As Belgium’s French-language broadcaster RTBF celebrates the succes Loic Nottet’s fourth place finish, broadcaster VRT — the other Belgian broadcaster and RTBF’s Flemish rival — is getting hungry for some success of its own. VRT, which will take the reigns of Belgium’s Eurovision selection next year, have released a short announcement about their plans for 2016. Most important: the application period opened yesterday!
The national selection for Belgium in 2016 will comprise a search for both songs and artists, resulting in a show (broadcast on Channel Eén) where 5 artists play a central role. This sounds a bit like the classic ‘Eurosong Belgium‘ format that VRT normally uses. But the bigger news here is that VRT has opened (as of now) the possibility to apply spontaneously as an artist or with a song. So if you can sing but don’t have a song, or have a song but aren’t a singer, you can totally participate. You can read the full announcement and application-call here.
VRT kiest Songfestivalkandidaat uit 5 artiesten http://t.co/VRkOCcUpxI
— VRT NWS (@vrtnws) May 24, 2015
The only Eurovision winner for Belgium — Sandra Kim — came from the French-language broadcaster RTBF. Perhaps VRT wants to make sure they buy themselves enough time to write an even bigger success story?
You can follow all our Belgium Eurovision news here.
Watch our interview and meet & greet with this year’s Belgian contestant Loic Nottet:
Picture: wiwibloggs
You are welcome, Tammy. Perhaps Google Translate doesn’t recognize Flemish 😉
If there is any news on the deadline, I will post it here for you.
Thank you very much Daphne, I did try to use Google translate but I got a nonsense as a result.
I hope the flemish part will also go for a real artist like Loïc. The eurovision doesn’t need to have another wannabe diva with an act where there is so much money spent on. They should go for something unique, edgy, fresh,… Just let the artist do his thing. Let them be their selfs. Don’t think too much about winning.
Stromae would be awesome!!! But as he is now making it in the States I think Eurovision will not be a step up for him.
Can’t wait til 2016!!!
@Tammy: there is no deadline given in the announcement. I have translated the announcement for you: ‘The VRT congratulates Loic Nottet with his fourth place at the Eurovision Song Contest. Next year, it is again the turn of the VRT to send a candidate to the 61st edition of the Songcontest in Sweden. We choose not to select internally, but for a formula on ‘Eén’ (broadcaster) that will revolve around 5 artists. ‘Eén’ will actively search for suitable candidates and songs. Artists and songwriters who want to apply spontaneously can do this by sending a e-mail to [email protected]. That is… Read more »
I would want VRT en RTBF to work together, it would create more excitement for the event and hopefully more artists would consider participating. Because let’s be honest… What the VRT did last year was awful.
Does anyone know what is the deadline for sending songs? I’d like to participate but I don’t speak flemish so I don’t understand the announcement.
Hopefully they go back to the glory days of 2010 with a selected artist as good as Tom Dice 🙂 We don’t want another story like Austria going from 1st to last, or Netherlands going from 2nd to a non-qualifier…
The only thing that is positive, is that they are early and they have already thought about it! Some years the VRT was way too late (eurosong 2014, the artists didn’t get enought time to chose their song) Very curious how they will manage it this year!
I hope participants of ‘The Voice van Vlaanderen’ will compete, for RTBF that already worked with ‘The Voice Belgique’ . Anyway for now I am not a fan so things only can go better 🙂
For me VRT had better songs then RTBF in history.
From RTBG in history I like song from 1980,1982, 1986, 2013, 2015 . 1992 song was good in Belgium national final, but they dont sound good at Eurovision 1992 , svt orchestra ruin most Belgium song from 1992.
From VRT I like song from 1973, 1977, 1979,1981,1983, 1987,1999,2004,2006
Belgium is one of my favorite Eurovision countries, but VRT is known for overcomplicated national selections (excluding 2010 and 2012, when the singers were selected internally) that bear no fruit. Actually, the biggest success VRT has had so far was in 2010 with Tom Dice, who was selected internally.
I am actually really excited for my first national selection for Belgium, I haven’t seen one yet. And because they will speak Dutch (I think) I can understand it! Woo.
If Belgium wants to win again, they just have to convince Stromae somehow…
OMG VRT learn from 2012 and 2014! It’s a shame that I knew the patterns of broadcasting only now. I don’t want to see Belgium every other year.
Fatima, it probably won’t be gothenburg 2016 the swedish broadcaster wants to hold it in stockholms tele2 arena
I dunno, for me RTBF (as Russia1 opposed to Channel 1 in Russia) has bigger success over the years. Every odd year they have the primate and are doing their best, while VRT more than often misses the mark.
We already know that Belgium will defeat the UK in Gothenburg 2016
Belgium usually crashes out the semis once they do really well. So the songs have to be amazing. I don’t think they will be however since VRT’s selection in 2014 was terrible.
Loic was amazing. I used to think Belgium entries were a yawn but this year has changed all that. I can’t wait to hear what Belgium has for us in 2016.
Hey people. I live in the UK and I am now old enough to enter Eurovision. I am a decent (not the best), but a decent singer, and I have a great dance song I would love to enter with. However I am unsure of which country I should enter for. The UK would never choose someone as young as me, with no real other experience, but I would not like preferably not like to fly to another country to audition. Which country do you think I should go for (maybe Ireland)? Thanks
Belgium is represented by 2 broadcasters: the French-speaking RTBF on odd years (2011 Witloof Bay, 2013 Roberto Bellarosa and 2015 Loïc Nottet) and the Flemish VRT on even years (2010 Tom Dice, 2012 Iris and 2014 Axel Hirsoux). And I’m pretty sure that the VRT will send a crappy act, as always. The only successes Belgium achieved in the ESC came from the French-speaking RTBF (1978 Jean Vallée, 1986 winner Sandra Kim, 1998 Mélanie Cohl, 2003 second placed Urban Trad, and recent semi-final qualifiers Roberto Bellarosa and Loïc Nottet). The one and only time the VRT did good was Tom… Read more »
I hope they pick someone genuinly good this year. Axel Hirsoux and Iris before him were a.. dissapointment to say the least. I hope we send someone young and ambitious like Loic, Roberto Bellarossa and Tom Dice next year. Belgian ballads never do well and we’re so much better at modern songs.
I’m expecting another non-qualification from Belgium. It’s funny since the Walloon broadcaster can choose a great song but isn’t very interested in the contest, while the Flemish broadcaster loves the show but can never even qualify.
When was the last time VRT even qualified? Tom Dice? Is that the only time?
Yeah! Belgium was the best this year! Fresh and modern, much better than typical Sweden, dated Russia and a bit kitsch Italy. Well done Belgium!
Oh….Now this year’s EuroVision came to its end & has over…
I lived more vividly the pre contest season with the NFs than the final phase of May with Vienna’s Vision…Really pity…
I was expecting this Vision to be more alive & intense….
Belgium did really fantastic in this Vision…
Personally i did not expect Loic to do that great…
He finished 2nd in the SF & the points that he gathered on the final could had earned him the victory with such many they were..! He finished 4th with 217 points….Really impressive!