Belgium was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1985 with the song "Laat me nu gaan", composed by Pieter Verlinden, with lyrics by Bert Vivier, and performed by Linda Lepomme. The Belgian participating broadcaster, Flemish Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT), internally selected its entry for the contest. BRT, unusually at the time, opted for internal selection rather than a public final. The selection process was fraught with problems before the last-minute announcement of singer and song was made.
| Eurovision Song Contest 1985 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participating broadcaster | Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT) | |||
| Country |  Belgium | |||
| National selection | ||||
| Selection process | Internal Selection | |||
| Selection date(s) | 1 April 1985 | |||
| Selected artist(s) | Linda Lepomme | |||
| Selected song | "Laat me nu gaan" | |||
| Selected songwriter(s) |
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| Finals performance | ||||
| Final result | 19th, 7 points | |||
| Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest | ||||
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Before Eurovision
editInternal selection
edit"Vannacht"
editAfter the controversy following Eurosong 1983, Flemish broadcaster Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT) wanted to keep a tight grip on the selection and it was decided in Autumn 1984 that the writing of a song should be entrusted to someone associated with the broadcaster. The BRT planned to send a 'highly cultural' entry and selected classical composer Frédéric Devreese to compose a song which was intended to be sung by Mireille Capelle at the Eurovision Song Contest. The BRT approved of the composition and then Devreese asked his friend Hugo Claus to provide lyrics to the song, which Claus had named "Vannacht". However, when Capelle brought the complete composition with lyrics written by Claus to the production manager for Light Music at BRT, Ward Bogaert, he was not impressed by the lyrics. The BRT then invited several writers to provide alternative lyrics to Devreese's composition. Among the invited lyricists were Mary Boduin, and Bert Vivier, who titled his lyrics as "Ik was een kind". The BRT approved Bert Vivier's lyrics as the official entry but Capelle and Devreese remained faithful to Claus's lyrics and "Vannacht". Eventually, Capelle and Devreese withdrew their participation.[1][2][3]
"Laat me nu gaan"
editCapelle and Devreese's withdrawal left the BRT with relatively little time to find an alternative song and performer. The BRT invited Pieter Verlinden to compose the music and Bert Vivier to write the lyrics. The new song was called "Laat me nu gaan". Verlinden asked singer/actress Linda Lepomme, who he had recently worked with, to perform the song. The song was presented to the press on 23 March 1985 and was presented publicly at the last minute, on 1 April 1985.[1][2][3]
At Eurovision
editOn the night of the final Lepomme performed 8th in the running order, following Turkey and preceding Portugal. At the close of the voting "Laat me nu gaan" had received only 7 points, placing Belgium last of the 19 entries, the sixth time the country had finished the evening at the bottom of the scoreboard.[4] The Belgian jury awarded its 12 points to contest winners Norway.[5]
Voting
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Vermeulen, André (2021). Van Canzonissima tot Eurosong. 65 jaar Belgische preselecties voor het Eurovisiesongfestival. Leuven: Kritak. ISBN 978-94-014-7609-6. OCLC 1240241113.
- ^ a b "selektie 1985". Archived from the original on 15 January 2013.
- ^ a b "Eurovision Artists: Nationale finale Eurovisie Songfestival". www.eurovisionartists.nl.
- ^ "Final of Gothenburg 1985". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ "ESC History - Belgium 1985". Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
- ^ a b "Results of the Final of Gothenburg 1985". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.