Eurovision 2017: Belgium

When the Belgian broadcaster released "City Lights", the fan community went crazy.  I can understand the excitement. The song sounds modern and the video exudes cool.

Blanche   "City Lights"

However, I thought there was something off with the song, which I didn't understand until I heard it live.

Blanche  "City Lights (Live from London Eurovision Party 2017)*

Blanche was shoehorned into a song that is not suited for her and the live performance shows that.  The backing  track overwhelms her and her performing style deadens the energy of the song. 

 

RTBF, the Franco-Belgian broadcaster wanted a follow up to the big success of their entry two years ago--Loïc Nottet.

Loïc Nottet  "Rhythm Inside"   2015

It's understandable that the broadcaster went back to the same blueprint for this year's contest and chose "City Lights" as the song they wanted to send.

Now, take a listen to Blanche's audition song to The Voice Belgique, the singing program where Blanche got her start as a professional singer.  

Ellie Delvaux (a.k.a. Blanche)   "Daydreamer"

  

I'm sure the broadcaster was hoping for a singer that would give a cool vibe to the song--like Astrud Gilberto or Nico.     It doesn't work.   Blanche comes across as scared, not coolly confident.

I'm certain the broadcaster has plans for Blanche that will address this with the staging in Kyiv, but I can see Belgium being the shock non-qualifier from Semifinal One.

Eurovision 2015: Belgium

I've been listening and thinking about the Belgian entry for a while now and I really don't know what I think about it after letting it settle for almost a month.

Take a listen.

Loïc Nottet   "Rhythm Inside"

The sound of "Rhythm Inside" is interesting.  It's very modern sounding and reminiscent of this huge international hit of last year.

Lorde  "Royals"

"Rhythm Inside" sounds great when coming through my stereo speakers, and I'm looking forward to blasting it when driving down the interstate later this year.  

However, I am not convinced that the Belgian team has an idea on how to present the song in a way that will appeal to voters.   The video for "Rhythm Inside" attempts to make Nottet moody and sexy.  The problem is Nottet comes across in the video about as moody and sexy as a Golden Retriever.  The effect is unintentionally hilarious.  

Belgium is another country that isn't a Eurovision powerhouse, and Nottet needs to be charming and charismatic, not failing at being sexy.   That charm and charisma is there.  You can see it at the end of the video when he smiles after attempting to look moody with water dripping all over him.  The "Blue Steel" look is dopey, but the smile draws you in.

If he can come across the TV during the semifinal as "himself" and not something the Belgian team is attempting to manufacture, he's sure to make the final.  If he doesn't, "Rhythm Inside" will be the quality song that gets left behind for something mediocre.  It happens every year...