Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020
| Eurovision Song Contest 2020 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participating broadcaster | AVROTROS | |||
| Country |  Netherlands | |||
| National selection | ||||
| Selection process | Internal selection | |||
| Selection date(s) | Artist:10 January 2020 Song:4 March 2020 | |||
| Selected artist(s) | Jeangu Macrooy | |||
| Selected song | "Grow" | |||
| Selected songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Finals performance | ||||
| Final result | Contest cancelled | |||
| Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest | ||||
| ||||
The Netherlands was set to be represented in theEurovision Song Contest 2020with the song "Grow",written byJeangu MacrooyandPieter Perquin,and performed by Macrooy himself. The Dutch participating broadcasterAVROTROSinternally selected its entry for the contest. In addition, AVROTROS was also going to be the host broadcaster, alongNPOandNOS,after winning theprevious editionwith the song "Arcade"performed byDuncan Laurence.Macrooy's appointment as the Dutch representative was announced on 10 January 2020, while the song, "Grow", was presented to the public on 4 March 2020.
As the host country, the Netherlands automatically qualified to compete in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest. However, the contest was cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.
Background
[edit]Prior to the 2020 contest,AVROTROSand its predecessor national broadcasters, had participated in theEurovision Song Contestrepresenting the Netherlands sixty times sinceNTS's debut in the inaugural contest in1956.[1]Since then, they has won the contest five times: in1957with the song "Net als toen"performed byCorry Brokken;[2]in1959with the song "'n Beetje"performed byTeddy Scholten;[3]in1969as one of four countries to tie for first place with "De troubadour"performed byLenny Kuhr;[4]in1975with "Ding-a-dong"performed by the groupTeach-In;and finally in2019with "Arcade"performed byDuncan Laurence.[5]Following theintroduction of semi-finalsfor the2004 contest,they had featured in seven finals. The Dutch least successful result has been last place, which they have achieved on five occasions, most recently in the second semi-final of the2011 contest.[6]The Netherlands has also receivednul pointson two occasions; in1962and1963.[7]
As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, AVROTROS organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country. The Dutch broadcaster has used various methods to select its entry in the past, such as theNationaal Songfestival,a live televised national final to choose the performer, song or both to compete at Eurovision. However, internal selections have also been held on occasion. Since 2013, the broadcaster has internally selected its entry for the contest. In2013,the internal selection of "Birds"performed byAnoukmanaged to take them to the final for the first time in eight years and placed ninth overall. In 2014, the internal selection of "Calm After the Storm"performed bythe Common Linnetsqualified to the final once again and placed second, while the internal selection of Duncan Laurence in 2019 managed to achieve a Dutch victory for the first time since 1975. For 2020, the broadcaster opted to continue selecting its entry through an internal selection.[8]
Before Eurovision
[edit]Internal selection
[edit]
Following their victory in2019with the song "Arcade"performed byDuncan Laurence,the Dutch broadcaster revealed in September 2019 that they would continue to internally select both the artist and song for the Eurovision Song Contest.[8]A submission period was opened by the broadcaster on 17 October 2019 where artists and composers were able to submit their entries until 8 December 2019.[9]Dutch media later rumoured that four entries had been shortlisted by AVROTROS and that their performers were singersDavina Michelle,Shirma Rouse,Thomas Bergeand Jordan Roy.[10]
On 9 January 2020, Dutch media reported that AVROTROS had selected Surinamese singerJeangu Macrooyto represent the Netherlands at the 2020 contest.[11]Jeangu Macrooy was confirmed as the Dutch entrant on 10 January 2020 during theNPO Radio 1programmeHumberto.[12]The selection of Macrooy as the Dutch representative occurred through the decision of a selection commission consisting of AVROTROS general director Eric van Stade, television host and authorCornald Maas,singer and television hostJan Smit,radio DJs Coen Swijnenberg andSander Lantinga,and Dutch Eurovision delegation member Joyce Hoedelmans.[8]In regards to his selection as the Dutch entrant, Jeangu Macrooy stated: "I am indescribably honoured! It's a dream come true and the most beautiful thing that has come my way so far. My team and I are excited to make the Netherlands proud! Let's go!"[13]
On 4 March 2020, Jeangu Macrooy's Eurovision entry, "Grow",was presented to the public through the release of the official music video, directed by Joe Roberts, via the official Eurovision Song Contest'sYouTubechannel.[14]The song was written by Jeangu Macrooy himself together withPieter Perquin.In regards to the song, Macrooy stated: "Emotions, good and bad, are a universal language. I hope this song makes people feel a little less lonely in their search for happiness. I think that openness and honesty about how we really feel will ultimately bring us closer. I believe in the power music has to bring people together. It's the reason I do what I do."[15]
At Eurovision
[edit]According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five"(France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. As the host country, the Netherlands automatically qualified to compete in the final on 16 May 2020.[16]In addition to their participation in the final, the Netherlands is also required to broadcast and vote in one of the two semi-finals. During the semi-final allocation draw on 28 January 2020, the Netherlands was assigned to broadcast and vote in the first semi-final on 12 May 2020.[17]However, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic,the contest was cancelled. TheEuropean Broadcasting Union(EBU) later confirmed that the Netherlands would remain as the host country of the 2021 contest.
