Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 1976

  • Pierre Rapsat
  • Eric van Hulse
Finals performanceFinal result8th, 68 pointsBelgium in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄1975 • 1976 • 1977►

Belgium was represented by Pierre Rapsat, with the song "Judy et Cie", at the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 3 April in The Hague. Rapsat was the winner of the Belgian national final for the contest, held on 21 January.

Before Eurovision

Avant-première Eurovision

French-language broadcaster RTB was in charge of the selection of the Belgian entry for the 1976 Contest. Five artists were invited to the competition who then submitted one song each. As well as the eventual participants, Two Man Sound and Johan Verminnen were also invited but declined. Johan Verminnen stated that he was asked too late and was unable to find a suitable song in the short time.[1]

The national final only lasted a total of 20 minutes.[2] Pre-recorded performances of the five songs were aired on 21 January 1976 at 20:25 CET until 20:40 CET in a show hosted by Jacques Mercier. RTB then aired a programme about skating, and at 21:55 CET a five minute programme was aired where Henri Billen, the artistic director for RTB, announced the winning song.[1][2]

Only the winner was ever announced, which was chosen by a jury consisting of prominent members of RTB as well as journalists and specialists who represented the public. This was controversial as some newspapers claimed that the jury was effectively a professional jury and did not represent the public. Known members of the jury are composers Frank Engelen and Willy Albimoor.[1]

Final – 21 January 1976
Draw Artist Song Songwriter(s)
1 Didier Vincent "Je viens chanter" Didier Vincent, Jean-Paul Gréven
2 Le Grand Frisson "La musique" Christian Bragard
3 Délizia "Monsieur, chante pour moi" Salvatore Adamo
4 Pierre Rapsat "Judy et Cie" Pierre Rapsat, Eric van Hulse
5 Andrée Simons [fr] "H Coco" Andrée Simons, Claude Lombard

At Eurovision

On the night of the final Rapsat performed 6th in the running order, following Luxembourg and preceding Ireland. At the close of the voting "Judy et Cie" had received 68 points from 11 countries, placing Belgium 8th of the 18 competing entries.[3] The Belgian jury awarded its 12 points to contest winners the United Kingdom.[4]

Voting

Points awarded to Belgium[5]
Score Country
12 points  Finland
10 points
8 points
7 points  United Kingdom
6 points
5 points  France
4 points  Netherlands
3 points  Austria
2 points
1 point  Israel
Points awarded by Belgium[5]
Score Country
12 points  United Kingdom
10 points  France
8 points  Monaco
7 points   Switzerland
6 points  Luxembourg
5 points  Israel
4 points  Netherlands
3 points  Austria
2 points  Greece
1 point  Germany

References

  1. ^ a b c Vermeulen, André (2021). Van Canzonissima tot Eurosong. 65 jaar Belgische preselecties voor het Eurovisiesongfestival. Leuven: Kritak. ISBN 978-94-014-7609-6. OCLC 1240241113.
  2. ^ a b "Télévision belge". Luxemburger Wort (in German and French). Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. 21 January 1976. p. 33. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Final of The Hague 1976". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  4. ^ ESC History - Belgium 1976
  5. ^ a b "Results of the Final of The Hague 1976". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  • v
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ParticipationArtistsSongs
  • "1 Life"
  • "À la folie ou pas du tout"
  • "Als het weer lente is"
  • "L'Amour ça fait chanter la vie"
  • "Avanti la vie"
  • "Baby, Baby"
  • "Because of You"
  • "Before the Party's Over"
  • "City Lights"
  • "Copycat"
  • "Dis oui"
  • "Door de wind"
  • "Envie de vivre"
  • "Euro-Vision"
  • "Fleur de liberté"
  • "Geef het op"
  • "Gelukkig zijn"
  • "Goeiemorgen, morgen"
  • "Le Grand soir"
  • "Hey Nana"
  • "Hou toch van mij"
  • "Iemand als jij"
  • "Ik heb zorgen"
  • "J'aime la vie"
  • "Je t'adore"
  • "Jennifer Jennings"
  • "Judy et Cie"
  • "Laat me nu gaan"
  • "Laissez briller le soleil"
  • "Liefde is een kaartspel"
  • "Like the Wind"
  • "Love Kills"
  • "Love Power"
  • "Ma petite chatte"
  • "Macédomienne"
  • "A Matter of Time"
  • "Me and My Guitar"
  • "Messieurs les noyés de la Seine"
  • "A Million in One, Two, Three"
  • "Miss You"
  • "Mon amour pour toi"
  • "Mother"
  • "Nous, on veut des violons"
  • "O Julissi"
  • "Un peu de poivre, un peu de sel"
  • "Le Plus beau jour de ma vie"
  • "Près de ma rivière"
  • "Quand tu reviendras"
  • "Release Me"
  • "Rendez-vous"
  • "Rhythm Inside"
  • "Samson"
  • "Sanomi"
  • "September, gouden roos"
  • "Si tu aimes ma musique"
  • "Sister"
  • "Soldiers of Love"
  • "Straatdeuntje"
  • "Ton nom"
  • "Viens l'oublier"
  • "La Voix est libre"
  • "Waarom?"
  • "Wake Up"
  • "What's the Pressure"
  • "With Love Baby"
  • "Would You?"
  • "The Wrong Place"
  • Note: Entries scored out signify where Belgium did not compete
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Countries
Artists
Songs
  • "Chansons pour ceux qui s'aiment"
  • "Djambo, Djambo"
  • "Emor Shalom"
  • "Uma flor de verde pinho"
  • "Judy et Cie"
  • "Mata Hari"
  • "My Little World"
  • "Ne mogu skriti svoju bol"
  • "Panagia mou, Panagia mou"
  • "The Party's Over"
  • "Pump-Pump"
  • "Save Your Kisses for Me"
  • "Sing Sang Song"
  • "Sobran las palabras"
  • "Toi, la musique et moi"
  • "Un, deux, trois"
  • "We'll Live It All Again"
  • "When"