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The Netherlands interview
The Toppers speak to esctoday.com
The Toppers spoke about the line-up change that saw Jeroen van der Boom replacing Gerard Joling, the rehearsals and their impressions so far. They will represent the Netherlands performing their song Shine at number 19 and hence in the last spot in the second semi final on 14th May. Last year, Hind finished 13th in the first semi final with Your heart belongs to me and therefore did not make it to the final. The last time the Netherlands appeared in the final was in 2004.
Watch the interview below:
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Go directly to the reactions
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@ Stephen Sammut
If the Dutch culture was all about mocking and insulting each other, I would have insulted randomly everyone already, of course it's not. My English is quite bad so I can't really explain what I am trying to make clear. Have you met any Dutch person besides Gordon who is insulting people all day just because he's Dutch and it's part of the culture? Gordon is paid to make stupid remarks. I don't think it's fair to compare all Dutch people to Gordon. What ws and I and others were trying to explain was, that this was made bigger than it was and that you are overreacting and that we don't take "insults" or stupid jokes that seriously because we know the person doesn't really want to insult you. I know it's all vague, but my bad English doesn't allow me to make my point clear to you.
Well if Dutch culture is all about mocking and insulting people, then I do not think there is much to say about the Dutch. And if i read correctly , someone said that all northern countries are that way. Well if the north is that way, well i can say that the south and east are not that way and they can get offended. So , it would be nice for everyone to keep their own views if they intend hurting or insulting anyone
My comment has also been deleted, which didn't even go that much off topic.
if i can notice good my comment has been deleted 
weldone CJ P
great explaination!!
im fat to but i don't care
i live my life the way i want to
here in The Netherlands bigger ppl are just even more "gezellig" 
,
and FINALY have some freakin fun, ppl, and stop liveing like a parasite on bad news that some unrelible website blew out of proportion....thank u
Damn, what an accent!!!
what's with 'holland'? there's only one country and it's called Netherlands
Maybe Gordon can push Lisa to make her participate, she's great.
Lol. I sense a lot of bitterness in here. People who are taking the comments about weight and size too seriously should definitely move to Holland to learn about Dutch culture and the fact that many people don't take themselves to seriously.
Gordon is known to 'insult' people, especially on the jury of the X-Factor. But all people with a sane mind know how to value his opinion and to not take him too seriously. He doesn't even take himself seriously. He knows he's not the thinnest either and makes remarks/insults to his self too.
Btw his amazing pupil Lisa, won last nights X-Factor Holland 2009. And Lisa is not the most slender/thin person around... she's voloptuous just like Chiara (okay a little bit less big but still). When Gordon made comments about her weight/size, she knew that he never meant her harm.
http://www.youtube.c(...)/watch?v=190nmJ2Eh70
People like Sabi Love... you should lighten up. Don't take this too seriously. Shine!
I love the Toppers, but Gordon is so nasty... I really hate that guy.
Gordon doesn't know better, he simply lives to insult people with his vulgar jokes. It's for that simple reason that he's the least popular of the three guys. If he really offended Chiara I think that's quite embarrassing, as you are not supposed to be disrespecful towards other competitors. Perhaps our Maltese friends should ignore him from now on.
sabi love has a point in saying that a direct competetor should know better, but I still think that his remark is made a bigger issue than it should be. In the Netherlands(and not only in the Netherlands) they're used to making fun of almost everybody, Gordon is also made fun of.
*sigh* maltese people..if you dont know the real story about whats been said by Gordon just dont react! Just have a look at some forums and you'll see there are many people making fun of all contestants, not only Chiara! Are you gonna tell them aswell that they should think first before they say something like that???
This interview was great fun to watch!!
Does anyone know the name of the esctoday interviewer?
The thing is in north and west Europe it is kind of normal to make fun of such things. It is (almost) always meant innocent and harmless. For example during Melodifestivalen final this year, the presenter showed a photo of De Toppers, which she threw away on the ground. Was that rude? Maybe. But it certainly didn't make anyone mad in the Netherlands.
The whole Sakis/Paul de Leeuw thing, (which went too far in my opinion and dragged on for far too long) is another example. Paul didn't want too insult Sakis. He primarely wanted to make fun of himself (which succeeded, because in the end he looked foolish), but it was intended as an innocent joke. I am gay and collegues used to make jokes like that very often over the years. I guess it is a no go in some other countries. And maybe that is what eurovision is all about, getting closer to each others and raise understanding. I know now that I should be careful what jokes to make when in another country.
ws
its true many things were said about chiara in the past. by whom?
there is a big difference if the insult came from some stupid teenager on this site or youtube , and if the insult came from one of the direct competators. they should know better.
Does anyone claim otherwise?
and the dutch wont be in the finals anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!
dont worry stephen they will recieve null points from malta this year.
Hi Toppers. I found out that one of you had passed comments about Malta's representative regarding her weight. Before passing comments on somoone else, you should, the three of you have a look in the mirror. The three of you are no spring chickens and I am sure that one of you , if not all, is wearing a wig. Besides, passing comments like that is unprofessional and childish. This is a Eurovision Song Contest not a Eurovision Beauty Contest or a Eurovision Contest to expose as much as you can of one's body. However, I have realized that a lot of countries in past years tried to win the contest, not because, they have a good song or voice, but because they try to attract votes through exposing most of their body or using sexual dances etc.
Hopefully, with the juries introduced again, this will not continue happening.
@mark wood
and no matter what size!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hi toppers i hope you read this . i want to wish you good luck from a singer in manchesters village . i know where you guys are coming from and lets not forget everyone he reality is that alll three of them have great voices . dont let the fact that they are older cloud your judgement , this has to stop in the world - talent is talent no matter what age a person is
lol, they are really funny. Likable guys, but not the best song... It's cheesy fun at least, lol.
they make carola and anna vissi look like prom queens.
good luck to them though.
lol, funny interview 
they're sure gonna shine 
It sounds rather arrogant and mean to hear them going on about all these really bad entries in the national preselection...and then the song selected - written by the Lord himself, Gordon - goes like this: 'There are so many wars going on in this world, there are so many things not right..' If the song should win any prize, it would be for the cheesiest lyrics ever.
...maybe if they'd ended up in the first semi final they'd have a better chance...there are many songs that are better in their heat...
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