The song is performed by the group O'G3NE, who was internally selected by the Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS to represent the Netherlands at the 2017 contest in Kyiv, Ukraine.

O'G3NE's appointment as the Dutch representative was announced on 29 October 2016, while the song, "Lights and Shadows", was presented to the public on 3 March 2017.

Performing during the show in position 6, "Lights and Shadows" was announced among the top 10 entries of the second semi-final and therefore qualified to compete in the final on 13 May.

The Netherlands has used various methods to select the Dutch entry in the past, such as the Nationaal Songfestival, a live televised national final to choose the performer, song or both to compete at Eurovision.

In 2013, the internal selection of Anouk performing "Birds" managed to take the country to the final for the first time in eight years and placed ninth overall.

In 2014, the internal selection of the Common Linnets performing "Calm After the Storm" qualified the nation to the final once again and placed second, making it the most successful Dutch result in the contest since their victory in 1975.

[9] In August 2016, Dutch media reported that AVROTROS had selected the group and winner of the fifth series of the reality singing competition The Voice of Holland O'G3NE to represent the Netherlands at the 2017 contest.

[11] The selection of O'G3NE as the Dutch representative occurred through the decision of a selection commission consisting of singer and television host Jan Smit, television host and author Cornald Maas, radio DJ Daniël Dekker and AVROTROS media-director Remco van Leen.

[13][14] On 2 March 2017, O'G3NE's Eurovision entry, "Lights and Shadows", was presented to the public during a press conference that took place in Amsterdam and hosted by Jan Smit and Cornald Maas.

On 8 April, O'G3NE performed during the Eurovision in Concert event which was held at the Melkweg venue in Amsterdam and hosted by Cornald Maas and Selma Björnsdóttir.

Each nation's jury consisted of five music industry professionals who are citizens of the country they represent, with their names published before the contest to ensure transparency.

This jury judged each entry based on: vocal capacity; the stage performance; the song's composition and originality; and the overall impression by the act.