We finally get to a Big 5 country after a long gap from Germany and Spain and it’s our very own UK! Contrary to what many (younger) people might think, the UK is still the third most successful country (after Sweden and Ireland) and this year’s contest marks the UK’s 60th year of participation – it has not missed a contest since 1959, the longest run of uninterrupted Eurovision appearances of any country. Last year Joe and Jake’s upbeat pop did quite well with the juries, but a disappointing televote left the UK in the bottom 5 – can the lovely Lucie Jones return us to former glory? Continue reading “Eurovision 2017 previews countdown: #12 UNITED KINGDOM – Lucie Jones – “Never Give Up on You””
It was a dream come true for my fellow Eurovision fans Clive and Ade who are Bucks Fizz super fans. They finally did a set at my second home, the wonderful Royal Vauxhall Tavern. I’m not sure that Bucks Fizz (or more accurately “Cheryl, Mike and Jay – formerly of Bucks Fizz with Bobby McVay” as they are legally obliged to call themselves) quite expected the atmosphere and reaction they got at a jam packed RVT. Continue reading “(Formerly of) Bucks Fizz at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern!”
Well me and my friends had a blast at the UK national final at the Hammersmith Apollo on Friday 27 January. The event was broadcast live on BBC2, getting double the audience that the show got last year on BBC4. I thought it was a really good show, generally good performances and a great crowd. And we got to see both Alexander Rybak, Eurovision winner for Norway in 2009 (who opened the show) and the awesome Sophie Ellis-Bextor (a judge).
The winner was Welsh girl, Lucie Jones – a straw poll of our group after all 6 performed put her as our favourite, so we chimed with the overall result! Continue reading “Eurovision: You Decide – images and videos from live show (UK national final 2017)”
Almost time for the UK to decide! (In fact, we’re one of the very first countries to hold our national final this year). The BBC have chosen to do a national selection show once again, with 6 acts competing. The show moves from BBC4 to BBC2 and the venue has changed to the larger Hammersmith Apollo. Unlike last year, I will be there in person this year! So expect some of my video footage of the event, which will include a performance from Eurovision winner in 2009, Alexander Rybak. Continue reading “National selections Eurovision 2017 United Kingdom: Eurovision:You Decide”
I’ll be jetting off for warmer climes for a week, but I’m not forgetting my blog in the meantime and with the UK’s Bonfire Night (or Guy Fawkes’ Night) taking place this weekend, what better time for a fire-themed Eurovision top 5? As it turns out, very few Eurovision song titles have used the word “fire” in the title but I’ve dug into the archives and have 5 fire-themed songs for your enjoyment. Continue reading “Bonfire Night: a Eurovision top 5”
200 days to the Grand Final of Eurovision 2017! Some bits of Eurovision news today: Slovakia confirms they won’t be participating next year (they haven’t taken part since 2012) and Moldova confirms that they are taking part, bringing the number of confirmed countries to 41. Moldova haven’t missed a Eurovision since their debut in 2005.
While Eurovision season has indeed begun, news will be quite intermittent until we hit the Christmas period when it will pick up a lot of pace. In the meantime, I’ll be posting up lots of Eurovision content. Today, we’re looking at the top 10 countries by average finishing position in the Grand Final. I haven’t included countries that have not competed in less than 5 finals, and I haven’t included semi-final performances, just how the countries have performed in the finals. This does include countries who no longer compete in Eurovision (or at least haven’t competed for some time). Some familiar or expected countries in this list, as well as some surprises!
Continue reading “Top 10 countries by Grand Final finishing position”
I’ve just come back from seeing Sonia tonight at my usual haunt of the Royal Vauxhall Tavern.
She was doing a one-off show there and of course, it included her Eurovision song of 1993, which came 2nd for the United Kingdom (as we so often did!). Enjoy this Eurovision classic 🙂
It’s the first Big 5/automatic qualifier entry today, so although this is in 29th place in this list, the lowest it can actually come at Eurovision will be 26th in the final. Given that this is my own country, the United Kingdom, I sincerely hope we don’t finish last as it would be totally undeserved – as I feel is the placing Joe and Jake have got in this chart, it’s a much better entry than many of the songs that are yet to come.
Continue reading “Eurovision 2016 previews countdown: #29 UNITED KINGDOM – Joe and Jake – “You’re Not Alone””
Finally the last set of my own videos from the London party! Joe and Jake (United Kingdom) headlined the party and they really rocked the place – a great, energetic performance with the crowd really behind them. To finish the night, who else could it be other than the marvellous Nicki French with her 2000 Eurovision entry. Continue reading “London Eurovision Preview Party 2016 video clips part 6: Joe and Jake; Nicki French”
