Soundmixshow
Soundmixshow was a Dutch talent show; hosted by Henny Huisman,[1][2] as a live-vocals version of the Playback Show. It has since been sold to other countries,[3] notably as the European Soundmix Show.
| Soundmixshow | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Joop van den Ende |
| Presented by | Henny Huisman |
| Country of origin | Netherlands |
| Original language | Dutch |
| No. of seasons | 18 |
| Production | |
| Production company | Endemol |
| Release | |
| Original network | KRO (1985–1989) RTL 4 (1990–2002) |
| Original release | 17 November 1985 – 27 April 2002 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Stars in Their Eyes European Soundmix Show |
History
Early days
Huisman, former drummer of 1970s band Lucifer and spin-off group Match, toured the early 1980s with his Hitkrant Drive-In Show; this prototype-version of the Playback-show was a joint venture with weekly pop-magazine Hitkrant in which he had a column. In 1983, Huisman brought the format on television during the summer-evening slot as KRO's Zomeravondshow; contestants performed on a hit-or-miss basis.
Breakthrough
In 1984 the name was changed to Playbackshow and contestants were now given full performance time. Soon afterwards Huisman decided to do a spin-off with real vocals; thus the Soundmixshow was born with artists being judged by a jury of three professionals notably Jacques d'Ancona and Barry Stevens; the latter's "Vooral doorgaan!" ("Keep up the good work!") became a catchphrase.
The Soundmixshow meant a breakthrough for several young Dutch artists, as it was a platform with a relative low threshold and a broad audience. The Soundmixshow was first produced by Endemol for Katholieke Radio Omroep (KRO) and afterwards for RTL 4 from 1990 until 2002.[4]
In the finals of 1988, Huisman asked viewers to phone a specific number for televoting. However, this caused such a big amount of phone calls, that the whole telephone grid was down for a while, and even the emergency services (police, ambulance, firefighters) were out of reach in some parts of the country.[4]
Other spin-offs
From the latter half of the 1980s till the early 1990s, Huisman presented the Miniplaybackshow as a platform for children; a Minisoundmixshow was announced, but it never happened.
There was also a Seniorenplaybackshow with elder contestants, and more successfully the Sterrensoundmixshow (Celebrity Stars In Their Eyes).[2]
In 2002, the Soundmixshow was the platform for a debate between politicians just before the parliamental elections.
Aftermath
In 2002, the format was discontinued in favor of Idols and other talent contests. Huisman reunited with former Soundmixshow-contestants on KRO's anniversary-programme in 2010. He used the backdrop whilst playing himself in a children's movie chronicling the events of two aspiring popstars. In 2014 Huisman appeared on the Showtime-programme to revisit his Soundmixshow-period.
Successful contestants
List of winners
| Year | Artist | Original artist | Song | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Glenda Peters | Randy Crawford | One Day I'll Fly Away | Gerard Joling was third this year |
| 1986 | Gina De Wit | Linda Ronstadt | Desperado | |
| 1986 | Frank Ashton | Tony Christie | Don't Go Down To Reno | |
| 1987 | Peter Douglas | Frank Sinatra | New York, New York | |
| 1988 | Jos Van den Brom | John Denver | Leaving on a Jet Plane | Desirée Manders made her TV debut. This was in a legendary final, where people could televote, but because of the huge number of votes, the whole phone grid was down. |
| 1989 | Carina Bos | Timi Yuro | Hurt | Helmut Lotti was also contestant. Last season broadcast on KRO |
| 1990 | Marco Borsato | Billy Vera | At This Moment | First season broadcast by RTL 4 |
| 1991 | Jorge Castro | Luciano Pavarotti | Caruso | Kathleen Prattis sang as Anita Baker, Watch Your Step. |
| 1992 | Nhelly Dela Rosa | Shirley Bassey | This Is My Life | |
| 1993 | Ellen Fransz | Whitney Houston | I will always love you | |
| 1994 | Glennis Grace | Whitney Houston | One Moment In Time | |
| 1995 | Arno Kolenbrander | Simon Bowman (from the musical Miss Saigon) | Why God, Why | Tooske Breugem was also contestant |
| 1996 | Edsilia Rombley | Oleta Adams | I Just Had To Hear Your Voice | |
| 1997 | Mary Ann Morales | Lea Salonga (from the musical Miss Saigon) | The Movie in My Mind | |
| 1998 | Cherwin Muringen | Seal | Kiss From A Rose | Floortje Smit was also contestant |
| 1999 | Erna Otte-Hemmink | Emma Shapplin | Spente Le Stelle | |
| 2000 | Bart Schwertman | Ian Gillan (from the rock-opera Jesus Christ Superstar) | Ghetsemane | |
| 2001 | Mary Amora | Tina Turner | River Deep, Mountain High | |
| 2002 | Valerie Dwarkasing | Alicia Keys | Fallin' |
International versions
| Country | Name | Channel | Hosts | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Belgium | VTM soundmixshow | VTM | Bart Kaëll Kürt Rogiers (2000) | 1989–1995 1997–2000 |
 Denmark | Stjerneskud | TV3 | Anders Frandsen | 1995 |
 Germany | Mini Playback Show | RTL | Marijke Amado (1990–1998) Jasmin Wagner (1998) | 1990–1998 |
 Italy | Re per una notte | Italia 1 | Gigi Sabani | 1994–1996 |
| Momenti di gloria | Canale 5 | Mike Bongiorno | 1999–2000 | |
| Sei un mito | Roberta Capua | 2005 | ||
| È nata una stella gemella | Lorella Cuccarini | 2008 | ||
 Norway | Med blikket mot stjernene | TV3 | Ragnar Otnes | 1995 |
| Stjerner i sikte | TV 2 | Jahn Teigen | 1996–1999 | |
 New Zealand | Stars in Their Eyes | TV One | Simon Barnett | 2008–2009 |
 Poland | Zostań gwiazdą | TVN | Krzysztof Ibisz | 1998–1999 |
 Portugal | Chuva de Estrelas | SIC | Catarina Furtado (1993–1994) José Nuno Martins (1995–1996) Bárbara Guimarães (1997–2000) | 1993–2000 |
 Spain | Lluvia de estrellas | Antena 3 | Bertín Osborne | 1995–2001 |
| La 1 | Sonia Ferrer | 2007 | ||
 Sweden | Sikta mot stjärnorna | TV4 | Lasse Holm (1994–1997) Agneta Sjödin (1999–2000, 2002) Paul Tilly (2002) | 1994–2002 |
 United Kingdom | Stars in Their Eyes (1990–2015) Starstruck (2021) | ITV | Leslie Crowther (1990–1992) Russ Abbot (1993 Elvis special) Matthew Kelly (1993–2004) Davina McCall (2003 specials) Cat Deeley (2005) Harry Hill (2015) TBA (2021) | 1990–2006 2015 2021 |
| Stars in Their Eyes: Kids | Matthew Kelly (2001–2002) Cat Deeley (2003–2004, 2006) | 2001 (pilot) 2002–04, 2006 |
Antena 3 created a similar format, under the title Tu cara me suena, in 2011. A UK version of this was also produced by ITV in 2013 and, like Stars in Their Eyes and Soundmixshow, is also a format owned by Endemol Shine Group.