Belgium's Hooverphonic places fifth in alternative Eurovision

Flemish band Hooverphonic came in fifth in Eurostream 2020, an alternative to the Eurovision Song Contest, which was cancelled because of the coronavirus.

Eurostream was an online effort put together by several Eurovision fan sites. It held semi-finals and a Grand Finale, just like the real Eurovision. All of the bands meant to compete in Eurovision – which would have taken place next Saturday in Rotterdam – were included in Eurostream.

The event ran videos of each country’s entry, complete with commentary. Votes were also similarly compiled, complete with national announcements by colourful characters.

Half of the votes were provided by international music industry professionals, and the public votes made up the other half. In the end, Iceland’s poppy 1980s-inspired tune “Think about Things” won Eurostream with 434 points, far ahead of number two – Lithuania at 303 points.

Belgium’s entry, the melancholy “Release Me” – written by Hooverphonic’s Alex Callier and Italian composer Luca Chiaravalli – came in fifth. “Release Me” is sung by current Hooverphonic singer Luka Cruysberghs and accompanied by an orchestra.

“I am super happy,” Callier told VRT. “Especially because we came in second in the televoting. Those are the people at home, who buy and listen to your music.”

The Eurovision Song Contest, meanwhile, has been postponed to 2021, when it will take place in Rotterdam as planned. While the songs submitted for this year will no longer be eligible, it is up to each country to decide if the same performers will take a new song to the event. Belgium has already decided to send Hooverphonic, with a new song.

Eurovision, meanwhile, is airing a special Europe Shine a Light on 16 May in place of the competition. The programme will “help unite and entertain audiences around Europe during these challenging times,” the organisation said.

Photo, from left: Luka Cruysberghs, Raymond Geerts and Alex Callier of Hooverphonic
©Zeb Daemen