Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 1959

Eurovision Song Contest 1959

Country|  Belgium
National selection
Selection process| Grote Eurovisie Prijs van het Europese Lied
Selection date(s)| Semi-finals: 1 and 8 February
Final: 15 February 1959
Selected entrant| Bob Benny
Selected song| "Hou toch van mij"
Selected songwriter(s)|

* Hans Flower
* Ke Riema

Finals performance
Final result| 6th, 9 points
Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest
| ◄1958 • | 1959 | • 1960►

|
|

Belgium was represented by Bob Benny, with the song "Hou toch van mij", at the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 11 March in Cannes, France. The song was chosen at the Belgian national final on 15 February. Benny would represent Belgium again in the 1961 contest.

## Before Eurovision[edit]

### Grote Eurovisie Prijs van het Europese Lied[edit]

Grote Eurovisie Prijs van het Europese Lied was the national final format developed by NIR in order to select Belgium's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1959. Eighteen entries competed in the competition that consisted of two semi-finals held on 1 and 8 February 1959 leading to a two-song final on 15 February 1959. All three shows were hosted by Jan Theys.[1][2]

#### Format[edit]

The format of the competition consisted of three shows: two semi-finals on 1 and 8 February 1959 and the final on 15 February 1959. Each semi-final featured nine competing entries from which one advanced from each show to complete the two song lineup in the final. Results during both semi-finals and final were determined by "expert" jury.[1][2]

#### Competing entries[edit]

Nine composers were approached by NIR to create the songs for the contest. Each composer wrote two songs for the contest. Then, NIR selected performers for the songs. The selected composers were: Jef Trappeniers, Johnny Steggerda, Jef Van den Berg [nl], Jack Say, Pieter Leemans, Armand Preud'homme, Hans Flower [nl], Louis Marischal [nl], and Jack Sels. It is unknown why "Alles is nu voorbij" was submitted twice.[2][3]

Artist  | Song  | Songwriter(s)

|
|

Al Verlane  | "Alles is nu voorbij"  | Eric Franssen, Pieter Leemans
"In d'eenzaamheid"  | Eric Franssen, Jack Say
Bob Benny | "Hou toch van mij"  | Ke Riema, Hans Flower
"Riviera-riviera"  | Jan Marcken, Hans Flower
Enny Denita [nl] | "Zingeling"  | Louis Baret, Louis Marischal
"Zoals heerlijk als nu (zoals nu)"  | Louis Marischal
Frieda Linzi [nl] | "Weekend melodie"  | A. Franck, Armand Preud'homme
Eric Franssen  | "Liefde"  | Marc de Corte, Jef Van den Berg
"Twee harten, één gedachte (amore...)"  | Eric Franssen, Jack Say
Jean Walter | "Alles is nu voorbij"  | Eric Franssen, Pieter Leemans
"Als ik je verlaat"  | Jan Custers, Armand Preud'homme
"Mijn liedje is uit"  | Marc de Corte, Jef van den Berg
Jo Leemans | "Levenssymphonie"  | Jacques Mollé, Jef Trappeniers
"Wij moeten dankbaar zijn"  | Johnny Steggerda
Rina Pia [nl] | "De klokkentoren"  | Johnny Steggerda
"Een wiegje in witte satijn"  | Luc Verbist, Jef Trappeniers
Terry Lester  | "Eens in het leven"  | Jack Sels
"Voor u alleen"  | Jack Sels

#### Semi-final 1[edit]

The first semi-final took place on 1 February 1959 at the Funkis Cinema in Herentals.[1]

