Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023

{{main|Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

Prior to the 2023 contest, Belgium had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest sixty-three times since its debut as one of seven countries to take part in {{Escyr|1956|the inaugural contest}}.{{cite web |title=Belgium Country Profile |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-country/country?country=12 |access-date=3 November 2014 |publisher=EBU}} Since then, the country has won the contest on one occasion in {{Escyr|1986}} with the song "J'aime la vie" performed by Sandra Kim. Following the introduction of semi-finals for {{Escyr|2004|the 2004 contest}}, Belgium had been featured in eight finals. In {{escyr|2022}}, "Miss You" by Jérémie Makiese represented the nation, qualifying for the final and placing 19th.

The Belgian participation in the contest alternates between two broadcasters: Flemish {{lang|nl-BE|Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie|i=no}} (VRT) and Walloon {{lang|fr|Radio-télévision belge de la Communauté française|i=no}} (RTBF) at the time, with both broadcasters sharing the broadcasting rights. Both broadcasters –and their predecessors– had selected the Belgian entry using national finals and internal selections in the past. On 4 July 2022, VRT –who had the turn– confirmed its intention to participate in the 2023 contest and announced on 20 August 2022 that the Eurosong national final would be held to select their entry. This marked the return of Eurosong for the first time since {{Escyr|2016|}}.{{Cite web |last=Jiandani |first=Sanjay (Sergio) |date=2022-07-04 |title=Belgium: VRT confirms participation at Eurovision 2023 |url=https://esctoday.com/187375/belgium-vrt-confirms-participation-at-eurovision-2023/ |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=Esctoday}}{{Cite web |date=2022-08-20 |title=Preselectie 'Eurosong' keert terug om in 2023 Belgische inzending te kiezen |url=https://songfestival.be/landen/be/preselectie-eurosong-2023-keert-terug-om-belgische-inzending-te-kiezen/ |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=Songfestival.be |language=nl}}

Eurosong 2023 was the national final that selected the Belgian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. The competition consisted of five pre-recorded songclub shows that was broadcast between 9 and 13 January 2023, followed by a live final on 14 January 2023 where the winning song and artist was selected. All six shows was hosted by Peter Van de Veire and broadcast on Eén, as well as on the broadcaster's online streaming platform VRT Max.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-08 |title='Eurosong 2023' vanaf 9 januari week lang op tv |url=https://songfestival.be/eurosong-2023/eurosong-2023-vanaf-9-januari-week-lang-op-tv/ |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=Songfestival.be |language=nl}}{{Cite web |last=Paelinck |first=Gianni |date=2022-12-20 |title=Eurosong 2023: zo gaan we in de week voor de finale van 14 naar 7 liedjes |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2022/12/19/eurosong/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=vrtnws.be |language=nl}}

Seven artists were sought to compete in Eurosong. The competition included five songclub shows that were broadcast between 9 and 13 January 2023. The shows featured each artist presenting their two candidate Eurovision songs in front of the six other artists that gave advice on which song should be selected for the final. Based on the advice, the artist selected one of the two songs to proceed to the final.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-20 |title=Verrassing: artiesten kiezen zélf eigen inzending voor 'Eurosong'-finale |url=https://songfestival.be/eurosong-2023/verrassing-artiesten-kiezen-zelf-eigen-inzending-voor-eurosong-finale/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Songfestival.be |language=nl}} The final took place on 14 January 2023 where the winner was chosen by an expert jury and public televoting.{{Cite web |last=Farren |first=Neil |date=2022-12-20 |title=🇧🇪 Belgium: Eurosong 2023 Artists to Pick Which Entry to Perform in the Final |url=https://eurovoix.com/2022/12/20/belgium-eurosong-2023-artists-pick-which-entry-perform-final/ |access-date=2022-12-20 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2023-01-09 |title=Hoe stemmen voor Eurosong 2023? |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtmax/artikels/2023/01/05/hoe-stemmen-voor-eurosong-2023/ |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=vrt.be |language=nl}}

