid for relief after the 2010 Haiti earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
. In the Walloon charts
Ultratop 40
Ultratop 40 singles, often just Ultratop 40, is the weekly chart of best-selling singles in Wallonia and Brussels Capital Region, the french-speaking parts of Belgium. Its equivalent covering the Flanders region is Ultratop 50. Both charts are produced and published by the Ultratop organization...
"Me and My Guitar" entered at number 24. "Me and My Guitar" also entered into the Dutch Top 100 at number 85.
The following week, "Me and My Guitar" went to number one in Flanders and number 18 in Wallonia.
Promotion
Tom Dice filmed an official music video for "Me and My Guitar" in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, which was released in April.
Tom Dice promoted his entry for Eurovision in Europe, attending and performing at the Eurovision in Concert preview event in Zaanstad
Zaanstad
Zaanstad is a municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Its main town is Zaandam. It is part of the metropolitan area of Amsterdam.-Population centres:...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
on 24 April, alongside acts from 17 other countries in Eurovision.
Belgium was also the host of a Eurovision party, held in Antwerp on 30 April, with entries from Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
and Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
joining Tom Dice in the line-up. Almost all the participants also appeared on regional TV channel TV Limburg.
At Eurovision
Belgium competed in the first semi-final of the contest on 25 May, and performed 10th on stage, after PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
's Marcin Mroziński
Marcin Mroziński
-Early life:Mroziński was born 26 September 1985 in Inowrocław, Poland. He started his music career at age 8. He participated in a series of children's song Contests in Poland when he was young. In 1997 he won the National French Song Contest and received 1st place. He also represented Ireland in...
and before Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
's Thea Garrett
Thea Garrett
Thea Garrett is a Maltese singer who represented Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 in Oslo.-Early life:Born in Malta in 1992, Thea has been studying vocal technique and interpretation under the direction of soprano Gillian Żammit...
. It ended 1st.
Belgium then competed in the final of the contest on 29 May, performing 7th on stage, after Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
and before Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. It ended 6th.