On Friday evening television host Eva Jinek invited former Eurovision contestants Trijntje Oosterhuis and Gerard Joling on to her talk show JINEK to look back on their Eurovision journeys and to speculate about the Dutch entry for Eurovision 2019. The singers and their fellow panelists named their dream acts, which echoed many of the same names that we — and much of the fandom — have said in the past. Think Maan, Caro Emerald, Glennis Grace, etc.
Joling is among the most hysterical television personalities in the Netherlands. He represented the country back in 1988 with the song “Shangri-la”, which ended up in 9th place. Thirty-one years later, Gerard’s head is still in the Eurovision game. Last year he admitted that he really wanted to be considered to represent the country again in 2018, and that he even recorded a song to send in. Fortunately he found out that the application period had already closed. Waylon went for the second time to represent the Netherlands instead. No returning back to your “Shangri La” this year either, Gerard.
One of the best singers in the country, Trijntje also represented the Netherlands, but not that long ago. While her shredded dress is still burned onto the back of our retinas, her song “Walk Along” has, well, walked along out of our memories.
As we previously reported, the Netherlands will possibly go for a ‘song first, artist second’ approach. Gerard wasn’t afraid to put himself out there and let the people know that “if they really can’t find anyone that wants to go, I will go!” Cue laughs in the studio.
Jinek reminded the two singers that a committee of professionals (including singer Jan Smit and presenter Cornald Maas) choose the artist and song every year. One of their success stories is, of course, the Common Linnets. The combo of Ilse DeLange and Waylon worked rather well, finishing in second place in 2014.
But the “Shangri La” hitmaker doesn’t really see this formula working in the future. He said: “There is enough talent in the Netherlands, and enough television programs looking for talent. I think we should let the people send in songs and then choose an artist that fits the song. Or even go back to the basics: a national contest. Let the people choose their winner.”
Trijntje adds that she isn’t sure about the committee either. “A beautiful song, or being a credible artist, isn’t really that important anymore,” she says. “It’s all about the act, the show and the craziness around the act.”
She adds: “We could easily send (illusionist) Hans Klok, just for the act.”
She continued that if she would represent the country again, she would go for a totally different approach: “I had just found out I was pregnant — my head wasn’t in the game at that time.”
Both artists agree that the next contestant shouldn’t be a young upstart. It should be someone that hasn’t got anything to lose. He or she, or even them, should know what they’re in for and what they want from it. For example, he would like to see The Voice winner Maan compete with a beautiful ballad, or even Caro Emerald, because of her international career. “She has that Portuguese vibe,” he said.
And of course, Trijntje’s Ladies Of Soul colleague Glennis Grace is named, even though Glennis already announced that Eurovision was a one-time thing. Joling also revealed that he knows that musical star Romy Monteiro applied more than once!
What about the popular Davina Michelle? Another guest on Jinek’s table adds: “Davina is popular with this generation: the YouTube generation. However, it might kill her career since she’s just starting to blow up”.
What do you think? Do you agree with Joling’s and Oosterhuis’ opinions? Let us know in the comments below!
There is some truth in what she is saying. Sometimes a beautiful song like Blackbird or Playing With Numbers can be a NQ because it wasn’t flashy enough. That said, her own song was quite repetitive and her performance didn’t do her favors either. If ”craziness” is all that matters, try to explain the successes of Norway, Romania and Russia the same year she participated. Oh yeah, because they had GREAT songs!
She is absolutely right. On her defence I don’t think she was saying that in a derragotory way. She was saying that NL should send something more crazy/spectacular than usually. If I were her I wouldn’t be that nice…
she’s right though after “toy” won in Lisbon…
Salty Much?
Why does she think she has anything to say on this subject? Is she salty…? Still….?
Says the woman who wore a flying mouse costume
Salty. Her song was repetitive and annoying, not bad though, but definitely not enough to qualify. The overall performance was cringy. I do admit some countries try too hard to make a show of their act. But Eurovision is an audiovisual contest, song, singer, staging, lighting, … everything about the performance has to be perfect.
