Boris wins Dutch Idols 2004

3 May 2004

AMSTERDAM — The months-long Idols talent quest ended on Saturday night as the 23-year-old Boris Titulaer was crowned as the latest Dutch singing sensation, defeating the 22-year-old Maud Mulder.

The Idols quest started eight months ago and Boris was never placed in the “at risk group” and when the live performances started nine weeks ago, the Venlo resident was considered by many as the eventual winner.

But before the grand finale, opinions within the HMG studio in Hilversum were still seriously divided as Boris and Maud fans screamed their lungs out for the last time, news agency ANP reported.

As the evening progressed with various performances by both finalists, including a duet, the nation’s music lovers telephoned or used SMS technology to vote for their favourite candidate. Boris eventually won with 61 percent of the vote.

Both the media and jury members were positive about the result, with jury member Jerney Kaagman saying after one of Boris’ performances: “Robbie Williams, eat your heart out”. Jury chairman Henkjan Smits had also said Boris was the King of Soul.

As the result was made public, Boris triumphantly raised his and Maud’s arm into the air and a broad grin spread across his face. Obviously ecstatic, he was soon heard to shout: “Keep the soul alive”.

His single, When You Think of Me, will be released for retail on 11 May, newspaper De Telegraaf reported.

But not to be outdone, Maud, of Nijmegen, informed the public that she had done her best and that they had not heard the last of her. The Idols jury said she had grown from a “shy grey mouse” to “the most versatile candidate of the year”.

Saturday’s final was watched by 3.3 million people and the broadcast of the result was watched by 3.4 million. Last year’s final was watched by 5 million people when Jamai defeated Jim.

A total of 16,731 auditioned during the Idols talent quest of 2004, compared with the 7,626 who auditioned in the debut Idols quest last year.

There were also a greater number of broadcasts during the audition rounds for Idols 2004 and according to research bureau Kijk- en LuisterOnderzoek, the ratings were high. The jury members were the same as last year.

Subject: Dutch news