Belgium: VRT and Hooverphonic continue together for Eurovision 2021
It is Hooverphonic ,internally selected by VRT, who will represent Belgium at the Eurovision song contest 2021, according to the Flemish national broadcaster.
RTBF and VRT send a candidate for the Eurovision competition alternately. This year is was VRT’s turn to take over the Eurovision project. The Flemish broadcaster internally selected Hooverphonic to represent Belgium at the 65th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam .
After the cancellation of the contest by EBU due to the coronavirus crisis, the EBU gave today further details about the Eurovision 2020 acts and songs. Participating countries can choose whether to be represented again by the candidate chosen for 2020 or by a new artist. After consultation between the VRT, the French-speaking public broadcaster RTBF and Hooverphonic, the VRT is happy to announce that the band will represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest next year. RTBF considers it a logical decision to offer Hooverphonic and the VRT this opportunity and postpones their participation for a year until 2022.
Olivier Goris, manger of Channel One stated:
The cancellation of the Eurovision Song Contest was a blow to everyone, but it was also an understandable and correct decision. It only shows what exceptional and difficult times we are experiencing. We are very grateful to our colleagues at RTBF for being willing to continue the VRT submission next year. Hooverphonic will therefore go to the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 for VRT! As planned, but then a year later. Alex, Raymond and Luka are very enthusiastic and we are very proud that we can send an absolute top group to Rotterdam in better times.
Hooverphonic said after this latest developmet:
It is great that we have so fast confirmation that we can go to the Eurovision Song Contest next year. We are still very much looking forward to that. We are now going to take the time to see how we are preparing for May next year.
This year Hooverphonic were to perform “Release Me” in Rotterdam.
However, after today EBU’s announcement that Eurovision 2020 entries will not be eligible to compete in next year’s edition the group will have to come up with a new song to represent Belgium.
Cover photo: Hand out VRT – Zeb Daemen – Belgaimage
