Belgium BELGIUM 2025 - Red Sebastian - Strobe Lights

[ESC United Mod Team]

 

[hungo]

I did not expect Belgium to nq but I can understand it. The staging was cool and the song is ok but Red Sebastian lacked charisma and voice. the choreo was not good.

 

[Himan]

 

[Fierro]

The song was a mess from the beginning and I never understood the hype around it, but on Tuesday it looked like a qualifier. It seems public didn't enjoy it as much.

 

[Milos-BC]

I didn't have very high hopes for the final outcome, but I did expect him to, at least, qualify.

When analyzing, this flop does make sense. Everything was good, but not good enough to make someone vote for it. Also, just like Croatia, it was too aggresive, and too much "in your face". People prefered calmness and simplicity instead.

Maybe another performer could have sold this song better, but all in all, I am not too surprised, given the facts.

 

[deletingpoint]

I watched it again and I'm still struggling to point to something that made it NQ.

People just didn't want it, that's it. People wanted laughter and a warm hug instead.

 

[Franzilein]

Reading the comments, I am kinda buffled this was considered a fan favourite or something? How?!
Abysmal voice, a song that goes nowhere, and terrible choice of colour. Yes, singular. I get it, "Red Sebastian", but maybe consider using that name to highlight the red, and not drown the screen in ketchup.
Not spending time in the bubble really payed off, smelled the DQ a mile away.

 

[Dorientje]

in flanders only 389,000 viewers. never been so low for semi final 2
For semi final 1 with Belgium was 914.210

 

[Illusion]

I guess everyone was still traumatized from the bad result..

 

[MARCOMEN]

The first minute of the performance was shocking. Bad vocals and messy song parts.
After that first minute. It got better but not solid enough. I feel the song itself is dated.

As for my taste. The song isn't my cup of tea. 2 points

 

[Deluxenite]

There is also a lot of fuss about Israels participation in Flanders. The socialistic Union ACOD is asking VRT to boycot the finale.

Flemish minister for Culture Caroline Gennez( From the Socialistic Party) also reacted that she would understand that VRT would stop broadcasting the final during Israëls performance.

EBU explained a couple of days earlier before the VRT News camera why it did let Israël participate, but i guess the explanation wasn't enough.

VRT cant take a side since they are obligated to be neutral, but this is far from over.

There is a lot of anger still over the nonqualification.

 

[Geborgenheit]

There is also a lot of fuss about Israels participation in Flanders. The socialistic Union ACOD is asking VRT to boycot the finale.

Flemish minister for Culture Caroline Gennez( From the Socialistic Party) also reacted that she would understand that VRT would stop broadcasting the final during Israëls performance.

Crazy. This is censorship. Politicians should not be allowed to tell public TV what to show or not.

XXX

Red Sebastian had a great staging, to bad the song was nothing.

 

[4815162342]

Since this was chosen this has stayed the one song I am not sure I like or not. His voice is rather unpleasant and probably a turn-off for a lot of people. Its actually funny how this was hyped on Monday by a lot of people for having the best staging of the semi and in the end it didnt even qualify.

 

[Deluxenite]

Crazy. This is censorship. Politicians should not be allowed to tell public TV what to show or not.

XXX

Red Sebastian had a great staging, to bad the song was nothing.

Well VRT is funded by Flemish taxes so..
She was asked in a televisionshow what she would do if she was CEO of VRT. She said she would go much further than VRT has done until now. Probably as well not to lose her credebility of her Union( since they are the one that are specifically asking VRT To leave Eurovision as long as Israel participates) but still.

 

[SpiritofKeiino]

Is ESC considered 'credible' in Belgium such that big artists might apply?

 

[Ewigkeit]

2nd last in the SF, wow.

 

[0scar]

12 of their 23 point coming from ooooh oh oh

 

[Smudy]

Big flop, i'm sorry for Red Sebastian.

 

[Deluxenite]

Our neighbours being greedy with their points towards us as always. Why do we keep giving them 12's

 

[Deluxenite]

Is ESC considered 'credible' in Belgium such that big artists might apply?

No. They will not apply since the Eurosong prerounds can cause loss of face.

The Starlings (Eurosong 2023) are pretty big and won the televote in eurosong 2023 but ended last in juryvote. LEEZ's brother (Eurosong 2025) is also a much more established artist, which probably is why LEEZ ended up second.

The only way any big name will consider it is through internal selection.

 

[SpiritofKeiino]

Still shocked at the SF1 televote. It got the same points as Slovenia. Wasn't even close to qualifying.