Strobe Lights
{{Short description|2025 song by Red Sebastian}}
{{about|the Red Sebastian song|the device that produces flashing lights|Strobe light}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Strobe Lights
| cover = Strobe Lights by Red Sebastian cover art.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Red Sebastian
| album =
| released = 25 January 2025
| language =
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Techno{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/a/7-10074982|title=Ranking: Här är alla 37 bidrag i årets Eurovision Song Contest|lang=sv|date=5 April 2025|first=Eva|last=Frantz|publisher=Yle|access-date=9 April 2025}}
| length = 2:58
| label = CNR
| writer =
- Astrid Roelants
- {{ill|Billie Simonne Lea Bentein|nl|Billie Bentein}}
- Seppe Guido Yvonne Herreman
- Willem Vanderstichele
| producer = Willem Vanderstichele
| prev_title = In Your Eyes
| prev_year = 2024
| next_title = Slay
| next_year = 2025
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|ScupiVTosHU|"Strobe Lights"}}}}
{{Infobox song contest entry
| embed = yes
| year = 2025
| country = Belgium
| artist = Red Sebastian
| languages = English
| composer = {{ubl|Astrid Roelants|{{ill|Billie Simonne Lea Bentein|nl|Billie Bentein}}|Seppe Guido Yvonne Herreman|Willem Vanderstichele}}
| lyricist = {{ubl|Astrid Roelants|Billie Simonne Lea Bentein|Seppe Guido Yvonne Herreman|Willem Vanderstichele}}
| place =
| points =
| place_semi = 14th
| points_semi = 23
| prev = Before the Party's Over
| prev_year = 2024
| prev_link = Before the Party's Over
| next =
| next_year =
| next_link =
}}
}}
"Strobe Lights" is a song by Belgian singer Red Sebastian. It was written by Sebastian, Astrid Roelants, {{ill|Billie Bentein|lt=Billie Bentein|nl}} and Willem Vanderstichele (Hush), with production handled by Hush. The song {{esccnty|Belgium|y=2025|t=represented Belgium}} in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. It reached number five on the Belgian Singles Chart for Flanders.
Background and composition
Strobe Lights was written by Sebastian, Astrid Roelants, {{ill|Billie Bentein|lt=Billie Bentein|nl}} and Willem Vanderstichele (Hush), the last in whom produced the song. In an interview with the online testimonial L'Eurovision Au Quotidien, Sebastian described the song as a fun and flashing night out.{{cite web|language=fr|url=https://eurovision-quotidien.com/belgique-2025-red-sebastian-stobe-lights-est-une-ode-a-la-culture-rave-des-annees-90-interview/|title=Belgique 2025 : Red Sebastian – "Strobe Lights est une ode à la culture rave des années 90" (interview)|date=2025-01-27|accessdate=2025-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127080630/https://eurovision-quotidien.com/belgique-2025-red-sebastian-stobe-lights-est-une-ode-a-la-culture-rave-des-annees-90-interview/|archive-date=27 January 2025}} Eva Frantz of Yle described "Strobe Lights" as a "suggestive and dark dance song".
Eurovision Song Contest
{{main|Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025}}
= Eurosong 2025 =
{{esccnty|Belgium|y=2025|t=Eurosong 2025}} was the national final used to select Belgium's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. The competition consisted of two pre-recorded showcase shows that were broadcast on 18 and 25 January 2025, followed by a live final on 1 February 2025 where the winning song and artist was selected.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-14 |title=De kleinzoon van Louis Neefs en de zus van Metejoor: dit zijn de 8 kandidaten voor Eurosong 2025 |trans-title=Louis Neefs' grandson and Metejoor's sister: these are the 8 candidates for Eurosong 2025 |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2024/11/13/eurosong-2025-kandidaten/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0dxSWA6HbjinT-J9faDBd1VqCesmaJD0OwbokIqzgz3sM4JqeuVNhnyMM_aem_RkivHAvly4Nn9k-bGjabqA |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=vrtnws.be |publisher=VRT |language=nl-be}}
On 13 January 2025, VRT announced that it had selected "Strobe Lights" performed by Sebastian as one of the songs to compete in Eurosong 2025, the national final that it would organise to select its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-13 |title=Van Franstalig en dansbaar tot klassieke Songfestivalpop: ontdek de eerste fragmenten uit de Eurosong-nummers |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2025/01/10/eurosong-2025-eerste-fragmenten-nummers-en-vakjury/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=vrtnws.be |language=nl}}{{Cite web |last=Veen |first=Robin De |date=2025-01-09 |title=Ontdek de nummers en jury van Eurosong 2025 |url=https://communicatie.vrt1.be/ontdek-de-nummers-en-jury-van-eurosong-2025 |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=VRT 1 |language=nl-BE}} The song won Eurosong 2025 on 1 February 2025, where it came in first place overall by the jury, as well as the audience votes with 432 points, thus qualifying the song to represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest.{{Cite web |last=Helgeson |first=Justina |date=2025-02-01 |title=Belgium: Red Sebastian wins Eurosong 2025 with "Strobe Lights" |url=https://eurovisionworld.com/esc/belgium-red-sebastian-wins-eurosong-2025-with-strobe-lights|access-date=2025-02-01 |website=Eurovisionworld}}
= At Eurovision =
The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 took place at St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, and consisted of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 13 and 15 May and the final on 17 May 2025.{{cite web|date=2024-08-30|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/basel-will-host-eurovision-song-contest-2025|title=Basel will host Eurovision Song Contest 2025|website=Eurovision.TV|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=2025-01-28}} During the allocation draw held on 28 January 2025, Belgium was drawn to compete in the first semi-final, performing in the second half of the show.
In the first semi final, Belgium performed 9th out of the 15 countries performing to qualify. Belgium did not qualify for the final.{{cite press release |title=Eurovision 2025: Semi-Final Draw Results |date=2025-01-28 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2025-semi-final-draw-results |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=Eurovision.TV}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "Strobe Lights" ! scope="col"| Chart (2025) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{single chart|Flanders|5|artist=Red Sebastian|song=Strobe Lights|rowheader=true|access-date=19 May 2025}} |
| scope="row"| Lithuania (AGATA){{cite web|url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/s21-4/|title=2025 21-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)|publisher=AGATA|language=lt|date=23 May 2025|access-date=23 May 2025}}
| 88 |
|---|
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for "Strobe Lights" ! scope="col" | Region ! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Format ! scope="col" | Version ! scope="col" | Label ! scope="col" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="2" | Various
| 25 January 2025 | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | Original | rowspan="2" | CNR | {{center|{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/strobe-lights/1791066274 |title=Strobe Lights - Single - Album by Red Sebastian |website=Apple Music |access-date=28 January 2025}}}} |
|---|
| 11 April 2025
| 7" | {{hlist|Original|extended}} | {{center|{{Cite web|url=https://www.bol.com/be/fr/p/red-sebastian-strobe-lights/9300000228485102/|title=Red Sebastian - Strobe Lights (7" Vinyl Single) (Coloured Vinyl)|lang=fr|publisher=Bol.com|access-date=14 April 2025}}}} |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest|state=collapsed}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest 2025|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}