Belgian national broadcaster EEN has officially announced in a press conference today that 16 year old Iris will represent Belgium at the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest scheduled to be held in Baku next May. Belgium is one of the founder members of the Eurovision Song Contest and has competed in Europe's favourite show since 1956.

 

Iris aka Airis, who is also known as Laura Van den Bruel will have the honour of flying the Belgian flag next May in Baku in her quest to bring the Eurovision Song Contest back on Belgian soil for the second time.

 

Iris hails from the Belgian city of Harentals. She has always admired artists like Natalia, Kelly Clarkson and Beyonce who have inspired her to live her dream of becoming a singer. She was discovered last year in a talent contest and has released a single titled Wonderful, which has enjoyed much success in Belgium.

 

Iris has been internally chosen by Belgian broadcaster Een to follow the footsteps of Tom Dice who was the last Flemish Eurovision representative. Tom Dice achieved to qualify for the Eurovision final last year in Oslo. The coming weeks and months are going to prove very hectic and busy for the young Belgian artist as the countdown to Baku approaches.

 

The Belgian broadcaster will be soon be inviting composers and authors to send in their songs and compositions for Iris. More details will be revealed and announced soon.

Details of Iris' Song Selection

 

From eurovision.tv

 

On the 17th of March Belgium will reveal Iris’s song for the Eurovision Song Contest in Azerbaijan. In a special show on Eén, Belgium’s largest TV channel, Iris will present two possible songs for the contest. Afterwards viewers can choose their favourite by voting. The winning song will be announced later that day in Eén’s late night talk show Vrienden Van de Veire.

 

On Saturday the 17th of March at 20.00 CET Iris will present two songs for the Eurovision Song Contest in Eurosong 2012: een song voor Iris, a short TV special with Peter Van de Veire as host. Van de Veire will introduce both Iris and her two possible songs to the Belgian audience. Viewers will get to know the 17-year-old Iris through interviews with her and her entourage.

 

Afterwards the viewers can vote for the song of their choice through televoting. They decide with which song Iris will represent Belgium on the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku.

 

The announcement of the results

Later that night Iris appears in the TV show Vrienden Van de Veire on Eén. At the end of the show Peter will announce the results of the televoting and Iris will have a song for her performance in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest on 22 May. At the end of he show she will sing the winning song live on Vrienden Van de Veire on Eén.

Was just listening to Iris on youtube. She kind of reminds me of Taylor Swift.

 

Hopefully Belgium will go for Country Pop instead of a plain old ballad. (Country Pop and Ballads are her thing apparently)

 

Wouldn't mind something like Switzerland last year.

Edited March 17, 201213 yr by Sabrewulf

I like the first song more.

Belgium have confirmed they will be sending.

 

I rather like it actually, it has a lovely melody which I suspect will be a grower too. Her voice is very Agnes-esque too.

 

Can't see it doing particularly well mind but I'd like to see it in the final.

I think that could obtain a similar result to Switzerland last year - surprise qualifier that crashes in the final.

I think that could obtain a similar result to Switzerland last year - surprise qualifier that crashes in the final.

 

Given the amount of dross in semi one, it would hardly be that surprising a qualifier. There's already so many songs in semi one the juries are possibly going to have a field day ripping apart. (not saying I agree with all of those songs being bad....but there's definitely that perception there)

Edited March 17, 201213 yr by Sabrewulf

Hmm, well maybe it qualifying might not be that much of a shock, but I can see it scraping in over something like La La Love which could be seen as a bit of an upset.

Every time I listen to this I feel like I'm listening to something from Agnes' debut album, her voice is SO similar.

 

Also I love it, almost forgiven for With Love Baby.

Fully back on board with this having downloaded the studio version from iTunes, the strings! :wub: