The Entente Cordiale is alive and well – with the vocalist of Madame Monsieur (France’s Eurovision 2018 representatives) falling ill just before the biggest of the preview events, SuRie, the UK’s representative for Eurovision this year, offered to take the stricken Émilie’s place and sing (with almost no time to learn the song and rehearse) at the concert. My friend Zoltan was the man on the ground and who I have to thank for sending this through to me. A true magical Eurovision moment! Continue reading “SuRie sings “Mercy” by Madame Monsieur at Eurovision in Concert 2018″
Well the favourite may not have won, but my second favourite from before the show wowed everyone with a powerful and assured performance. I had a great time there, seeing Lucie Jones, Mans and Mel; we even got to speak to Edward af Sillen, the script writer of Eurovision 2016, this show, and of course writer of Love Love, Peace Peace! Enjoy the pics and vids I took 🙂 Continue reading “A Storm-y night: my evening at Eurovision You Decide 2018 (United Kingdom national selection)”
So, for a third year in a row, the BBC is giving us a live televised national final with six acts to choose from. Voting will be split between a televote and a jury. I’ll be there at the actual show itself; this time it’s being held in Brighton at the Brighton Dome – the very place that hosted the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, famously won by Abba that year. So here is a very quick preview of the songs and artists and thoughts on suitability for Eurovision… Continue reading “Eurovision 2018 national selections: Eurovision You Decide (United Kingdom preview)”
Today (15 January 2018) is so called “Blue Monday” – the day it is claimed to be the most depressing of the year. It’s all nonsense of course – but an excuse for me to do a blue-related Eurovision post. So here are 5 past Eurovision entries, all with some connection to “blue”. Continue reading “5 Eurovision songs for Blue Monday”
So it’s my last post of 2017, and thought I small selection of party bangers was in order. Now, there are so many to choose from, I thought I’d make it quicker and pick one party banger from each of the Big 5! Continue reading “5 party bangers from the Big 5 for New Year’s Eve”
Eurovision royalty came to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern on Thursday 21 September 2017 when Katrina of the Waves (formerly and the Waves!) performed at the famous south London venue. It’s 20 years since Katrina took the UK to victory for their fifth and most recent Eurovision win. “Love Shine a Light” remains one of the biggest ever wins in Eurovision history in terms of margin of victory and Katrina’s set duly culminated with this Eurovision classic. Continue reading “Katrina of the Waves at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern”
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)”