The jury panel consisted of:{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=2023-01-02 |title=🇧🇪 Belgium: Fifteen Member Eurosong 2023 Jury Revealed |url=https://eurovoix.com/2023/01/02/belgium-fifteen-member-eurosong-2023-jury-revealed/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2023-01-02 |title=VRT stelt professionele vakjury 'Eurosong 2023' voor |url=https://songfestival.be/eurosong-2023/vrt-stelt-professionele-vakjury-eurosong-2023-voor/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Songfestival.be |language=nl}}

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• Alexander Rybak – Norwegian singer, winner of the {{Escyr|2009||2009 contest}}
• Nikkie de Jager – Dutch makeup artist and YouTuber, co-host of the {{Escyr|2021||2021 contest}}
• Laura Tesoro – singer and actress, represented Belgium in 2016
• Jérémie Makiese – singer, represented Belgium in 2022
• Laura Govaerts – presenter at MNM
• Ann Reymen – presenter at Radio 2
• Korneel de Clercq – presenter at Radio 1
• Thibault Christiaensen – presenter at Studio Brussel
• Francisco Schuster – actor, singer and dancer
• Leslie Cable – Eurovision Head of Delegation for Wallonian broadcaster RTBF
• Jasper van Biesen – author of 65 Years of Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest
• Stephan Monsieur – chairman of OGAE Belgium
• André Vermeulen – journalist and Eurovision specialist
• Els Germonpré – music coordinator for Eén
• Manu Lammens – music manager of MNM

{{Div col end}}

The names of the seven acts selected for the competition were announced on 8 November 2022 during the radio MNM programme {{lang|nl|Kawtar & Keyaert}}. Among the competing artists was former Eurovision Song Contest participant Tom Dice (member of the Starlings), who represented Belgium in 2010.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-08 |title=Onthuld: dit zijn kandidaten 'Eurosong 2023' |url=https://songfestival.be/eurosong-2023/onthuld-dit-zijn-kandidaten-eurosong-2023/ |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=Songfestival.be |language=nl}} The artists were selected by an A&R Team (Arts and Repertoire) consisting of music experts from VRT in consultation with record labels and artist managers.{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=2022-09-21 |title=🇧🇪 Belgium: VRT Will Not Hold Open Submissions For 'Eurosong 2023' |url=https://eurovoix.com/2022/09/21/belgium-submissions-eurosong-2023/ |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=C |first=Shiloh |date=2022-09-26 |title=🇧🇪 Eurosong 2023 Will Not Allow Open Submissions |url=https://thateurovisionsite.com/2022/09/26/eurosong-2023-no-open-submissions/ |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=That Eurovision Site |language=en-GB}} The candidate Eurovision songs to be performed by the artists were announced on 15 December 2022, along with 20-second snippets of each entry.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-15 |title=Danceklassieker, ballade of duistere popsong: één van deze 14 liedjes wordt de Belgische Songfestivalinzending |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2022/12/12/eurosong-mogelijke-liedjes/ |access-date=2022-12-15 |website=vrtnws.be |publisher=VRT |language=nl}}

The five songclub shows were recorded in Tournai and aired between 9 and 13 January 2023. During the shows each of the competing artists performed their two candidate songs for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest and selected one of them to qualify to the final, taking into account the advice given by the other artists.{{Cite web |last=Farren |first=Neil |date=2022-12-20 |title=🇧🇪 Belgium: Eurosong 2023 Artists to Pick Which Entry to Perform in the Final |url=https://eurovoix.com/2022/12/20/belgium-eurosong-2023-artists-pick-which-entry-perform-final/ |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB}} All acts with the exception of the Starlings ultimately followed the advice of the songclub.{{cite web |date=13 January 2023 |title=The Starlings met 'Rollercoaster' in finale 'Eurosong 2023' |url=https://songfestival.be/eurosong-2023/the-starlings-met-rollercoaster-in-finale-eurosong-2023/ |access-date=13 January 2023 |website=Songfestival.be |language=nl}}

