Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006

Eurosong '06 Logo

Eurosong '06 was the national final that selected Belgium's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006. The competition consisted of four heats that took place on 8, 15, 22 and 29 January 2006, two semi-finals that took place on 5 and 12 February 2006, followed by a final on 19 February 2006 where the winning song and artist were selected. All seven shows took place at the VRT studios in Schelle, hosted by Bart Peeters and broadcast on één.

Four heats took place on 8, 15, 22 and 29 January 2006. From each heat, seven entries competed and three proceeded to the semi-finals. Out of the remaining non-qualifying acts from the heats, two wildcard acts were selected to proceed to the semi-finals. The semi-finals took place on 5 and 12 February 2006. From each semi-final, seven entries competed and three proceeded to the final. Out of the remaining non-qualifying acts from both semi-finals, a wildcard act was selected to proceed to the final. The results of the heats and semi-finals were determined by five voting groups: a four-member expert jury, a press jury, two radio juries 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 two juries. The final took place on 19 February 2006 where the winner was chosen. The results were determined by seven voting groups: the expert jury, a press jury, three international juries consisting of four music experts and four television viewers each, two radio juries 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 three juries.[1]

During each of the seven shows, the expert jury provided commentary and feedback to the artists and selected the wildcard acts to advance in the competition. These experts were:

• Yasmine – Belgian singer and television presenter
• Marcel Vanthilt – Belgian singer and television presenter
• André Vermeulen – Belgian Eurovision commentator
• Johnny Logan – Irish singer-songwriter, winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1980 and 1987 contests

On 19 June 2005, VRT opened a submission period for artists and composers to submit their songs, with the deadline concluding on 28 September 2005.[2] 321 entries were submitted, and on 6 December 2005, the broadcaster announced the twenty-eight entries selected for the competition.[3] Among the selected artists were former Eurovision Song Contest participants Barbara Dex and Vanessa Chinitor.

Four heats took place on 8, 15, 22 and 29 January 2006. In each heat seven entries performed and the combined votes of the three jury groups and public voting selected three songs to progress to the semi-finals. Wildcards were awarded by the juries to two of the eliminated acts from across the four heats which also progressed to the semi-finals.

Two semi-finals took place on 5 and 12 February 2006. Seven entries from those qualified from the heats performed in each semi-final and the combined votes of the three jury groups and public voting selected three songs to progress to the final. A wildcard was awarded by the juries to one of the eliminated acts from across the two semi-finals which also progressed to the final.

The final took place on 19 February 2006. Alongside the expert, press and radio juries which voted in the previous shows, three international jury groups in Germany, Israel and Poland were selected to provide their votes based on a study conducted by two independent professors in statistics on the three best forecasters of the contest in recent years. "Je t'adore" performed by Kate Ryan was selected as the winner.

Detailed Jury Votes – Final Draw Song Expert Jury Press Jury International Jury Total 1 "Crazy" 3 1 5 3 5 17 2 "P.O.W.E.R" 9 3 3 2 1 18 3 "El mundo bailando" 2 5 4 7 9 27 4 "Als ik je morgen ergens tegenkom" 1 4 2 4 3 14 5 "Wonderland" 7 9 7 5 2 30 6 "Profile" 4 2 1 1 4 12 7 "Je t'adore" 5 7 9 9 7 37

Detailed Radio Jury Votes – Final Draw Song Radio 2 Radio Donna Total 1 "Crazy" 5 2 7 2 "P.O.W.E.R" 1 4 5 3 "El mundo bailando" 9 9 18 4 "Als ik je morgen ergens tegenkom" 2 1 3 5 "Wonderland" 4 7 11 6 "Profile" 3 3 6 7 "Je t'adore" 7 5 12

Flemish Minister of Culture Bert Anciaux gave a subsidy of 60,000 euros in order to promote Kate Ryan and her song in the other participating countries of the year's contest. The money was used to pay for a promotional tour throughout these countries. The subsidy itself was harshly criticised in the Flemish press.