Someone sounds bitter that their own “credibility” wasn’t enough to get them out of the semis…..
Yeah but, what’s crazier than that #DRESS?
Did she watch ESC last year? There were quality acts without massive shows around them. Look at Germany for example.
Did she lie?
Yes
I´m from the Netherlands. My father was always saying: every year we send the wrong person with the wrong song to the Eurovision Song Contest. I hope this year that will change. It has been too long ago since we won!!!
Please send davina michelle! Belgium will absolutly give 12 points to her ??
Davina Michelle already declined. She wanted to focus on making own music first.
Trijntje sounds a bit sour grapes.
She may be a credible artist but her song was bland and the performance was dreadful. It wasn’t craziness that was missing, it was substance.
Yes, the music playlist at my work always plays her song “knocked out” and everytime i hear it i’m like: if only she had send this song instead of walk along….
She should have shown her soul side instead of choosing a bland pop song from anouk’s computer.
If ESC was about the craziness around the act then you would’ve qualified with that preposterous dress darling! she needs to shut up and move on.
Even though I think she is totally wrong, I feel like if stuff like ‘Toy” keeps winning, these words will stay around. It was fun while it lasted, but with headlines like “Chicken wins Eurovision”, ESC will only keep it’s bad reputation.
Why have Trijntje in that show? I mean, she is the only Dutch entry since 2013 that didn’t do well in the contest. Funny how she talks as she knows how to do ESC…
Davina Michelle is the ‘big thing’ here in the Netherlands at the moment; she said she wants to do Eurovision, but not this years as she finds herself not experienced enough.
Waylon didn’t do well!
Well atleast he qualified xD
Yeah only because he was in semi-final 2. If he was in the first one, that would have been a totally different outcome haha
Well, 18th out of 43 countries isn’t bad at all I’d say…
Her crazy dress didn’t work though. Poor her!
Trinity Oysters should just accept her fate and move on.
Lol its not like she knows how to succeed at ESC
You were the one modern Dutch act that didn’t qualify. Don’t be salty.
Absolutely wrong, my dear. If you want to do well in Eurovision you just gotta be clever about your entry. It has to be somewhat different/diverse and kinda interesting. If you take a look at the recent winners there’s almost nothing in common between them, they all just stood out.
Oh please… crazy more than credible, what a BS. The beautiful thing about eurovision is the wisdom of the crowd. While each one of us may miss certain aspects or strengths of each act, together we usually find the true beauty in art and music. That is why while each one of us may miss some good acts, usually best songs go on top. What other contest is determined by the input of millions of voters from 43 countries? Show some respect.
Got to laugh this coming from the woman who basically destroyed her chance of qualifying with a silly gimmick?
It was not silly enough.
Exactly if your going to do wacky go the full hog, shoving a vail over your face for half the song and wareing mc hammer trousers just felt a bit half arshed didn’t it.
I still have “Walk Along” by Trijntje in my playlist, so it did not go away 😉 😛 A good song, unfortunate staging due to her pregnancy, but a really nice song 🙂 Anyways, let’s wait what they will deliver this year…
It was not the pregnancy’s fault. THAT staging was the Pancake dude combined with her indifference. Birgit from Estonia was way more pregnant during her Eurovision performance and she managed very well.
Don’t forget about Ira Losco in 2016, lol.
Well… that one could have gone a lot better.
It’s always nice to hear advice from people like Trijntje who are clueless about the contest and went out of their way to fail. The truth is that she was just too LAZY to figure out the details. She’s such a good singer, getting a decent placing would not have been difficult at all.
As for the other dude, I sincerely hope that the application period for him is closed for all eternity.
Yes lazy is one of the things and her thinking she as a credible artist would have no problem qualifying. As if other countries only send non-credible artists. What an arrogance…
They’re overthinking it. Just have fun!