04 Nov 2023 at 14:03
A Dutch Song Contest, with entries from different regions: regional broadcasters have joined forces to make this possible. But sending the winner to the Eurovision Song Contest remains a dream for the organization for the time being.
Shouldn’t we have another National Song Contest? After the disappointing result of the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest last year – Mia and Dion failed in the semi-finals – the selection procedure became a subject of discussion again.
A National Song Contest, in which the viewer also has influence, seems to be a good option for many fans. But that is not why the Regional Song Contest came about.
This event is completely separate from the Eurovision Song Contest. The idea of the Regional Song Contest came from the thirteen regional broadcasters in the Netherlands.
“The various regional broadcasters regularly meet to discuss possibilities for collaboration,” explains initiator Bas Treffers of RTV Oost. Ideas were devised in which all broadcasters collaborate on one production. One of the ideas was the Regional Song Contest.
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These are all the candidates of the Regional Song Contest
‘It’s not a popularity contest’
And that could only happen if all thirteen broadcasters agreed. That did not happen automatically, says Treffers. “You have thirteen boards that all need to be convinced. Quite a bit of lobbying has been done in the background. Ultimately, all broadcasters fully supported the idea.”
The broadcasters were then allowed to decide for themselves how they selected their submission. A local competition could be organized for this or an internal selection.
There are some requirements. The performing artist may not have already been in the Top 40. “It’s not a popularity contest,” says Treffers. “If Guus Meeuwis participates, you know that he will certainly receive a lot of votes. That does not mean that they are all novice artists who participate, because they are often experienced musicians.”
The songs must be sung in Dutch or a local dialect. “We want to celebrate the individuality of each region, but not everywhere has its own dialect. So ABN is also allowed,” Treffers explains.
When is the Regional Song Contest and how does it work?
The Regional Song Contest will take place on Saturday evening, November 4, in the Stadsschouwburg of Utrecht. It can be followed live via all regional broadcasters. The presentation is in the hands of, among others, Stefania (Dutch singer who previously represented Greece, ed.).
The winner is determined two-thirds by the points of the broadcasters’ juries. The viewers at home have a third influence.
‘How great would it be if the winner could go to Eurovision’
The composition must be central to the Regional Song Contest. “The Eurovision Song Contest has become a major spectacle with millions of euros being thrown at it. Of course we don’t have that budget, but we also want to get back to the essence of the songs.”
Yet it is a dream for Treffers that the Regional Song Contest will one day deliver the participant for Eurovision. “How nice would that be? But for now that is not realistic.”
If it were up to Treffers, the Regional Song Contest would become an annual tradition. “We are convinced that this edition will be a success and that there will be a sequel. This year’s winning region is the organizer of the next edition. And then we already have the entire script for this year, so the organization will be a lot easier.”
How will the Netherlands choose this year’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest?
The AVROTROS, which is responsible for the Dutch entry, swears for the time being by an internal selection in which a committee chooses a song behind the scenes. They expect to have news about next year’s entry in Malmö, Sweden, in December. More than six hundred songs were submitted this year.
2023-11-04 13:03:00
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