On November 1st 2023 the Netherlands got to learn that an unknown occasional duo would represent the country in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool (United Kingdom), Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper. The Dutch were sceptic at first, because an unknown duo would represent them, but then again 2019 Dutch winner of the contest, Duncan Laurence, was also an unknown singer at first, and 2022’s representative S10 was also unknown among the Dutch when she competed, so they gave the duo the benefit of the doubt. Duncan Laurence had co-written a song with Mia and Dion, and he would be their Eurovision coach, like Ilse Delange (of the Common Linnets, who came in 2nd in the contest of 2014) was once Duncan’s coach. The Dutch dropped their scepticism, and were waiting for the announcement of the song.
The song presentation
Our ESCplus reporter, Denis Kurris, was in Rotterdam, on March 3rd 2023, when Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper presented their song, which seems to have become the Eurovision capital of the Netherlands since the (cancelled) contest of 2020. The name of the Dutch Eurovision entry was “Burning Daylight”, a song that is full of melancholia, but has the moral that you need to enjoy life and that you need to be who you want to be. Dutch scepticism returned, because why is the Netherlands always sending sad songs, and never something to lift one’s spirit? But hey, the Dutch managed to get in the Grand Final before with melancholic songs like “Arcade” (Duncan Laurence, 2019), “Lights and Shadows” (O’G3NE, 2017), and “De Diepte” (S10, 2022), maybe it would happen again, so the Dutch decided to roll with it.
Radio silence
The Dutch song presentation was done with an official music video in which Europe and beyond could hear the duo sing (pre-recorded) and they could see them. Unfortunately this was also the last time we got to see Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper until the Madrid Eurovision Preview Party during the weekend of April 7th 2023. In the meantime, there were no live performances on Dutch TV, which is usually the case for Dutch Eurovision contestants, there was only total radio silence when it came down to Dion and Mia. There were outings on social media of the song, but everybody knows that on social media you can give every video and photo you make your sweet time, and on live TV you get one chance to make it look and sound good.
The Madrid Preview Party 2023
In the weekend of April 7th it was time for the Madrid Preview Party, and everybody was eager to know what “Burning Daylight” would sound like live, and would there be chemistry between Mia and Dion, like Ilse Delange and Waylon looked so in love during their performance in 2014. It could not be further from the truth, the duo was singing out of tune, and their stage presence was not up to par with the message they needed to convey. The Dutch media and people on social media shredded the duo in the worst ways possible, and it all became a huge bash fest. In the meantime, Duncan Laurence, the coach of the duo, was not blamed at all, and he also seemed to be missing in action. The Dutch national broadcaster, AVROTROS, which chose the duo “unanimous” internally was also nowhere to be found. We cannot imagine how this must have felt for both Dion and Mia, because they “seemed” to be left to their own devices. The duo blamed the technique in Madrid, and they were not able to hear themselves in their in-ear devices, which can be, but except for British contestant Mae Muller, no one sang out of tune during their live performance.
Eurovision in Concert 2023
Last week, on April 15th 2023, the annual biggest Eurovision Preview Party was organized, “Eurovision in Concert”, in the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam. 28 of the 37 participating countries were there to give interviews and to perform. Dutch Dion and Mia were there, but during the press moment the duo was gone as soon as they came. They only talked to large-scale Dutch media, and then had to rehearse for their performance, and they also needed to meet with their personal technician, so that everything would be fine for the concert that evening, or at least that was what the on-site press was being told.
The Dutch and Eurovision fans from all over the world held their breath that evening for the performance of Dutch Dion and Mia, but as we were in the venue, we have to say it was not as bad as the media has let us to believe in the days after. Were Mia and Nicolai the best singers of the evening? No. Was it as bad as during their first live performance? Absolutely not. It was not magnificent either though, we have to be honest.
The past couple of days
The past couple of days, after Eurovision in Concert 2023, Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper have ended up in a media lynch mob, which is terrible and scary at the same time. Yes, they did not do well during their live performances, but the public bashing they are facing is relentless. We have to remind ourselves that the both of them are “humans”, and the backlash that they are facing now might scar them hugely on a personal and professional level. On social media people demand from them to withdraw, that they do not deserve a career in music, that they are ugly, that they are dumb, they should kill themselves, and all sorts of other things that one simply cannot write down here. Media (showbiz) outlets do not give it a rest or show any support for Mia and Dion, and even the Dutch news, on the Dutch national broadcaster, brings an endless stream of negativity about the duo. Since last Saturday it is one bad news item about Dion and Mia after another, which has never been seen before when it comes down to Eurovision media in the Netherlands.
Yes, it a “song” contest, which means that the contestants should be able to at least keep a note, but both Mia and Dion are not experienced singers, which we cannot blame them for, every profession is a process. Where is their coach Duncan Laurence? Where is the Dutch national broadcaster, AVROTROS, to back the duo? Where is the Dutch companionship, goodwill, and national spirit? It all seems to be gone, which is a true shame, because Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper do need a fair chance at competing for themselves and for the Netherlands. Even international stars are asked by Dutch media whether they have seen the performance of the duo, and whether these stars can comment on how bad Mia and Dion perform, which is like adding insult to injury.
Was the duo overconfident to propose themselves as Eurovision contestants? Did the Dutch national broadcaster overplay their cards? Was the Dutch selection commission too taken by the name “Duncan Laurence”? Was Duncan Laurence too confident to take on this project as a coach? Who knows. Are Dion and Mia victims of circumstance? Probably. Overall, a very sad and painful situation.
Eurovision 2023
The Netherlands’ Dion Cooper and Mia Nicolai will perform 14th (of 15) in Semi-final 1 on May 9th 2023.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will take place on May 9th, 11th, and 13th 2023 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. 37 countries will compete for the crown. This year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be a joint venture, since last year’s winner Ukraine cannot organize the contest on home soil because of the ongoing war with Russia.
