Picture: 8Ball Music on YouTube

Dani van Velthoven — better known to his fans simply as Dany — claimed to have been among the last acts standing during the Dutch internal selection for Eurovision 2022. The Voice of Holland winner said in an interview that he, alongside S10, was one of the four acts that remained on AVROTROS shortlist.

In an interview with local radio programme De Zaterdagochtend on RTV Purmerend, Dany discussed his short Eurovision 2022 journey. Saying that he “didn’t sign anything”, he explained: 

“Last year, I was approached for Eurovision. They asked me and then I submitted a song. And then I was among the last four.” 

“I got some form of advice. Everything was so new then. I was now a year further [in my career], but in terms of my position, in terms of my contract, I wasn’t any further. And that’s starting to change. I can now start to select the team around me, who can help guide me with those types of things. I think that when I’ve gathered that, then it’s better to do Eurovision then.” 

“It’s a dream to do Eurovision, but I want to do it with a bang. (…) I’ve been watching since I was a child and everything that it stands for is what I love about music. But last time, there was a track that didn’t sound exactly how I wanted it to sound, and I have more experience now.”

“I’m going to submit a song, that’s all that I can say — that I will apply. But I am not putting too much focus on it this year. It’s more that I have to fix my team and get my career in order, then if I do Eurovision and it all goes slicker, it will be much more fun and I assume I will do much better.”

Who is Dany? 

Dany — who won the country’s last series of The Voice of Holland in 2021 — hasn’t yet broken through fully in the Netherlands. 

After his time on the show, he remained positive about his team captain Anouk — who represented the country at Eurovision 2013. She even helped him financially when his ex-boyfriend passed away shortly after the show. A series of lockdowns and the show’s cancellation in 2022 (after several former contestants pressed charges against the show), did not help Dany’s career either. 

Although Dutch television viewers fell in love with his deep and tender voice, his commercial output has been rather limited. He released the single “Fragile” back in July 2021, but only recently followed that up with the Dutch song “Het Komt Wel Goed”. 

Despite the silence in between, rumours did swirl that he was in contention for Eurovision 2022. After all, in July 2021, NU.nl reported that Dany had started to collaborate with Wouter Hardy on a “special project”. Wouter Hardy, you’ll recall, previously produced both Gjon’s Tears “Tout l’univers” and Duncan Laurence’s “Arcade”. The Eurovision link was logical. 

Do you want Dany to represent the Netherlands at Eurovision in the future? Let us know in the comments down below!

22 Comments
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mvt
mvt
1 year ago

Not Dani, not Davina and definitely not Floor should do it, but Rondé would be my number one choice… Love their songs, so contemporary and the singer has a great live performance in her pocket… so hey Cornald are you listening ??…

PURRRRRRR
PURRRRRRR
1 year ago

his song linked sounds byad omg. S10 showed it didnt need to be in google translate english

Eurovision fan
Eurovision fan
1 year ago

Dutch men are so handsome and beautiful 🙂

Vivian
Vivian
1 year ago

I’m not sure if sending a Voice of Holland winner is such a bright idea in the current era. A few months ago some of the people involved with the show were accused of sexual misconduct towards competitors. Besides, a lot of our recent entries have been a bit on the dreary side, with 2018 and 2021 being the only noticeable outliers. My wish is for my country to think outside of the box and do something people wouldn’t expect from us. Hopefully in a good way that is. I’m pretty sure not a single breathing soul wants us to… Read more »

PuppetOnAString
1 year ago
Reply to  Vivian

Whatever happened behind the scenes at TVOH has nothing to do with Eurovision

Lambert
Lambert
1 year ago
Reply to  Vivian

So all artists who ever participated in The Dutch Voice, should be banned from Eurovision. What a nonsense. What do all these artists have to do with a few misbehaving coaches and bandleaders. Btw, I do agree that this Dany should not be representing NL; but for the simple reason that he is not good enough.

Samira
Samira
1 year ago
Reply to  Lambert

It’s just the wrong time. People just associate anything ‘the Voice of Holland’ with the controversy right now

Olaaaf
Olaaaf
1 year ago

I would definitely love for him to represent us, but I’m not sure if 2023 is the perfect year. Dany is a great singer, he has such a beautiful voice but his bid would 100% be another deep, sad ballad. Right after De Diepte (and Arcade which we all still remember) I don’t think he’ll stand out that much. If it’s a collab with Wouter I definitely expect a great song, Arcade and Tout L’univers were amazing and I’m sure Dany could rock a ballad like that too, but I would prefer if we send something different. We have a… Read more »

Branko86
Branko86
1 year ago
Reply to  Olaaaf

2021 was no ballad and it still got 0 points from televoters.

mavatu
mavatu
1 year ago
Reply to  Olaaaf

I would love something more contemporary like Rondé

mvt
mvt
1 year ago
Reply to  Olaaaf

Son Mieux, Rondé, De jeugd van Tegenwoordig… een band zou tof zijn!

Polegend Godnova
1 year ago

the netherlands have been sending ballads almost every year since 2013. i get it that they gave them good results, but they don’t want to become a one trick pony country, especially with the developed music industry they have, so i’m hoping for a completely different style for next year.

overlieven
overlieven
1 year ago

the broccoli song wasn’t a ballad calm after the storm wasn’t a ballad outlaw in M wasn’t a ballad, slow down brother wasn’t a ballad so why a one trick pony?

Samira
Samira
1 year ago

He’s good from what I’ve heard, but I’m 95% sure he’d send a slow ballad

Pineaple
Pineaple
1 year ago
Reply to  Samira

Why do you say a sloe ballad like its a bad thing? All music is welcome in Eurovision.

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
1 year ago

The most suitable dutch act of the moment would be RONDÉ I think. They write their own songs and their lead singer has a killer voice. Avrotros is unpredictable though.

PuppetOnAString
1 year ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

Would love to see Rondé represent us omg

MVT
MVT
1 year ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

I would love that

Karl
Karl
1 year ago

As long as the song is in Dutch

Alex
Alex
1 year ago

I smell another dramatic ballad by Wouter. Happy to see the interest for ESC in the country (even Armin wanted to take part?) but obviously his career has not taken off so ofc he wants to send a song for Eurovision!