# Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 1975

Belgium was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1975 with the song "Gelukkig zijn", written by Mary Boduin [nl], and performed by Ann Christy. The Belgian participating broadcaster, Flemish Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT), selected its entry through a national final. Ann Christy had previously taken part in the 1971 and 1973 national finals. Future Belgian representatives Micha Marah (1979) and Dream Express (1977) also took part in the national final.

## Before Eurovision
### Eurosong

Eurosong was the national final format developed by Flemish broadcaster Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT) which determined the song that would represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest 1975. This was the first edition of Eurosong, which would become the name of every BRT and VRT national final after 1975 (With the exception of 1996), and would become synonymous with the Eurovision Song Contest itself in Belgium. This was also the first ever national final called Eurosong in the history of Eurovision Song Contest national finals, a name that would be adopted by several other countries for their national finals, such as: Ireland, the Czech Republic, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovakia.

#### Format

The first stage of the selection process consisted of seven semi-finals at the Amerikaans Theater in Brussels, taking part between 17 November 1974 and 16 February 1975, hosted by Staf Van Berendoncks. The format was similar to the former Belgian national final Canzonissima, where each semi-final had ten artists and the top three songs would be reused by their artists in the next semi-final while the other seven artists would select new songs. Songs that got top three in two consecutive semi-finals qualified to the final.

