Marian van de Wal

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Marian van de Wal was born on January 21, 1970, in Vianen, Netherlands. She loved music from a young age. In the Netherlands she sang as an amateur, performing in small country music festivals. These early performances were casual, but they gave her experience on stage. Her passion for singing grew during these formative years.

Moving to Andorra and Career Start

In 1999, Marian moved to the Principality of Andorra with her husband. They settled in the mountain village of L’Aldosa and ran a small family hotel there. Living in Andorra opened new opportunities for Marian. She began singing for the guests at her hotel and at local music events. Soon she performed at community festivals in Andorra, such as those in the towns of Aixirivall and Ordino. These shows made her a known figure in the local music scene. 

Eurovision Song Contest 2005

Marian’s big break came with Eurocasting 2005, Andorra’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. She entered the competition and became one of the three finalists. In December 2004, Marian won the national final, beating two other singers (Mar Capdevila and Ishtar Ruiz) to earn the right to represent Andorra. A follow-up show chose which song she would sing in Eurovision. Marian performed three possible songs, and the public and jury chose “La mirada interior” (which means “The Inner Glance” in Catalan) as her entry.

In May 2005, she represented Andorra at the Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv, Ukraine. However, the song did not advance to the final. It finished 23rd in the semi-final, so Andorra did not qualify for the Eurovision grand final. Marian had the honor of having well-known Spanish singer Anabel Conde as one of her backing vocalists on stage. Marian’s Eurovision journey made her a beloved figure both in Andorra and among Eurovision fans.

Later Career After Eurovision

Marian van de Wal remained active in music and public life after Eurovision 2005. In 2006, she appeared on an Andorran television program called Alguna cosa batega, which was dedicated to Eurovision promotions. In 2007, she was featured in another TV show, Tots som Anonymous, continuing her presence in Andorra’s entertainment scene. That same year, Marian returned briefly to the Eurovision world – not as a contestant, but as a spokesperson. She was chosen to announce the Andorran voting results during the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 final.

After Eurovision, Marian balanced her music with her business. She continued to run her hotel in L’Aldosa while pursuing musical projects. She formed a duet with her vocal coach, Hellen Robson, performing Catalan-language versions of Dutch songs (for example, a song titled “Nota a la nevera”). This project blended Dutch music with Andorran Catalan lyrics, showing Marian’s unique cultural fusion. Furthermore, since 2007 she has performed as a duo with Andorran guitarist Oriol Vilella. Marian and Vilella recorded two original singles together, titled “Breaking” and “Waiting”, expanding her repertoire beyond Eurovision.