Credits
News
© TROS/Ned1
Part five
Introducing the 2009 entries: The Netherlands
Basic information
| Performers: | De Toppers |
| Song: | Shine |
| Language: | English |
| Music: | Bas van den Heuvel, Ger van de Westelaken (Gordon) |
| Lyrics: | Bas van den Heuvel, Ger van de Westelaken (Gordon) |
| Draw: | 19th in the second semi final |
The song
Shine is a love and peace anthem in a nostalgic up-tempo disco schlager style. The obviously wittingly naive lyrics tell that the problems in the world may be saved if all people just take on a positive and optimistic manner by letting their light shine:
There are so many wars right now in this world
There are so many things not right
There are too many people hurt in this world
There are too many men that fight
People, let your light shine, let the darkness fade away
Step into a brighter day, don't forget about our world today
The group
The show band De Toppers was founded in late 2004 by René Froger, Gordon and Gerard Joling, who had represented the Netherlands in the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest. Their concerts turned out to become a huge success in the Netherlands and De Toppers went on to become one of the most successful live acts in their country.
Originally, the band mostly covered classics from various acts all around the world. Their repertoire also includes a medley of Eurovision Song Contest entries. Four live albums have been released to date and all of them reached the top three of the Dutch charts. De Toppers were also in the top ten of the single charts twice with the songs Live at the ArenA (part 1) and Can you feel it.
In 2008, it was announced that they were chosen to represent the Netherlands in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow. After a dispute, Gerard Joling left the group and was replaced by Jeroen van der Boom. In the national final the song Shine was chosen as 51st Dutch entry in the competition. The single currently peaks at number 12 of the charts and is therefore the most successful Dutch entry since 2006.
The national selection
De Toppers were selected internally to represent the Netherlands in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. In the national final, which was called Nationaal songfestival again, they performed six songs and the winning entry was chosen by a jury and televoting. The song Angel of the night was the clear favourite of the jury getting the top mark from all jury members, but the televoters could turn the result around placing Shine first. During the press conference after the national final, it was revealed that Gordon had co-written the song, a fact that was even hidden from the other group members.
The Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest
The Netherlands took part in the very first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 and the country had one of the most remarkable starts in the competition. Between 1957 and 1969, the country could win the contest no less than three times, but was placed in the second half of the scoreboard on every other occasion during those years. In 1975, they won again and they have been waiting for their fifth victory since. The last top ten result in a final to date came in 1999 and the country has not even qualified for the final the last four times.
We wensen Nederland en De Toppers veel geluk en een goed resultaat in Moskou!
Videos
De Toppers in the national final:
The preview video:
Motown medley in 2005:
Medley in 2008:
Other parts of this series
Tomorrow, we will take a look at the Cypriot entry.
Related polls
- ISRAEL: Your favourite song in the national final?
- SERBIA: Your favourite in the national final?
- UK: Your favourite in the national final?
- GERMANY: Your favourite in the national final?
- SWEDEN: Your favourite in the national final?
- ESTONIA: Your favourite in the national final?
- GREECE: Your favourite song in the national final?
- The Netherlands decided: How much do you like Ik be verliefd (Sha la lie)?
- esctoday.com National Final Awards 2010: Best PERFORMANCE not to qualify in the NETHERLANDS?
Go directly to the reactions
Recent news about The Netherlands
The Netherlands: Sieneke shoots to the top! 119
The Netherlands: Radio support for Sieneke 92
Edsilia Rombley pregnant for the first time 93
The Netherlands send Sieneke to Eurovision 275
Live: National final in the Netherlands 83
Reactions
When reacting to a news item, please stick to the topic. Inappropriate messages (swearing, racism, hate, etc.), messages in other languages than English and spam (which includes URL advertising) will be deleted and you risk your account being removed. Reacting on newsitems is only possible when logged in as a member. Still don't have member account?
Click here to react Click here to become a member (free!)
