Country Netherlands Language English Lyricist(s) Angeline van Otterdijk | As Re-Union Composer(s) Ed van Otterdijk | |
Artist(s) Paul de Corte,
Fabrizio Pennisi | ||
"Without You" was the Dutch entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004, performed in English by Re-Union.
The song is a ballad, with the singer telling his lover that he simply cannot imagine life "without you". He explains that "nothing turns out right" when they are not together, and that he "spent my life in search for you" and is not about to give her up now. The relationship appears to be somewhat unpopular with the singer's friends, however he promises to "show them all they're wrong".
Onstage, the performance was subdued, with both singers remaining seated on stools and the three backing vocalists standing in position behind them. At the conclusion of the final performance, however, vocalist Paul de Corte called out "Thank you" very loudly, a sound which some fans argue cost the group a good finish.
As the Netherlands had not finished the 2003 contest in the top 10, the song was performed in the semi-final. Here, it was performed twenty-second, following Bosnia and Herzegovina's Deen with "In The Disco". At the close of voting, it had received 146 points, placing 6th in the 22-strong field and qualifying for the final.
In the final, it was performed seventh, following Malta's Julie & Ludwig with "On Again... Off Again" and preceding Germany's Max with "Can't Wait Until Tonight". At the close of voting, it had received 11 points, placing 20th in a field of 24 and requiring the Netherlands to qualify through the semi-final at the next Contest.
It was succeeded as Dutch representative at the 2005 Contest by Glennis Grace with "My Impossible Dream".
[Original song written & sung by Harry Nilsson]