Pierre Dumoulin Expresses His Disappointment: ‘Mustii Deserved to Be in the Eurovision 2024 Final’
The Eurovision Song Contest 2024, held in Malmö, has left a trail of controversies and disappointments. Among them is the case of Belgian representative Mustii, whose song «Before The Party’s Over» failed to make it to the finals, causing deep discontent among the artist and his creative team. Additionally, rumors are circulating that Belgium was penalized for not broadcasting Israel’s performance, adding fuel to the fire.
The Disappointment of Mustii and Pierre Dumoulin
Mustii, who represented Belgium, finished in 13th place in the second semi-final on Thursday, earning only 18 points from the televote. Pierre Dumoulin, co-author of the song, expressed his frustration with the results. «Mustii is even more disappointed, and rightly so because he has worked so hard for this contest over the past few months. I truly believe he deserved to be in the final with this song, and the fact that we no longer have a professional jury for the semi-finals has affected the results,» Dumoulin commented.
Dumoulin believes that one of the factors affecting their qualification was the public’s preference for «happy and fun» songs, in contrast to Belgium’s darker and more introspective offering. «Before The Party’s Over» did not capture the public’s attention in the same way that lighter, more festive songs did.
Pierre Dumoulin’s Eurovision Journey
Pierre Dumoulin is no newcomer to the Eurovision stage. With three entries as a composer for Belgium—»City Lights» (2017), «Wake Up» (2019), and «Before The Party’s Over» (2024)—Dumoulin has made a significant mark on the contest. Despite the recent setback, Dumoulin has hinted that he will not give up. In an interview with SongFestival.Be, he stated, «I don’t want to end in failure. I am someone who loves competition, and that’s why I will continue trying to bring songs to Eurovision.»
Rumors of a Penalty for Belgium
Amid the disappointment of the elimination, rumors have surfaced that Belgium was penalized for not broadcasting Israel’s performance during the second semi-final. According to unconfirmed sources, this omission could have influenced the EBU’s decision not to qualify Belgium for the final. Although these rumors have not been officially confirmed, they have added another layer of controversy to an already tense situation.
Implications and Repercussions
Belgium’s performance in Eurovision 2024 and the rumors of a penalty raise important questions about fairness and the contest’s rules. The EBU’s decision to eliminate the professional jury from the semi-final has also been a point of contention, with many in the Eurovision community believing it has negatively impacted more artistic and less commercial entries.