''Soundmixshow'' is a Dutch talent show which was a live-vocals version of the ''

Playback Show Playback or Play Back may refer to: Film * ''Playback'' (1962 film), a British film in the ''Edgar Wallace Mysteries'' series * ''Playback'', a 1996 film starring Shannon Whirry * ''Playback'' (2012 film), an American horror film by Michael A. ...

''. It aired from 17 November 1985 to 27 April 2002 and was hosted by Henny Huisman.CV on Henny Huismans official website
/ref> The format has since been sold to other countries,Soundmixshow goes USA
(Dutch) notably as the '' European Soundmix Show''.

History

Early days

Huisman, former drummer of 1970s band

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and spin-off group Match, toured the early 1980s with his ''Hitkrant Drive-In Show''; this prototype-version of the Playback-show was a joint venture with weekly pop-magazine '' Hitkrant'' in which he had a column. In 1983, Huisman brought the format on television during the summer-evening slot as ''KRO's Zomeravondshow''; contestants performed on a hit-or-miss basis.

Breakthrough

In 1984 the name was changed to ''Playbackshow'' and contestants were now given full performance time. Soon afterwards Huisman decided to do a spin-off with real vocals; thus the ''Soundmixshow'' was born with artists being judged by a jury of three professionals notably Jacques d'Ancona and Barry Stevens; the latter's ''"Vooral doorgaan!"'' (''"Keep up the good work!"'') became a catchphrase. The ''Soundmixshow'' meant a breakthrough for several young Dutch artists, as it was a platform with a relative low threshold and a broad audience. The ''Soundmixshow'' was first produced by

Endemol Endemol B.V. was a Dutch-based media company that produced and distributed multiplatform entertainment content. The company annually produced more than 15,000 hours of programming across scripted and non-scripted genres, including drama, reality ...

for

Katholieke Radio Omroep KRO, or (Catholic Radio Broadcasting), was a Dutch public broadcasting organization founded on 23 April 1925. Broadly Catholic in its spiritual outlook, KRO broadcast the bulk of its television output on the NPO 1 channel. KRO was also respons ...

(KRO) and afterwards for

RTL 4 RTL 4 (Radio Télévision Luxembourg 4) is a Dutch free-to-cable television channel; it is the most-watched commercial station in the country, popular especially with those aged between 20 and 49. RTL 4 is a general entertainment channel with in ...

from 1990 until 2002.Description of the success of the Soundmixshow
(Dutch) In the finals of 1988, Huisman asked viewers to phone a specific number for

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. However, this caused such a big amount of phone calls, that the whole telephone grid was down for a while, and even the emergency services (police, ambulance, firefighters) were out of reach in some parts of the country.

Other spin-offs

From the latter half of the 1980s till the early 1990s, Huisman presented the ''Miniplaybackshow'' as a platform for children; a ''Minisoundmixshow'' was announced, but it never happened. There was also a ''Seniorenplaybackshow'' with elder contestants, and more successfully the '' Sterrensoundmixshow'' (''Celebrity Stars In Their Eyes''). In 2002, the ''Soundmixshow'' was the platform for a debate between politicians just before the parliamental elections.

Aftermath

In 2002, the format was discontinued in favor of '' Idols'' and other talent contests. Huisman reunited with former ''Soundmixshow''-contestants on KRO's anniversary-programme in 2010. He used the backdrop whilst playing himself in a children's movie chronicling the events of two aspiring popstars. In 2014, Huisman appeared on the ''Showtime'' programme to revisit his time as presenter of ''Soundmixshow''.

Successful contestants

Kate Ryan Kate Ryan (born Katrien Verbeeck, 22 July 1980) is a Belgian singer and songwriter, and the winner of a World Music Award. She began her singing career in 2001 and later found fame with a string of dance hits. These included covers, mostly of ...

* Petra Berger *

Marco Borsato Marco Roberto Borsato (; born 21 December 1966) is a Dutch singer. Born in Alkmaar, North Holland, he started performing in Italian before switching to Dutch in 1994. He has consistently been one of the most successful and biggest grossing ar ...

* Tooske Breugem *

Georgie Davis Georgie Davis (stage name Kees Rietveld; born 1969 in The Hague, Netherlands) is a Dutch singer, who was one of the first participants of the Soundmixshow in 1985. Career David performed a song by Stevie Wonder. Later in the year Davis score ...

* Glennis Grace *

Gerard Joling Gerard Jan Joling (born 29 April 1960) is a Dutch singer and television presenter. Known for his high tenor voice, he rose to fame in the late 1980s and released a string of singles including "Ticket to the Tropics" and "Love Is in Your Eyes". H ...

Helmut Lotti Helmut Lotti (born Helmut Barthold Johannes Alma Lotigiers; 22 October 1969), is a Belgian tenorGoldsmith B (2009)Belgian tenor Helmut Lotti wants to find his own style '' WDEZ''. Retrieved 23 April 2010. and singer-songwriter. Lotti performs in ...

Désirée Manders Désirée or Desiree or ''variation'', may refer to: * Désirée (given name), a female given name People * Des'ree (born 1968), British pop/soul vocalist throughout the 1990s * Desireé Bassett (born 1992), American hard rock guitarist * Desi ...

Edsilia Rombley Edsilia Francisca Rombley (born 13 February 1978) is a Dutch singer and television presenter. She began her career in 1995, as a member of the Dutch girl group Dignity. Rombley began her solo career in 1996, after winning the Dutch talent show ''S ...

List of winners

International versions

Spain's Antena 3 created a similar format, under the title '' Tu cara me suena'', in 2011. A UK version of this was also produced by ITV in 2013 and, like ''Stars in Their Eyes'' and ''Soundmixshow'', is also a format owned by Endemol Shine Group.

References

{{Reflist 1980s Dutch television series 1990s Dutch television series 2000s Dutch television series 1985 Dutch television series debuts 2002 Dutch television series endings Dutch music television series Dutch reality television series Dutch-language television shows Singing talent shows European Soundmix Show Television series by Endemol