#### Competing Entries

BRT shortlisted eight singers and two groups for Eurosong 1975: Ann Christy, Rita Deneve, Ingriani, Micha Marah, Ann Michel, Connie Neefs [nl], Luk Bral [nl], Joe Harris [nl], The Lollipops, and Magenta [nl]. A rule in Eurosong 1975 allowed artists to also participate with bands, causing Dream Express, Jeremiah, Road, and The Pebbles to participate as well. A total of 58 songs competed in Eurosong 1975.
Competing entries :
| Artist | Song | Songwriter(s) | Songwriter(s) |
| Artist | Song | Composer(s) | Lyricist(s) |
| Ann Christy | "Als je eenzaam bent" | Ignace Baert [nl] | Erik Marijsse |
| Ann Christy | "Gelukkig zijn" | Mary Boduin [nl] | Mary Boduin [nl] |
| Ann Christy | "Oh mon amour" | Léonil McCormick | Nelly Bijl |
| Ann Christy & Dream Express | "Hartenbreker" | Luc Smets [nl] | Nelly Bijl |
| Ann Michel | "Alleen voortaan" | Gerd Frank, G. Van den Ostende | Cahelo |
| Ann Michel | "Als de lente komt" | Gerd Frank, G. Van den Ostende | Phil Van Cauwenbergh |
| Ann Michel | "Droomland aan zee" | Rudy Witt | Ernie Frank, Dolphi |
| Ann Michel | "Je hebt je vergist" | Gerd Frank, G. Van den Ostende | Cahelo |
| Ann Michel | "Mijn gentleman" | Jacques Raymond | Raymond Resmann |
| Connie Neefs [nl] | "Come On Baby" | Gerd Frank, G. Van Ostende, Ernie Frank | Gerd Frank, G. Van Ostende, Ernie Frank |
| Connie Neefs [nl] | "Fils à papa" | Jacques Raymond | Raymond Resmann |
| Connie Neefs [nl] | "Ik ben funny" | Rudy Witt, Frank Ernie | Dolphi |
| Connie Neefs [nl] | "Leven moet je drinken" | D. Hermes | Huguette De Backer |
| Connie Neefs [nl] | "Mijn droom" | Gerd Frank, G. Van den Ostende, Huguette De Backer | Gerd Frank, G. Van den Ostende, Huguette De Backer |
| Connie Neefs [nl] | "Ook dat nog" | Luc Smets [nl] | Walter Ertveld |
| Connie Neefs [nl] | "Vraag niet waarom" | Paul Quintens | Phil Van Cauwenbergh |
| Ingriani | "Dan zal ik dansen" | Greta Mestdagh | Greta Mestdagh |
| Ingriani | "Hey capitano" | Eddy Govert | Eddy Govert |
| Ingriani | "Hey hey dandy" | Greta Mestdagh | Greta Mestdagh |
| Ingriani | "Lady" | Greta Mestdagh, Rick Vervecken | Greta Mestdagh, Rick Vervecken |
| Ingriani | "Zo zacht" | Eddy Govert | Eddy Govert |
| Joe Harris [nl] | "De wereld" | Joe Harris [nl], Van Winkele, Pavic | Joe Harris [nl], Van Winkele, Pavic |
| Joe Harris [nl] | "De wereld zingt een nieuw refrein" | J. Paul, J. R. Van Herck | J. Paul, J. R. Van Herck |
| Joe Harris [nl] | "Hou je van mij" | J. Leopold, Roos Windels | J. Leopold, Roos Windels |
| Joe Harris [nl] | "Sla je handen in elkaar" | Eddy Govert | Eddy Govert |
| Joe Harris [nl] | "Zo was er niemand" | J. Van Hoeck, Roos Windels | J. Van Hoeck, Roos Windels |
| Joe Harris [nl] & Jeremiah | "Het is zo goed weer thuis te zijn" | Joe Harris [nl], Van Winkele, Pavic | Joe Harris [nl], Van Winkele, Pavic |
| Luk Bral [nl] | "Alleen" | Dirk Devriendt | Luk Bral [nl] |
| Luk Bral [nl] | "Alles wat ik heb" | Willy van Couwenberghe | Luk Bral [nl] |
| Luk Bral [nl] | "Een zonnige zondagmiddag" | Dirk Devriendt | Luk Bral [nl] |
| Luk Bral [nl] | "Laat een jongenshart nooit alleen" | Romain Schoonis | Luk Bral [nl] |
| Luk Bral [nl] | "Kom geef mij je kleine hand" | Luk Bral [nl] | Luk Bral [nl] |
| Luk Bral [nl] | "Morgen zal alles beter gaan" | Luk Bral [nl] | Luk Bral [nl] |
| Luk Bral [nl] & Road | "Ik wil terug naar mijn moeder" | Willy van Couwenberghe | Luk Bral [nl] |
| Magenta [nl] | "Alleen je lichaam" | Roland Arnould, Wim Reiling | Roland Arnould |
| Magenta [nl] | "De dikke encyclopedie" | Roland Arnould, Wim Reiling | Roland Arnould |
| Magenta [nl] | "Een kind van nog geen zeven" | Roland Arnould, Wim Reiling | Roland Arnould |
| Magenta [nl] | "Het land van friet en pils" | A. Arnould, Wim Reiling | A. Arnould, Wim Reiling |
| Magenta [nl] | "Mens wat wil je meer" | Roland Arnould, Wim Reiling | Roland Arnould |
| Magenta [nl] | "Wat over Frits en zin familie wordt verteld" | Roland Arnould, Wim Reiling | Roland Arnould |
| Magenta [nl] | "Zonder geld, zonder vrouw, zonder baan" | Roland Arnould, Wim Reiling | Roland Arnould |
| Micha Marah | "Ik weet" | Willy Van Couwenberghe | Albert Lepage [nl] |
| Micha Marah | "Kom bij mij" | Willy Van Couwenberghe | Albert Lepage [nl] |
| Micha Marah | "Weet je waarom" | Willy Van Couwenberghe | Albert Lepage [nl] |
| Micha Marah | "Zeven uur is liefde" | Willy Van Couwenberghe | Albert Lepage [nl] |
| Micha Marah & The Pebbles | "'t Is over" | Bekky, Bobott | Bekky, Bobott |
| Rita Deneve | "Ben je vergeten dat ik van je hou" | J. G. Callebaut | Yan Nick |
| Rita Deneve | "Ciao adieu, auf wiedersehen" | J. G. Callebaut | Yan Nick |
| Rita Deneve | "Dance Dance Mama" | J. G. Callebaut, P. Montouris | Mary Boduin [nl] |
| Rita Deneve | "Maar toch blijf je de eerste" | Unknown | Unknown |
| Rita Deneve | "Niemand, is er dan niemand" | Sylvain Van Holmen | Yan Nick |
| Rita Deneve | "Vogelvrij" | Sylvain Van Holmen | Penny Els |
| The Lollipops | "Hello Everyone, Everywhere in the World" | Bobby Ranger | Bobby Ranger |
| The Lollipops | "Kansas City Joe" | C. Van Mere, José Fontaine | C. Van Mere, José Fontaine |
| The Lollipops | "Love, Love, Love" | Johan Stollz [nl], Rick Vervecken | E. Debacker |
| The Lollipops | "My Love, Oh My Love" | Ignace Baert [nl] | Erik Marijsse |
| The Lollipops | "Shalala" | Willy van Couwenberghe | Van Mere |
| The Lollipops | "Valentijn" | Paul Quintens | Phil van Cauwenbergh |
| The Lollipops | "'t Was een mooie tijd" | C. Van Mere, José Fontaine, Rick Vervecken | C. Van Mere, José Fontaine, Rick Vervecken |

