User:Firemat7/sandbox


 * title                 = Eurosong 2016

Belgium will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Stockholm, Sweden. Their entry and singer will be selected through the national final Eurosong 2016, organised by the Flemish broadcaster Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie (VRT). The artist and song will be chosen on 17 January 2016.

Background
Prior to the 2016 contest, Belgium had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest fifty-seven times since its debut as one of seven countries to take part in. Since then, the country has won the contest on one occasion in with the song "J'aime la vie" performed by Sandra Kim. Following the introduction of semi-finals for, Belgium had been featured in only four finals. In 2015, Loïc Nottet represented the country with the song "Rhythm Inside", qualifying to the final and placing fourth—Belgium's best result in the contest since placing second in.

The Belgian broadcaster for the 2016 Contest, who broadcasts the event in Belgium and organises the selection process for its entry, was Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie (VRT). The Belgian participation in the contest alternates between two broadcasters: the Flemish VRT and the Walloon Radio Télévision Belge de la Communauté Française (RTBF). Both broadcasters have selected the Belgian entry using national finals and internal selections in the past. In 2014, VRT organised the national final Eurosong in order to select the Belgian entry, while in 2015, RTBF internally selected a contestant from the reality singing competition The Voice Belgique to represent the nation. On 26 May 2015, VRT confirmed Belgium's participation in the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest and announced that the Eurosong national final would be held to select their entry.

Eurosong 2016
Eurosong 2016 will be the national final that selects Belgium's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016. The competition will consist of two live showcase shows that will take place on 3 and 10 January 2016 followed by a final on 17 January 2016 where the winning song and artist will be selected. All three shows will take place at the AED studios in Lint, hosted by Peter Van de Veire and broadcast on Eén.

Competing artists
VRT announced on 26 May 2015 that five young musical talents were being sought to compete in Eurosong with an application period being opened on the same day. On 16 November 2015, the broadcaster announced the names of the five artists selected for the competition during the radio MNM programme De Grote Peter Van de Veire Ochtendshow. The five artists were selected by an A&R Team (Arts and Repertoire) consisting of music experts from VRT: Gerrit Kerremans (general music coordinator), Els Germonpré (Eén music manager) and Hans Snijders (radio MNM music manager), who were accompanied by artist manager Christopher Cocquyt. The five artists were coached and groomed by a team of experts in preparation for the national final. This team consisted of musical guidance from Christopher Cocquyt, vocal coaching from Lady Linn, media training from Geena Lisa and act staging/choreography from Ish Ait Hamou. Between 16 and 20 November 2015, the five artists were each presented and interviewed on the radio MNM programme De Grote Peter Van de Veire Ochtendshow as well as on the Eén television programme Iedereen beroemd.

The five competing artists are:


 * Adil Aarab
 * Amaryllis Uitterlinden
 * Astrid Destuyver
 * Laura Tesoro
 * Tom Frantzis

Format
Two non-competitive showcase shows will take place on 3 and 10 January 2016. The 3 January show introduced the five artists and allowed them to showcase their singing skills, stage presence and personality by performing a cover version of a past Eurovision Song Contest song. The programme also showed how each artist progressed through their preparations and coaching. On the 10 January show, each artist will present their candidate Eurovision song. The final will take place on 17 January 2016 where the winner will be chosen by ten international jury groups and public televoting. During each of the three shows, two experts will provide commentary and feedback to the artists. These experts are:
 * Stijn Kolacny – conductor of the Belgian women's choir Scala
 * Alexander Rybak – Belarusian-Norwegian singer-songwriter, winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
 * Tom Helsen – Belgian singer-songwriter
 * Beverly Jo Scott – American-born singer-songwriter, coach on The Voice Belgique, lyricist of Belgium's 2015 entry "Rhythm Inside"
 * Hadise – Turkish Belgian singer, participated in Idool 2003 and represented Turkey in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
 * Christer Björkman – Swedish singer, represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 1992, the Swedish Head of Delegation

Show 1 (3 January 2016)
The first show, held on 3 January 2016, introduced the competing artists. Each artist performed a cover version of a past Eurovision Song Contest song. The two experts that provided feedback to the artists during this show were Stijn Kolacny and Alexander Rybak. A televote held during the show to poll the audience's opinion on the artists following their performances was won by Amaryllis Uitterlinden.

Show 2 (10 January 2016)
The second show, to be held on 10 January 2016, will introduce the competing songs. Each artist will perform their candidate song for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest. The two experts that will provide feedback to the artists during this show will be Tom Helsen and Beverly Jo Scott. The titles of the songs were announced on 5 January 2016.

Final (17 January 2016)
The final will take place on 17 January 2016. Each artist will again perform their candidate Eurovision song. The two experts that will provide feedback to the artists during this show will be Hadise and Christer Björkman. Ten international jury groups and a public televote will determine the winner.

At Eurovision
According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big 5" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final.