The Netherlands

One of the original seven countries who competed in the first Eurovision in Lugano in 1956, the Netherlands was a perennial favorite during the first three decades of the Contest.  The country was able to log in four wins (1957, 1959, 1969 and 1975), all sung in Dutch, and has hosted the Contest an equal number of times (including in 1980, when Israel was unable to host that year's contest after winning on home turf in 1979).  The last decade has unfortunately been unkind to the Netherlands, with only one entry (in 2004) making it out of the Semi Finals, despite the fact that the recent performances have all been in English (except in 2010).

Though the Netherlands' Eurovision history may have become a mixed bag, the country has continually supplied the contest with an eclectic mix of solo and groups of artists and musical genres, through the 90s.  This eclectic mix includes Edsilia Rombley (who represented her country twice at the Contest) and her 1998 entry Hemel en Aarde, which to this day is the most successful entry the country has had at the Contest since the last Dutch win in 1975.  Hemel en Aarde placed fourth (only 32 points behind Dana International's winning song Diva, which took the contest back to Israel the following year).  Take a look:

The Netherlands, unlike many of its Western European neighbors not in the Big Five (I'm looking at you Belgium), has kept mum on the regional blocks and the introduction of the televoting system, which has disadvantaged the Dutch.  Instead the country has continued to send quality songs to the Contest undeterred.  This year is no exception!  Perhaps emboldened by Germany's win in 2010 and Sweden's victory last year, the Netherlands picked its representative internally (no big Idol-esque selection production), and is quietly mounting a promotional campaign for their entry for Malmo and the odds of the Contest coming back to Amsterdam (or the Hague) is looking good.  Almost all oddsmakers and many Eurovision insiders agree that the Dutch song will place in the Top Five, if not win the Contest this year, with the ballad Birds performed by Anouk.  Unfortunately, there is no actual video of the Dutch entry this year, but here is a clip of the song:

I applaud the Netherlands for sending a poignant ballad to a contest crowded by electro-pop messes and wannabees, and I am happy to declare this song as one of my favorites this year.  But what do you think?  Does this ballad have a chance to make it out of the First Semi Final and compete against all the electro-pop messes that will surely crowd the Final on May 18th?  I send Anouk many good vibes for a great live performance (which can break a favored artist's run at the Contest and send the contestant packing for home).  Ik wens u het beste Nederland/Anouk!