UK national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest had hit with "Walking On Sunshine", to enter a new track, "Love Shine A Light". This produced a win in the Eurovision Contest itself for the United Kingdom and for Katrina and the Waves in 1997, and followed with a second place for Imaani in 1998, but disappointment in 1999 for the all-girl band Precious. In 2000, the same format continued, but the final four songs were performed live in "A Song For Europe", still shunted to a graveyard Sunday afternoon slot. The result proved disappointing. Nicki French gave what author John Kennedy O'Connor describes in his book The Eurovision
Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 only 5 points (4 from Malta and 1 from Turkey), placing the Netherlands joint 22nd (with Switzerland) of the 25 entries, ahead only of the nul-points entries from Norway and Portugal. The Dutch jury awarded its 12 points to contest winners the United Kingdom. The Dutch conductor at the contest was Dick Bakker. Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 The Netherlands was represented by five-piece female group Mrs. Einstein, with the song '"Niemand heeft nog tijd", at the 1997 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place in Dublin on 3 May. The song was chosen at the Dutch national final