Just a little notification for Eurovision fans, the last hour of yesterday’s Graham Norton show on BBC Radio 2 had himself and Paddy O’Connell look back over the past 10 years of the competition (since Graham took over commentary duties). Well worth a listen if you haven’t already.
Whilst listening it got me to delve into the few years before hand to remind myself that we were sending performers like Scooch, Javine, Andy Abraham with lacklustre songs (though Scooch did receive 12 points from Malta) and we’re constantly finishing towards the bottom.
For those who say that we will always come in last place, compare every other year to 2009...
The BBC used their annual team up with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with no musical to cast did they searched for a performer for Eurovision and had Webber construct the song ‘It’s My Time’. Jade Ewans beat many to be crowned the best singer, coupled this with a wonderful song and performance we ended in a respectable 5th place.
Unfortunately, the following year we went back to our old ways (albeit with Pete Waterman writing the song) and ended in 25th place.
In 2011 the BBC appointed the boyband Blue who helped to pen and perform ‘I Can’ that did well coming 5th in the public vote, not so liked by the juries coming 22nd and therefore 11th place overall.
My point is whilst Brexit may not have helped the situation, the weaker songs are sieved out of the competition during the semi finals, as the UK don’t have to endure that process if the song isn’t strong it will end up towards the bottom of the pack.