With Eurovision 2025 just around the corner, Belgium's search for this year's entry starts this weekend, with four (of eight) candidates being presented in the first preliminary round of 'Eurosong' on Flemish television.
For the future Belgian candidate, the road to the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel runs through the 'Eurosong' preselection this year.
Belgium is divided into two major linguistic regions (Flanders and Wallonia) whose respective public broadcasters are both full members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), making both of them eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest.
However, as only one entry per country is allowed in the contest in any given year, Flanders and Wallonia take turns representing Belgium. Since 2021, Flemish VRT has been in charge on odd years while Walloon RTBF has been in charge on even years, with both broadcasters sharing the broadcasting rights.
What's happening now?
On Saturday 18 January, the first batch of four candidates will present themselves and their songs. The Saturday after, on 25 January, the other four candidates will perform. Then, during a live show on 1 February, the public and an international expert jury together decide which of the artists will represent Belgium in Switzerland in May.
VRT has started sharing short snippets of the four songs from the first preliminary round on social media; next week, the four from the second preliminary round. The full songs will be heard for the first time during these rounds. After the second round on 25 January, all eight songs will be released.
Even though the candidate will be picked by the Flemish half of the country, the Belgian entry will be a song in French or English this year; no Dutch-speaking songs made the selection.
Both preliminary rounds and the final selection round can all be watched live on VRT 1 and online on VRT MAX.
Stage Design for 2025 Eurovision. Credit: EBU
Who are the candidates?
First preliminary round (18 January)
Grace – Pull up
Pull up by Grace (22) is an upbeat party song about standing up for yourself. Grace was the winner of 'The Voice of Flanders' in 2021 and has since made a career as a singer. Her song is a call from her older self to her younger self to stand up for yourself. She called it "a positive message to all who listen."
Grace shows a different side of herself as an artist with Pull up. Additionally, the song also features some phrases in Lingala – a tribute to her Congolese roots.
Lenn – Air Balloon
Air balloon is Lenn's (25) very first single release. He wrote the song when he was suffering from mental health issues, and calls the song "a call to see the positive things" in life: no matter how dark the night can be, the sun always rises the day after. "Beautiful moments come again, but sometimes that takes some time."
The single was not written specifically for Eurosong, but stems mainly from Lenn's feelings and his intention to convey a message as an artist.
Le Manou – Fille à Papa
Fille à papa is an upbeat pop song in French, with many 1990s house musical influences. Le Manou (29) has a professional DJ career, but with Fille à papa she shows that she also enjoys getting the party started as a singer and entertainer.
Le Manou got the inspiration for her song during a writing camp in her own studio in Durbuy. "It is an ironic nod to all the 'nepo babies' in the world, but with due respect for what they often achieve on their own."
LEEZ – Perfectly Imperfect
Perfectly imperfect is an almost archetypal song contest anthem with a modern twist in which LEEZ (31) makes her voice shine at its best. The song is about how couples in a relationship can complement each other perfectly, despite their own and each other's imperfections.
When she came across the words "perfectly imperfect" during the writing process, she immediately felt "the right connection to the song," she said.
Second preliminary round (25 January)
Jelle van Dael – Monster
The song Monster by Jelle van Dael (34) is about the small things that happen in life, but mostly about "finding your inner strength to fight back and confront your inner demons." The story is partly autobiographical, but at the same time universal, he stressed.
Jelle co-wrote the song because she thinks it is important that people get to know her better "not only as an artist, but also as a person."
Mentissa – Désolée
Désolée by Mentissa (24) is a song about self-confidence: realising that you should not be afraid to be yourself and you do not have to keep cutting yourself away. "You cannot do good for everything and everyone, so the song resolutely says, 'I'm sorry I'm not sorry anymore'."
Describing herself as a sensitive person, Mentissa acknowledged that this is a difficult balance to find. With this song, Mentissa also wants to make an artistic statement: she sees it as the beginning of a new, more poppy time in her musical career.
The candidates for the second round. Credit: VRT
Red Sebastian – Strobe Lights
Red Sebastian (25) is venturing into Eurosong 2025 with Strobe lights. In terms of sound, the song is an ode to the thumping beats of 1990s rave culture. The lyrics describe the tale of an exciting and thrilling club night: "you know where it starts but not where it ends," he said.
The song deliberately showcases the entirety of singer Seppe Herreman's vocal ability, both in the high and low registers. Counting on his amazing voice, Red Sebastian is keen to make a difference in Basel.
Stefanie Callebaut – Gloria
Singer Stefanie Callebaut (37) describes Gloria as "an adventurous celebration of light and love". Those who have already had the opportunity to listen to the song have described it as "a contemporary Bohemian Rhapsody."
"Gloria is not a bite-sized pop song, it is a unique journey, an experience. A song of connection in which I consider myself a bridge between the song and people's hearts," she said. "It has been noticeable in recent years that the more special songs often finish high at the Eurovision Song Contest. I am therefore convinced that Belgium can make a big impression in Basel with Gloria."
Who is on the jury?
During the live final on Saturday 1 February, both the Flemish public and the Eurosong 2025 professional jury will decide which candidate gets to represent Belgium. The professional jury consists of 15 (inter)national stars and experts.
One of the jury members will be Gustaph, who represented Belgium in 2023 with his impressive performance for Because of You. He finished in seventh place. Emmelie de Forest, who won the Eurovision Song Contest for Denmark in 2013 with the hit Only teardrops, will also be part of the professional jury this year.
Gustaph during his Eurovision 2023 performance. Credit: Belga
Other members are Flemish comedian (and self-described "very big fan" of the Song Contest) Bart Cannaerts, who read out Belgium's points during the final in 2023. Popular Dutch singer Merol will also provide her "down-to-earth and objective Dutch take" on the eight candidates on 1 February.
The remaining 11 professional jury members are Els Germonpré (music coordinator VRT 1), Leslie Cable (Delegation Leader for RTBF at the Eurovision Song Contest), Stephan Monsieur (president OGAE, the official Song Contest fan club), Jasper Van Biesen (author ‘65 years of Belgium at the Song Contest’), Nona Van Braeckel (Studio Brussel), Laura Govaerts (MNM), Kim Debrie (Radio2), Anja Daems (Radio2), Imane Boudadi (MNM), Indy van Cauwenbergh (choreographer) and André Vermeulen (journalist and song festival specialist).