SkyRadio... blegh, I hate SkyRadio because I love "geouwehoer". I mean their "new" music is quite "old"
@ w s
ooooooh, jij nederlander 
(is neatherlander an english word? I don't think so, neither is hollander btw haha. why do we keep making it difficult for ourselves but I didn't know that besides Friesland people from the different provinces felt this way about being called hollander. I'm from Gelderland, now living in Utrecht and I don't give a flying f*kc about what people call me, I'm Dutch, in English anyway, and that's that but hey, it's a free nation hahahaha, so jij neerlandsch mensch, no more hollander for you
@ Purple Cow
you forget one thing about the charts. it's also based on airplay and since SkyRadio plays the song as if it's the best thing ever, it's helped to get high in the charts.
To be honest, I hate the song, I really dislike De Toppers, but you've got to give it to them: it's sticking in you mind like glue. the other day it was the last song I heard before I went to bed and after half an hour I just had to get my mp3-player to get something else in my head. I just couldn't get it out of my head and I even sing along with it. aaaaaargh!!!!!
For some reason, I find this song very creepy *shudders*
Good luck from Bosnia.
NO POINTS FROM SERBIA
COME ON NETHERLANDS, WHY YOU DONT SEND SOME NICE SONG LIKE YOUR ENTRIES FROM 60`S ; 70`S ; AND 80`S ???/
THIS YEAR SONG SUCKS
I liked "Angel of the night" as many others did.
This one is so Ralph Siegel-ish and kinda outdated - songs promoting peace, love, shine, everyone together, hold your hands etc etc either were popular in the 80s (or 1990 inspired by Berlin wall falling, 
) or come from Israel.
The NF show was great in the Netherlands, so "Grease" and Travolta styles and rhythms 
The good is starting position, but I'm not sure people will recognize this as the unique "love shine" dance which deserves to vote for.
The only thing that actually shines in this song are their - suits!
I'm beginning to like this song. I'll see ... Maybe I give it a vote ... or two ...
Where shall I start.
W s, thanks for agreeing 
.
Finn P, http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland
Especially the "doorn in het oog" part because the citizens of Holland are Hollanders in fact.
Why say it wrong if you know how to say it right. It sounds pretty stupid. It's a term only referring to the west of the Netherlands. I might be a bit overreacting but I am compensating in some way. ( I am from Noord-Holland btw)
Danny Is Hier, yes that's true( I forgot about Over de top, and Can you feel it is another cover) but maybe you didn't get my point? They are not a music group, frequently producing songs.
Marty, the single top 100 . You can easily influence the single top 100 because nowadays most people download songs and don't buy the singles. I like the fact that you conclude with so SOME Dutch people like this song, that's way better than saying yes we in Holland like this kind of music. The hahahah, was hilarious because it was evil 
.
hey hey @ Purple Cow let's not cat fight here, it's just a song! And why HOLLAND likes it well i saw today that it's number 2 in the top 50 so some Dutch people like the song hahahah
SHINE!
Our country is called The Netherlands, not Holland. I was born in Limburg, and I don't consider myself a Hollander. It is simply not what I am, the same way a Hollander is not a Groninger or a Zeeuw or a Brabander. And the same someone from Scotland or Wales is not English.
@Purple Cow: they had songs produced for then
Over de top
Can You Feel It
Wir Sind Die Hollander
@Purple Cow:
any reason for those strong sentiments on what people call our country? I generally pick Holland just cos it saves a few syllables..
Exactly Purple Cow. And in fact those concerts can be quite fun. The same a bouzouki-night can be fun while on holiday in Greece. Or a night of karaoke can be fun. But I seriously doubt if this will work on a eurovision stage.
@ Marty
Please don't make up my mind, or anyone else's mind. I don't know anyone from the Netherlands((come on it's not Holland))who likes this song. I know way more people who hate it, see it as a joke, or just think it's average. (Sorry but seriously I don't like it when 1. The Netherlands is mistaken for Holland 2. People say, yes WE like this kind of music)
I have the feeling no one really understands that de Toppers are not a music group. In fact they are: three individual singers who like to give sing-a-long concerts in the Amsterdam ArenA which are sold out because of the atmosphere, where they sing covers and medleys ONLY and they haven't produced songs for de Toppers except for Shine.