Draw  | Artist  | Song  | Points  | Place

|
|
|
|

1  | Al Verlane  | "Alles is nu voorbij"  | 0  | 5=
2  | Rina Pia  | "De klokkentoren"  | 0  | 5=
3  | Eric Franssen  | "Twee harten, één gedachte (amore...)"  | 0  | 5=
4  | Bob Benny | "Riviera-riviera"  | 1  | 3=
5  | Jo Leemans | "Levenssymphonie"  | 5  | 1
6  | Enny Denita  | "Zoals heerlijk als nu (zoals nu)"  | 1  | 3=
7  | Jean Walter  | "Mijn liedje is uit"  | 0  | 5=
8  | Jean Walter  | "Als ik je verlaat"  | 2  | 2
9  | Terry Lester  | "Voor u alleen"  | 0  | 5=

#### Semi-final 2[edit]

The second semi-final took place on 8 February 1959 at the Apollo in Antwerp.[1]

Draw  | Artist  | Song  | Points  | Place

|
|
|
|

1  | Enny Denita  | "Zingeling"  | 0  | 6=
2  | Bob Benny | "Hou toch van mij"  | 4  | 1
3  | Jo Leemans | "Wij moeten dankbaar zijn"  | 0  | 6=
4  | Al Verlane  | "In d'eenzaamheid"  | 0  | 6=
5  | Terry Lester  | "Eens in het leven"  | 0  | 6=
6  | Frieda Linzi  | "Weekend melodie"  | 1  | 2=
7  | Eric Franssen  | "Liefde"  | 1  | 2=
8  | Jean Walter  | "Alles is nu voorbij"  | 1  | 2=
9  | Rina Pia  | "Een wiegje in witte satijn"  | 1  | 2=

#### Final[edit]

The final was held on 15 February 1959 at 21:25 CET as part of NIR's TV show Show Band Show at the Cultural and Artistic Center in Uccle and hosted by Jan Theys. The song "Hou toch van mij" written by Ke Riema, composed by Hans Flower and performed by Bob Benny, was selected as the winner of selection by an "expert" jury.[1][2]

Draw  | Artist(s)  | Song  | Points  | Place

|
|
|
|

1  | Jo Leemans | "Levenssymphonie"  | 0  | 2
2  | Bob Benny | "Hou toch van mij"  | 11  | 1

## At Eurovision[edit]

On the night of the final Bob Benny performed last in the running order, following the United Kingdom. Voting was by 10-member national juries with each member awarding 1 point to his/her favourite song. At the close of the voting "Hou Toch Van Mij" had received 9 points (3 from Germany, 2 from Denmark and the United Kingdom and 1 from Monaco and the Netherlands), placing Belgium joint 6th (with Italy) of the 11 entries.[4]

### Voting[edit]

Points awarded to Belgium[5] | Score  | Country

|

3 points  |  Germany
2 points  |

* Denmark
* United Kingdom

1 point  |

* Monaco
* Netherlands

Points awarded by Belgium[5] | Score  | Country

|

3 points  |  Netherlands
2 points  |

* France
* United Kingdom

1 point  |

* Germany
* Italy
* Switzerland

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e "Eurovision Artists: Nationale finale Eurovisie Songfestival".
2. ^ a b c d "Grote prijs van het Eurovisielied 1959".
3. ^ Vermeulen, André (2021). Van Canzonissima tot Eurosong. 65 jaar Belgische preselecties voor het Eurovisiesongfestival. Leuven: Kritak. ISBN 978-94-014-7609-6. OCLC 1240241113.
4. ^ ESC History - Belgium 1959
5. ^ a b "Results of the Final of Cannes 1959". Eurovision Song Contest. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.

## External links[edit]

* Official Eurovision Song Contest site, history by year, 1959.
* Detailed info and lyrics, Diggiloo Thrush, "Hou toch van mij".

