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© De Toppers
NOS set to announce 2009 Eurovision entry
De Toppers For The Netherlands
The Toppers are a three-piece singing group consisting of Gerard Joling (who sang for the Netherlands at the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest), Gordon and Rene Froger. They are highly popular in The Netherlands and regularly play to sell out crowds at their concerts.
According to www.songfestival-weblog.nl, NOS is set to officially announce the news tomorrow. They are expected to sing several songs in a national final, although no comment has yet been made about whether they will select the song themselves, or whether a jury or televoting will be used to determine which song they perform in Moscow.
Until tomorrow, at least, NOS have not changed their statement that no decision has been announced and that negotiations are taking place with several artists. de Toppers' popularity would almost certainly help NOS to achieve a ratings hit with a national final and increase viewing figures for the Eurovision Song Contest which have declined sharply in recent years.
Below you can see their Motown Medley from one of their sell-out concerts in 2005:
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sigh, ok, lets say it, this will be good for the ratings in the netherlands, esp if we reach the final, but to be honest. I really think this is not a good idea. And not only because I dislike all 3 singers just as much, but come on, it's gotta take a good song to finally get to the final again with these three.
though if they really want to do it well.
SING IN DUTCH!!!!
"ESC-suicidal-act from the Netherlands". good point ! Would be the same when Germany would send Wencke, Gitte, Siw to ESC these days. Immensly popular in Germany, but they would bomb at the ESC of 2009 and Germanyprobably would withdraw the next year cause nobody appreciates their taste of music... he he....
I don't mind the dutch choice at all, but they all should be aware of the good chance of coming last in the semi. It could be a surprise finalist, but I'd rather keep low expectations.
Right, here's a reaction from someone Dutch (me):
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGG GGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! 
Good. Thats settled. I would like to announce hereby that it does not matter which song they come up with, I think we deserve to end rock bottom wil 0 points this year. I don't hate (musically speaking of course, i'm not a hateful maniac) any other kind of music or group that ever set foot in the Netherlands as profoundly as I do them.
Oh god oh god oh god. Geer & Goor at Eurovision. God save us all....
So after next year's debacle (or even worse, success..?! ) can we THEN please send Anouk, Within Temptation or Blöf to show that we are not a country desperate for a musical tune..?
Anouk would be better choise definatelly...anyway good luck!!!
w s
"It is more comparable with "I love Europe" from Melodifestivalen last year"
OMG. I hope not.
I would rather had seen Within Temptation.
@ Jacobo Rocha:
"So good for NOS and trying something different, and no just sticking to pretty girl, with a pretty dress, and pretty coreography, with pretty dancers."
>That's a good one. 
Anouk's got the looks, but she is far from a substandard woman (and not girl!) JUST wearing pretty dresses to cover up her lack of competence. There's just so much MORE to her than that. Check her lyrics, you'll see. And I don't think she's ever used any real choreography in her performances either. Nor dancers. (at least not when she's performing live)
With Anouk it's just always "reading between the lines";
Here's a few of her videos, so you can see for yourself.
http://www.youtube.c(...)/watch?v=BytyXtiyeDU
http://www.youtube.c(...)/watch?v=_VfpvZFjLUc
http://www.youtube.c(...)/watch?v=JSY3Ik7WPeI
http://www.youtube.c(...)/watch?v=e_RNR5U2CVc
http://www.youtube.c(...)/watch?v=dK26ojnNtW4
http://www.youtube.c(...)/watch?v=HIXIpbFL6BU
http://www.youtube.c(...)/watch?v=PW17SOXiFc0
I guess NOS didn't want to take the chance to have an artist similar to Turkey's entry to compete in the same year - I sincerely, truly hope seeing Anouk in 2010...
We need The Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland back in the final. Somehow I can't see De Toppers qualifying unless they take a page out of Denmark's book and send a song like Denmark 2005 or 2008.
ANOUK!!!
Yes it is official now. I am absolutely not happy and according to a lot of reactions on songfestival.web-log.nl most Dutch fans have the same opinion. But we have to wait now for the song. It is true that the comparison with "Leto svet" is based on nothing. "Leto svet" was a pathetic attempt to create turbofolk. De Toppers sing Dutch schlager. It is more comparable with "I love Europe" from Melodifestivalen last year. De Toppers are together since 2005 and they are very popular and their concerts in the Amsterdam Arena are always big parties. But it is either love them or hate them. Anouk would have been a much better choice, but when it comes to popularity or stardom they are equal, yet their fans are very very different.
