Belgium 1999

Vanessa Chinitor

Vanessa Chinitor (right - picture kindly supplied by Chris Vandenabeele from The Belgian Eurovision Union) won the 1999 Belgian selection on February 28th, and will represent Belgium with the song "Like The Wind".

Scores, and now my comments are below and Chris has sent me the lyrics, also below.

Thanks Chris.

Be sure to visit Chris's web site for a fuller view

The winning song rather reminds my of 'The Voice', but I don't know why

The Belgians put on a great series of shows, all hosted by Baart Peeters. Each show had some pretty good songs, and it was a pity only one could be picked from each show. Opinions were sought after each song from the expert jury, which included Liliane St Pierre who had represented Belgium in 1987.

For me, the best failure was 'Love Me' by Fé - a silly song, and I cannot believe how Voice Male made it as the best non-winner to the final. The final also had 4 songs not in the Preselections. It was interesting how these all scored badly - perhaps because they had not been heard twice before, as had all the others apart from Voice Male. (Each winning song was reprised in the preselection it was in).

In the final, a number of famous people came on to read out out scores culminating in Dana International, who had just given her performance of "Woman in Love".

Dana praised the whole show, and said she thought "Like the Wind" had a very good chance of winning in Jerusalem. I'm sure it will score highly.

#

singer

song

pts

place

Geoff Harrison's comments:

1

Wendy Fierce

Never Give Up

31

2nd

Pleasant, but unexceptional

2

Natural High 

Finally

14

7th

This was the Isabelle A combo. Three girls - very like Bewitched, I thought.

3

Voice Male

This Is My Life

24

5th

Acapella sung by some males, mostly balding. Good, but not right for Eurovision

4

Medusa

Come Into My Life

8

8st

Repetitive song sung by 18-year old Medusa who wore a red skirt over trousers

5

Alana Dante

Get Ready For The Sunsand

30 

3rd

Dressed in a tight shiny black costume, and backed by crazy dancers, this was so like 'Aqua', and was great. How could they not pick this song?

6

Petra

Diep In Mijn Huid

16 

5th

Petra brought us the only bit of Flemish, and then changed to English. Nice dancing. Slow. Good

7

Vanessa Chinitor

Like The Wind

46 

1st

Lots of arm waving, but fairly static for Vanessa & crew. This song grows on you, but she must improve her pronunciation. "Der wind dat blows on der stormy sea', eventually jarrs.

8

Sarah

He's The One

27

4th

Vaguely country. Bit ordinary after "Like the wind"

"LIKE THE WIND"

The wind has blown for eternity
Never looking back, never giving in
Never
Causing the waves on the stormy sea
But never staying long, always running on
Always
Running on, endlessly
And I know that I have to be
Like the wind
Be like the wind
Like the wind
Run forever free
The mountains full of serenety
Uncaring 'bout the wind, never giving in
Never
But the waves on the stormy sea
Turn mountains into dust the wind it wins at last
Always
Running on (running on), endlessly (endlessly)
And I know that I have to do
Like the wind (W-i-i-i-i-i-ind)
Be like the wind (W-i-i-i-i-i-ind)
Like the wind (W-i-i-i-i-i-ind)
Run forever free
Instrumental
Running on (running on), endlessly (endlessly)
And I know that I have to do
Like the wind
(the wind has blown for eternity)
Be like the wind
(the wind has blown for eternity)
Like the wind
(the wind has blown for eternity)
Run forever free (forever free, forever free)

Rest of this page predates the result.

Chris Vandenabeele from The Belgian Eurovision Union writes (updated Feb 11):

The names of the 21 candidate Belgian participators at the next Eurovision Songcontest are known. 
The names of the four already placed artists are below.  The artists who will do their best at the preselections and the final are:

07 February 1999

14 February 1999

21 February 1999

Splinter
"Als Schepen verwelken"

Bjorn & Joery
"Je doet wat je doet"

Martine Foubert
"Come to me"

Fé
"Love me"

Laurena
"Diamond in heaven"

Yves Seghers
"Recht vooruit"

Piece of Cake
"Do it again"

Matiz
"Negentien"

Alana Dante
"Get ready for the sunsand"
Selected to go the final

Belle Perez
"Hello World"

Voice Male
"This is my life"
Selected to go the final
as best non-winner

Nadia
"I"m in heaven"

Matadi
"Wo-Y-Yé"

Dave Gilles
"Waar ben jij"

Ricky Fleming
"Door jou"

Vanessa Chinitor
"Like the wind"
Selected to go the final

Wendy Fierce
"Never give up"
Selected to go the final

Dominic
"Tonight is the night"

Margriet
"Ik vaar met je mee"

Frank Galan
"Dame tu vida"

K3
"Heyah mama"

Only the best song goes to the final.  Also the best number two and the four already placed songs are in the final.  Together that's eight songs.

The four guaranteed a place in the final on Feb 28th:

Isabelle A - "Finally"
Petra - "Diep in mij huid"
Sarah - "He's the one"
Medusa - Title not known

More information and pictures later at the Belgian Eurovision Union - Site. (A new Browser window will open)

Thanks very much Chris,