#### Shows
##### Semi-Finals

Voting in the semi-finals was done by five provincial juries, each consisting of ten members of the public, five men and five women. After every show, all fifty were replaced. Since songs introduced in semi-final 9 could not get top three in two semi-finals and qualify to the final, the rules to qualify for the final were changed for semi-final 9. Songs had to receive at least 377 points, the average number of points that every song that qualified to the final got in their last semi-final.
The first four semi-finals were recorded on a Saturday and broadcast on the Sunday. The fifth semi-final was never recorded and broadcast due to a strike at BRT, but it still took place behind closed doors. The sixth and seventh semi-finals were broadcast live on a Saturday.
Semi-final 1 - 17 November 1974 :
| Draw | Artist | Song | Points | Place |
| 1 | Micha Marah | "Kom bij mij" | 365 | 3 |
| 2 | Ingriani | "Hey capitano" | 336 | 4 |
| 3 | Magenta [nl] | "Het land van friet en pils" | 250 | 8 |
| 4 | The Lollipops | "Shalala" | 219 | 9 |
| 5 | Connie Neefs [nl] | "Ik ben funny" | 331 | 5 |
| 6 | Joe Harris [nl] | "De wereld zingt een nieuw refrein" | 275 | 7 |
| 7 | Luk Bral [nl] | "Kom geef mij je kleine hand" | 286 | 6 |
| 8 | Rita Deneve | "Ben je vergeten dat ik van je hou" | 377 | 1 |
| 9 | Ann Michel | "Mijn gentleman" | 340 | 2 |
Ann Christy was absent from semi-final 1 as she was abroad at the time.
Semi-final 2 - 1 December 1974 :
| Draw | Artist | Song | Points | Place |
| 1 | Ann Michel | "Mijn gentleman" | 401 | 1 |
| 2 | Micha Marah | "Kom bij mij" | 383 | 2 |
| 3 | Ingriani | "Zo zacht" | 316 | 6 |
| 4 | Magenta [nl] | "Alleen je lichaam" | 189 | 9 |
| 5 | The Lollipops | "Kansas City Joe" | 142 | 10 |
| 6 | Connie Neefs [nl] | "Ook dat nog" | 231 | 7 |
| 7 | Ann Christy | "Als je eenzaam bent" | 376 | 3 |
| 8 | Joe Harris [nl] | "Sla je handen in elkaar" | 321 | 5 |
| 9 | Luk Bral [nl] | "Alleen" | 226 | 8 |
| 10 | Rita Deneve | "Ben je vergeten dat ik van je hou" | 372 | 4 |
Semi-final 3 - 15 December 1974 :
| Draw | Artist | Song | Points | Place |
| 1 | Ann Michel | "Alleen voortaan" | 360 | 3= |
| 2 | Micha Marah | "Weet je waarom" | 360 | 3= |
| 3 | Ingriani | "Dan zal ik dansen" | 380 | 2 |
| 4 | Magenta [nl] | "De dikke encyclopedie" | 192 | 8 |
| 5 | The Lollipops | "Hello Everyone, Everywhere in the World" | 350 | 5 |
| 6 | Connie Neefs [nl] | "Mijn droom" | 323 | 6 |
| 7 | Ann Christy | "Als je eenzaam bent" | 413 | 1 |
| 8 | Joe Harris [nl] | "Hou je van mij" | 311 | 7 |
| 9 | Luk Bral [nl] | "Een zonnige zondagmiddag" | 156 | 9 |
Rita Deneve would have participated with the song "Maar toch blijf je de eerste" but was absent due to the birth of her son.
Semi-final 4 - 29 December 1974 :
| Draw | Artist | Song | Points | Place |
| 1 | Luk Bral [nl] | "Alles wat ik heb" | 269 | 9 |
| 2 | Rita Deneve | "Vogelvrij" | 314 | 6 |
| 3 | Ann Michel | "Alleen voortaan" | 359 | 3 |
| 4 | Micha Marah | "Weet je waarom" | 356 | 4 |
| 5 | Ingriani | "Dan zal ik dansen" | 375 | 1 |
| 6 | Magenta [nl] | "Zonder geld, zonder vrouw, zonder baan" | 186 | 10 |
| 7 | The Lollipops | "Valentijn" | 296 | 8 |
| 8 | Connie Neefs [nl] | "Come On Baby" | 318 | 5 |
| 9 | Ann Christy | "Gelukkig zijn" | 372 | 2 |
| 10 | Joe Harris [nl] | "Zo was er niemand" | 305 | 7 |
Semi-final 5 - 18 January 1975 :
| Draw | Artist | Song | Points | Place |
| 1 | Joe Harris [nl] & Jeremiah | "Het is zo goed weer thuis te zijn" | 387 | 3 |
| 2 | Luk Bral [nl] | "Morgen zal alles beter gaan" | 279 | 7 |
| 3 | Rita Deneve | "Niemand, is er dan niemand" | 337 | 4 |
| 4 | Ann Michel | "Je hebt je vergist" | 321 | 6 |
| 5 | Micha Marah | "Zeven uur is liefde" | 325 | 5 |
| 6 | Ingriani | "Hey hey dandy" | 402 | 2 |
| 7 | Magenta [nl] | "Mens wat wil je meer" | 262 | 9 |
| 8 | The Lollipops | "My Love, Oh My Love" | 220 | 10 |
| 9 | Connie Neefs [nl] | "Leven moet je drinken" | 267 | 8 |
| 10 | Ann Christy | "Gelukkig zijn" | 423 | 1 |
The fifth semi-final was not broadcast due to a strike at BRT, but it still took place.
Semi-final 6 - 1 February 1975 :
| Draw | Artist | Song | Points | Place |
| 1 | Ann Christy & Dream Express | "Hartenbreker" | 319 | 4 |
| 2 | Joe Harris [nl] & Jeremiah | "Het is zo goed weer thuis te zijn" | 325 | 3 |
| 3 | Luk Bral [nl] | "Laat een jongenshart nooit alleen" | 233 | 9 |
| 4 | Rita Deneve | "Ciao adieu, aufwiedersehn" | 317 | 5 |
| 5 | Ann Michel | "Droomland aan zee" | 272 | 7 |
| 6 | Micha Marah | "Ik weet" | 381 | 1 |
| 7 | Ingriani | "Hey hey dandy" | 378 | 2 |
| 8 | Magenta [nl] | "Een kind van nog geen zeven" | 192 | 10 |
| 9 | The Lollipops | "Love, Love, Love" | 281 | 6 |
| 10 | Connie Neefs [nl] | "Fils à papa" | 262 | 8 |
After Semi-final 6, Micha Marah withdrew "Ik weet" as she wanted to participate with a different song in semi-final 7.
Semi-final 7 - 15 February 1975 :
| Draw | Artist | Song | Points | Place |
| 1 | Connie Neefs [nl] | "Vraag niet waarom" | 329 | 5 |
| 2 | Ann Christy | "Oh mon amour" | 351 | 3 |
| 3 | Joe Harris [nl] | "De wereld" | 341 | 4 |
| 4 | Luk Bral [nl] & Road | "Ik wil terug naar mijn moeder" | 209 | 10 |
| 5 | Rita Deneve | "Dance Dance Mama" | 394 | 1 |
| 6 | Ann Michel | "Als de lente komt" | 286 | 7 |
| 7 | Micha Marah & The Pebbles | "'t Is over" | 384 | 2 |
| 8 | Ingriani | "Lady" | 329 | 5 |
| 9 | Magenta [nl] | "Wat over Frits en zin familie wordt verteld" | 242 | 8 |
| 10 | The Lollipops | "'t Was een mooie tijd" | 235 | 9 |

