Dean is Belgium's new Idol...in "So Many Ways"

So Dean Delannoit is Flemish-speaking Belgium's new "idol". He beat Esther Sels in VTM's final screened last night. The youngster performed his debut single in the final of course - "So Many Ways" is a catchy number which is very reminiscent of The Kooks' "She Moves In Her Own Way" - a song which of course he performed earlier in the contest.
Runner-up Esther needn't be too upset - she will also release a single called "That Will Make My Day" which lyrically is a bit of a gold-digging anthem and which is an equally catchy reggae flavoured number and is sure to be a big hit in the Flemish Ultratop chart. She seems a bit too clean cut for this song though!

Belgium's Idol search nears the end: it's Dean vs Esther

In the semi-final of "Idool 2007" it was Andrej who exited the competition, leaving Dean Delannoit and Esther Sels to battle for the title in this week's final. Dean is the clear favourite to win - not just because male contestants always win this contest, but he is young, with teen appeal and he is also quaintly endearing in an amateurish way. There has been a bit of an outcry at Esther taking a place in the final at the expense of Andrej. She is good and pleasant enough, but lacks charisma which Dean has, although there was no excuse for those stripey trousers last week. Hm.

One of these three people will soon be Belgium's new pop idol. But which one?

Tomorrow sees the semi final of Belgium's "Idool" and we are now down to three contestants (pictured above, left to right): Andrei Loegowskij, Esther Sels and Dean Delannoit. In tomorrow's semi, Andrei will sing: One - U2, The show must go on - Queen, and Life on Mars - David Bowie. Esther will sing Walk away - Kelly Clarkson, You oughta know - Alanis Morissette and Don’t Speak - No Doubt. Finally, Dean's songs will be Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day, Great Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis and Ruby - Kaiser Chiefs.

I don't really care who wins, all three are strong performers and it's anyone's guess who will make it to the final, although I will hazard a guess at Andrei and Dean, with Esther going home tomorrow.

Idool 2007 Belgium: week 5

Thanks to good old YouTube I was able to put some music to the names in Idool 2007. And yes, there are some talented singers this year. First the boys - Andrei (I think he originally comes from Belarus) who is very subtle but can let rip when he needs to. Then there is Wim, who is, how shall I put it, a little unusual looking but what a singer. He has a lovely understated voice and will go far. Dean is this year's "rocker" and again should last a few more weeks. Esther and Elke are the two girls left and both are strong singers although Esther has the edge.
This week, Kim, the pretty dark haired girl from Limburg, was evicted. The competition is getting tough now and it's hard to predict who will go next.

The Flemish half of Belgium is searching once more for its "Idool"

Koen and Kris Wauters have been very busy lately. Not only have they been making a new Clouseau album but they're back on VTM as Flemish TV's answer to Ant and Dec - presenting the third series of "Idool". Kim, Andrei, Wim, Elke, Esther and Dean are still in the competition whilst Brenda, Tom, Adil and Kira have been evicted. The last series of Idool was in 2004 and that was won by Joeri Fransen. Series 1, in 2003, produced many popular artists in Flanders although like many other talent shows the runners up became more popular than the winner. Peter Evrard won that year, but he hasn't been as successful as runner up Natalia. Wim Soutaer and Brahim have also been very successful.