Nationaal Songfestival

TV Production mogul John De Mol, the dutch tycoon behind such global companies such as Endemol Entertainment, who in turn have inflicted the likes of Big Brother and Deal or No Deal on the viewing public has been drafted in by dutch broadcaster TROS to update their national selection process.

Rumours have been abounding lately surrounding the possible participation of ageing popstar/actor David Hasselhoff at next year's Eurovision Song Contest. Only last week, British tabloid The Sun claimed that Hasselhoff was one of two hotly tipped acts to follow in the footsteps of Blue, the other being the Spice Girls.

It finally appears as if Dutch broadcaster TROS has given in to mounting criticism of and resentment for their selection methods as well as public demand following the catastrophic placing of the 3JS in their semi final in Düsseldorf and have decided to change the format of Nationaal Songfestival.

Despite the extremely poor placings that the Netherlands has achieved over the past years, artists are practically falling over themselves in their wishes to represent and defend the honour of their country.

The Netherlands apparently can't get enough of 3JS, and since the selection of Je Vecht Nooit Alleen in the Nationaal Songfestival on the 30th of January, the group have achieved something of a unique feat with their entry.

Although young Sieneke's Ik Ben Verliefd (Sha-La-Lie) failed to bring the Netherlands to the final in Oslo last year, the ambitious songtress has no regrets about her participation and fondly looks back on the event that took place almost a year ago.

Four out of the five songs for the Dutch national final are ready. The band 3JS is currently working on the fifth song and which of them they will be singing in Düsseldoref, Germany in May a combination of the public and an expert jury will decide at the end of January.

The Netherlands had already picked a song for the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo and tonight it was to be decided who should sing the song in Oslo in May. The most exiting moment was when the songwriter went against the girlband Loekz he had written the song for and picked Sieneke to represent the Netherlands in Oslo.

For a while we have known that De Toppers, or The Toppers as they will probably be called internationally, will be representing the Netherlands at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. Via an open selection 300 songs suggested was cut down to six – and now one song is clear for Moscow; Shine.