##### Final

The final, consisting of ten songs, took place on 1 March 1975 also at the Amerikaans Theater, hosted by Staf Van Berendoncks. Six singers were involved, with four (including Christy) performing two songs apiece. Voting was by five regional juries, each consisting of 20 members of the public, and "Gelukkig zijn" emerged the winner by a margin of almost 60 points.
Final – 1 March 1975 :
| Draw | Artist | Song | Points | Place |
| 1 | Ann Christy | "Als je eenzaam bent" | 765 | 3 |
| 2 | Ann Michel | "Mijn gentleman" | 598 | 10 |
| 3 | Joe Harris [nl] & Jeremiah | "Het is zo goed weer thuis te zijn" | 600 | 9 |
| 4 | Ingriani | "Dan zal ik dansen" | 744 | 4 |
| 5 | Micha Marah | "Kom bij mij" | 695 | 7 |
| 6 | Rita Deneve | "Dance Dance Mama" | 727 | 6 |
| 7 | Ann Michel | "Alleen voortaan" | 626 | 8 |
| 8 | Ingriani | "Hey hey dandy" | 767 | 2 |
| 9 | Ann Christy | "Gelukkig zijn" | 825 | 1 |
| 10 | Micha Marah & The Pebbles | "'t Is over" | 735 | 5 |

## At Eurovision

On the night of the final Christy performed 11th in the running order, following Israel and preceding Malta. Under the free-language rule in operation at the time, Christy performed the first half of the song in Dutch, before switching to English. At the close of the voting "Gelukkig zijn" had received 17 points, placing Belgium 15th of the 19 participating countries.