Essyla to represent Belgium at Eurovision Song Contest with “Dancing on the ice”

This year, it was up to the French-speaking public broadcaster RTBF to select a Belgian candidate for the Eurovision Song Contest. As usual, the RTBF did not do this with a pre-selection show on television, but instead selected a candidate behind the scenes.

The choice fell on Essyla, the stage name of Alice Van Eesbeeck, who hails from Perwez in Walloon Brabant. Essyla is Alice spelled backwards.

‘Her capricious character and eccentric looks allow singer, author and composer Essyla to embody a pop generation with colourful and eclectic funky/groove influences,’ RTBF explains in flourishing Gallic language.

Determination of the young

As is often the case with RTBF candidates, there is a link with show competition “The Voice”. In 2021, Essyla reached the final of “The Voice Belgique”, the Francophone version in Belgium. She also has a previous link with Eurovision: in 2019, in Sweden, she took part in the Eurovision Choir Contest with the choir Almakalia. However, Belgium failed to reach the choir contest’s final at that time.

French songs all around

Essyla says she grew up with French songs all around her, but now sings in English. She has previously released songs including “Let you go” and “Not my Kind of Dude”. Her song for the Eurovision Song Contest is called “Dancing on the ice”.

It is an electro-pop song that was written during a songwriting camp organised by Sabam, the music authors’ rights organisation and, unsurprisingly, comes with a message. ‘It is a message of hope, a hymn to the determination of youth,’ she says.

Controversy surrounding Israel

Belgium will compete in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest on Tuesday 12 May. Essyla will hope to qualify for the final on the following Saturday. This year, once again professional juries will cast votes in the semi-finals, as well as the televoting public at home. This could be good news for Belgium, as the country usually scores better among the professional juries.

Israel will also be competing for a place in the final in that first semi-final. Israel's presence at the Song Contest is again causing controversy this year. Five countries have decided not to participate and to boycott the song contest because of the Jewish state’s participation.

Trades unions at the Belgian public broadcasters VRT and RTBF are also calling on Belgium to boycott this year's Eurovision Song Contest. They asked the RTBF not to send a candidate to this edition and the VRT not to broadcast the song contest.

The VRT has decided to broadcast the Song Contest, but with the necessary journalistic and contextual framing. This year, the commentary on the Song Contest will not be provided on site, but from Brussels.

RTBF is responsible for Belgium's participation. That participation was confirmed in December, but ‘without turning a blind eye to the situation in Gaza’, the French-language public broadcaster insisted.