Belgium was represented by

Bob Benny Bob Benny (18 May 1926 – 29 March 2011), born Emilius Wagemans, was a Belgian singer and musical theatre performer, who participated in the Eurovision Song Contests of 1959 and 1961. Early career Benny began his singing career at the end of W ...

, with the song '"

Hou toch van mij Belgium was represented by Bob Benny, with the song '" Hou toch van mij", at the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 11 March in Cannes, France. The song was chosen at the Belgian national final on 15 February. Benny would represen ...

", at the

1959 Eurovision Song Contest The Eurovision Song Contest 1959 was the fourth edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest, held on Wednesday 11 March 1959 at the in Cannes, France, and hosted by French television presenter Jacqueline Joubert. Organised by the European B ...

, which took place on 11 March in

Cannes Cannes ( , , ; oc, Canas) is a city located on the French Riviera. It is a communes of France, commune located in the Alpes-Maritimes departments of France, department, and host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and Cannes Lions I ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. The song was chosen at the Belgian national final on 15 February. Benny would represent Belgium again in the

1961 Events January * January 3 ** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and consular relations with Cuba ( Cuba–United States relations are restored in 2015). ** Aero Flight 311 ...

contest.

Before Eurovision

''Grote Prijs van het Eurovisielied''

''Grote Prijs van het Eurovisielied'' was the national final format developed by NIR in order to select Belgium's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1959. Eighteen entries competed in the competition that consisted of two semi-finals held on 1 and 8 February 1959 leading to a two-song final on 15 February 1959. All three shows were hosted by Jan Theys.

Format

The format of the competition consisted of three shows: two semi-finals on 1 and 8 February 1959 and the final on 15 February 1959. Each semi-final featured nine competing entries from which one advanced from each show to complete the two song lineup in the final. Results during both semi-finals and final were determined by "expert" jury.

Competing entries

Nine composers were approached by NIR to create the songs for the contest. Each composers wrote two songs for the contest. Then, NIR selected performers for the songs.

Semi-final 1

The first semi-final took place on 1 February 1959 at the Funkis Cinema in Herentals.

Semi-final 2

The second semi-final took place on 8 February 1959 at the Apollo in Antwerp.

Final

The final was held on 15 February 1959 at 21:25 CET as part of NIR's TV show ''Show Band Show'' at the Cultural and Artistic Center in Ukkel and hosted by Jan Theys. The song "Hou toch van mij" written by Ke Riema, composed by Hans Flower and performed by Bob Benny, was selected as the winner of selection by an "expert" jury.

At Eurovision

On the night of the final

performed last in the running order, following the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

. Voting was by 10-member national juries with each member awarding 1 point to his/her favourite song. At the close of the voting "Hou Toch Van Mij" had received 9 points (3 from

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

, 2 from

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark ...

and the United Kingdom and 1 from

Monaco Monaco (; ), officially the Principality of Monaco (french: Principauté de Monaco; Ligurian: ; oc, Principat de Mónegue), is a sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Italian region of Lig ...

and the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

), placing Belgium joint 6th (with

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

) of the 11 entries.ESC History - Belgium 1959
/ref>

Voting

References

External links

Official Eurovision Song Contest site, history by year, 1959.

Detailed info and lyrics, Diggiloo Thrush, "Hou toch van mij".
{{Eurovision Song Contest 1959

1959 Events January * January 1 - Cuba: Fulgencio Batista flees Havana when the forces of Fidel Castro advance. * January 2 - Lunar probe Luna 1 was the first man-made object to attain escape velocity from Earth. It reached the vicinity of E ...

Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 1959

Eurovision The Eurovision Song Contest (), sometimes abbreviated to ESC and often known simply as Eurovision, is an international songwriting competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), featuring participants representing pr ...