The Starlings are a Belgian musical duo founded in 2018, consisting of Tom Dice and Kato Callebaut. The group released their first single "Mine" in 2019. In 2020, the couple participated in the sixth season of Liefde voor muziek.[1] In May 2020, they released their debut album Don't Look Back.

The Starlings
OriginAntwerp, Belgium
GenresPop
Years active2018–present
LabelsUniversal Music Group
MembersTom Dice
Kato Callebaut
Tom Dice
Kato Callebaut
Tom Dice and Kato Callebaut

Musical history edit

The two members of the group are well-known artists in Flanders. Dice previously represented Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 with the song Me and My Guitar, while Callebaut participated in the fourth edition of the Flemish talent show Idool, finishing second.[2] They met in 2013 when they recorded the single "Breaking Up Slow" together, and officially founded The Starlings in 2018.[3]

In 2020, the duo took part in the Flemish TV show Liefde voor muziek, where they received praise for their reinterpretation of the song "Liefdeskapitein" by K3.[4] In the same year they released their debut album Don't Look Back,[5] which reached number 2 in the Flemish chart, selling 10,000 copies and obtaining a gold record.[6] Their second album, Seaside, reached number 5 in the Flemish charts in 2022.[7]

In November 2022, they were announced as one of seven participants in Eurosong 2023, the Belgian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.[8] They chose to perform in the final with the song "Rollercoaster". They came in second place with 277 points (94 points from the juries and 183 points from the televoting).[9][10] After the show, Dice complained about the juries for not respecting them.[11]

Discography edit

Studio albums edit

  • Don't Look Back (2020)
  • Seaside (2022)

Singles edit

  • "Mine" (2019)
  • "Bury a Friend" (2019)
  • "Never Alone" (2019)
  • "On My Way" (2019)
  • "My Town" (2020)
  • "Die Happy" (2020)
  • "Heal" (2020)
  • "Happiness" featuring Ides Moon and Milo Meskens (2020)
  • "Magic" (2021)
  • "Just Come Home" (2022)
  • "Jericho" (2022)
  • "Rome" (2022)
  • "Gold" (2022)
  • "Get to You" (2022)
  • "Rollercoaster" (2023)

References edit

  1. ^ "Tom Dice en vriendin Kato brengen als The Starlings eerste single uit" [Tom Dice and girlfriend Kato release first single as The Starlings]. songfestival.be (in Dutch). 5 January 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  2. ^ Claeys, Jan (8 February 2011). "'Hoog tijd dat een meisje Idool wint'". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Kato en Tom Dice bundelen krachten in The Starlings" [Kato and Tom Dice join forces in The Starlings] (in Dutch). 4 January 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  4. ^ "The Starlings geven concert in Lotto Arena" [The Starlings give a concert in Lotto Arena] (in Dutch). 13 April 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  5. ^ "The Starlings - Don't Look Back". Ultratop (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Goud en Platina" [Gold and Plantium]. Ultratop (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  7. ^ "The Starlings - Seaside". Ultratop (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  8. ^ Paelinck, Gianni (8 November 2022). "Nog eens Tom Dice op het Songfestival of wordt het Loredana? Deze 7 kandidaten wagen hun kans in Eurosong 2023". VRT NWS (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  9. ^ Meersman, Boris (13 January 2023). "Belgium – Eurosong 2023: Gustaph and The Starlings reveal their songs for tomorrow's final!". escYOUnited. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  10. ^ Veen, Renske ten (14 January 2023). "Gustaph will represent Belgium at Eurovision 2023 with "Because of You"". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  11. ^ Veen, Renske ten (15 January 2023). "Tom Dice calls out "lack of respect" among Belgium's jury at Eurosong 2023…after losing by one point". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 28 January 2023.