Bulgaria - VICTORIA - growing up is getting old

Single version digital release image

11 - 170 pts / 3 - 250 pts in semi 2

After a year contemplating Bulgaria planned to return to Eurovision 2020 with Victoria Georgieva (Виктория Георгиева). 
We all know what happened but it was a bummer for Victoria especially as she was doing well in the polls.
So Victoria is back for 2021 and she released a digital a 5-track EP A Little Dramatic on February 26.

VICTORIA don't like no capitalization 

This includes 5 of the potential Eurovision songs. 

A sixth track in the running, Ugly Cry, was already released earlier.

On March 10 it was announced that the song selected from the bunch is growing up is getting old. The song is written by Victoria Georgieva herself, Maya Nalani, Helena Larsson and Oliver Björkvall.

Here's the official extended video

All songs can also be heard here at Victoria's ICard pages.

a little dramatic EP tracks:

1. imaginary friend

2. growing up is getting old

3. dive into unknown

4. phantom pain

5. the funeral song

VICTORIA wasn't in the mood to use any capital letters. All songs exceed the 3 minute limit so a Eurovision version was released on March 18.

a little dramatic (Deluxe)

On June 18 a Deluxe version of the EP was released. It has 10 tracks including the acoustic version of the Eurovision entry, the Eurovision version and the original.

1. imaginary friend

2. growing up is getting old (Eurovision version)

3. dive into unknown

4. phantom pain

5. the funeral song

6. ugly cry

7. alright

8. tears getting sober

9. growing up is getting old (acoustic)

10. growing up is getting old (original)

All about Victoria's 2020 song Tears Getting Sober and its versions is here at the Rotterdam 20/20 Collection.

2020's digital single

Victoria Georgieva, a former X-factor contestant,  has released several reasonably succesful singles in Bulgarian and a few in English. 
She is currently still working on her first album which was originally expected around Eurovision 2020. 
Victoria is still dedicated to her work giving Bulgarian stray cats and dogs a new home, so there's that.

Versions

growing up is getting old - eurovision version

- digital release 18-3, Rotterdam 2CD

growing up is getting old - eurovision version karaoke

- on the official karaoke album (digital)

growing up is getting old - original EP version

- digital EP a little dramatic 26-2
growing up is getting old - acoustic

- on digital Deluxe EP 18-6

Charts

Bulgaria top 40: 37, 30, 23, 14, 10, 18, 38, -

Links and sources
Victoria Georgieva Website, FB, ICard Eurovision pages Shop

The Netherlands - Jeangu Macrooy - Birth Of A New Age

23 - 11 pts, not in semi

Jeangu Macrooy was to represent the host nation with his introspective song Grow. He'll came back in the 2021 contest. 

His song Birth Of A New Age is written by Pieter Perquin (a.k.a. Perquisite) and Jeangu Macrooy himself. The song is performed in English and Sranantongo (Surinamese).

It was revealed on March 4 and is available through all your usual digital suppliers.

Here's the official video or  Watch and listen here (live version introduction)

A remix, the Mason remix, was released on June 11. (digital release)

Macrooy's style is described as Nu Soul but has elements of Jazz and Pop.
His 2017 single High On You was a #1 hit in Suriname (his birth country)

remix image

Jeangu Macrooy released two handful of singles and four albums so far:
- Brave enough (2016 mini album, digital only)
- High on you (2017, LP and CD)
- Horizon (2019, LP and CD)
- Live (2019, digital only)

Versions

Birth Of A New Age

- digital 4-3, Rotterdam 2CD

Birth Of A New Age - Mason remix

Birth Of A New Age - Mason extended remix

- remixes digital release 11-6

Birth Of A New Age - karaoke 

- karaoke on the official karaoke album (digital)

Charts

Dutch top 40 (in March): 37, 39, -

Birth.. did not chart in the Dutch singles top 100 until Eurovision week in May.

Dutch top 100 (Dutch Charts): 83, 30, 84, -

Surinam top 40 (Natio40) 27, 11, ?,  5, 5, ?....

Only the highest newcomer, biggest climber and top 5 are published of the Surinam top 40. In 2017 Jeangu already scored a Surinam #1 hit with High On You.

Grow, Live versions image

Links and sources
Dutch official pages for Eurovision 2021

Jeangu Macrooy Website, FB, Shop, 2020 

Belgium - Hooverphonic - The Wrong Place

19 - 74 pts / 9 - 117 pts in semi 1

Hooverphonic moved on to the 2021 contest after the 2020 edition was cancelled. However they changed the line up. Release Me vocalist Luka Cruysberghs has been thanked for her services and Alex Callier and Raymond Geerts brought back Geike Arnaert into the fold. Geike was Hooverphonic's second singer (from 1997 to 2009).

Signed vinyl single

The song for 2021 is titled The Wrong Place and was released on March 4. Here's the video

It is written by Alex Callier and Charlotte Foret.

Vinyl

A limited edition vinyl single was released on 23-4. It includes

The Wrong Place and its instrumental version.

(Universal 0602435 788562)

The Wrong Place is also on the new Hooverphonic album Hidden Stories, out on May 7.

It is released on CD, LP and limited edition blue vinyl with litho.

More details here at Platenzaak.nl.

A remix is released on June 10. The Hairglow French Crop Mix. (digital)

Who's yer 'phonic?
Hooverphonic started out in the Trip Hop era but later on their orchestral arrangements created a more film-score sound. They also dabbled in some psychedelica and retro-pop.
The scored 35 top 100 hits in Belgium and a few made it to other charts (5 in Italy!).
Mad About You (2000) is probably their most known song from the early era.
In 2015 they scored a #3 hit with Badaboum. Sadly not a cover of the Minouche Barelli classic but it features Émilie Satt of Madame Monsieur fame.

They have release almost 20 albums, the latest being Looking For Stars with previous (4th) singer Luka, which is their 14th top 10 album in the Belgian charts.
Looking For Stars is released on CD, LP and cassette. 
If you want a brief history of the first 20 years you can check out the 2018 compilation album Hooverphonic Top 40 (2CD) or 2016 collection The Best Of Hooverphonic (2CD/3LP)

We shine a light on the 2020 entry Release Me here at the 20/20 Collection.

Hidden Stories

Versions

The Wrong Place

- digital single, Rotterdam 2CD, Vinyl single, album Hidden Stories

The Wrong Place - The Hairglow French Crop Mix.

- digital 10-6

The Wrong Place - instrumental

- vinyl 7" b-side, instrumental also on the official karaoke album (digital)

Charts

The Wrong Place enters the Flemish Belgian charts at #7. 2020's Release Me made it only to #21. It took some time but a Gold status award was reached March 2, 2023.

Belgium Flemish Ultratop 50: 7, 23, 28, 35, 37, 39, 48, 35, 42, 28, 10, 1, 5, 29, 40, -

The Wrong Place charted in Wallonia in Eurovision week

Belgium Wallonia Ultratop 50: 39, 27, 42, 39, 41, -

Netherlands single top 100: 89, -

2020 remixes

Links and sources
Hooverphonic Website, FB, 2020

Geike Arnaert Facebook