It’s only been a day, but, as is tradition, the Netherlands is the first country to confirm for the next edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
Besides Belarus, The Netherlands is the only country to have participated in every single contest since the show started. Despite that, the nation of tulips and Gouda cheese is not among the countries with the best results. Since 2003, they’ve only been in the top 5 twice with Ralf winning in 2009 and Rachel comming second in 2011.
Now the Dutch delegation thinks it is time for a change. Ratings back that up: since 2012 the viewing figures for the show have dropped, owing partly to the arrival of The Voice Kids and other singing contests for children on Dutch television. This year’s JESC was viewed by only 339,000 people, down from 676,000 viewers in 2014 and over a million viewers ten years ago.
The existing format Junior Songfestival, which relied on the old rules of JESC, will be getting a major overhaul. Previously the children had to write their own songs and professionals would work together with them to finalise the numbers. Junior Eurovision officials loosened this rule a couple of years ago, allowing allowing adults to write the songs (so long as the children played an “active part”). Now Junior Songfestival will follow suit.
AVROTROS has announced that the finalists will be chosen by their voice. The children who want to participate have to send in two covers: one of a Junior Songfestival song and one of a non-Junior Songfestival song. The best singing children will be asked to audition in front of a jury, which will choose the eight finalists. Professionals will write songs along with the finalists.
What do you think of the new Junior Songfestival? Are you loving this new “warrior” spirit? Let us know by commenting below!
This is gonna be tough!!!
I don’t know how I feel about this rule change.
They should have defiantly got rid of the children having to write the songs years ago.
But maybe they should still accept songs from the singers.
I’m sure MIKA wouldn’t win a singing competition but look where he came this year.
I think they’ve done this because the past 4 winners of jesc have been solo singers with powerful voices.
I am that there is still a lot of interest in my country.
Same with Belgium…. I hope Belgium returns to give back points to the Netherlands 😉 !! Also i want Sweden,Norway,Denmark,U.K and Spain returns back to the contest……
My country….
We only have won once and changes had to be made. I want Germany to debut and Belgium or Sweden to return. Dutch are good songwriters (i think) so this could help. We where robbed in 2003,2006,2007,2008,2011,2012,2014 and 2015…. I hope we could come in the top 3 once again…
I didn’t think that any of the Junior Songfestival 2015 entries were really strong. Hopefully the new rules and format will help.
Sweden used this kind of format in at least 2014. We didn’t do any better than usual, so I wonder whether this could work for the Netherlands.
When it comes to JESC and The Netherlands, they usually fair a bit better most of the time. The Dutch had horirble results the first two years, then 2005 was their first big year as they finished like in 7th place, then they FINALLY win in 2009. Also, in 2011 they were ROBBED! Their song was waaaaaay better than eventual winner Georgia. As an avid JESC follower myself, I’ve fell in love with basically many of their entries (specifically 2005-07, 2009, 2010-14) and are one of my favorite countries in the ESC. I just hope that these changes DO work… Read more »
The Netherlands is the country that is always very underrated in JESC and ESC. They always send quality and amazing voices and stage perfomances.
And they also gave us the greatest en most proffesional JESC shows in 2007 and 2012.
I hope that The Netherlands will be back next year and may be the winner!
X from Ukraine