Songfacts®:

• Joost Klein, known mononymously as Joost, is a Dutch musician, rapper, singer and former YouTuber. He was chosen to represent the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with "Europapa." Having qualified from the semifinal, Joost was scheduled to perform fifth in the final but was disqualified from the competition amid allegations of misconduct. According to the Swedish police, Klein had made "unlawful threats" to a camerawoman.
• "Europapa," which literally translates to "Father of Europe," is a deeply personal song for Joost. Orphaned young, he lost both his parents by his teenage years. The song is a heartfelt tribute to his father, who instilled in him a love for travel and a thirst for exploring different cultures.
• "Europapa" tells the story of an orphan on a whirlwind adventure across Europe, searching for himself and a place to belong. It's a journey of self-discovery, with Joost putting himself out there, refusing to be ignored. The music video reflects this too, with a melancholic ending showing a burning house and a family photo of Joost and his dad. For Joost, the song is a way of finding closure. "I have to move on," he said.
• Joost wrote the lyrics himself with input from his good friends, Dutch rapper and singer Donnie and Dutch actor Tim Haars.
• Musically the song draws inspiration from all corners of Dutch dance music, including the Eurodance sounds of 2 Unlimited and Vengaboys. Joost teamed up with DJ Paul Elstak, the godfather of happy hardcore (aka super-charged dance music with a smile) for a special contribution. The result? A bouncy, energetic anthem that's quintessentially Dutch, according to Joost.
• While Eurovision didn't work out, "Europapa" became a runaway success. It smashed records in the Netherlands, becoming the most streamed song in a single day on Spotify. The single topped the charts in Flanders, Latvia, Lithuania and Joost's home country, and reached the Top 10 in seven other European nations.