Netherlands Antilles in the OTI Festival 1985

The Netherlands Antilles was represented at the OTI Festival 1985 with the song "Adiós, mi amor", written by Erroll Colina, and performed by Melania van der Veen. The Netherlands Antillean participating broadcaster, Antilliaanse Televisie Maatschappij (ATM), selected its entry through a televised national final. The song, that was performed in position 11, was not among the top-three places revealed.

This was the last time that Aruba was part of the Netherlands Antilles, since it gained its separate status in 1986, and TeleAruba became independent from ATM. TeleAruba participated in the festival representing Aruba in 1989 and in 1991.

Antilliaanse Televisie Maatschappij (ATM), held a national final to select its entry for the 14th edition of the OTI Festival. Sixteen songs were selected for the televised final, eight each from Aruba and Curaçao.

Given the precarious financial situation of the Aruban organizers, it was initially announced that, unlike previous years, the Aruban pre-selection would be carried out internally, with a jury choosing the songs from among the cassettes received.^[1] The deadline to register was 29 July 1985, and nineteen people initially registered.^[2] Finally, thanks to the collaboration of everyone involved, a televised pre-selection was possible. It was held on Sunday 11 August, beginning at 17:00 AST (21:00 UTC), at the ATM studios in Oranjestad. It was presented by Gerda Salas-De Groot and Tico Kuiperi, the musical director was Franklin Granadillo, and it was broadcast on TeleAruba and on the radio on Voz di Aruba. Fifteen acts competed, of which eight qualified for the national final.^[3][4][5]

ATM held the national final on Sunday 18 August 1985, beginning at 18:00 AST (22:00 UTC), at its studios in Willemstad. It was broadcast live on TeleAruba^[7] and TeleCuraçao.^[8]

The winner was "Adiós, mi amor", written by Erroll Colina, and performed by Melania van der Veen. It was the first victory for a song from Curaçao in the national final, as the seven previous winners were all from Aruba.^[9]

On 21 September 1985, the OTI Festival was held at Teatro Lope de Vega in Seville, Spain, hosted by Televisión Española, and broadcast live throughout Ibero-America. Melania van der Veen performed "Adiós, mi amor" in position 11, with Erroll Colina conducting the event's orchestra. The song was not among the top-three places revealed.^[12]

The festival was broadcast on delay at 20:00 AST (00:00+1 UTC) on TeleCuraçao.^[13]