Even about Claude's outfit for the Song Festival
“Mark tomorrow evening, May 13, with a heart in your agenda – in case you forgot (I hope not) – because then Claude will shine on behalf of the Netherlands on the stage of the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel. Did you think Tuesday evening would be another boring night? I don't think so. Ask your friends, make some snacks, and plop down on the couch. And folks, what an entrance he is going to make. We have to talk about that outfit first (and only then about his song, his first rehearsal, and the reactions, I promise).".
What is Claude wearing?
YES. Claude appears in a shiny burgundy/purple ensemble that could have rolled straight off the catwalk of a Parisian fashion show. Think: loose fit trousers, waistcoat, blazer—everything handmade by the Dutch label I.SIMONS from designer Ilona Simons—just, with grandma's sewing machine. And as we know Claude, his signature pearl necklace is definitely not missing. Under his look: patent leather shoes. Check, as if a thick layer of topcoat has been applied over Claude., and I love it.
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Let's talk about the color of his suit
Okay okay, I had to look three times to describe this color best. Something between aubergine and burgundy, according to Ilona Simons. In an interview with Vogue Netherlands, she mentions that Claude and his team specifically chose this color to radiate strength and calmness. And those pearls? They were a must from day one – she knew they couldn't be missing from the look. The suit is made of a light wool blend with shine, so it moves elegantly in the stage light. Subtle, but so well thought out that you almost forget that there is also a song being sung tomorrow evening. Read the entire interview here on Vogue.
The color of this month? You can find it here.
The song: C’est la vie
Now enough about the clothes, next up: the song. Because the song with which Claude has traveled to Basel is called ‘C’est la vie’ and is – pay attention – bilingual: English AND French. He wrote it together with Arno Krabman, Léon Paul Palmen, and Joren van der Voort. The build-up is musically so clever: it starts soft, small, and sensitive, and when you think: ‘boring’, the rhythm builds up and becomes increasingly cheerful.
In an interview with AvroTros, Claude says that the song is a tribute to his mother. She always taught him to see the positive, even when life gets tough. And that is exactly the vibe of ‘C’est la vie’: life goes up and down, it can be chaotic at times, but there is always light, always hope. “It goes up, it goes down, and around and around, but C’est la vie!” And let's be honest: we need those kinds of songs at the Song Contest. If it were up to me, Claude is a real contender to make it into the top three.
The first rehearsal: a bit wobbly, but we'll fix that
Alright, the first rehearsal. And as always with Song Contest things: the internet had an opinion about it. During his first rehearsal, Claude sounded a bit wobbly here and there, vocally. There were people saying that the performance lacked some power and that he occasionally sang a bit off-key. Quite tough to hear that, especially when you've just stood on that big stage with a thousand cameras pointed at you.
Claude was so shocked by the reactions that he temporarily took his Instagram offline to focus. To be honest? I would do the same. Come on, just delete that app and show what you can do. Let's not forget: it was just a rehearsal. And the looks, the message, and the music are already on point. So I have every confidence that Claude will seize his moment tomorrow. And then of course just on to the final on Saturday, May 17. Because that's the plan, right?”
All reactions to Claude's outfit for tomorrow
The ‘reveal video’ was shared on Claude's socials (when he was still online on Instagram) and people went wild. Miss Montreal called I.SIMONS the ‘best stylist ever’ and Dotan just dropped a heart. No words, just an emoji. Okay, but who cares — because it's Dotan. Omg.
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5 things we want to remember about Claude at the Song Contest
- Purple or red, Claude's suit can be seen in two ways.
- Pearl necklaces are for everyone. Gender norms are so 2022.
- Claude's suit is just sewn with grandma's sewing machine.
- ‘C’est la vie’ is a song with an important meaning for Claude.
- You can continue to follow Claude during his adventure on Instagram, there will be stories and Instagram posts.
