Soundmixshow

History

Early days

Huisman, former drummer of 1970s band Lucifer and spin-off group Match, went on a tour in early 1980s with his Hitkrant Drive-In Show; this prototype-version of the Playback Show was a joint venture with weekly pop agazine Hitkrant in which he had a column. In 1983, Huisman brought the format on television during the summer-evening slot as Zomeravondshow by KRO. 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. Shortly afterwards, Huisman decided to do a spin-off with real vocals, thus Soundmixshow was born with artists being judged by a jury of three professionals, notably and ; the latter's "Vooral doorgaan!" () 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. It was first produced by Endemol for Katholieke Radio Omroep (KRO) before moving to RTL 4 from 1990 until 2002.

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.

Other spin-offs

From late 1980s until early 1990s, Huisman presented the Miniplaybackshow as a platform for children. A tie-in series titled Minisoundmixshow was announced, but it never happened. There was also a Seniorenplaybackshow with elder contestants, and the more successful Sterrensoundmixshow (Celebrity Stars In Their Eyes).

In 2002, the Soundmixshow was the platform for a debate between politicians just before the parliamental elections. That same year, 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 time as presenter of Soundmixshow.

Successful contestants

• Kate Ryan
• Petra Berger
• Marco Borsato
• Tooske Breugem
• Georgie Davis
• Glennis Grace
• Gerard Joling
• Helmut Lotti
• Désirée Manders
• Edsilia Rombley

List of winners

International versions

Spain's 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. Another similar format, Starstruck, was launched by ITV in 2022.

References

References

1. "Soundmixshow". Katholieke Radio Omroep.
2. "Biography".
3. "Soundmixshow goes USA".
4. (22 April 2007). "Format Soundmixshow blijkt ongekend succes".