When it was announced that Joost Klein was going to represent the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest, many people were sceptical. Many people also thought (and perhaps still think): who is Joost? Well, apparently an artist who delivers good songs. There is a massive positive response to his song for the Eurovision Song Contest. Even the most pessimistic people have hope for a good outcome. OMG!
Many positive reactions to Eurovision song Joost Klein
This year, Leap Day was not only a special day for people whose birthday comes once every four years. No, on Leap Day 2024, Joost Klein’s song was also announced for the Eurovision Song Contest. And the 26-year-old artist from Friesland gives us a real energy bomb: the song blasts through everyone’s TV on leap day via Arjen Lubach’s TV program. There he immediately had his first TV interview after the announcement of his Eurovision Song Contest entry. The song Europapa turns out to be a completely different song than previous songs that the Netherlands has submitted for the Eurovision Song Contest. Afterwards, a journalist from NOS wonders whether he is not taking a risk. But Joost is not afraid of anything. “I wouldn’t be standing here in a blue suit if I didn’t believe in myself. That wouldn’t be very smart,” he says. “But I like to take a risk.”
Well, if we have to believe the Dutch, his risk may turn out well. In the Netherlands, people react positively en masse to Joost’s song for the Eurovision Song Contest. The negative reactions on social media channel X are hard to find. And precisely because the song may be ‘so bad’, it can have a positive outcome, someone writes. “The last time I thought a song was that bad, we won. So eh. Congratulations in advance everyone.” Well, the Eurovision Song Contest nowadays often consists of striking songs full of spectacle and craziness, right?
Wow, this is the worst song we’ve ever submitted. Terrible #JoostKlein #npo1
— Victor Hopman (@victorhopman) February 29, 2024
What a bad song #JoostKlein. It’s fine that you go crazy/fun, but be creative and original.
This is anything but that. This is an accumulation of silliness and poorly glued together.
I miss those years when we had pure quality.
— PK (@PerDefinitie) February 29, 2024
Just heard Joost’s song for the Eurovision Song Contest. I go into the stable side position in the oxygen tent for a moment. #kindhelp
— Jan de Hoop (@JandeHoop) February 29, 2024
The last time I thought a song was that bad, we won. So uh. Congratulations in advance everyone #joostklein #esf2024
— Peter Kuijpers (@PeterKuijpers9) February 29, 2024
I fucking love it! Reviving the 90s and a tear at the end (although other countries don’t understand that of course)
— Merel (@LeremV) February 29, 2024
I understand the criticism #joostklein and not his song. Here’s the thing #songfestivalnot for a serious music competition.
At Eurovision, the crazier the better. Nice is not it? pic.twitter.com/DQiP82pWH4
— RienvVliet (@RienvVliet) March 1, 2024
It’s on repeat here. Best entry ever #joostklein pic.twitter.com/pQzABesvUO
— Liza Leijenhorst (@LizaLeijenhorst) February 29, 2024
I’ve listened to it twenty more times and checked the list of previous entries, and I can’t change anything.#Europapa by #JoostKlein is the best Dutch entry in my existence and probably ever. So next year Leeuwarden.
And now do something useful. https://t.co/zwOCh7xLPK
— Wouter Louwerens (@Woutel) March 1, 2024
Which place at bookmakers?
In addition to Dutch people responding positively to the happy hardcore song on social media, Dutch radio DJs are also happy with the song. Radio 538 DJ Tim Klein was very surprised by the entry. “It is an extremely catchy tune and it really sticks in your head,” he tells RTL Boulevard. According to him, Joost’s song fits well with a “cabinet of curiosities” such as the Eurovision Song Contest. Radio station 3FM was very enthusiastic about Joost in advance and even campaigned for him, so that he was chosen as the Dutch representative. And now radio DJ Jamie Reuter is still very enthusiastic. “It immediately puts a smile on your face,” she says. Furthermore, music connoisseur and Qmusic DJ Domien Verschuuren is also happy with the song, who is normally skeptical about Eurovision songs. “It’s one hell of an entry,” he says now. He guesses that it will be an interesting show in any case. “We are doing something fun for the first time in years,” says Domien.
Of course, the big question immediately arises among fans of the Eurovision Song Contest: how does Joost score with the bookmakers? Well, not very well at the moment. Joost is in 20th place in the rankings (out of 37), as we see in the statistics on eurovisionworld.com. According to bookmakers, Croatia is currently expected to win the Eurovision Song Contest. But no worries, the statistics don’t say much yet. Not all songs for the Eurovision Song Contest have yet been announced. And a lot can change between now and May, when the song festival takes place in Malmö, Sweden.
Paul Elstak
The song Europapa was written by Joost himself, together with Donald Scloszkie, Teun de Kruif, Thijmen Melissant, actor Tim Haars and the well-known 90s DJ Paul Elstak. He also co-produced the song with Tantu Beats. Paul made the drop at the end of the song. Although he did participate in Joost’s song, unfortunately he cannot participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. Paul then has to work himself. He doesn’t mind, because in principle he has done his part. Now it’s up to Joost.
Message of song
So the song is an energy bomb, but a song with a deeper meaning. Europapa is about the fact that there are no boundaries when someone has big dreams. The lyrics are written in letter form addressed to his father, who, like his mother, has passed away. In the letter, Joost describes the life of an orphan who travels through Europe to discover himself and share his story with others. He also ends the Eurovision song quietly and poetically, addressing himself directly to his father.
If you haven’t heard Joost’s Europapa yet, you can listen for yourself below:
