Idool
Encyclopedia
Idool is the Belgian
version of the Idol series
. The series was launched in late 2002 by Belgian television network
VTM
. The contestants are first narrowed down to 100 contestants, and then down to 30-50 through several auditions and tests by a panel of judges. From this point on, the viewers decide who are in and who are out, and the judges limit themselves to commenting. TV viewers being what they are, the votes are based not solely on the singers vocal performance, but also on his or her looks, clothes, entertainment value, and other factors.
In difference to the versions from other countries of the franchise, several contestants achieved on-going success in the local music industry, most notably Natalia Druyts, runner-up from season one, who managed to sell over 400,000 albums, and over 1 million concert tickets between 2003 and 2010 in Flanders
and Hadise Açıkgöz
, who represented Turkey
in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
placing 4th, who did not even make the top 10 in Season 1.
& Brussels
where the top 100 was invited to the next round. The season was launched in late 2002 and was aired until May when Peter Evrard
narrowly beat Natalia Druyts with just 50.7% of the votes. Evrard would eventually represent his country on World Idol
later that year where managed to place as 2nd runner-up but was clearly outdone by his female competition on a lager scale. The show saw most of its finalists landing record deals, most notably Wim Soutaer
and Brahim Attaeb, who placed 3rd and 4th respectively. Other cast members included Hadise Açıkgöz
, who started a successful singing career the year later and became the host of the second season of X Factor
, Udo Mechels
who won the first season of X Factor and Johan Waem, who achieved european-wide success under his stage name Danzel
. All of the three managed to enter the top 50 but were not chosen by the viewers to advance to the final 10.
only recored one album and was later dropped by his record company. Second runner-up Sandrine Van Handenhoven almost presented her country in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007
and became the host of the local Big Brother
version. Annelies Cappaert, who placed 10th, and her sister Sarah Cappaert, who made the top 30, later participated on X-Factor as The Cappaert Sisters were they placed second behind Idool 2003-semifinalist Udo Mechels
.
was aired on VTM
, the show returned with the Wauters as a host. Jean Blaute remained as the only judge from the last two seasons. On May 23, 2007 Dean Delannoit
won over Esther Sels, making him the third male contestant to win the show. His album managed to top the Flemish charts and his debut-single placed 2nd. However like Fransen, he failed to achieve any significant success after his debut and is currently unsigned.
Presenters
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
version of the Idol series
Idol series
The British talent search television series Pop Idol has spawned spin-offs in 42 territories, in what is now referred to as the "Idols" format, as described by FremantleMedia...
. The series was launched in late 2002 by Belgian television network
Television network
A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
VTM
VTM
The abbreviation VTM may refer to::* Vampire: The Masquerade, a popular role-playing game* Virginia Tech massacre* vtm, the main commercial television station in Flanders, Belgium...
. The contestants are first narrowed down to 100 contestants, and then down to 30-50 through several auditions and tests by a panel of judges. From this point on, the viewers decide who are in and who are out, and the judges limit themselves to commenting. TV viewers being what they are, the votes are based not solely on the singers vocal performance, but also on his or her looks, clothes, entertainment value, and other factors.
In difference to the versions from other countries of the franchise, several contestants achieved on-going success in the local music industry, most notably Natalia Druyts, runner-up from season one, who managed to sell over 400,000 albums, and over 1 million concert tickets between 2003 and 2010 in Flanders
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...
and Hadise Açıkgöz
Hadise
Hadise Açıkgöz , is a Belgian born Turkish singer of Circassian descent. Hadise's career began in 2004 with the release of her debut single "Sweat", which peaked at 19 on the Flanders chart. Hadise continued to release more successful singles, most notably the single "Milk Chocolate Girl"...
, who represented Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Eurovision Song Contest 2009
The Eurovision Song Contest 2009 was the 54th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest and was hosted by Russia after their win in 2008. It took place between 12 and 16 May 2009 at the Olympic Indoor Arena in Moscow, Russia....
placing 4th, who did not even make the top 10 in Season 1.
Season 1
Auditions were held in Antwerp, GhentGhent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
& Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
where the top 100 was invited to the next round. The season was launched in late 2002 and was aired until May when Peter Evrard
Peter Evrard
Peter Evrard is the winner of the first season of Idool 2003, the Belgian version of Pop Idol.Evrard defied the traditional rules of the Idols series by singing punk rock music instead of the expected pop. Regardless, he managed to win the series, and in 2003 he placed third overall in the World...
narrowly beat Natalia Druyts with just 50.7% of the votes. Evrard would eventually represent his country on World Idol
World Idol
World Idol was the title of a one-off international version of the television show Pop Idol, featuring winners of the various national Idol shows around the world competing against each other.The performance show was held on Christmas Day 2003, with the results show held on New Year's Day...
later that year where managed to place as 2nd runner-up but was clearly outdone by his female competition on a lager scale. The show saw most of its finalists landing record deals, most notably Wim Soutaer
Wim Soutaer
Wim Soutaer , was a contestant best known for placing third in Idool 2003, the Belgian version of Pop Idol.-Biography:...
and Brahim Attaeb, who placed 3rd and 4th respectively. Other cast members included Hadise Açıkgöz
Hadise
Hadise Açıkgöz , is a Belgian born Turkish singer of Circassian descent. Hadise's career began in 2004 with the release of her debut single "Sweat", which peaked at 19 on the Flanders chart. Hadise continued to release more successful singles, most notably the single "Milk Chocolate Girl"...
