Next up: 2021 – The Netherlands

Host nation The Netherlands was quick to announce Jenagu Macrooy for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. What is it that makes the winning country of 2019 so confident about this man?

In today’s episode we look at The Netherlands in 2021. For a full review of their potential entry for 2020, check out this article on our partner website Eurovision Union. Check out our thoughts for next year below.

Key takeaways: storytelling and music first

The biggest change for The Netherlands over recent years was that they went from dated songs that felt like they were written specifically for Eurovision, to entries that were just good songs, with or without the context of Eurovision. ‘Grow’ was a great example of that. This is perhaps not a ‘typical’ Eurovision song, but it’s just a great song that a lot of people would be able to personally connect with, and that comes back to the relatability with Jeangu and his lyrics.

It is the main similarity to Duncan’s winning ‘Arcade’ and his slogan after winning the contest: Music First. We expect The Netherlands will live up to this motto again in 2021.

How should The Netherlands proceed with Jeangu Macrooy in Eurovision 2021?

The Dutch team were quick to announce that Jeangu would be returning to Eurovision 2021. Will he stick with this intimate and vulnerable style, or will he return to the style of his previous releases? It’s hard to think that he could create something better than ‘Grow’. It was not written specifically for Eurovision, a task that must be in the back of his mind now. This could change things a lot and is a risk.

Originally, Jeangu was chosen based on his song. As was the case with Duncan. For 2021, the starting point is completely different. Now there is an artist chosen first, followed up by a song. In the recent past, this has not always work out for The Netherlands. But in some moments, it also did. We have to wait and see what they will come up with. And how firm broadcaster AVROTROS will be on the song selection, even if it means declining a song that Jeangu might be enthusiastic about himself.

This was supposed to be The Netherlands’ Eurovision 2020 entry

About “Next Up: Eurovision 2021”

In our series Next Up: 2021, we look ahead to the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. After the cancellation of Eurovision 2020, all participating countries now face the choice: Stick with their Eurovision singer, or come up with a new preselection or internal selection.

We make an analysis based on what we know so far. What will this country do, or most likely do? And is that the wise choice, looking at the fact that the Eurovision Song Contest remains a music competition?