Eurovision 2019 spotlight: Belgium's Eliot with "Wake Up"...

I'm back with yet another installment in my spotlight on the countrys and artists competing in this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv, Israel, If you need to catch up with my series, you can click here....

The wafflicious country of Belgium has been taking part in Eurovision since its start in 1956. Last year, their entry was the slow-building emotion of "A Matter Of Time" from female singer Sennek. Sounding like Alanis Morissette doing a Bond Theme, it was one of my favorites going into the program last year, only to have it criminally left behind in the semi-finals. I sincerely blame the camerawork and the audience, who shook people from her entrancing performance with their giant flagwaving (including a ridiculous banner about some asinine podcast, but you know, effing Portugal). This time out, the country's internal selection offers the first male singer since Loic Nottet took fourth place with "Rhythm Inside"...

Belgium - "Wake Up" from Eliot

Like Loic, Eliot Vassamillet is still in his teens when he'll be in Tel Aviv. Born in the city of Mons, which these days is more famous for the meme about the picture of the workers strike, Eliot also is a alumnus of La Voix Belgique, the national version of the singing competition The Voice. However, Eliot isn't a "powerhouse" singer, and the resulting song, "Wake Up", is a dark electro-pop track that seems pretty linear, not building to any sort of climax or result. The synth touches in the verses are quite interesting, but the chorus simply doesn't go anywhere...

I can definitely understand the appeal of the song and Eliot, although I'm not quite sold on his live vocals yet, which is crucial to have this piece make the finals. In this semi, only neighboring France would be able to vote, which does put it at a disadvantage, but the youth vote very well may save this borderline entry. (Rating: 5.5/10)

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Belgium has been at the contest since the first year, where the country placed in second behind Switzerland, with three years they did not participate. In 1986, Belgium won their only Eurovision so far with "J'aime La Vie" from young Sandra Kim who was thirteen at the time...

But my personal favorite from the country so far came in 2016 with Laura Tesoro who came in 10th in the final with "What's The Pressure"...

In 2003, the country was the first to have their act sing in an imaginary language, when Urban Trad came in all the way at runner-up position with "Sanomi"...