After three live shows, lots of hype and a special live performance from Hadise, Belgium finally chose its Eurovision 2016 singer during the live final of Eurosong. The Belgian public and a panel of 10 international juries evaluated the five songs and Laura Tesoro has emerged as the winner with her song “What’s the Pressure”. Next stop? Stockholm!
The show unfolded in a cosy studio in the village of Lint (near Antwerp). wiwibloggers Mike and Daphne were on the scene, snapping pics and soaking up all the Eurovision goodness.
Tonight’s live show was opened by Hadise, who took part at the 2009 contest for Turkey. She performed several songs, including her Eurovision song (and Euroclub favourite) “Dum Tek Tek”.
First off from the candidates was Adil, who brought his song “In our nature” the nature to the stage. With some colourful painted dancers on stage, the act had more meaning. The whole performance gave an African Savanna feeling.
In Laura‘s performance, we definitely saw some improvement. There was more swing to it this time and she seemed more comfortable on stage. She looked fab in her sequinned jacket, but it was her dancers who really brought the act together.
Along with Laura, Tom was a hot favourite tonight. He brought some rock style to his performance, playing a guitar and joined by a drummer and guitarist. Tom also gave a more serious performance, able to tame his giggles from the preview show.
Astrid’s performance featured some really skilled dancers. Her voice sounded OK, a bit smoky, but the song would need a revamp to really work as a Eurovision entry.
Amaryllis surprised us, but not in a good way. The song’s theme didn’t match with the theatrical style of staging. And we’re not even sure what was happening with that giant spider web. The over-the-top staging distracted from the song.
The results
As the results were revealed, it was obvious that the race was between Tom and Laura. The 10 international jury votes put Laura slightly in the lead, and the public vote cemented her lead, with Tom a close second. The two then progressed to the superfinal where they faced another televote.
In the end it was Laura who won, jumping for joy when Minister President of Flanders Geert Bourgeois read out her name. Laura will be the one to follow in Loïc Nottet’s footsteps as she takes the stage in Stockholm.
I really like it, meaning that it does not get past the semi finals.
Tom had the best song for sure. His performance however was not very good. If he had won, he would have had over three more months to work on that and I’m sure he would have done a great job at the contest (remember Roberto?) Wrong choice Flanders, as always. Besides, Laura won because of her fanbase and nothing else, those immature teenage girls voted for the girl, not for the song. Also the media helped a lot. You couldn’t look at a magazine or a newspaper and there was Laura and that was very unfair towards the others. Shame… Read more »
Don’t think this will make the final, singer and song just don’t go together
why is everyone complaining Laura’s song and comparing it with Rythm Inside? What’s The Pressure was kinda fun and i enjoy Laura’s voice what’s wrong with your ears -_-
In an Eurovision that breastfeeds televoting to the fullest … it’s kinda odd that this time around a result that clearly came with both televoters and juries being more enthusiastic for Laura’s song, fans are underwhelmed by this victory. I said this before and I will say it again: the problem with Laura is Laura … not that she is a bad singer but the song and the singer don’t match … she is too adorable and sweet to fully give the song the funk and soul is clearly requires. She clearly gives you a lively performance and your eyes… Read more »
I listened to it once and it got stuck in my head. She’s got stage presence and a fun accessible song. I wouldn’t rule it out.
Not impressed at all by either the song or her vocals and overall performance. It seems she wants to channel both Lena and Guy Sebastian and she just doesn’t have it.
Tom was pretty bad as well, completely unable to sell the song especially at the chorus. All in all, flemish TV has failed again.
@Alex – True dat. But what they ended up with was musically (especially rhythmically) a lot closer to “Another One Bites the Dust” than “Good Times”. And I’m too cynical to chalk it up to inspiration. I truly do believe that it was conscious – that the songwriters had a copy of either “Good Times” or “Dust” (or both) in front of them when they created that bass line. Imitation is the sincerest form of Eurovision. But that’s all beside the point. The point is how the casual voters and the press are going to react to it when they… Read more »
Everyone always goes against what a country chooses here….. Everyone wants eurovision to be more current but they adore the Albanian song (very questionable).