As the host nation, the Netherlands' running order position in the final was decided through a random draw that took place during the Heads of Delegation meeting in Rotterdam on 9 March 2020. The Netherlands was set to perform in position 23.[18]
References
[edit]- ^"Eurovision Song Contest 1956".eurovision.tv.European Broadcasting Union.Retrieved28 November2014.
- ^"Eurovision Song Contest 1957".eurovision.tv.European Broadcasting Union.Retrieved28 November2014.
- ^"Eurovision Song Contest 1959".eurovision.tv.European Broadcasting Union.Retrieved28 November2014.
- ^"Eurovision Song Contest 1969".eurovision.tv.European Broadcasting Union.Retrieved28 November2014.
- ^"Eurovision Song Contest 1975".eurovision.tv.European Broadcasting Union.Retrieved28 November2014.
- ^"Eurovision Song Contest 2011 Semi-Final (2)".eurovision.tv.European Broadcasting Union.Retrieved28 November2014.
- ^"History by Country - The Netherlands".eurovision.tv.European Broadcasting Union.Retrieved28 November2014.
- ^abc"AVROTROS maakt nieuwe selectiecommissie voor Eurovisie Songfestival bekend".AVROTROS(in Dutch). 26 September 2019.Retrieved14 September2022.
- ^"Selectieprocedure Songfestival 2020".AVROTROS(in Dutch). 17 October 2019.Retrieved15 September2022.
- ^"Jordan Roy voor Nederland naar songfestival?".OGAE Netherlands(in Dutch). 10 January 2020.Retrieved14 September2022.
- ^Jansen, Dennis (9 January 2020)."Jeangu Macrooy vertegenwoordigt Nederland op het Songfestival".ad.nl(in Dutch).Retrieved15 September2022.
- ^Koudstaal, Michiel (10 January 2020)."Jeangu Macrooy vertegenwoordigt Nederland op Eurovisie Songfestival".broadcastmagazine.nl(in Dutch).Retrieved14 September2022.
- ^Farren, Neil (10 January 2020)."The Netherlands: Jeangu Macrooy to Eurovision 2020".Eurovoix.Retrieved14 September2022.
- ^Adams, William Lee (4 March 2020)."Grow! Jeangu Macrooy releases The Netherlands' Eurovision 2020 song…hoping to make" people feel a little less lonely "".Wiwibloggs.Retrieved14 September2022.
- ^"Jeangu Macrooy premiers 'Grow' for the Netherlands".eurovision.tv.4 March 2020.Retrieved14 September2022.
- ^"Rotterdam to host Eurovision 2020!".eurovision.tv.Retrieved23 January2020.
- ^Groot, Evert (28 January 2020)."Which country performs in which Eurovision 2020 Semi-Final".eurovision.tv.European Broadcasting Union.Retrieved28 January2020.
- ^Luukela, Sami (9 March 2020)."The Netherlands to perform 23rd in the grand final".escXtra.Retrieved14 September2022.
External links
[edit]
Media related toNetherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020at Wikimedia Commons