Date - February 23, 1983
Official name - Nationaal Songfestival 1983
Organising broadcasters - NOS
Venue - Congresgebouw, The Hague
Host - Ivo Niehe
Director - Bob Rooyens
Stage designer - Mia Schlosser
Producer - Rob de Boer
Musical director - Ruud Bos
Orchestra - Metropole Orkest (Metropole Orchestra)
Concertmaster - Ernő Oláh
Opening sequence & incidental music - Ruud Bos (arr. Ruud Bos - Paul Natte)
Interval acts - Medley of Eurovision entries performed by Sandra Reemer, Diane Marchal, Cees Stolk, Hans Vermeulen, Julia Lo'ko & Dana (arr. Ruud Bos) & Nicole Hohloch performing a playback version of 'Ik hou toch van jou' (Ralph Siegel - Bernd Meinunger / arr. Norbert Daum)
Number of entries - 10, performed by 5 acts (2 songs each)
Winning entry - 'Sing Me A Song' Bernadette Kraakman
Winning songwriters - Piet Souer / Martin Duiser
Winning orchestrator - none (cp. note 1 below)
Note 1 - The musicians of the Metropole Orchestra, with drummer Evert Overweg as their ringleader, refused to accept that all acts were allowed to use pre-recorded backing tracks along with orchestral accompaniment. Faced with an ultimatum from the orchestra's musicians, the organising broadcaster NOS decided not to give in to their demands. Instead, all entries were performed to studio tracks prepared by the various arrangers and producers taking part in the competition. The orchestra only played the incidental music, such as the interval act. The orchestrations to all entries are available in the broadcasting service's library - and below, all original arrangers of the live version (which were never performed) are given
Note 2 - For the first time since 1956, the musical director of the Netherlands' pre-selection was not involved in the international Eurovision Song Contest as the conductor for his country. Instead of Ruud Bos - himself a replacement choice of Rogier van Otterloo, who had fallen ill -, one of the songwriters and producers of the winning entry, Piet Souer, was given permission by broadcasting authorities to be the musical director of the Netherlands' entry in Munich
PARTICIPATING ENTRIES
Song 1
Title – "Rendez-vous"
Rendition – Mystique
Lyrics – Toon Gispen "Tony Bos"
Composition – Peter van Asten / Richard de Bois
Studio arrangement – Tom Salisbury
Live orchestration – Tom Salisbury
Score – 8th place (25 votes)
Song 2
Title – "Met jou d'r bij (Maar met jou d'r bij)"
Rendition – Vulcano
Lyrics – Hans van Hemert
Composition – Hans van Hemert
Studio arrangement – Peter Schön
Live orchestration – Peter Schön
Score – 5th place (27 votes)
Song 3
Title – "Soms (The Best Years Of My Life)"
Rendition – Bernadette Kraakman
Lyrics – Piet Souer / Martin Duiser
Composition – Piet Souer / Martin Duiser
Studio arrangement – Piet Souer
Live orchestration – Piet Souer
Score – 6th & 7th place (ex aequo, 26 votes)
Song 4
Title – "Computer Games (Computergames)"
Rendition – Deuce
Lyrics – Piet Souer / Martin Duiser
Composition – Piet Souer / Martin Duiser
Studio arrangement – none
Live orchestration – Hans Hollestelle
Score – 6th & 7th place (ex aequo, 26 votes)
Song 5
Title – "Stop die show"
Rendition – Music Hall
Lyrics – Peter Koelewijn
Composition – Peter Koelewijn
Studio arrangement – John van de Ven
Live orchestration – John van de Ven
Score – 3rd place (53 votes)
Song 6
Song title – "Op zo'n dag"
Rendition – Mystique
Lyrics – Peter van Asten / Richard de Bois
Composition – Peter van Asten / Richard de Bois
Studio arrangement – none
Live orchestration – Peter Schön
Score – 10th place (8 votes)
Song 7
Title – "Sing Me A Song"
Rendition – Bernadette Kraakman
Lyrics – Piet Souer / Martin Duiser
Composition – Piet Souer / Martin Duiser
Studio arrangement – Hans Hollestelle
Live orchestration – Hans Hollestelle
Score – 1st place (69 votes)
Song 8
Title – "Een beetje van dit (En een beetje van dat)"
Rendition – Vulcano
Lyrics – Hans van Hemert
Composition – Hans van Hemert
Studio arrangement – Peter Schön
Live orchestration – Peter Schön
Score – 2nd place (68 votes)
Song 9
Title – "Stopwatch"
Rendition – Deuce
Lyrics – Martin Duiser
Composition – Martin Duiser
Studio arrangement – Hans Hollestelle
Live orchestration – Hans Hollestelle
Score – 9th place (19 votes)
Song 10
Title – "Voulez-vous danser?"
Rendition – Music Hall
Lyrics – Peter Koelewijn
Composition – Peter Koelewijn
Studio arrangement – John van de Ven
Live orchestration – John van de Ven
Score – 4th place (37 votes)