, who started a successful singing career the year later and became the host of the second season of X Factor
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:...
, Udo Mechels
Udo Mechels
Udo Mechels, born in Brussels on 10 May 1976, is a Belgian singer commonly known simply as Udo. He won the first season of the Belgian version of The X Factor in 2005.-Biography:...
who won the first season of X Factor and Johan Waem, who achieved european-wide success under his stage name Danzel
Danzel
Danzel is a Belgian musician of house, techno and dance, who reached the number 11 in the UK Singles Chart in November 2004 with the single, "Pump It Up!"....
. All of the three managed to enter the top 50 but were not chosen by the viewers to advance to the final 10.
Season 2
The second season started excactly one year after the final of the first season, but the high expectations based on the former success of the format could not have been fulfilled. Winner Joeri FransenJoeri Fransen
Joeri Fransen is the winner of Idool 2004, the Belgian version of Pop Idol.- Idol performances :# Semi-Finals : "Lean On Me" # Top 10: "If I Had A Rocket Launcher"...
only recored one album and was later dropped by his record company. Second runner-up Sandrine Van Handenhoven almost presented her country in the Eurovision Song Contest 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...
and became the host of the local Big Brother
Big Brother (Belgium)
Big Brother Belgium is a television Series produced by Endemol. It has had a total of 9 seasons 6-Main, 2-VIP & 1-All StarsThe First Season aired in 2000-Season 1:...
version. Annelies Cappaert, who placed 10th, and her sister Sarah Cappaert, who made the top 30, later participated on X-Factor as The Cappaert Sisters were they placed second behind Idool 2003-semifinalist Udo Mechels
Udo Mechels
Udo Mechels, born in Brussels on 10 May 1976, is a Belgian singer commonly known simply as Udo. He won the first season of the Belgian version of The X Factor in 2005.-Biography:...
.
Season 3
After an absence for three years, in which the first Flemish season of X FactorX 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:...
was aired on VTM
VTM
The abbreviation VTM may refer to::* Vampire: The Masquerade, a popular role-playing game* Virginia Tech massacre* vtm, the main commercial television station in Flanders, Belgium...
, the show returned with the Wauters as a host. Jean Blaute remained as the only judge from the last two seasons. On May 23, 2007 Dean Delannoit
Dean Delannoit
Dean Delannoit is the winner of Idool 2007, the Belgian version of Pop Idol. His first album, So Many Ways, released in 2007, spent 11 weeks in the #1 spot in the Belgian charts.- Songs Performed on Idool 2007:...
won over Esther Sels, making him the third male contestant to win the show. His album managed to top the Flemish charts and his debut-single placed 2nd. However like Fransen, he failed to achieve any significant success after his debut and is currently unsigned.
Season 4
Season 4 started airing on February 2, 2011. The Wauters brothers were hosting their 4th season and Jean Blaute remained as the sole original judge seated next to three firsttimers on the panel. Prior to the kick-off the internet users had to chose their favourite among the online-applicants who automatically qualified for the top 15. As a innovation, the judges-save rule was introduced in which the judging panel were able to save an eliminated contestant. The save-could only be used once in the season.Judges and presenters
Judges- Jean Blaute (2003–11)
- Jan LeyersJan LeyersJan Leyers is a singer, songwriter, and television personality. He was a member of the group Soulsister and later became a solo musician and host of various television series.-Music career:...
(2003–04) - Nina De Man (2003–04)
- Bart Brusseleers (2003–04)
- Vera Mann (2007)
- Herman SchueremansHerman SchueremansHerman Schueremans is a Flemish politician and concertpromotor. Schueremans was involved from the start with Rock Werchter and Torhout-Werchter. Now he still organises Rock Werchter for Live Nation, that bought the two festivals. Since 2004 he is also a member of the Flemish parliament for the...
(2007) - Patrick Carbonez (2007)
- Sylvia Van Driesche (2011)
- Wouter Van Belle (2011)
- Koen Buyse (2011)
Presenters
- Kris WautersKris WautersKris Wauters is a Flemish artist, active with the band Clouseau combined with his brother Koen Wauters....
(2004–11) - Koen Wauters (2004–11)
- Sean (co-host) (2011)