P. S The Belgian song…. Sounds current, has some energy and I am feeling it…. It is funny when u assume they will noy qualify cos we have only 3 songs chosen so far and they might not even be in the same semi final lol
My favorite won, but this isn’t the best choice. Tom would be the right choice.
I think the biggest criticism has to be of the convoluted format. We knew last week that Laura would win after the pointless televote, they really could’ve put all three weeks into one show. Also, what was even the point of the superfinal!?
I do think Tom was the better choice, however Laura’s stage performance impressed me more. She could qualify, but it’s by no means a dead cert like Loïc was.
With a bit of work on the production and her diction, this could do really well. I was worried when I heard “disco” and had awful flashbacks of Andy Abraham, but it’s much more like what Fleur East or Olly Murs have done recently. I hope it does well, it deserves to be in the final.
Love the 2000s vibe, but i have doubts if shes going to get into the final. I really like it though, reminds me of Grand Theft Auto The Ballad Of Gay Tony haha
Awful choice, she sings/screams so monotonous. Has not the soul that’s needed for this song.
I love it. Do not be surprised if she is the new Lena. Great catchy song, but most importantly, Incredible stage presence.
GREAT CHOICE BELGIUM.
This is how you win a competition with a good presentation. The song and singer are cute, not the best of the bunch, but the staging was great and that made the difference. Need no changes in ESC.
I’m actually glad Tom didn’t win despite being my fave, I think Laura will stand out more in the post-Mans year.
Congrats!
No Tom was the winner!! 🙁 i’m so sad bad choice from my country again…
1-Belgium
2-Albania
3-Ireland
@Robyn: The Flanders broadcaster’s statement is definitely not the sort of attitude that yields a top-tier finalist, let alone a winner. By those comments, I’m inclined to think they won’t try nearly as hard to win ESC 2016 as they did last year in finishing 4th.
I’m happy enough with this. It won’t be winning Eurovision, but with 4 months to tweak it all, it should be making the final. It’s farrrrr from Rhythm Inside, but it’s still my favourite of the three we know so far.
@mawnck: I think a more appropriate comparison for the bassline is “Good Times” by Chic, which came out before “Another One Bites the Dust” and where the genre match is far closer. But none of these basslines are the same anyway, and I don’t think anyone complained about Queen’s song’s similarity to Chic’s, especially since Queen’s bassist stated that he wrote that bassline with Chic’s song as inspiration. Inspiration is not an issue.
Wooooow! I am happy for Belgium. We have our first diva of the Eurovision season, and an extremely funky jam! 😀
also my god some people on here are thirsty af
vote with your ears guys
not with your eyes
the performance is ruuul good. so i’m happy with this. 🙂
everyone’s so salty
but it’s my first place so lmaooo
1. Belgium
2. Albania
3. Ireland
To be honest I was dreading Tom winning, I can’t stand the song it’s so boring and generic, everything I dislike about mainstream pop ballads chucked into one song. Laura’s is pretty basic too but at least it’s danceable. She was who I hoped would win, although a part of me still wanted Astrid to win too.
Belgium was never in the running to do well with any of these, but I feel like Laura still has a chance at getting into the finals if she works ok her singing. Her stage presence and performance is already great.
TOM MUSTED WINN
@Paul
Nadav’s song was one of the best produced songs in recent years. It has had the tune of a real hit of the Southern countries like Israel, Cyprus, Greece and Turkey.
Laura song is…c’est comme désole Belgique, pas cette année année ! 🙁
Oh people, for god’s sake .. Tom had the best studio song (even though it is quite cliché) and the performance was so boring. Laura song is the best one out there? Nope. Is her voice the best one over? Nope. However she makes it up with her unbeliveable charisma, energy and in the end of the day, that’s what eurovision is about: performance! ”A million voices” is just a generic ballad without that amazing performance and unbeliveable charisma of Polina. The same thing here, Belgium did the best choice and Laura will fly high in Stockholm. (if Golden Boy… Read more »
Hope she qualifies to the grand final. Good luck!
