The Netherlands has chosen its act for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, and all eyes are on Claude Kmb. With his emotional song “C’est La Vie”, the young artist is set to take the stage in Basel during the first semi-final. But who is Claude Kmb, and what’s the story behind his Eurovision entry? Here’s everything you need to know.
Claude Kmb: The Netherlands’ Rising Star for Eurovision 2025
In December, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS announced that Claude Kmb would represent the Netherlands at Eurovision 2025 after an internal selection process. Chosen from over 331 submissions, Claude follows in the footsteps of Joost Klein, who was disqualified from last year’s contest.
Born Claude Kiambe on September 16, 2003, this 21-year-old singer originally hails from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He moved to the Netherlands at age 13, and while he initially enrolled in university to study Hospitality Management, he soon pivoted to music after connecting with producer Arno Krabman and songwriter Joren van der Voort. Claude had already gained public attention through appearances on The Voice Kids and the competition Are You Next?
Since then, Claude’s career has soared. His debut single “Ladada (Mon Dernier Mot)” has racked up over 57 million streams, and he’s been honored with awards such as Best New Artist at 3FM, 3FM Talent, and Qmusic Artist of the Year. His participation in the popular TV show Beste Zangers further cemented his status as a household name.
In 2024, Claude released his first album, “Parler Français”, which he co-wrote entirely. The album sparked a tour across the Netherlands and Belgium and earned him the title of Ambassador of Freedom, an accolade he holds dear. That same year, he won the 3FM Award for Best Album, marking a rare achievement for a debut release.
Claude’s music has also achieved international success. His bilingual hit “Ladada” charted in over 15 countries, reaching the Top 10 in Italy. With the global release of his single “Layla”, he solidified his place on the international music scene. Now, Claude faces his biggest stage yet: Eurovision 2025. But before Basel, he’ll also perform at the legendary Pinkpop Festival.
“C’est La Vie”: A Song About Life’s Ups and Downs
Written by Arno Krabman, Joren van der Voort, Léon Paul, and Claude Kmb himself, “C’est La Vie” delivers a powerful message of acceptance and resilience. The song reflects on life’s unpredictable nature—its highs and lows—through the lens of a son remembering his mother’s words and melodies.
Blending contrasts between love and sorrow, light and darkness, “C’est La Vie” is both a celebration of life and a meditation on its challenges. It invites listeners to embrace the beauty of living, no matter what obstacles may arise.
“C’est La Vie” Lyrics: Sing Along to Claude Kmb’s Eurovision 2025 Song
Whether you’re looking for the original French lyrics or an English translation of “C’est La Vie”, we’ve got you covered. The song’s heartfelt message and catchy melody are sure to captivate fans across Europe and beyond.
French / English
C’est la vie
She sang to me
Je me rappelle
J’était petit
Oh I was just a little boy but I remember
La melodie, la melodie
C’est comme ci, c’est comme ça
C’est en haute et en bas
It goes up, it goes down
And around and around
Que sera, oui sera
Me voici, me voilà
Chantez un, deux, trois
C’est la lalalalala vie
C’est lalalalala vie
Oui c’est lalalalala, lalalala, lalalala vie
C’est la vie
Et quelle miracle
Sometimes in love, sometimes miserable
And I still hear my mama’s voice inside of me
La melodie, la melodie
C’est comme ci, c’est comme ça
C’est en haute et en bas
It goes up, it goes down
And around and around
Que sera, oui sera
Me voici, me voilà
Chantez un, deux, trois
C’est la lalalalala vie
C’est lalalalala vie
Oui c’est lalalalala, lalalala, lalalala vie
Oui c’est lalalalala vie
Oui c’est lalalalala vie
C’est lalalalala, lalalala, lalalala vie
Oh c’est la vie
La vie en rose
La vie en noir
Oh, this rollercoaster
And I will sing, until it’s over
It goes lalalalala
C’est comme ci, c’est comme ça
C’est en haute et en bas
It goes up, it goes down
And around and around
Que sera, oui sera
Écoutes-moi, oh maman
Chantez un, deux, trois
C’est la vie
English
That’s life
She sang to me
I remember
I was little
Oh I was just a little boy but I remember
The melody, the melody
It’s like this, it’s like that
It’s up and it’s down
It goes up, it goes down
And around and around
What will be, yes, will be
Here I am, here I go
Sing one, two, three
It’s la lalalalalalalalalala life
We say lalalalalaa life
Yes, it’s lalalalalaa life
Oh yes, it’s lalalalalalalalalala life
That’s life
And what a miracle
Sometimes in love, sometimes miserable
And I still hear my mama’s voice inside of me
The melody, the melody
It’s like this, it’s like that
It’s up and it’s down
It goes up, it goes down
And around and around
What will be, yes, will be
Here I am, here I go
Sing one, two, three
It’s la lalalalalalalalalala life
We say lalalalalaa life
Yes, it’s lalalalalaa life
Oh yes, it’s lalalalalalalalalala life
It’s la lalalalalalalalalala life
We say lalalalalaa life
Yes, it’s lalalalalaa life
Oh yes, it’s lalalalalalalalalala life
Oh, that’s life
Life in pink
Life in black
Oh, this rollercoaster
And I will sing until it’s over
It goes lalalala
It’s like this, it’s like that
It’s up and it’s down
It goes up, it goes down
And around and around
What will be, yes, will be
Listen to me, oh mama
Sing one, two, three
That’s life
The Netherlands at Eurovision: A Storied History
The Netherlands has been a part of the Eurovision Song Contest since its inaugural edition in 1956, and has won the contest five times. Their first victory came in 1957 with “Net als toen” by Corry Brokken, followed by “Een beetje” by Teddy Scholten in 1959.
In 1969, the Netherlands shared the top spot with “De troubadour” by Lenny Kuhr, tying with France, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Their fourth victory came in 1975 with Teach-In’s “Ding-a-Dong”, and the most recent win was in 2019 with “Arcade” by Duncan Laurence.
Despite their successes, the Netherlands has also faced challenges, finishing with nul points in 1962 and 1963. The country has missed the contest only four times—in 1985 and 1991 (due to a national day of remembrance), and in 1995and 2002 (due to relegation from poor results).
In recent years, the Netherlands hosted Eurovision 2021 in Rotterdam after Duncan Laurence’s victory, with Jeangu Macrooy representing the country with “Birth of a New Age”. In 2022, S10 finished 11th in Turin with “De Diepte”. In 2023, Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper were eliminated in the semifinals with “Burning Daylight”, and in 2024, Joost Klein was disqualified despite being a fan favorite with “Europapa”.