Eurovision Song Contest 1966
Country Belgium
National selection
Selection processAvant-première Eurovision
Selection date(s)25 January 1966
Selected entrantTonia
Selected song"Un peu de poivre, un peu de sel"
Selected songwriter(s)
  • Paul Quintens
  • Phil van Cauwenbergh
Finals performance
Final result4th, 14 points
Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄1965 • 1966 • 1967►

Belgium was represented by Tonia, with the song "Un peu de poivre, un peu de sel", at the 1966 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 5 March in Luxembourg City. Tonia was chosen internally to be the Belgian representative, and the song was chosen in the national final on 25 January.

Before Eurovision

Artist selection

RTB had internally selected Tonia to represent Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 1966. RTB asked her to represent Belgium in 1966 during the Knokke Cup in July 1965.[1]

Avant-première Eurovision

Avant-première Eurovision was the national final format developed by RTB in order to select Belgium's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1966. The competition was held on 25 January 1966 and was broadcast on RTB.[2]

Competing entries

Following announcement of Tonia as Belgian representative, song submission period was opened where composers were able to submit their songs. A professional jury along with Tonia shortlisted eight songs from 163 received songs, which were then whittled down to four for the contest.[1]

Final

The final was held on 25 January 1966 from 20:40 to 21:10 CET, hosted by Jean-Claude Mennessier. Four songs competed in the contest with the winner being decided upon by public postcard voting.[2][3]

Final – 25 January 1966
Draw Song Songwriter(s) Votes Place
1 "Un peu de poivre, un peu de sel" Phil van Cauwenbergh, Paul Quintens 3,765 1
2 "Petite fleur de Chine" Johnny Hot 2,498 4
3 "Tu pourrais m'emmener danser" Hector Delfosse, Charlie Runbel 2,501 3
4 "Un petit rien" Roland Thyssen, Francis Etienne 2,757 2

At Eurovision

On the night of the final Tonia performed 3rd in the running order, following Denmark and preceding Luxembourg. Each national jury awarded 5-3-1 point(s) to their top three songs, and at the close of the voting "Un peu de poivre, un peu de sel" had received 14 points (5 from Germany and the Netherlands, 3 from Portugal and 1 from Sweden), placing Belgium joint 4th (with Ireland) of the 18 competing entries. This was Belgium's highest Eurovision finish to date, and would remain so until Jean Vallée's second place in 1978. The Belgian jury awarded its 5 points to contest winners Austria.[4]

Voting

References

  1. ^ a b Vermeulen, André (2021). Van Canzonissima tot Eurosong. 65 jaar Belgische preselecties voor het Eurovisiesongfestival. Leuven: Kritak. ISBN 978-94-014-7609-6. OCLC 1240241113.
  2. ^ a b "Avant-première Eurovision 1966".
  3. ^ ESC National Finals database 1966
  4. ^ ESC History - Belgium 1966
  5. ^ a b "Results of the Final of Luxembourg 1966". Eurovision Song Contest. Archived from the original on 7 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
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