Just chatting about Chantal and Davina

I’m not the kind of person who organizes a song festival party every year, but when it’s in the Netherlands, my national pride naturally kicks in. Yesterday, I got to look around backstage at the invitation of Moroccanoil, so I was already warmed up for the spectacle.

I seriously cried when I heard real cheering and applause again. Not an audio that was started during a football match to compensate for the absence of the audience, but real cheering from - tested - people sitting next to each other and wanting to celebrate life.

I had high expectations of Chantal Janzen because I know a little bit about how she is and everything she does has to be good. Or at least she must have done everything to make it perfect. She is the kind who does not block at the thought of 180 million people watching you live; she then shifts to an even higher gear. Perfect, perfect, perfect English, no trembling hand, a satisfied smile, taking the time to convey the message and also talking long enough when the direction needs to make a change. And just when we thought we had seen it all, she served a dessert in perfect French. Oh, if only all those 180 million viewers would know how well Chantal can sing and dance and how funny she is. As far as I'm concerned, she should be included in Van Dale's thesaurus as a synonym for perfection. There. And then that makeup by Leco. I want to know everything and have everything and buy everything and try to replicate it.

I found all the acts quite fine and okay, but I was especially impressed by the direction, the light show, and the creative solution of placing the tiny houses to showcase the next candidate. Not thinking in limitations, but in solutions led to actually much more fun videos than usual.

And then Davina. We were already getting into the groove with Duncan Laurence (opening such a show alone), but this as dessert... The voice, the dancers, the song, and the cinematic start of her journey to the Delta Works where the most beautiful reference to the strength and vulnerability of our low country was shown.

Who wins we will not know yet, but one thing is certain: our candidate for next year is a fact.

And shall we now call Davina Divine, or the divine?