Country Netherlands | Selected entrant Sieneke | |
Selection process Song: Internal Selection
Artist: Nationaal Songfestival 2010 Selection date(s) Song: 18 December 2009
Artist: 7 February 2010 Selected song "Ik ben verliefd (Sha-la-lie)" Semi-final result Failed to qualify (14th, 29 points) | ||
The Netherlands entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 will be organised by TROS. In November a poll conducted by private broadcaster RTL 4 revealed that 86% of those polled would agree to a possible withdraw by the Netherlands due to the poor results received in past contests.
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TROS has announced that the 2010 Eurovision entry will be composed by Pierre Kartner, with the singer selected through the Nationaal Songfestival contest. Kartner, also known as Father Abraham, is known for his song "The Smurf Song", which was a number one single in 16 countries, as well as writing the 1973 Eurovision entry for the Netherlands, "De oude muzikant" performed by Ben Cramer, which achieved 14th place. Kartner was announced as the greatest Dutch composer by the Dutch Top 40
For the first time since 1998 the Netherlands' song was performed in Dutch.
Nationaal Songfestival 2010
The Nationaal Songfestival 2010 was held on 7 February 2010. Several relatively unknown artists were presented to the Dutch public, and Kartner himself selected the winner after listening to the different versions of his song. The artists were coached by many famous Dutch artists, among them Jan Keizer, Guus Meeuwis, Edsilia Rombley (1998 and 2007), Marianne Weber, René Froger (member of De Toppers - 2009) and Frans Bauer.
Criticism was voiced by Kartner's role in the Dutch national selection, amongst them Eric van Tijn, writer of two former Eurovision entries: "Vrede", performed by Ruth Jacott at the 1993 Contest, and "Hemel en aarde", performed by Edsilia Rombley at the 1998 Contest, who voiced his opinion that "Kartner has written some fantastic songs in the past, but that's way too long ago, if you ask me."
Kartner's song "Ik ben verliefd, (Sha-la-lie)" (I'm in love, (Sha-la-lie)) was revealed on 18 December on Radio 2's radio show "Gouden uren". In the show a demo by Kartner was aired, but at Eurovision the song will be performed by a different singer.
TROS announced the five competing artists in Nationaal Songfestival 2010 on 22 January, which included four solo singers and an all-female group. Each singer was scounted by a well known Dutch personalities, and was coached by them in the contest. The five singers performed "Ik ben verliefd, Shalalie" in five different versions, and the winner was to be selected by a four-member professional jury and the studio audience. The four member jury was radio DJ Daniël Dekker, singer and actress Tatjana Simić, singer George Baker, and three time Irish Eurovision winner Johnny Logan. Johnny Logan also performed his Eurovision Song Contest 1980 winning song "What's Another Year?".
After the performances both Sieneke and Loekz had tied for first place, each receiving two votes from the four jury members - Sieneke by Daniël Dekker and George Baker and Loekz by Tatjana Simić and Johnny Logan, while the audience vote went to Vinzzent. In the case of a tie Kartner had to select the winner from the two participants. He first attempted to select the winner by flipping a coin, but after discovering that it was against the rules chose Sieneke.
Before Eurovision
An enormous majority of Dutch press and fans had no high hopes for "Ik ben verliefd, Shalalie" at Eurovision, claiming it to be "too old-fashioned", blaming TROS for choosing Kartner to compose the Dutch song. However an incentive has been launched amongst regional Dutch radio stations in support for Sieneke and "Ik ben verliefd, Shalalie", with every station playing the song simultaneously on Thursday 18 February at 11:15 CET. The initiative has been supported by for Eurovision entrant for the Netherlands Marga Bult.
Despite criticism "Ik ben verliefd (Sha-la-lie)" entered into the Dutch Single Top 100 at #13, as well as reaching #1 on the Dutch iTunes download chart. The following week, after the Dutch radio campaign, "Ik ben verliefd (Sha-la-lie)" went to #1 on the Single Top 100, becoming the first Dutch Eurovision song ever to reach #1 in the Netherlands.
At Eurovision
The Netherlands competed in the second semi-final of the contest on 27 May, performing in the second half of the draw. The Dutch commentators were Cornald Maas, the Dutch commentator since 2004, and radio DJ Daniel Dekker. The song did not progress to the final, the 29 points it received placed it 14th out of 17 competitors for 10 qualifying places.