Up to the final!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great song and to all those complainers here :-) SHINE!
and YES actually in Holland we like this kind of music.
Shine, shine, shine
There are so many wars right now in this world
There are so many things not right
There are too many people hurt in this world
There are too many men that fight
Time is now to make the change
Time is on our side
Love will make us glow in the dark
So open up your heart
Are you ready for a brand new start?
Shine
People, let your light shine
Let the darkness fade away
Step into a brighter day
Don’t forget about our world today
Let your light shine
Maybe the answer is just this simple song
Let everybody shine along
To keep the world from going wrong
Let your light shine
So many people with good heart in this world
So many, they can make a change
So the only thing that we have to do
Is love the one we hate
It will change all darkness into bright
It will touch everybody’s light
The whole world will be lighted
All people will be reunited
Shine
People, let your light shine
Let the darkness fade away
Step into a brighter day
Don’t forget about the role you must play
Let your light shine
Maybe the answer is just this simple song
Let everybody shine along
To keep the world from going wrong
Let your light shine
As long as we believe in good
As long as we believe in love
The light will guide and take us to
The world we all dream of
Let your light shine
Shine
People, let your light shine
Maybe the answer is just this simple song
Let everybody shine along
To keep the world from going wrong
Let your light shine
Shine, shine, shine, shin
Considering this is de Toppers we're talking about, it could have been a lot worse. But I hate schlager with a passion and I have already resigned myself that 2009 is not gonna be your year once again. This song is like the Albanian, every year there are at least three songs that are exactly like this one, so if they do get through it'll be the running order and nothing else.
I think I'm going for another listen of Portugal or France... de Toppers are not for me..
@ Paschalis
I totally agree.
However, about the Bosnian and Russian songs, I don't like them at first, but, after listening them more, now I think they are great. I've tried the same with the Dutch song, because I usually like Dutch entries, but this year it has failed to grow in me.
Look,
http://www.youtube.c(...)/watch?v=pR9-l63V7m4
One of the things they did as well =) and how much fun they have ! And as well the audience =) Thats one of there main things as well.. they want to make sure the audience have fun =D
Sara
ROOOOOOOOOOOFL !! You'll NEVER get me to like Alex Rybak
GUESS WHAT !!
On Friday is odd shoes day in my school, and i'm gonna wear wellies !! and spray them so they look like Caroline af Ugglas' I wont' be able to get your wellies from Paris by Friday ... it's such a shame
It's catchy, but seriously it's the song which is most out of date of ALL songs this year!
there are worse songs in esc 2009, theres even worse songs in their semi but since it's the Netherlands and THIS song i'd be very suprised if it made the final.
2 POINTS FROM CYPRUS
SORRY NETHERLANDS!
De Toppers are big stars in The Netherlands. There must be many people who love them. Go into any music shop and you will find a 'Nederlands' section, made up of cheesy looking compilation ablums-this trio features heavily on it. I see them in Blokker a lot too.
There annual concert at the Amsterdam ArenA has a huge list of songs, covering everything.
Gerard Joling is especally famous. He is constantly shoved down our throuts everyday, and he is on TV all the time as well
I seriously think this will finish last in the second semi with 0 pts.
netherlands will qualify this year
I think their awsome.. I dont really understand people that people think its bad or judging them cause they are around 40. I have seen allot trash this year mostly comming from eastern Europe I guess they cant see quality when its shuffed under their nose
The last time the Netherlands sent a decent entry was in 2004. Edsilia Rombley is a good singer, but her song in 2007 was too flat and predictable.
The list of 143 reactions is divided into 6 pages. Choose a page:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
React yourself
This news article is older than one week. Reacting to articles is only possible in the first week after publication.
