Over the past few years, songs from national finals have dominated the Eurovision Song Contest — Emmelie de Forrest, Jamala, Loreen, Salvador Sobral and so on. However, last year it was the internally selected entries that came out on top.

The three highest ranked countries (Israel, Cyprus and Austria) all selected their entries behind closed doors, reminding us there is no real “best recipe” to choose an entry.

A few weeks ago, we asked our readers, which of the 15 internally selected songs was their favourite and now, it’s time to evaluate the results

Breaking down the numbers

In total, 11,483 votes were cast in the poll with the Netherlands’ Duncan Laurence emerging as the clear favourite amongst the pack.

Earning just over 2000 votes, the Dutch singer was a considerable way in front of second placed Katerine Duska from Greece – who earned a respectable 1,455 votes.

Moving a little further down the table, the next few entries are more closely clumped together.  Rounding out the top five were Switzerland, Malta and Cyprus, with just over 100 votes splitting the three countries apart.  All three earned over 1000 votes overall, making the aforementioned nations the only five to exceed the millennial boundary in the poll.

Here are the full results and overview of the poll:

1. The Netherlands Duncan Laurence “Arcade” 2,040 17.77%
2. Greece Katerine Duska “Better Love” 1,455 12.67%
3. Switzerland Luca Hänni “She Got Me” 1,180 10.28%
4. Malta Michela Pace “Chameleon” 1,108 9.65%
5. Cyprus Tamta “Replay” 1,039 9.05%
6. Russia Sergey Lazarev “Scream” 710 6.18%
7. Armenia Srbuk “Walking Out” 709 6.17%
8. Azerbaijan Chingiz “Truth” 701 6.10%
9. Belgium Eliot “Wake Up” 579 5.04%
10. Poland Tulia “Fire Of Love” 428 3.73%%
11. San Marino Serhat “Say Na Na Na” 399 3.47%
12. North Macedonia Tamra Todevska “Proud” 378 3.29%
13. Ireland Sarah McTernan “22” 314 2.73%
14. Israel Kobi Marimi “Home” 240 2.09%
15. Austria Paenda “Limits” 203 1.77%

The Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019

“The Voice of Holland star Duncan Laurence carries with him great expectations to Eurovision 2019.  The little-known 24-year-old from The Netherlands is the clear favourite of this year’s contest, having bypassed established artists including Sergey Lazarev, Luca Hänni and Tamta with the bookies. Fans attribute this to his beautiful, enchanting voice, and the spectacular song that is Arcade.

Duncan wrote the song himself with help from songwriters Joel Sjöö and Wouter Hardy. Despite the group effort,  “Arcade” remains deeply personal. It’s about searching for the love of your life — a hope that Duncan says is sometimes “unattainable”.

“When I was studying at the Rockacademie I learned that you can appeal to a large audience without losing your own story in the process,” he said of the songwriting process. “I searched for touching stories that move people, from my own life or someone else’s. I got my inspiration from the story of a loved one who died at a young age. I decided to call the song ‘Arcade’ — the words and chords came by themselves, which is why, despite the alternations in the song, it still sounds so organic.”

What do you make of the results? Do you agree with the victor of our poll? Let us know in the comments down below

32 Comments
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Colin
Colin
4 years ago

.

Colin
Colin
4 years ago

For those who were interested, these are my current Top 41 according to my pre-contest reviews. Some ratings were difficult to do and some will probably change until the contest ends, but I’ll let them marinate for a few days. 1. THE NETHERLANDS – 10/10 2. ICELAND – 10/10 3. ALBANIA – 9.5/10 4. ESTONIA – 9/10 5. AUSTRALIA – 9/10 6. ITALY – 9/10 7. PORTUGAL – 9/10 8. RUSSIA – 9/10 9. SLOVENIA – 9/10 10. NORWAY – 9/10 11. GREECE – 8.5/10 12. ROMANIA – 8.5/10 13. CZECH REPUBLIC – 8.5/10 14. UNITED KINGDOM – 8/10 15.… Read more »

Jo.
Jo.
4 years ago
Reply to  Colin

YES YOU GONNA LIKE IT!!1!

Loin dici
Loin dici
4 years ago

Netherlands winning its semi might be a possibility, but there could also be a possibility of people being so confident it would qualify easily that they’d not care to vote for it. Although, on second hand, this might be our winning song this year, in all its possibilities.

maria
maria
4 years ago

Boring song.

Tom
Tom
4 years ago
Reply to  maria

Like your life

Jo.
Jo.
4 years ago

Not a surprise I guess, even though I prefer Greece.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
4 years ago

So the expected winner won a poll.
See how boring that is?
Just saying. 🙂
Congratulations Duncan. I will likely being saying that a lot over the next few weeks. x

Margaret
Margaret
4 years ago

Congratulations ??? this song is so amazing ?

Alessio
Alessio
4 years ago

a recycled song that is losing points on odd

Henry
Henry
4 years ago
Reply to  Alessio

AAh, Envious Alessio trolling again at a Duncan article, Yes, we know it now, you want Mahmood to win.

Alessio
Alessio
4 years ago

2017 or 2019 ?

Ton ten Donkelaar
Ton ten Donkelaar
4 years ago
Reply to  Alessio

Blah blah blah… Repeat repeat repeat

Dave
Dave
4 years ago

Weeeell, it’s been internally selected since 2017, right Duncan?

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
4 years ago
Reply to  Dave

Brought the sass. I’m shook. Stan this.
(How is my lingo, mariahs?)

Nicolas
Nicolas
4 years ago
Reply to  Dave

Watch out for songs of 2019, they might be played for Eurovision 2021.

Nicky91
Nicky91
4 years ago
Reply to  Dave

at least its better than nothingness from Belarus, malta although malta has also got more life than the dull song from belarus

Dušan
Dušan
4 years ago

Yep, sounds about right.

Skiwalko
4 years ago

In 2018 top 3 consisted of internally selected songs, and it wouldn’t surprise me if that was the case this year, damn are those songs strong!
Also, 14th place is quite low for “our favourite automatic qualifier” *wink*.

EuroSluuutty
EuroSluuutty
4 years ago

I mean it’s a cute song… deserves top 10

Nicolas
Nicolas
4 years ago
Reply to  EuroSluuutty

top 12 maybe.

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
4 years ago

The internally selected songs are amazing this year and Duncan is my winner too, but I hope national selections won’t die… Because they’re like the most exciting thing prior to Eurovision, without them it’d be so boring. I feel like it might happen… 🙁

Rasmus Bording Irlind
Rasmus Bording Irlind
4 years ago
Reply to  Weißbrot

you can rest easy, for many countries, their national selections are like yearly traditions (like melodi grand prix in denmark)

Kris
Kris
4 years ago

I don’t think this bodes well that all of the dead on arrival songs are NF winners……

All of these internally selected entries are in with a shot of going through. Probably even San Marino (televotes) and Ireland and Austria (Juries)

Nicolas
Nicolas
4 years ago

Second rigged poll result of the day.

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
4 years ago
Reply to  Nicolas

The Netherlands are the favourite to win buddy, nothing rigged here.

Whisker
Whisker
4 years ago
Reply to  Nicolas

No, not this one.

ESC 2019
4 years ago

The Netherlabd gonna win. 10/10

Ima
Ima
4 years ago
Reply to  ESC 2019

Yes my lab dog’s nether regions

Whisker
Whisker
4 years ago
Reply to  Ima

What kind of a person are you? And do you really own a pet? I feel sorry for your pet.

Ima
Ima
4 years ago
Reply to  Whisker

Yes , he loves me btw

Ima
Ima
4 years ago
Reply to  Ima

.