Welcome to the third episode of ‘Junior Eurovision back in time’. This time we look back at the 2005 Junior Eurovision Song Contest that took place in Hasselt, Belgium. Let’s get loud!
Quick things to know
- Date: 26 November
- Venue: Ethias Arena
- Host broadcaster: VRT & RTBF
- Presenters: Marcel Vanthilt & Maureen Louys
- Number of entries: 16
- Slogan: Let’s Get Loud
Junior Eurovision 2005 was the first JESC edition that was organized by two broadcasters. Belgian broadcasters VRT and RTBF won the bid to organize the festival. Other candidate host countries were the Netherlands (AVRO) and Croatia (HRT). “It will be an extremely modern and spectacular television show, under the theme Let’s get loud”. With this promise, Belgium has brought the Junior Eurovision to Hasselt.
Participating countries
In 2005, we unfortunately said goodbye to the countries of France, Switzerland and Poland. On the other hand, countries were added, namely Russia and Serbia & Montenegro. In addition, even more countries were interested in participating. Lithuania, Ukraine, Georgia and even Monaco showed interest, but ultimately did not participate. If they did, Junior Eurovision 2005 would have been the biggest edition ever.
Here the full list of all participating countries:
- Greece: Alexandros & Kalli – Tora einai i seira mas
- Denmark: Nicolai – Shake, Shake, Shake
- Croatia: Lorena Jelusic – Rock Baby
- Romania: Alina Eremia – Turai!
- United Kingdom: Joni Fuller – How Does It Feel?
- Sweden: M+ – Gränslös kärlek
- Russia: Vladislav Krutskikh and Street Magic – Doroga k solntsu
- North Macedonia: Denis Dimoski – Rodendeski baknež
- The Netherlands: Tess – Stupid
- Serbia & Montenegro: Filip Vucic – Ljubav pa fudbal
- Latvia: Kids4Rock – Es esmu maza jauka meitene
- Belgium: Lindsay – Mes Rêves
- Malta: Thea and friends – Make It Right!
- Norway: Malin Reitan – Sommer og skolefri
- Spain: Antonio José – Te traigo flores
- Belarus: Ksenia Sitnik – My Vmeste
Interval act
During the interval, the winner of the year before, Maria Isabel, appeared. She released a medley of a new song and her winning song from Junior Eurovision 2004. The two broadcasters then also provided a surprise act. They had chosen a boy from the famous Cirque du Soleil. The young Vladik Miagkostoupov had 4 minutes to show his juggling skills.
Top 3
- 3. Norway: Malin Reitan – Sommer og skolefri
- 2. Spain: Antonio José – Te traigo flores
- 1. Belarus: Ksenia Sitnik – My Vmeste
Ksenia Sitnik wins Junior Eurovision 2005
The 10-year-old Ksenia Sitnik from Belarus closed the show with her song ‘My Vmiste’, which means We Are Together. After an exciting voting she ended up to be the big winner of the night with a total of 149 points. She received the magic 12 points three times, coming from Malta, Latvia and Russia.
Some fun facts
- For the third time in a row, Spain finished in top three
- Not the winner, but runner-up Spain received the most 12 points
- Lindsay from Belgium sang the very last song in French until France returned in 2018
- Greece had to open the show for the third time in a row
- Croatia’s Lorena Jelusic is 2003-winner Dino’s younger sister
- Just before the show, EBU accused Cyprus of plagiarism. Because it was too late to find a new song, they did not participate in 2005, but they were allowed to vote
- To make sure nobody went home with zero points, EBU awarded 12 points to each participating country before the voting started
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