The Netherlands have succumbed to Eurovision Fever. Well, within reasonable limits, after all the Eurovision is no World Cup, nor even the Olympics. Nevertheless, this year for the first time in almost a decade, the Dutchies are sincerely excited by the fact that this year they actually stand a good shot at winning.
And a lot of that excitement has to do with Anouk, the Netherlands' 2013 entry into the Eurovision Song Contest. The Netherlands have competed in the Eurovision since its inception in 1956; since then, the nation has missed out on participating in only four annual contests, and has won it a total of four times, most recently in 1975. However, at some point in the decades since 1975 it all went downhill for the Dutchies since on Tuesday Anouk became the first Dutch entry since 2004 (when the semi-finals round was first enforced) to even qualify for the finals.
Anouk was a beloved artist even before this years Eurovison: she is regarded as the most popular female rock singer in the country, first appearing on the scene in 1997 with her breakout single "Nobody's Wife." Since then, she has topped Dutch and Belgian charts time and time again and, unsurprisingly, has a new album coming out today. The song she is performing at the Eurovision Song Contest this year, the self-penned "Birds," has anthem-potential - understated, but powerful. And, let's face it, this cannot be said about most of Eurovision's contestants, least of all about some of the recent Dutch acts: here's Sieneke's "Ik Ben Verliefd (Sha-la-lie)" of 2010 for comparison.
Anouk is also saving the Dutch government oodles of money by offering her services to the nation on the condition that she would not be made to compete with other hopefuls for the honor. Due to her obvious talent and popularity, TROS television station (the Dutch broadcasters of the Eurovison) were more than happy to comply and not hold the usual expensive and not terribly popular television contest. News of Anouk's progression to the final may be slightly bittersweet for TROS director Peter Kuipersn, however. As the winning nation traditionally hosts the subsequent year's contest, Anouk's winning the competition would mean TROS being obliged to fork over millions of euro to host next year's competition, in spite of the fact that they are currently debating a merger with AVRO television station to secure a financial future for both companies.
Get your orange shirts and Dutch-themed face paints out, find a bar broadcasting the contest, and here's to Anouk winning the damn thing this year!!!
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