Show #185

Our final dose of new music for you this side of the 2023 contest comes from friend of the show Malik Harris. Our triple play takes us to Belgium this week as we rummage around their back catalogue, and your fan favourite bring us back to the UK for a memorable performance. Plus the big contest news from the last seven days…

This Weeks Highlights

Malik Harris

New Music

Malik Harris is a German singer who took part in Germany 12 Points, winning by a margin of 23 points to become the representative at the 2022 song contest with the song 'Rockstars'.

Jade Ewen

Fan Favourite

Jade Louise Ewen is a British singer, actress and a former member of the girl group Sugababes. In 2009 she sang for the United Kingdom, performing the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Diane Warren penned entry 'It's My Time'.

Belgium has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 63 times since making its debut as one of seven countries at the first contest in 1956. The only countries with more appearances are Germany (65), France (64) and the United Kingdom (64). Belgium have been absent only three times in total, in 1994, 1997 and 2001, due to low scores in the previous contests that relegated them from the contest. Belgium has won the contest once, in 1986. In the first 20 years of the contest, Belgium’s best result was Tonia’s fourth place in 1966. In 1978, Jean Vallée achieved Belgium’s first top three placement, when he was second. Sandra Kim became the first and to date only winner for Belgium in 1986, when she won as a 13-year-old in Bergen, performing the song “J’aime la vie”. Belgium’s only other top three result came in 2003, when the group Urban Trad finished second in Riga, losing out by only two points. Belgium has finished last in the contest eight times, most recently in 2000, and has twice received nul points, in 1962 and 1965. After the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004, Belgium failed to reach the final for five consecutive years (2005–09). Since 2010, Belgium has become more successful, qualifying for the final in seven out of twelve contests and placing in the top 10 four times, with Tom Dice sixth (2010), Loïc Nottet fourth (2015), Laura Tesoro tenth (2016), and Blanche fourth (2017).

Jérémie Makiese is a Belgian singer and footballer, who rose to fame after winning The Voice Belgique 2021. Makiese took up singing from both of his parents (his mother also playing the tam-tam), starting in a church choir at a young age and later moving on to singing lessons at school, where he took part in, and won, a contest.

After being internally selected by broadcaster RTBF, he represented Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 with the song “Miss You”.

Track List