Gustaph is going to the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool for Belgium, with “Because Of You”

14 January 2023

Saturday, January 14 - Gustaph will represent Belgium at the 67th Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool. He managed to win over viewers at home and the jury with the song “Because of You,” in the Eurosong 2023 preselection, live from Paleis 12.

Gustaph is Stef Caers (42), from Antwerp. For the Eurosong 2023 preselection, he chose “Because of You,” a positive battle song about accepting yourself and who you are. The “you” stands for family you choose yourself, who support you and back you up in life. That can be your actual family, but it might just as well be your best friend or partner. In short, all people who have made you who you are today. ​ 

“Because of You” was written by Gustaph, together with Jaouad Alloul, who is also a queer artist. The producers of the song are Gustaph and Willem Vanderstichele. 

Who is Gustaph? 

Gustaph wrote his first song when he was just seven years old. When he was nineteen, he scored a hit with his first single, “Gonna Lose You,” a song that he wrote and produced himself. ​ In 2000, he won the Summer Hit from the Flemish radio channel Radio 2 for the best debut. Gustaph’s soulful voice is popular internationally, too. For six years, he sang for the band Hercules & Love Affair, which scored a global hit in 2006 with “Blind.” 

What is his connection to the Eurovision Song Contest? 

Gustaph already has experience on the big Eurovision stage. He has already traveled to the Eurovision Song Contest twice as a backing vocalist: to Lisbon in 2018 with Sennek, and to Rotterdam in 2021 with Hooverphonic, where he also served as the voice coach for Geike Arnaert. ​ ​ 

The Eurovision Song Contest is taking place in Liverpool, England, this year. Last year, the Ukrainian group Kalush Orchestra won, but because of the war, the Eurovision Song Contest will take place in the United Kingdom, instead. The two semifinals are set to take place on Tuesday, May 9, and Thursday, May 11. The grand finale is scheduled for Saturday, May 13. On Tuesday, January 31, it will be clear which semifinal our country will be performing in. 

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