The final took place on 14 January 2023 at the Palais 12 in Brussels.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-03 |title='Finale 'Eurosong 2023' op 14 januari, The Starlings nemen deel' |url=https://songfestival.be/eurosong-2023/finale-eurosong-2023-op-14-januari-the-starlings-nemen-deel/ |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=Songfestival.be |language=nl}} Each artist performed their selected candidate Eurovision song and the winner, "Because of You" performed by Gustaph, was selected by the combination of results from an expert jury and a public televote. The public and the jury each had a total of 780 points to award. Each member of the jury awarded points from 4-8, 10 and 12, while the televote awarded points based on the percentage of votes each song achieved. For example, if a song gained 10% of the viewer vote, then that entry would be awarded 10% of 780 points rounded to the nearest integer: 78 points.{{Cite web |title=Eurosong 2023 – reglement televoting |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtmax/artikels/2023/01/12/eurosong-2023-_-reglement-televoting/ |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=vrt.be |language=nl}} Four members of the jury also provided commentary and feedback to the songs during the show: Alexander Rybak, Nikkie de Jager, Laura Tesoro and Jérémie Makiese.{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=2023-01-02 |title=🇧🇪 Belgium: Fifteen Member Eurosong 2023 Jury Revealed |url=https://eurovoix.com/2023/01/02/belgium-fifteen-member-eurosong-2023-jury-revealed/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2023-01-02 |title=VRT stelt professionele vakjury 'Eurosong 2023' voor |url=https://songfestival.be/eurosong-2023/vrt-stelt-professionele-vakjury-eurosong-2023-voor/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Songfestival.be |language=nl}}

In addition to the competing entries, the show was opened with a medley of past Eurovision songs performed by the competing artists: Ameerah performed "Euphoria", Gala Dragot performed "Rhythm Inside", Gustaph performed "Waterloo", Loredana performed "Rise Like a Phoenix", Hunter Falls performed "Heroes", Chérine performed "Voilà", the Starlings performed "Snap" and all artists together performed "Baby Baby". The interval acts included past Eurovision winners Duncan Laurence and Rybak performing their winning songs "Arcade" and "Fairytale", respectively.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Gustaph made several appearances across Europe to specifically promote "Because of You" as the Belgian Eurovision entry. On 8 April, Gustaph performed during the PrePartyES event, which was held at the Sala La Riviera venue in Madrid, Spain and hosted by Victor Escudero, SuRie and Ruslana.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-09 |title=PrePartyES 2023 in Madrid: Watch the performances |url=https://eurovisionworld.com/esc/prepartyes-2023-in-madrid-watch-the-performances |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Eurovisionworld |language=en-gb}} On 15 April, Gustaph performed during the Eurovision in Concert event which was held at the AFAS Live venue in Amsterdam, Netherlands and hosted by Cornald Maas and Hila Noorzai.{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=2023-04-14 |title=Tonight: 🇳🇱 Eurovision in Concert 2023 |url=https://eurovoix.com/2023/04/15/eurovision-in-concert-2023/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB}}

File:Laeken Atomium 06.jpg introduced Gustaph's performance in the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. The postcard was filmed at the Atomium in Brussels in March 2023 in collaboration with the host broadcaster BBC. The Angel of the North sculpture in Gateshead and the Independence Monument in Kyiv were also featured in the Belgian postcard.]]

According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. 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 31 January 2023, an allocation draw was held, which placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, and determined which half of the show they would perform in. Belgium has been placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 11 May 2023, and has been scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.{{Cite web|last=Groot|first=Evert|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2023-allocation-draw-results|title=Eurovision 2023: Allocation Draw results |date=2023-01-31|access-date=2022-01-31|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)}}

Once all the competing songs for the 2023 contest had been released, the running order for the semi-finals was decided by the shows' producers rather than through another draw, so that similar songs were not placed next to each other. Belgium was set to perform in position 5, following the entry from {{esccnty|Estonia|y=2023}} and before the entry from {{esccnty|Cyprus|y=2023}}.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-22 |title=Eurovision Song Contest 2023 Semi-Final running orders revealed! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2023-semi-final-running-orders-revealed |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=Eurovision.tv |publisher=EBU |language=en-gb}}