We have to wait till Februari 1st, when the TROS organises the Nationaal Songfestival together with NOS.
Hey Guys,
Listen NOS have just confirmed this Group "De Toppers" will represent the Netherlands. It seems that they have a lot of Charisma and they sing the Schlager Pop "Dansband" songs. So listen let us not judge.
It is true that Anouk would have been a better choice, so they chose someone with a less European Popularity EARLY to get them known. I mean this is the warliest the Netherlands has chosen.
Let us wait until a song is chosen and then we can give our opinions but let us not kill them right now as they are 3 great singers and whoever is comparing them to Estonia 08 is absolutely wrong as they CAN sing.
The first selection will start on the 1st October (Bulgaria) , and we will know the first songs in December (Albania & Bulgaria).
Good luck to these guys, on the clip they sound OK, but much like many pub acts in the U.K. Perhaps they'll sing great at ESC - I hope so.
Let's hope the proposed Jury changes in the final restore some semblance of reality to Esc, in contrast to the migrant/ mini-states domination that has helped wreck ESC in the last few years.
2008 Final was one of the least enjoyable for many years IMHO, the recent Eurovision Dance Comp was Far more enjoyable, with a sense of fun, excellence and joie de vivre - all too lacking from ESC 08 Final - except for the cheerful and good Russian act that actually won, and a few others.
Lets hope the jury changes may help save ESC.
Some of the camera work at the Final - panning miles away from the performer, and then coming slowly back at some obscure angle - was absolutely no help to some of the acts. Was is deliberate sabotage ?
I'm just sorry ESc will be in Russia at a time when Putin seems to be doing his best to copy most features of the Third Reich.
Is the first time I listen to their music.... but I really like it. Anouk would be the same thing than previous years in the ESC. So good for NOS and trying something different, and no just sticking to pretty girl, with a pretty dress, and pretty coreography, with pretty dancers. Good luck Netherlands from Spain!!
A real "camp" choice. I am sure it will make the songcontest popular again in Holland.
Do not compere them to "Leto svet", because these guys can really sing !!! Although you can laugh a lot with them, they will not make a fool of themselves.
Hm... I don't think this is the right choice. Very professional but too old-fashioned! No final for The Netherlands if they are chosen. I wasn't really hoping for Anouk (that would have been hoping for too much), but maybe something more modern.
@thanassa,
Gordon being overshadowed ???? I don't think so. Gordina is the biggest false queen in Hollands music scene.... Can not stand the guy..... The only ok guy of the 3 is Rene Froger and even...
I like this choice, but I would prefer Gerard Joling to sing alone. I mean he has performed "Shangri-la", my #10 favorite entry of all times. The other two guys are overshadowed by Gerard who is amazing on stage.
This act could fly the Netherlands to the final in my opinion with a great ballad or a frenzy-dynamic-pop song.
Anouk though would have been a better choice. She could win the contest or finish second behind Sakis Rouvas.
P.S. Tell De Toppers not to wear pink or feathers on stage while performing in the competition part. See Dana International in 1998...
NOS STINKT!!!!!!!how stupid can u be?? retards!!! even though its abit funny!
This is just awfull and probably the end of the Netherlands. These 3 guys are immensely popular in Netherlands, as I am Belgian I know them very well. But this is sooooooooooo Dutch ambiance music, Europe will never get it... Never. Even in Belgium, we think they are a creepy old man's band. But like I said in Netherlands immensely popular and that will create huge expetations. And if they don't pass the semi, Netherlands will scream all the worst things first. This is the ideal scenario for suicide dear Dutch friends.....
These guys remind me more of the Olsen Brothers than Leto Svet (can never spell the band name!). They are professionals with good voices who work well together. I rather think people are judging them on their age, but even oldies can do ok, look at Croatia this year? That was hardly what I would call a typical Eurosong. Maybe by sending something different, it might rise up over the 101 same-old same-old pop songs we get year after year. It could fail miserably as well... Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Really have to wait for the song choice though, as the wrong song can make the best singing look like a fool.
What happened with Anouk ??? 
This is awful news!
Poor Netherlands.
oh boy....poor Netherlands
i wanted them to choose Anouk!
Good for NOS? But not for the final!
this would be an aweful idea.... wow - and Netherlands wonder why they dont do better in Eurovision... if they send this crap they certaintly deserve the bottom spot... wow - i am impressed how clueless the Dutch broadcaster is.... hope this article is completely wrong....
Hope they won't select them.
I respect thir popularity in the Netherlands, but they look and sound soooo oldfashioned and dated, that is hard to belive they will appeal to european audience.
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