Brussels, 9 January 2023
Belgium have kicked off the week-long Eurosong marathon. From Monday to Friday, we’ll get to know the participants in Eurosong 2023, and their songs.
Every day, VRT will release a 30 minute reality show, presenting the contestants during their bootcamp (or “song club”). During this bootcamp, each artist will showcase their two songs, with their competition listening in. After they’ve performed both songs, their fellow rivals will give them feedback, and the contestants will pick which of their two songs will be performed on the big finale this Saturday.
Eurosong 2023 Planning:
Monday 9 Jan: Loredana (both songs)
Tuesday 10 Jan: Chérine (both songs), Hunter Falls (first song)
Wednesday 11 Jan: Hunter Falls (second song), Ameerah (both songs)
Thursday 12 Jan: Gala Dragot (both songs), Gustaph (first song)
Friday 13 Jan: Gustaph (second song), The Starlings (both songs)
Saturday 14 Jan: Finale
Tonight we heard from Loredana, the first Belgian hopeful. She will pick between the songs “You lift me up” and “I Dream in Colours”.
Who is Loredana?
Loredana De Amicis is a 35 year old Belgian singer from Genk and has been singing since she was fifteen. She is arguably the second most known name in the selection, after The Starlings. She rose to the spotlight when she became the main vocalist of the Dance and Techno duo 2Fabiola. She and the band’s resident composer and DJ, Pat Krimson, would eventually start a romantic relationship together. Their daughter Troy was born in 2012. Loredana and Pat tied the knot in 2021, cementing their partnership. Krimson co-wrote one of Loredana’s songs this year.
The duo took part in the 2014 selection, where their song “She’s after my piano” (co-written by Ovidiu Cernăuțeanu, RO 2010/2014) became a fan favourite and a big radio hit, despite getting eliminated in the semifinals. A cover of “She’s After My Piano” by Flemish legend Margriet Hermans called “Lekker blijven hangen” (rough translation: “Enjoyably doing nothing”) won Radio 2’s Zomerhit in 2022 (“Miss you” was one of the other nominees), confirming She’s after my piano‘s status as a fan favourite with the Flemish public.
Loredana first true solo attempt came via The Masked Singer Belgium. Participating in the second season, Loredana managed to finish an impressive second in the competition, performing as Ridder (The Knight).
Ridder’s unmasking as Loredana came as a huge surprise to fans of the program (Clara Cleymans and Sylvie de Bie were heavily rumoured), and opened the general public’s eye to her vocal talents. That she now shows up in Eurosong as a solo artist (though still backed up by her partner-in-crime Pat Krimson) is hardly a surprise.
2Fabiola haven’t released new music since 2014, but they have remained active in the business, mostly doing party gigs. The DJ-vocalist pair remain a well-known and heavily requested presence at high-end parties. Eurosong 2022 therefore marks the first time in eight years they’re releasing two singles, with Loredana taking the spotlight for herself.
The Decision
Ultimately the Song Club advised Loredana to pick “You lift me up” for its energy, its power and its staging potential. Loredana herself was pleased to hear this – “You lift me up” was also her favourite of the two! As such, she will perform the party anthem at Palace 12 as her official Eurovision entry.
Her other song, “I dream in colours” can be listened to here.
Tomorrow will be Chérine’s turn to sing and choose, while Hunter Falls will showcase one of his two songs “Ooh la la“.
Do #YOU like “You lift me up”? Do #YOU think she made the correct decision? Let us know in the comments!
