Four months ago the team at Wiwibloggs started a rumour that Roberto Bellarosa would represent Belgium at Eurovision 2013. Today RTBF, the country’s French-language broadcaster, finally confirmed it.

Bellarosa rose to prominence by winning the first season of The Voice Belgique in April. As part of his prize he earned a record deal with Sony, which resulted in a debut album in September. You can watch his first single “Je Crois” below.

The public may not have chosen Belgium’s Eurovision contestant directly, but they will choose his song. RTBF will broadcast a contest to select his entry in the months ahead.

As we explained four months ago, Belgians were seriously embarrassed by their 2012 contestant Iris. RTBF wasn’t willing to risk its reputation by choosing another dud in 2012. But at the same time they didn’t want to stage an expensive national selection contest to let the public decide. Choosing Roberto, who already won a show in which the public voted, was a good solution given the economic climate.

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Anthony
Anthony
11 years ago

Joyce
The Pet Shop Boys were approached by the BBC to do this year’s Eurovision Song Contest at Baku, not Malmö next year unfortunately.

Julian
Julian
11 years ago

An other gossip, the song writer will be the fifth french dj and 74 on the top 100 world DJ Quentin Mossiman, so i presume an English up tempo song

Joyce
Joyce
11 years ago

Wow some new cossip about UK? Do they follow the netherlands…:))
Interesting, but its not the name That is important, its all about the song, You said Yourself!
I heart That the PetShopBoys are named…2013 Will be very interesting!!!

Jaz
Jaz
11 years ago

Fingers crossed Paddy is hearing right!! Not that a big name spells success, but the likelihood of the UK sending a Lena who blows everyone away is low.

I’m with you on Roberto. It won’t take much to make a better song selection than Iris had (I think they picked the wrong song of the two, but they were both terminally boring) so hopefully the standard will improve.

Anthony
Anthony
11 years ago

Jaz
Apparently, Paddy O’Connell, former Eurovision semi-final commentator for the UK, mentioned this on Twitter yesterday, in response to Dr Eurovision:
“possibly – am hearing BBC has signed big name for #eurovision 2013”

Anyway, I just hope the song choice Roberto will end up is better than the selection Iris received earlier this year.

Jaz
Jaz
11 years ago

Could you guys please start a rumour that someone credible but current will represent the UK next year? Anyone not residing in a nursing home or in any way affiliated with Stock/Waterman will do, actually.
On Roberto – this looks promising for Belgium. I do remember saying that about Iris in the beginning, but the less said about that the better. He looks pretty good, he can sing, he speaks French…with the right song anything could happen.