The two semi-finals and the final was broadcast in Belgium by both the Flemish and Walloon broadcasters. VRT broadcast the shows on VRT 1 and Radio 2 with commentary in Dutch by Peter Van de Veire. The first semi-final reached over 549,000 viewers,{{cite web |title=TV {{!}} Dag {{!}} 09/05/2023 {{!}} Noord |url=https://www.cim.be/nl/televisie?type=daily&date=2023-5-9®ion=north |access-date=6 June 2023 |publisher={{ill|Centrum voor Informatie over de Media|nl|lt=CIM}} |language=nl}} while the second semi-final reached over 1.044 million viewers and the final reached over 1.334 million viewers with a marker share of 69.7%.{{cite web |title=TV {{!}} Dag {{!}} 11/05/2023 {{!}} Noord |url=https://www.cim.be/nl/televisie?type=daily&date=2023-5-11®ion=north |access-date=6 June 2023 |publisher={{ill|Centrum voor Informatie over de Media|nl|lt=CIM}} |language=nl}}{{cite web |title=TV {{!}} Week {{!}} 22/05/2023 {{!}} Noord |url=https://www.cim.be/nl/televisie?type=weekly&date=2023-5-22®ion=north |access-date=6 June 2023 |publisher={{ill|Centrum voor Informatie over de Media|nl|lt=CIM}} |language=nl}} RTBF televised the shows with commentary in French by Jean-Louis Lahaye and Maureen Louys; the first semi-final was broadcast on Tipil which reached 90,000 viewers,{{cite web |title=TV {{!}} Dag {{!}} 09/05/2023 {{!}} Zuid |url=https://www.cim.be/nl/televisie?type=daily&date=2023-5-9®ion=south |access-date=6 June 2023 |publisher={{ill|Centrum voor Informatie over de Media|nl|lt=CIM}} |language=nl}} while the second semi-final and the final were broadcast on {{lang|fr|La Une|i=unset}} with the former reaching 252,000 viewers and the latter reaching 344,000 viewers with a marker share of 31.4%.{{cite web |title=TV {{!}} Dag {{!}} 11/05/2023 {{!}} Zuid |url=https://www.cim.be/nl/televisie?type=daily&date=2023-5-11®ion=south |access-date=6 June 2023 |publisher={{ill|Centrum voor Informatie over de Media|nl|lt=CIM}} |language=nl}}{{cite web |title=TV {{!}} Week {{!}} 22/05/2023 {{!}} Zuid |url=https://www.cim.be/nl/televisie?type=weekly&date=2023-5-22®ion=south |access-date=6 June 2023 |publisher={{ill|Centrum voor Informatie over de Media|nl|lt=CIM}} |language=nl}} {{lang|fr|Vivacité|i=unset}} also provided radio broadcasts for all three shows.{{cite web |date=3 May 2023 |title=Eurovision 2023 : découvrez le programme complet de la RTBF |url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/eurovision-2023-decouvrez-le-programme-complet-de-la-rtbf-11192440 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514220850/https://www.rtbf.be/article/eurovision-2023-decouvrez-le-programme-complet-de-la-rtbf-11192440 |archive-date=14 May 2023 |access-date=6 June 2023 |publisher=RTBF |language=fr}}

File:Eurovision 2023 - Jury Final - Belgium - Gustaph (01).jpg

Gustaph took part in technical rehearsals on 1 and 4 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 10 and 11 May. This included the jury show on 10 May where the professional back-up juries of each country watched and voted in a result used if any issues with public televoting occurred.{{Cite web |last=Lahav |first=Doron |date=2023-04-28 |title=Eurovision 2023: The Rehearsal Schedule |url=https://escbeat.com/2023/04/28/eurovision-2023-the-rehearsal-schedule/#:~:text=Sunday%2C%20the%2030th%20of%20April%202023%20First%20rehearsals,First%20rehearsals%20Batch%203%20%28remaining%20semi-final%202%20artists%29 |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Esc Beat |language=en-GB}}

