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Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 1959
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Belgium was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1959 with the song "Hou toch van mij", composed by Hans Flower, with lyrics by Ke Riema, and performed by Bob Benny. The Dutch-speaking department of the Belgian participating broadcaster, the National Broadcasting Institute (NIR/INR), selected its entry through a national final.
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Before Eurovision
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Grote Eurovisie Prijs van het Europese Lied
The National Broadcasting Institute (NIR/INR), whose official name in Dutch was Nationaal Instituut voor de Radio-omroep (NIR), delegated its participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 1959 to its Dutch-speaking department, which developed the national final format Grote Eurovisie Prijs van het Europese Lied in order to select its entry for contest. Eighteen entries competed in the competition that consisted of two semi-finals held on 1 and 8 February 1959 leading to a two-song final on 15 February 1959. All three shows were hosted by Jan Theys.[1]
Format
The format of the competition consisted of three shows: two semi-finals on 1 and 8 February 1959 and the final on 15 February 1959. Each semi-final featured nine competing entries from which one advanced from each show to complete the two song lineup in the final. Results during both semi-finals and final were determined by a jury of music experts.[1]
Competing entries
Nine composers were approached by NIR to create the songs for the contest. Each composer wrote two songs for the contest. Then, NIR selected performers for the songs. The selected composers were: Jef Trappeniers, Johnny Steggerda, Jef Van den Berg, Jack Say, Pieter Leemans, Armand Preud'homme, Hans Flower, Louis Marischal, and Jack Sels. It is unknown why "Alles is nu voorbij" was submitted twice.[1][2]
Semi-finals
The first semi-final took place on 1 February 1959 at the Funkis Cinema in Herentals. The second semi-final took place on 8 February 1959 at the Apollo in Antwerp.
Final
The final was held on 15 February 1959 at 21:25 CET as part of NIR's TV show Show Band Show at the Cultural and Artistic Center in Uccle. The song "Hou toch van mij" written by Ke Riema, composed by Hans Flower and performed by Bob Benny, was selected as the winner.[1]
Artist selection
An article by Brugsch Handelsblad suggested that there might have been no guarantee that the artist who performed the winning song in the national final would be the same artist to perform the song at the Eurovision Song Contest. The article stated that Jo Leemans and Jean Walter had put themselves forward to sing the song and that Bob Benny had little chance of going to the Eurovision Song Contest, although he was eventually selected.[3]
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At Eurovision
On the night of the final Bob Benny performed last in the running order, following the United Kingdom. Voting was by 10-member national juries with each member awarding 1 vote to his/her favourite song. At the close of the voting "Hou toch van mij" had received 9 votes (3 from Germany, 2 from Denmark and the United Kingdom and 1 from Monaco and the Netherlands), placing Belgium joint 6th (with Italy) of the 11 entries.
Voting
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Notes
- Nationaal Instituut voor de Radio-omroep (NIR) was the official Dutch-language name of the National Broadcasting Institute (NIR/INR).
References
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