The Netherlands 2021- Jeangu Macrooy With ‘Birth Of A New Age‘

The Netherlands have revealed the entry that will compete on home turf for them as Jeangru makes his return:

Jeangru’s entry last year was an odd one. There are days I think it was a potential jury winner and others where it felt like something chosen to finish 20th and guarantee they wouldn’t win. I totally get why people were talking it up as a dark horse or had it as their favourite, something which has apparently spooked broadcaster Avrotros. In any case, this is by far the biggest downgrade from any returning artist yet this year.

Whilst, like ‘Grow’, this comes from a good place and you do get the sense this is meaningful to Jeangru, as a composition it is miles below par. There’s none of the intricacies and build of ‘Grow’, it’s uninspiring chorus after uninspiring verse. ‘Grow’ could have reached 200+ jury points, this looks more like 20.

The televote is not going to go for this at all, and the weakness of the song will be the primary reason but this style will also not travel well across Europe. We probably have a good idea on staging following the reveal and it’s unlikely to make or break this either way.

The Netherlands have that running order position performing 23rd which they, very conveniently, get to keep. The one caveat is the likelihood of being surrounded by favourites, but the decision not to re-draw will help Jeangru, at least somewhat, even if that might just mean dodging last place.

Personal Rating: 2/10 Competitive Rating: 3/10 Early Prediction: 21st- 26th