After the darkness, let there be light! Following years of mixed results and plenty of ups and downs (and more downs), Belgium has finally found its stride at Eurovision. Over the past three year it has emerged as a top performer with three Top 10 finishes and two Top 4 triumphs.
So on August 14, as VRT planned how to outdo itself in Lisbon, we paused to ask our readers which of Belgium’s last three acts is their favourite. After counting 3,105 votes, we can now reveal that Loïc Nottet has won the day.
The “Rhythm Inside” singer earned 1,473 votes — or 46% of all those cast. You guys are definitely still feeling it.
Avant-garde, mysterious and totally on-trend, Loïc’s Eurovision performance turned Belgium’s fortunes around. His arty, black-and-white staging has subsequently inspired a number of other Eurovision performances (including Cyprus in 2017).
Ahead of Eurovision 2015, he placed fourth with the Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals. Wiwiblogger Padraig reached climax. As he wrote at the time:
“Prepare for an aural orgasm! The song, the singer – all perfect. From the moment I heard the 30-second teaser I was captivated. Lyrically sophisticated, musically daring, and filled with lush vocals – ‘Rhythm Inside’ has it all. I wanna rap-pap-pap all night. Love, love, love! (I’ll cry if Belgian TV ruin this with crappy staging).”
Loïc finished ahead of runner-up Blanche, whose “City Lights” earned 39% of all votes.
In early March, shortly after Blanche’s “City Lights” leaked on the social network VK, Belgium’s odds of winning Eurovision fell from 100/1 at most agencies to as low as 3/1.
The song’s incredibly fresh, electro feel instantly won over the critics and the fandom, raising hopes that Belgium could challenge for the trophy.
Ahead of the contest Blanche finished second with the Wiwi Jury, with many of us declaring it our favourite studio track of the year.
Belgium’s 2016 act Laura came third
Laura, who seems to be powered by nuclear everlasting batteries, brought energy, pizzaz and some megawatt staging that made all of Europe dance. She filled the stage with on-point choreography and stellar camera work, turning Globen Arena into a proper discotheque.
Laura ultimately placed third in her semi-final and tenth in the grand final. The latter result is particularly impressive given that she had to open the entire show.
Well the song is really great. Loïc Nottet as a singer and a performer doesn’t appeal to me. There’s something quite unctuous about it that I don’t really like.
Oh my God??!!! What happened to the real winner of Eurovision of 2017??? Not such a favorite after all… Of course Loic is so much better…
Loïc Nottet was the real winner of 2015 🙂 And of course Laura and Blanche were also very good. But yeah Loïc is the best, I don’t think we’ll ever have a better one . (I live in the flemish part of Belgium.)
Of course you had to throw a shade at Blanche, because you are the most fanatic Salvador-fan on this blog, L’oiseau.
That is rich, someone accusing me of using other nickname who never uses the same nickname twice… I have nothing to do with oiseau and I think we have different tastes anyway. I guess the fanatic is you, because one cannot say that Loic is better than Blanche.
This is my opinion and I am entitled to it. That has nothing to do with Salvador… Anyway I like Salvador but I am not his biggest fan. He was the winner, full stop. So, stop being such a child and such a coward and start using one nickname for once.
Loïc Nottet has it all: he can sing AND dance AND he is a great performer. His album SELFOCRACY is for me the album of the decade and his concerts on his SELFOCRACYTOUR are just amazing. If you have the opportunity to go to one of his concerts, please do so. You won’t regret it 🙂 I promise:)
Thijs for The Netherlands! JUST AMAZING
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmYCwO8msKM
“Rhythm inside” was THE BEST SONG Belgium has sent in years!
I still love it!
It’s amazing!
Good choice although I couldn’t choose between our three prouds! <3