We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today, we go back to 1993, when the Barbara Dex represented Belgium with the song “Iemand als jij”.
Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest
Belgium has been part of the Eurovision Song Contest since the very first edition in 1956. The country alternates its participation between the Flemish broadcaster VRT and the Walloon broadcaster RTBF, which has led to a wide variety of styles over the years. Belgium achieved its only victory in 1986 when Sandra Kim won with J’aime la vie, becoming the youngest winner in Eurovision history. Other highlights include strong results for Jean Vallée in 1978, Urban Trad in 2003, and Loïc Nottet in 2015. In recent years Belgium has sent modern and often experimental entries. Hooverphonic represented the country in 2021, followed by Jérémie Makiese in 2022. Gustaph brought Belgium back to the final in 2023 with his upbeat Because of You. In 2024, Mustii performed Before the Party’s Over in Malmö. In 2025, Belgium was represented by Red Sebastian‘s Strobe lights. Unfortunately, the last two didn’t reach the final.
Eurosong 1993
It was Flemish broadcaster VRT who was responsible for the 1993 Eurovision entry. After 4 semifinals, a final was held on March 6th in the Knokke Casino. Twelve songs competed in this final:
- “Vrij“, sung by Nadia, 51 pts, 2nd
- “Zonder verklaring“, sung by Wendy van Wanten, 12 pts, 9th
- “Noem het maar geluk”, sung by Roestvrij, 40 pts, 5th
- “Vergeet-mij-nietje“, sung by Leopold 3, 41 pts, 5th
- “Ga door“, sung by Petra, 7 pts, 10th
- “Vlinder“, sung by Lisa Del Bo, 41 pts, 3rd
- “Ballerina”, sung by Robin Nills, 2 pts, 12th
- “Ik ga dood aan jou“, sung by Bart Herman, 35 pts, 6th
- “Alles doen“, sung by Wim Ravell, 26 pts, 8th
- “Iemand als jij“, sung by Barbara Dex, 58 pts, 1st
- “Afrika“, sung by Bert Decorte, 4 pts, 11th
- “Waarom zou er vrede zijn“, sung by Mieke, 30 pts, 7th
Note that Lisa Del Bo had the chance to represent Belgium 3 years later. Wendy van Wanten recently dominated the news. It came out that her currently 22 year old son is also the son of Prince Laurent of Belgium, king Philip’s younger brother.
Barbara Dex
Barbara Dex, born Barbara Deckx on 22 January 1974 in Turnhout, Belgium, grew up in a musical family. Her father Marc Dex was a well-known Flemish singer, and Barbara followed in his footsteps. From an early age, she was interested in music and performance.
In 1993, Barbara became nationally known when she represented Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest in Millstreet, Ireland. She performed the ballad Iemand als jij, written by her father. Although the song finished last, Barbara gained attention for her performance and her distinctive dress.
After Eurovision, Barbara continued her career in Flanders. She released several albums, including Iemand als jij (1993), Tender (1998), and Blue-eyed Girl (2001). Her music style evolved from ballads to country and pop influences, showing her versatility as an artist. She also appeared on Flemish television and performed in theatres, building a loyal audience.
In 2006, Barbara participated in the Belgian national final once more, performing Crazy. Although she did not win, it showed her lasting commitment to the Eurovision community. In the following years, she shifted towards theatre and intimate concerts, often mixing her own songs with classics.
Today, Barbara Dex remains active in the Flemish music scene. She is respected as a performer with a warm voice and strong stage presence, far beyond her Eurovision image.
Barbara Dex Award
The Barbara Dex Award was a humorous prize in the Eurovision Song Contest fan community. It was created in 1997 by fansite House of Eurovision and named after Barbara Dex, who wore a self-made dress at Eurovision 1993 that drew much attention. The award was given each year to the artist considered the “worst dressed” of the contest. Despite its tongue-in-cheek nature, it became a well-known tradition among Eurovision fans. In 2022, the award was rebranded by the fan site Songfestival.be as the You’re A Vision Award, to celebrate bold and striking stage outfits more positively.
Iemand als jij
Iemand als jij is the song that Barbara Dex performed for Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest 1993 in Millstreet, Ireland. The ballad was written and composed by Marc Dex, Barbara’s father, who was already known as a popular Flemish singer. The lyrics tell a story of longing and the desire to find “someone like you,” expressed in a pure and emotional way.
Musically, the entry is a gentle ballad with clear pop influences, typical for early 1990s Eurovision. It featured soft instrumentation and focused strongly on Barbara’s voice. The style was simple and understated, which reflected the intimacy of the lyrics but stood in contrast with more powerful or energetic performances from other countries that year.
At the contest, Iemand als jij unfortunately failed to impress juries across Europe. The song received only 3 points in total, placing last out of 25 entries.