To be honest, she was my favourite because her song is quite catchy. I really like the kind of music Tom presented, however his staging was really bad… You must be confident and sure of what you’re singing, he seemed not to know how to behave, lacked of any charisma. Laura”s voice isnt perfect, Astrid’s the best. However, I dont understand why many people says she wont get through the final, she has a nice song, I think that it depends on the semifinals’ draw and other chosen songs 😉
she was the best out of this bunch
Terrible choice!!!!!!!!!!!!
1. Albania
2. Ireland
43. Belgium
Why my most favourite song in every national final never ended up being the winner? I still think Tom Frantzis has the best song among them all.
People complain as usual when a pop song wins.. she had the best performance and best song. it is catchy and it is 5 months until esc so she has time to become even more confident with her song and performance…
i believe belgium will be top10 in stockholm. mark my words..
It will stand out in Eurovision but it is really a copy of Fleur East’s Sax. I think they are going by Mans’ Heroes formula(which is pretty much a copy Avicii’s The Nights).
Any of the 5 songs had a chance to qualify to the final…. Poor,mediocre,weak…. Maybe better chances next year with the french broadcaster of my country
Laura’s song was bound to qualify; everyone talked about her, it was the favourite of the celebs of the show, but it was not deserved. Her songs has some serious fatal flaws; firstly, her disco-funky song will never score at Eurovision as disco never has done so before. secondly, the song lacks good lyrics or any unique features to it. Laura was by far the worst singer of the show,and Belgium will have a very hard time to go to the final this year. such a shame.
YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS LAURA IS AMAZING GREAT CHOICE BELGIUM!!
Tom destroyed his chances due to the bad staging. Tbh I wouldn’t have voted for him either. My favorite song was Astrid’s, but I agree it wouldn’t have worked at Eurovision. Just release it on Spotfiy please! Amaryllis’ song and staging was a mess, by far the worst. I’m in love with Adil and his song, the performance was nice as well. Was my second favorite. I did not lik Laura’s song, but it started growing on me. The staging was quite good but I still can’t stand her vocals. She probably wouldn’t have won if she wasn’t that famous… Read more »
I thought Adil would have been the better choice. Something about his song and the way his stage performance reminded me of Farid from Azerbaijan (2013).
Put a band behind Tom (they way they did for Polina from Russia last year), and he too would have scored good points for Belgium.
Alas; we get a poor man’s version of Selah Sue. Laura’s going to have to put more energy into her performance, or it’ll be a toss-up between qualifying or going home early.
My gosh, this has divided opinion, hasn’t it. My take on it was that Adil (yeah, him) was the only performer that showed up with an act that had an outside shot at making the Eurovision Final. Laura came across as a very sweet girl who just doesn’t have any business singing soul music on an international stage. I don’t think she has it in her to put this song across when she’s up against better competition, no matter what they do with the staging and arrangement. As for the arrangement, do you seriously think the blatant ripoff of the… Read more »
@Jacques
Calm your tits down, this isn’t Europe’s Next Top Model … I agree that he was the best option but the rest is irrelevant
This song does 0 to me. I hope it flops in Stockholm. Goodbye Belgium!
I’m not holding my breath for Belgium to qualify. But hey, it’s better than Mother. Being honest none of the songs were that great, but singer wise Amaryllis blew them all away. If she had a better song though…
I want everyone talking about how hot Tom is. I wanted him winning just because to see him over and over again until May.
Please everyone talk how adorable he is. Isn’t he the hottest Belgian guy ever?
I think this is unfair, Laura already had a fan base whereas the rest of the participants were unknowns. Tom’s song was Belgium’s only chance of making the final. I like Laura but her song is so dated.
Tom is hot. If I have a type of guys, he’s my type.
Adil should have placed second instead of that generic tune from Tom…
Toms song was an average generic pop/rock song… sounds like the kind of song that Iceland or switzerland usually sends and ends up in the bottom….. or not even in the final….
Lauras song is much more esc appropriate and will be amongst the finalists for sure…
As a belgian… I didn’t like any of the performances. This song needs a better singer, her voice is weak.
Probably won’t even reach the finals.