This was what the foreign press thought of Hooverpho’s performance …

Relief at Hooverphonic: the band of Alex Callier, Geike Arnaert and Raymond Geerts pushed through to the final of the Eurovision Song Contest on Tuesday evening with the song The wrong place. What did foreign experts think of the Belgian performance?

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Hooverphonic performed in the first semifinal on Tuesday evening as the eleventh country of the sixteen. The slower The wrong place stood out, not only because of Geike Arnaert’s perfect vocals, but also because of the sobriety of the act. Few bells and whistles, it is usually not a success formula for the victory in a Eurovision Song Contest, but this time it is enjoyed. Arnaert, in a glittering black dress for the occasion, secured Hooverphonic a place in the final.

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Not in the wrong place

British television host Graham Norton thought Hooverphonic’s act was brilliant. “Hooverphonic is certainly not in the wrong place,” he wrote on Twitter, joking about the song’s title. “A brilliant performance.”

One of the best bands

According to the Greek ZNews, Hooverphonic proved during the semifinal that they are “one of the best bands in world music”.

The “oldest” band

The Indian newspaper Firstpost reflected on Hooverphonic’s “modest performance”, but also on the age of the band members. “The experienced Belgian band Hooverphonic has the oldest artist at this year’s event, 61-year-old Raymond Geerts.”

Twin

From Daily Record did not dwell on Geike Arnaert’s singing performance, but on her looks. According to the British newspaper, Arnaert looks like two drops of water to the Scottish singer Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, who won the Eurovision Song Contest for the United Kingdom in 1969. A victory that she had to share with France, Spain and the Netherlands, because the regulations of the Eurovision Song Contest at the time did not yet provide for an equal final score of different numbers.

Biggest round of applause

According to the Dutch NOS, the applause for the Belgian entry in the press room was the greatest. “The loudest cheers for Belgium were in the press room,” writes editor Jorn Kompeer, who was present.

Underdog of the year

On the song festival site Wiwibloggs, Hooverphonic is described as the ‘underdog’ of the year. “The viewers must see that this is professionalism” and “Belgium can really win with this achievement” has been written several times.

Quiet highlight

According to The Telegraphjournalist Richard van de Crommert set a quiet high point for Hooverphonic. “Belgium brings a qualitative and calm highlight during this first semifinal in Rotterdam. The song is spooky, dark, mysterious and a masterpiece at the same time. Wonderful voice of the singer ”, he wrote on Twitter.

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