About Belgium...

2005 Result
History (1956 to 2004)
This year's entry
What I predicted...
What you thought...
What actually happened...
What the bookies thought...

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2005 Result

Points in Semi Final: 29
Position in Semi Final: 22nd

Points in Final: Failed to qualify
Position in Final: Failed to qualify
More about the 2005 result for Belgium

2006 Contest: Must compete in Semi Final

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History (1956 to 2004)

Belgium's previous appearances: 46 year(s) out of 49 [note]
Years participated: 1956-1993; 1995-1996; 1998-2000; 2002- [note]
Best result: 1st (1986)

One of the original Eurovision entrants, Belgium had to wait thirty years before scoring its first victory in 1986. It did so with probably the most nauseating Eurovision winner ever, 'J'aime la vie', performed with horrific gusto by 13-year-old Sandra Kim. Watching the 1986 Contest as a 12-year-old, I was staggered that what I felt was the weakest song in the whole show had triumphed, beating superior efforts by Switzerland's Daniella Simons and the fabulous Doris Dragović for Yugoslavia - two decades later, my feelings haven't changed. Fortunately, the EBU has since decreed that all Eurovision entrants must be aged 16 or over, while those who are underage now have their own Junior Eurovision to take part in.

Looking at Belgium's record since 1986, the country may have to wait another thirty years before its next victory. Following its Eurovision win, no further top ten places were forthcoming until 1998, when Melanie Cohl managed 6th place with the likeable 'Dis oui'. However, this flash of success was not sustained, with Vanessa Chinitor only managing a mid-table 12th in 1999. The following year, Natalie Sorce sang the unfortunately titled 'Envie de vivre', or 'Desire to live'; the song wasn't that terrible, but by the end of her performance most of Europe had certainly lost the 'Envie de vivre', and it finished last with just 2 points. 2001's song, 'Sister', did better, but even that stalled in 13th place. Urban Trad's excellent result with 'Sanomi' in 2003 certainly gave Belgium a welcome boost, not only coming within a whisker of winning, but also affording the country its first top five placing since Sandra Kim's 1986 victory. It was not to last, however, with the highly-tipped Xandee and '1 life' - directly qualified for the Final - causing one of the shocks of 2004 by finishing 22nd with just 7 points. Nevertheless, it was the year's bestselling song in Flanders (and a hit elsewhere in Europe), once again proving the 'Gina G rule' that a chart hit does not necessarily translate into Eurovision glory. Unfortunately for Belgium, it means that the country must compete in the 2005 Semi Final to stand a chance of appearing in Saturday's Contest proper.
Get 'The Eurovision Song Contest: The Offical History' at Amazon.co.uk

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This year's entry

Position in Semi Final draw: 11
Position in Final draw: Failed to qualify

What I said prior to the Semi Final:
"Belgium is represented in 2005 by Portuguese-born Nuno Resende, performing the attractive French ballad 'Le grand soir'. There is little here to dislike - Nuno has a very good voice, and the song builds to an impressive climax, even if there are an inordinate number of 'soirs' along the way. However, I can't help feeling that 'Le grand soir' would feel more at home in 'Notre Dame de Paris' than the Eurovision Song Contest. It's been a long time since a big French ballad won Eurovision - Celine Dion's victory in 1988, in fact - and that seems unlikely to change in 2005."

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What I predicted...

My prediction for Semi Final: 18th to 20th
My prediction for Final: Will not qualify
See all my predictions for 2005

What I predicted prior to the Semi Final:
"Pleasant though his song is, Nuno seemingly has an uphill struggle if he's to qualify for the Final. Soult.com Eurovision visitors seem unmoved, rating Belgium 30th out of 39 in the Poll 2005, while bookmakers Coral similarly have Belgium way down in 30th place with a lowly 66-1 chance of winning the Contest. I don't think Belgium will come last - 'Le grand soir' will surely pick up a few points from the country's French-speaking neighbours - but unless there's a major surprise on the 19th May, expect to see Belgium back in the Semi Final in 2006."

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What you thought...

Final Poll Ranking: out of 39 ()
(Updated 22 May 2005; change refers to movement over final week)

In the run up to the Contest, 27,998 visitors to this site voted for their favourite song in the Soult.com Eurovision Poll (up from 5,000 in 2004!)
See full results of Poll 2005

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What actually happened...

Well, Belgium's 22nd place was pretty much in line with my prediction, and not much of a surprise to the bookmakers or the fans. With 29 points, Nuno picked up votes from just five countries, 12 of those from his compatriots in Portugal, and another 7 from the French. To Nuno's credit, though, his performance was excellent - he looked confident on stage (notwithstanding his dodgily captivating facial hair), and his vocal was stunning. Rather like the Contest's other powerful French ballad from Monaco, it was a case of the artist doing the best he possibly could with the material provided - a top class performance of a song that, unfortunately, not many people found terribly appealing.

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What the bookies thought...

	Belgium to win:	21/05/05 (prior to Final)	-
		19/05/05 (after Semi Final)	-
		19/05/05 (prior to Semi Final)	66-1
		16/05/05	66-1
		15/05/05	66-1
		08/05/05	66-1
		02/05/05	66-1
		24/04/05	66-1

After the disaster that was Belgium's 2004 result, the odds for Nuno in 2005 were suitably - and accurately - pessimistic. Nice song, though.

(Odds quoted here were those offered by Coral.co.uk. 'F' indicates favourite, 'JF' joint favourite.)

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Links

http://www.nunoresende.net/
http://www.rtbf.be/

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Notes (see 'History' above)

• The 1956 Contest (where each country had two songs) is counted as a single appearance;
  
• Countries eliminated in the 1993 preliminary heat (EE, HU, RO, SK) ARE NOT counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest;
  
• Countries eliminated in the 1996 preliminary heat (DE, DK, HU, IL, MK, RO, RU) ARE NOT counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest;
  
• Countries eliminated in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Semi Finals ARE counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest.
  

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