Performed by: Barbara
Music by: Marc Vliegen
Lyrics by: Tobana
Conductor: Bert Candries
Language: Dutch
Placing: 25th (3 points)
Other versions: French, English, German
If you want to read the original Dutch lyrics please click the SUBTITLES button. And if you wish to understand them, select the language of your choice in the settings.
Here are the links to the other language versions of Barbara's iconic song:
English:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qekSWKSOfKk
German:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW9peJ1O2A8
French:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3EsICmElf8
Barbara Maria Karel Deckx (born 22 January 1974), better known by her stage name Barbara Dex, is a Belgian singer who represented her country in the Eurovision Song Contest 1993 with the song "Iemand als jij".
Dex had qualified via the Belgian national heat, Eurosong 93, held at the Casino Knokke on 6 March. At the Eurovision in Millstreet, she performed seventh, after Greece's entry "Ellada, Hora Tou Fotos" and before Malta's song "This Time". Dex came last, in 25th place.
Barbara returned to the Belgian final in 2004, teaming up with Alides for the song "One Life" which placed third. A further Eurovision attempt came in 2006 with the country line-dancing flavoured "Crazy" which earned her fifth place.
Barbara Dex was born in Turnhout, one of the three children of Marcel Deckx, a Belgian singer better known by his stage name Marc Dex. Her brother Tom Deckx has played bass guitar in the musical groups Tush and Nuts.
In Eurovision, Barbara wore a self-made dress, which inspired House of Eurovision's Barbara Dex Award for the contestant with the worst (later, "most striking") outfit.
Dex has released several albums between 1993 and 2011.
The song is a straightforward love ballad, with Barbara singing that she has never loved anyone like this before. Dex recorded her entry in four languages; Dutch, French (as "Je n'ai jamais aimé quelqu'un comme toi"), English ("Somebody Like You") and German ("So lieb wie dich").
The song was performed seventh on the night, following Greece's Katerina Garbi with "Ellada, Hora Tou Fotos" and preceding Malta's William Mangion with "This Time". At the close of voting, it had received 3 points, placing 25th (last) in a field of 25.
Due to the expanding Contest, those of the 1993 entrants who had received the fewest points were not permitted to enter the 1994 Contest - with Belgium suffering this fate. The 1994 edition was consequently the first Eurovision Song Contest in which Belgium did not participate since its inception - in 1956. These "passive" countries (who broadcast the Contest in 1994 but did not enter) were, however, entitled to return the following year. Hence, "Iemand als jij" was succeeded as Belgian representative at the 1995 contest by Frédéric Etherlinck singing "La voix est libre".
And here are the song's original Dutch lyrics:
Iemand als jij
Ik heb nog nooit iemand zo lief gehad
Al m'n twijfels zijn voorgoed voorbij
Nooit had ik eerder dat fijn gevoel
Jij bent alles wat ik bedoel
In je ogen zie ik dat hemelsblauw
Een warm gevoel waar ik van hou
Ik heb nog nooit iemand zo lief gehad
Zo een iemand als jij
Waar ik ook ben, jij zult bij me zijn
Met jou vind ik steeds de juiste weg
Oh... ik heb nog nooit iemand zo lief gehad
Zo een iemand als jij
Jij zult altijd in mijn gedachten zijn
Wat er ook met ons gebeuren mag
Weet heel zeker dat ik op je wacht
Zelfs in 't midden van de nacht
Jij geeft mij vleugels, dat vrije gevoel
Dat is het nu juist wat ik bedoel
Ik heb nog nooit iemand zo lief gehad
Zo een iemand als jij
Zo een iemand als...
Iemand als jij
English:
Someone like you
I have never loved someone this way before
All my doubts are over forever
I never had this nice feeling before
You're everything what I mean
In your eyes I see that heavenly-blue
A warm feeling that I love
I have never loved someone this way before
Such a someone like you
Wherever I am, you'll be with me
With you, I can always find the right way
Oh... I have never loved someone this way before
Such a someone like you
You'll be in my thoughts forever
Whatever may happen to us
Know for sure that I'll wait for you
Even in the middle of the night
You give me wings, a free feeling
Now, that's exactly what I mean
I have never loved someone this way before
Such a someone like you
Such a someone like...
Someone like you