The Belgian performance featured Gustaph in a pink and white outfit and performing on stage together with three backing vocalists and a dancer. The performance began with Gustaph on top of a stairway, after which he walked down the steps to join the backing vocalists which then walked from him to go on the stairs. At the second chorus, Gustaph and the backing vocalists appeared on the satellite stage and were joined by the dancer towards the end who vogued around the other performers. The stage colours were black, white and pink and the LED screens displayed dancing shadows.{{Cite web |last=Gorkum |first=Steef Van |date=2023-05-10 |title=Dress Rehearsal 1 - Semi final 2 - Eurovision 2023 |url=https://www.escdaily.com/dress-rehearsal-1-semi-final-2-eurovision-2023/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=ESCDaily |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-05-10 |title=LIVE: Eurovision 2023: Semi-Final Two first dress rehearsal |url=https://escxtra.com/2023/05/10/live-eurovision-2023-semi-final-2-first-dress-rehearsal/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=ESCXTRA.com |language=en-GB}} The Belgian performance was directed by Hans Pannecoucke. The three backing vocalists that joined Gustaph during the performance were: Chantal Kashala, Monique Harcum and Sandrine Van Handenhoven, while the dancer was PussCee West.{{Cite web |title=Eurovision 2023 Belgium: Gustaph - "Because of You" |url=https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2023/belgium |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=Eurovisionworld |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |date=2023-05-10 |title=🇧🇪 Gustaph Interview: "For me it's a great honor to have PussCee on stage with me, she's a legend in her house. |url=https://www.escunited.com/gustaph-interview-for-me-its-a-great-honor-to-have-pusscee-on-stage-with-me-shes-a-legend-in-her-house/ |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=escYOUnited |language=en-US}}

At the end of the show, Belgium was announced as having finished in the top 10 and subsequently qualifying for the grand final. It was later revealed that Belgium placed eighth in the semi-final, receiving a total of 90 points.{{Cite web |title=Second Semi-Final of Liverpool 2023 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/liverpool-2023/second-semi-final |work=Eurovision.tv |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}

Shortly after the first semi-final, a winners' press conference was held for the ten qualifying countries. As part of this press conference, the qualifying artists took part in a draw to determine which half of the grand final they would subsequently participate in. This draw was done in the order the countries appeared in the semi-final running order. Belgium was drawn to compete in the second half.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-12 |title=Second Semi-Final: Qualifiers' press conference |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/second-semi-final-qualifiers-conference |access-date=2023-08-29 |website=eurovision.tv |language=en}} Following this draw, the shows' producers decided upon the running order of the final, as they had done for the semi-finals. Belgium was subsequently placed to perform in position 16, before the entry from {{esccnty|Australia|y=2023}} and before the entry from {{esccnty|Armenia|y=2023}}.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-12 |title=Eurovision 2023: The Grand Final running order |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2023-grand-final-running-order |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=eurovision.tv |language=en}}

Belgium once again took part in dress rehearsals on 12 and 13 May before the final, including the jury final where the professional juries cast their final votes before the live show. Gustaph performed a repeat of his semi-final performance during the final on 14 May. Belgium placed seventh in the final, scoring 182 points: 55 points from the televoting and 127 points from the juries.

{{see also|Voting at the Eurovision Song Contest}}

Voting during the three shows involved each country awarding sets of points from 1-8, 10 and 12: one from their professional jury and the other from televoting in the final vote, while the semi-final vote was based entirely on the vote of the public.{{cite web |title=Voting–Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/voting |access-date=14 May 2023 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)}} 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, each member of a national jury may only take part in the panel once every three years, and no jury was permitted to discuss of their vote with other members or be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently. The individual rankings of each jury member in an anonymised form as well as the nation's televoting results were released shortly after the grand final.{{Cite web |title=Grand Final of Liverpool 2023 - Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/liverpool-2023/grand-final |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=eurovision.tv}} VRT appointed Bart Cannaerts as its spokesperson to announce the Belgian jury's votes in the final.

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Belgium and awarded by Belgium in the second semi-final and grand final of the contest, and the breakdown of the jury voting and televoting conducted during the two shows:

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The following members comprised the Belgian jury:{{Cite web |title=Käärijä teki viisuhistoriaa sijoittumalla toiseksi – Ruotsin Loreen voitti Euroviisut |url=https://yle.fi/aihe/a/20-10004875 |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=yle.fi |language=fi}}

• Alex Callier
• Lester William Senior
• Sam Jaspers
• Laura Govaerts
• Sennek

{{Reflist}}

{{Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 2023}}

Eurovision

2023

Category:Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023