Eurovsion 2014: Belgium

Now that all the national finals have been decided and all the participating songs have been finalized, it's time for me to get cracking on reviewing the songs that have made it farther than the others and have a chance to make the national finals.

First up is Belgium, which chose their entrant just a few days ago, on March 16th.

Instead of the internal selection that Belgium's television providers have done in the past few years, Flemish broadcaster VRT decided to put on a national selection process--Eurosong 2014--where 30 performers were whittled down to six who performed on the final night.

In my mind, the Belgian public chose the best song for success in Copenhangen:

 

Alex Hirsoux  "Mother"

 

The song may be as sweet an syrupy as fructose corn syrup--"Mother" feels like is was written by the Andrew Lloyd Wright factory.  But Hirsoux genuinely believes the song and the sentiment involved and breathes more life into the song than it deserves.  It's no wonder that he won 57% of the popular vote.

 

Besides, he won me over with his reaction to the voting. He was genuinely shocked when the votes came his way.

 

It's understandable, because if you judged the hall, this song would have won.

 

 

Bandits  "One"

 

Wherever there are boy bands, there will be loads of screaming girls.   I would have been on board had their performance not been so weak.  (And I seriously covet the lead singers brick red suit.)

 

It was a pretty good show and was well worth the watch.  Here's hoping Belgium can make it two in a row and make it to the finals again this year.