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Belgium entered the Eurovision Song Contest 1999 with Vanessa Chinitor and "Like the Wind". The song was selected to represent Belgium at the contest by winning the Belgium national final Eurosong '99.
Eurosong '99 was the national final that selected Belgium's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999. The competition consisted of three semi-finals that took place on 7, 14 and 21 February 1999, followed by a final on 28 February 1999 where the winning song and artist were selected. All four shows took place at the VRT studios in Schelle, hosted by Bart Peeters and broadcast on TV1.
Format[]
Three semi-finals took place on 7, 14 and 21 February 1999. From each semi-final, seven entries competed and the winning entry proceeded to the final. After the semi-finals, the highest scoring second-placed entry also proceeded to the final. The final took place on 28 February 1999 where four pre-qualified entries, the semi-final winners and the highest scoring second-placed entry competed and the winner was chosen. The results of all four shows were determined by five voting groups: a three-member expert jury, a Eurojury consisting of European expats living in Belgium, radio voting in Radio 2 and Radio Donna, and public televoting. Each jury had an equal stake in the result and the public televote had a weighting equal to the votes of a single jury. The results of the radio vote in both Radio 2 and Radio Donna were determined by public televoting, which the public was able to vote a week in advance of each show.[1]
During each of the five shows, the expert jury provided commentary and feedback to the artists and selected entries to advance in the competition. These experts were:
On 1 November 1998, VRT opened a submission period for artists and composers to submit their songs, with the deadline concluding on 15 December 1998. In addition to the open submissions, VRT also directly invited composers to submit songs as pre-qualified finalists. 199 entries were submitted, and on 12 January 1999, the broadcaster announced the twenty-eight entries selected for the competition.[1]
Artist
Song
Composer(s)
Selection
Alana Dante
"Get Ready for the Sunsand"
Peter Neefs
Open submission
Belle Perez
"Hello World"
Maribel Pérez, Patrick Renier, Jim Soulier
Open submission
Bjorn and Joeri
"Je doet wat je doet"
Johan de Backer
Open submission
Davy Gilles
"Waar ben jij"
Davy Gilles
Open submission
Dominic
"Tonight Is the Night"
Phil Francins, Luc Smets
Open submission
Fé
"Love Me"
A. Larson, Alain Vande Putte, Filip Martens
Open submission
Frank Galan
"Dame tu vida"
Luigi Bongiovani, Alexander Pascal, Christille, Frank Galan
The second semi-final took place on 14 February 1999. "Never Give Up" performed by Wendy Fierce proceeded to the final. "This Is My Life" performed by Voice Male also proceeded to the final as the highest scoring second-placed entry.[2]
Semi-final 2 – 14 February 1999
Draw
Artist
Song
Jury
Radio
Televote
Total
Place
1
Bjorn and Joeri
"Je doet wat je doet"
6
5
3
14
6
2
Laurena
"Diamond in Heaven"
7
8
2
17
4
3
Matiz
"Negentien"
10
5
4
19
3
4
Voice Male
"This Is My Life"
11
14
7
32
2
5
Davy Gilles
"Waar ben jij"
6
6
1
13
7
6
Wendy Fierce
"Never Give Up"
18
18
9
45
1
7
Frank Galan
"Dame tu vida"
4
6
5
15
5
Detailed Jury Votes
Draw
Song
Expert Jury
Eurojury
Total
1
"Je doet wat je doet"
5
1
6
2
"Diamond in Heaven"
3
4
7
3
"Negentien"
7
3
10
4
"This Is My Life"
4
7
11
5
"Waar ben jij"
1
5
6
6
"Never Give Up"
9
9
18
7
"Dame tu vida"
2
2
4
Detailed Radio Voting Results
Draw
Song
Radio 2
Radio Donna
Total
1
"Je doet wat je doet"
2
3
5
2
"Diamond in Heaven"
4
4
8
3
"Negentien"
3
2
5
4
"This Is My Life"
7
7
14
5
"Waar ben jij"
5
1
6
6
"Never Give Up"
9
9
18
7
"Dame tu vida"
1
5
6
Semi-final 3[]
The third semi-final took place on 21 February 1999. "Get Ready for the Sunsand" performed by Alana Dante proceeded to the final.[2]
Semi-final 3 – 21 February 1999
Draw
Artist
Song
Jury
Radio
Televote
Total
Place
1
Martine Foubert
"Come to Me"
18
3
9
30
2
2
Yves Segers
"Recht vooruit"
5
8
2
15
6
3
Alana Dante
"Get Ready for the Sunsand"
9
18
5
32
1
4
Nadia
"I'm in Heaven"
11
5
7
23
4
5
Ricky Fleming
"Door jou"
3
8
1
12
7
6
Dominic
"Tonight Is the Night"
12
9
4
25
3
7
K3
"Heyah Mama!"
4
11
3
18
5
Detailed Jury Votes
Draw
Song
Expert Jury
Eurojury
Total
1
"Come to Me"
9
9
18
2
"Recht vooruit"
3
2
5
3
"Get Ready for the Sunsand"
5
4
9
4
"I'm in Heaven"
4
7
11
5
"Door jou"
2
1
3
6
"Tonight Is the Night"
7
5
12
7
"Heyah Mama!"
1
3
4
Detailed Radio Voting Results
Draw
Song
Radio 2
Radio Donna
Total
1
"Come to Me"
1
2
3
2
"Recht vooruit"
7
1
8
3
"Get Ready for the Sunsand"
9
9
18
4
"I'm in Heaven"
2
3
5
5
"Door jou"
3
5
8
6
"Tonight Is the Night"
5
4
9
7
"Heyah Mama!"
4
7
11
Final[]
The final took place on 28 February 1999 where the four semi-final qualifiers alongside the four pre-qualified entries competed. "Like the Wind" performed by Vanessa Chinitor was selected as the winner.
Chinitor performed second on the night of the contest, following Lithuania and preceding Spain. "Like The Wind" received 38 points, placing 12th in a field on 23.[3]
Belgium