* v
* t
* e

Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest

Participation|

* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
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* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* ~~2020~~
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Artists|

* Roberto Bellarosa
* Bob Benny
* Blanche
* Lily Castel
* Vanessa Chinitor
* Ann Christy
* Clouseau
* Robert Cogoi
* Mélanie Cohl
* Copycat
* Lisa del Bo
* Barbara Dex
* Tom Dice
* Dream Express
* Eliot
* Frédéric Etherlinck
* Serge and Christine Ghisoland
* Gustaph
* Axel Hirsoux
* Hooverphonic
* Jacques Hustin
* Ingeborg
* Iris
* Ishtar
* Sandra Kim
* The KMG's
* Philippe Lafontaine
* Fud Leclerc
* Linda Lepomme
* Claude Lombard
* Jérémie Makiese
* Micha Marah
* Mony Marc
* Lize Marke
* Morgane
* Mustii
* Louis Neefs
* Nicole and Hugo
* Loïc Nottet
* Pas de Deux
* Pierre Rapsat
* Jacques Raymond
* Nuno Resende
* Reynaert
* Kate Ryan
* Liliane Saint-Pierre
* Bobbejaan Schoepen
* Sennek
* Sergio and the Ladies
* Nathalie Sorce
* Emly Starr
* Stella
* Telex
* Laura Tesoro
* Tonia
* Urban Trad
* Jean Vallée
* Witloof Bay
* Xandee
* Jacques Zegers

Songs|

* "1 Life"
* "À la folie ou pas du tout"
* "Als het weer lente is"
* "L'Amour ça fait chanter la vie"
* "Avanti la vie"
* "Baby, Baby"
* "Because of You"
* "City Lights"
* "Copycat"
* "Dis oui"
* "Door de wind"
* "Envie de vivre"
* "Euro-Vision"
* "Fleur de liberté"
* "Geef het op"
* "Gelukkig zijn"
* "Goeiemorgen, morgen"
* "Le Grand soir"
* "Hey Nana"
* "Hou toch van mij"
* "Iemand als jij"
* "Ik heb zorgen"
* "J'aime la vie"
* "Je t'adore"
* "Jennifer Jennings"
* "Judy et Cie"
* "Laat me nu gaan"
* "Laissez briller le soleil"
* "Liefde is een kaartspel"
* "Like the Wind"
* "Love Kills"
* "Love Power"
* "Ma petite chatte"
* "Macédomienne"
* "A Matter of Time"
* "Me and My Guitar"
* "Messieurs les noyés de la Seine"
* "A Million in One, Two, Three"
* "Miss You"
* "Mon amour pour toi"
* "Mother"
* "Nous, on veut des violons"
* "O Julissi"
* "Un peu de poivre, un peu de sel"
* "Le Plus beau jour de ma vie"
* "Près de ma rivière"
* "Quand tu reviendras"
* ~~"Release Me"~~
* "Rendez-vous"
* "Rhythm Inside"
* "Samson"
* "Sanomi"
* "September, gouden roos"
* "Si tu aimes ma musique"
* "Sister"
* "Soldiers of Love"
* "Straatdeuntje"
* "Ton nom"
* "Viens l'oublier"
* "La Voix est libre"
* "Waarom?"
* "Wake Up"
* "What's the Pressure"
* "With Love Baby"
* "Would You?"
* "The Wrong Place"

* Note: Entries scored out signify where Belgium did not compete

* v
* t
* e

Eurovision Song Contest 1959

Countries|

* Austria
* Belgium
* Denmark
* France
* Germany
* Italy
* Monaco
* Netherlands
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* United Kingdom

Artists|

* Bob Benny
* Brita Borg
* Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson
* Ferry Graf
* Alice and Ellen Kessler
* Domenico Modugno
* Jean Philippe
* Jacques Pills
* Teddy Scholten
* Birthe Wilke
* Christa Williams

Songs|

* "Augustin"
* "Een beetje"
* "Heute Abend wollen wir tanzen geh'n"
* "Hou toch van mij"
* "Irgendwoher"
* "Der K und K Kalypso aus Wien"
* "Oui, oui, oui, oui"
* "Mon ami Pierrot"
* "Piove (Ciao, ciao bambina)"
* "Sing, Little Birdie"
* "Uh, jeg ville ønske jeg var dig"

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