After weeks of speculation, the BBC have finally announced who is in the running to represent the United Kingdom at this year's Eurovision Song Contest on May 24th. Six acts will compete for the ticket to Belgrade on Saturday March 1st in a live selection programme called Eurovision: Your Decision. Once again, it's all hasbeens and talent show rejects, but let's remember all this is irrelevant. We just need a good song, performed well. Let's take a look at the contenders.
The most successful musically is probably Michelle Gayle, who scored seven top 30 hits between 1993 and 1997, including the fantastic number four hit Sweetness from September '94, which you can see her performing live on Top Of The Pops below. Also known for playing Hattie Tavernier in EastEnders, Michelle did try resurrecting her pop career a few years ago after she came second in the ITV1 show Reborn In The USA, but record label problems led to her comeback single never actually reaching the shelves. Her potential Eurovision entry is called Woo (U Got Me), which is described as "pop in essence, but with a very cool 60’s vibe to it". Well it couldn't possibly be any worse than Liz McClarnon's effort from last year. The song was co-written by Michelle herself (now 37!) with Morten Schjolin who was also involved in Brian Kennedy's 2006 Irish entry and Scooch's 2007 entry. But it also says he's worked with Nelly, LeAnn Rimes, Simply Red, Jennifer Lopez and t.A.T.u. so let's not write it off!
Runner-up in The X Factor 2005, Andy 'The Bin Man' Abraham is bidding for Eurovision glory with the "anthemic soul" song Even If. Andy co-wrote the song with Andy Watkins and Paul Wilson, who also co-wrote the Spice Girls hits Stop and Too Much, which might be promising? However it'll most likely just sound like his number 63 smash hit Hang Up.
Now I'm thrilled to see girlie trio The Revelations in the line-up. Annika, Sarah, and Louise are kind of a contemporary version of The Supremes and they released a brilliant Radio 2-supported single If I Called You On The Telephone this time last year. They'll be competing with the Adam Howorth-penned It's You.
I'm not so amused to see that Popstars: The Rivals rejects Emma Beard and Aimee Kearsley still haven't taken the hint. Refugees from Clea, who miraculously managed to release three albums, the new duo LoveShy are in the running with Mr Gorgeous. Again, the girls co-wrote the song, with Oscar Gorres, a friend of the legendary Jörgen Elofsson. He also co-wrote Donal Skehan's entry in this Saturday's Irish final, and has worked with Swedish popster Danny and German Eurovision hopefuls Marquess. Anyway you can already begin to judge the song, because an excerpt is available on their myspace. I'm not sure they'll really cut it live. This is their last single Lucky Like That.
So that's two soloists and two girl groups so far - one of each will be voted by an 'expert jury' through to the public vote, and one from the final group (as well as a fourth wildcard), which is Joseph vs Maria. I didn't watch either Any Dream Will Do or How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria, but I am distinctly unimpressed by what I've just seen from the two contenders. Rob McVeigh (or 'Rob The Builder') will sing a ballad called I Owe It All To You, co-written by Mark Read and Paul Barry, who wrote Cher's 1998 worldwide hit Believe.
I'm a bit disappointed that the rumour that Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber would be writing some of the songs, but I suppose we shouldn't judge them before we hear them. I don't have much hope for Simona Armstrong being able to pull off her song Changes though judging on this terrible performance of Material Girl. She's Romanian by the way, hence the funny accent.
So that is that. The show will be presented by Terry Wogan and Claudia Winkleman, and will also feature a performance by Katrina & Not The Waves. It's difficult to know whether to be optimistic or not really... but at least it appears there are no novelty entries in this year's selection, which should theoretically mean that the best song will win? At this stage, I'd be most happy to see either Michelle or The Revelations represent us. I just hope it's not bottom five for the UK yet again.
3 comments:
I've been reading but bad at commenting...so, mega-comment!
I felt...underwhelmed by the clips of the UK songs, but it's so difficult to judge based on the little be got to hear, and then there's always live vocals to take into account.
I love the Anael song and the Alcazar song, and "Disappear," which actually grows on me more and more each week--just not in the Eurovision framework.
Speaking of Idol, I've not properly caught up yet, but the fact that the guy who used to be part of Boyz N Girlz United is now going for the hardcore rocker look cracks me up--pop group fallout in action, there--he must have been trying for ages to disassociate himself from that group as much as possible. I love me some flop boy bands (or mixed pop groups), but I feel like someone needs to make a public service announcement with him as the poster boy--"Look! This could be the the cost of a failed pop group! Untold levels of psychological insecurity!"
I really hope that Donal Skehan entry is good--I'm trying to not get too excited about it since it could just as easily not be, but that's difficult.
What an informative post, thanks!
I am excited about the Paul Barry track. And Mark Read is the Ex-member of A1?
I think so.
Yes, this Donal song I hope is poptastic.
turnaround
I'm going to avoid clips of tracks for Eurovision this time around, including stuff for MYMU. It's interesting though, yeaaars before I had the Internet I would only ever hear songs from Eurovision on the actual night it was broadcast here in Australia on SBS. Now, there's months of lead up to the contest and I've already picked my top 10 faves before the competition has even aired.
Not complaining though!
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