Road to Basel: Belgium
Road to Basel: Belgium. As the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel approaches, we continue our daily spotlight on this year’s contestants. Today, we focus on Belgium.
Red Sebastian
Seppe Herreman, known professionally as Red Sebastian, is a Belgian singer-songwriter born in 1999. Hailing from Ostend, he began his musical journey at the age of seven, studying at the local music academy where he honed his skills in piano and vocals. Throughout his youth, Seppe also trained in ballet and tap dance, showcasing his diverse artistic talents. In 2013, at just 13 years old, he reached the finals of “Belgium’s Got Talent,” gaining national recognition. He furthered his education at the Conservatory of Ghent, studying Vocal Performance, and in 2019, adopted the stage name Red Sebastian to embark on his professional music career.
“Strobe Lights” (What does AI say?)
His Eurovision entry, “Strobe Lights,” is an energetic electro-pop song co-written by Red Sebastian, Astrid Roelants, Billie Bentein, and Willem Vanderstichele. The track is a tribute to the ’90s rave culture, blending pulsating beats with modern production. Upon its release, “Strobe Lights” quickly gained popularity, leading to its selection as Belgium’s representative entry for Eurovision 2025.
Eurosong 2025
Belgium selected its Eurovision 2025 representative through the national competition Eurosong 2025. The final took place on February 1, 2025, at EMG Studio 7 in Vilvoorde, hosted by Peter Van de Veire. Eight songs competed, with the winner determined by a combination of a public vote (50%) and an expert jury (50%). Red Sebastian’s performance of “Strobe Lights” captivated both the jury and the public, securing his victory with a total of 423 points.
Eurosong 2025 Results:
- Red Sebastian, “Strobe Lights“
- Leez, “Perfectly Imperfect“
- Mentissa, “Désolée“
- Jelle van Dael, “Monster“
- Stefanie Callebaut, “Gloria“
- Grace, “Pull Up“
- Lenn, “Air Balloon“
- Le Manou, “Fille à Papa“
Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest
Belgium has a long history in the Eurovision Song Contest, having participated since its inception in 1956. The country has secured one victory: in 1986 with Sandra Kim‘s “J’aime la vie.” However, good scores for Jean Vallee (1978) and Urban Trad (2004) can not be left unmentioned. In recent years Loïc Nottet (2015) and Blanche (2017) reached the top-5. The previous Flemish entry, Gustaph’s “Because Of You”, reaced a 7th place. Over the years, Belgium has achieved several top-ten results, reflecting its ongoing commitment to the competition.
A Random Belgian Entry
Reflecting on Belgium’s Eurovision history, random.org selected the entry of 1957, Bobbejaan Schoepen’s “Straatdeuntje”. Bobbejaan Schoepen was very popular in Belgium. He even founded Lunapark Bobbejaanland. This song was not one of his favourites. He never recorded it, and when he sang it on radio, somewhere in the eighties, he started laughing in the middle in the song and said “This is ridiculous”.
Betting Odds
As of now, Red Sebastian’s “Strobe Lights” holds 7th place in the betting odds for winning the contest. To qualify in the 1st semifinal, Belgium is also in 7th place. With a dynamic performance and a catchy track, Red Sebastian aims to bring Belgium back to the Eurovision spotlight. Good luck, Red Sebastian!
We eagerly await the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel and look forward to witnessing Red Sebastian’s performance on the grand stage.
