“Go to the stage and sing, and the rest I had to remain silent.”

Bellpop, the documentary series about Belgian music on VRT Canvas, takes a look at the heyday of Eurodance at the turn of the century in tonight’s final episode. Belgian dance troupes conquered the world with front women who no longer pretended to be imitators, but were professionally accompanied and could actually sing. But foreign success also had a downside, as many singers from the time witnessed tonight Bellpop. The pressure on artists was great, and the money often ended up in the wrong hands.

This is attested by Kate Ryan, who broke through in 2002 with a cover of the French hit disappointingIt was very unsafe during that period. “I didn’t dare point out my limits. I just kept going, so I got into the red zone every now and then. This eventually led to an eating disorder, which led to her collapsing on stage during her show in Poland. “I was very skinny at the time because Anorexia and bulimia. My body suddenly indicated that this was no longer possible. After a few years, when she wanted to become more acoustic and alternative, her new record label cut her off. He wants more of the same thing: dancing. “I couldn’t leave my mark: then you lose yourself a little.”

Stifling contract

Jessie de Smet, singer of The Mackenzie, also testifies on the show about the strangulation contract she was bound to for seven years. “I wasn’t allowed to decide anything for myself, not even what clothes to wear. I wasn’t seen as a person: I was productive. I had to be good, because I knew I had signed a contract that I couldn’t escape. My manager would regularly say: ‘I’m destroying you.’ “I believed it.

Silver’s singer Sylvie DB is now talking about her period of “expression”. “It was a matter of taking the money and we just had to go with it. When I got on stage and sang, I had to stay silent for the rest of the time. De Bie also ended up in hospital a few times. “I lost a lot of weight during that period. But even when I was recovering in the hospital, they would call me and ask when I could perform again.

The broadcast also draws attention to the story of Annemie Coenen, Ian Van Dahl’s singer, and the unsung success of Regi Penxten with Milk Inc. and the revival of Belgian Eurodance with the annual “I Love the 90s” mass event.

Belbop: Belgian European Dance, Part 2tonight at 9.20pm on VRT Canvas or can be streamed now on VRT Max.