Belgium participated at the very first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956, but this small country has only ever won once, in 1986 with Sandra Kim.
In October 2019, Belgium’s public broadcaster, VRT, selected Hooverphonic to represent the country for the (now cancelled) 2020 contest, but we are happy to report that they will return for Eurovision 2021!
Hooverphonic are a well-established band with a long history, formed in 1995. During that time, it’s line up has changed, but one of the founding members is still present – Alex Callier, who is the band’s chief song writer and producer. The other two members are guitarist Raymond Geerts and lead vocalist Luka Cruysberghs, who joined the trio in 2018, after winning “The Voice of Flanders”.
The group’s 2020 Eurovision entry is called “Release Me”, a very poignant and poetic composition, co-written by Alex and Italian composer Luca Chiaravalli. Luca previously co-wrote the Italian entry in 2017; Occidentali’s Karma, performed by Francesco Gabbani.
Alex was inspired to write “Release Me” due to a very personal experience – the illness and subsequent death of his father from cancer. During the current Covid-19 crisis, the haunting lyrics have found even deeper meaning. "The song is about saying goodbye. I wrote it when my father was terminally ill, but “Release Me” has a universal theme: everyone has to deal with saying goodbye at one point in life, to a friend, family or lover." Alex said.
Alex is a huge Eurovision fan and has been watching the Contest on tv for years. Vocalist Luka also has a Eurovision connection – she participated in the Belgian National Selection for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest as a teenager.
You can catch up with Hooverphonic and how they are dealing with the Covid-19 lockdown on Eurovisioncalls with Nikkie:
We are exciting to hear Hooverphonic are returning for Eurovision 2021, and await what Alex will have composed for the Contest – something in the style of “Release Me” or something completely different? Wait and see…
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