I have to say when the Beeb announced that they would be running a pop-up radio station purely dedicated to Eurovision this year, I had my doubts... How would they fill 4 days of airtime? Would anyone actually tune in? Is it going to be another half-wash BBC attempt to say they're taking the competition seriously? Et Al...
WOW! I couldn't have been more delighted when BBC Radio 2 Eurovision went live yesterday at noon! The production so far has been super slick with a fantastic schedule. If you haven't given it a listen already - DO IT NOW!! Its GENUINE radio, but for euro-lovers!!
There's been some EXCELLENT live content from Mr Paddy O'Connel from Copenhagen, plus special editions of Sounds of the 60s/70s/80s, commentary of the semi-finals by the incredible Ana Matronic and as I write this, a really interesting show about the Eurovision-Monarchy; ABBA, presented by fellow euro-addict Mr Scott Mills...
They have also created this fabulous Eurovision Playlister on Spotify...
The station is available via the BBC Radio 2 website, the iPlayer Radio app and DAB Digital Radio across the UK from noon - midnight from 8th until 11th May 2014.
Yesterday evening the BBC set the cat amongst the pigeons in a stealth-move via the red button service on BBC One. Quietly tucked away trailing The One Show, this years launch event for the UK Eurovision bid was presented by Scott Mills from a 'secret location' somewhere in London. I would like to say that it was a much-awaited affair but this is after all; the Eurovision Song Contest in Britain that we're talking about. It was however, a very smart move.
Releasing the UK entry to the contest's core fan base has allowed social media to spread the word positively, rather than the press hounding our entry with the usual British "its all political" and "we're wasting our time" standard response. That said however, the press surrounding the announcement last night has actually taken on a more surprising tone with speculation that this song could actually bring home the (Danish) bacon.
Hailing from Leicester in the Great East Midlands, Molly Smitten-Downes was sourced via the BBC's Introducing programme which allows unsigned artists to get their work noticed. Her previous material is really quite special, particularly her haunting track "Never Forget". Here she proves that she means business when it comes to penning down a memorable tune.
I don't know about you, but this has an air of John-Lewis-Advert to me...
Her other credentials are also impressive, having provided the vocals to SASH's dance extravaganza, "Raindrops (Encore Une Fois)" - reaching number nine in the UK charts in 2006, as well as picking up the Best of British Unsigned Music award for the song "Strange Alien" last year, although this is somewhat irrelevant when it comes to being placed top of the table in Copenhagen this May.
What is relevant though is the song in question; "Children of the Universe". It is after all what all this hubbub is about. Does it have the ingredients of a Eurovision Winner?... In a word, YES! Have a listen to it here, and then we'll talk about it some more, shall we?
Lets run through the checklist...
Universally Inoffensive Lyrics... Check
Peaceful Message... Check
Catchy Hook... Check
Well Performed... Check
Sing-along-ability... Check
Big, Anthemic Finish... Check
Glitterball Staging... Not quite, but thats not necessarily a bad thing...
...there is plenty of opportunity to create a slick, polished performance with this song, and I can almost smell the on-stage fireworks as the track reaches its finale. A tasteful short blast on the Eurovision Wind Machine and the absence of a faffy dance troupe should see us in good stead. As long as the 'Beeb keep their eyes on the prize and create a staging that fits the song, I think we'll be alright and with Guy Freemen at the helm, this is almost a certainty. Take Emile De Forest's winning performance for Denmark last year as the template, but lets lose the viking drummers and nightie.
Now for those Brits who speak of the Eurovision with the same drone as a Scottish Bagpiper, I'd just like to clear up a few points. The arguments of "Oh its all Political" and "Nobody in Europe likes us anyway" is just simply a load of hot air. Lets take Germany as an example. When they won in 2010 after Mr Eurovision Stefan Raab was approached by the national broadcaster to turn the German Eurovision fortunes around, they managed to overcome an incredibly dismal past record. I hasten to stress that this is GERMANY! If ever there was a country in Europe with political and cultural cards stacked against them, no matter how historical they may be, then it is them. Here is how the UK and Germany had placed in the contest over the first 10 years of the millennium...
2000: Germany 5th/UK 16th
2001: Germany 8th/UK 15th
2002: Germany 21st/UK 3rd
2003: Germany 11th/UK 26th (Last)
2004: Germany 8th/UK 16th
2005: Germany 24th (Last)/UK 22nd
2006: Germany 11th/UK 19th
2007: Germany 19th/UK 22nd
2008: Germany 23th/UK 25th (Last)
2009: Germany 20th/UK 5th
2010: Germany WINNER/UK 25th (Last)
Average: Germany 12th/UK 15th
...so you see its anybody's game. Plus we now have a jury from each country who award 50% of the final score - something that the EBU (who organise the contest) introduced to counter such rumours of political voting that the UK seems to have forgotten about. Not only that, but this year the standard of the competition is also greatly in our favour with many of the songs already chosen falling well under par. Eurovision is still a SONG contest and as Germany proved, the best song that is most popular across the continent WILL win. Its as simple as that.
The reaction to our entry has been fantastic from those fans across Europe - the ones who will actually be voting for it. The same cannot be said for some of the comments made closer to home, which just goes to show how backward the British impression of the contest really is. No matter how fantastic of an entry Molly has, she will inevitably find it hard to drum up any kind of support from her home nation. Hopefully, if she achieves the ultimate and brings home the prize... this will all be about to change.
Finally the BBC have given us a song and a performer that we can be proud of on the Eurovision stage. Not only do the fans across Europe seem to love it already, but as an extremely talented SONGWRITER, Molly is sure to score well with both the voting public AND the international juries.
It really is an exciting time for British Eurovision fans... Lets hope we'll be showering Molly Smitten-Downs with jubilations and hosting the competition again next year - bringing about a wind of change for its perception right here in the UK.
I actually cant quite believe I'm about to publish this post. Those of you who know me will be aware that I will never usually hear a bad word said against the great Eurovision Song Contest...
On Sunday Evening I was home alone and took the chance to indulge myself in a little vintage euro-viewing. I picked the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest DVD from the bookcase, popped the disc into the player, opened the red wine and got comfortable ready to let the sequins, schlager and european partiality to wash over me.
I was so disappointed.
It must be a good year since I have played the 2006 contest which was held in Athens. I could not believe how dated and frankly cheap-looking not only the production was but also the quality of the songs was far worse than I had remembered. Fair enough this was broadcast almost eight years ago, but you would be forgiven for thinking it was more like eighteen.
Take this entry for example,"Arsenium feat. Natalia Gordienko & Connect-R" singing "Loca" for Moldova. It is, for want of a better word, DIABOLICAL!!
At least the artists' name brought a smile to my face - 'ARSEnium!'
If your ears are in pain after hearing that song, then I shall afford you some sanctuary by not even posting the clip of Latvia's entry. "Vocal Group Cosmos" manage to stumble their way through an astronomically-atrocious A Cappella number wearing ill-fitting ivory suits and constantly faffing around with the most ridiculous prop in Eurovision history (of which there have been many). A song book is transformed firstly into a lectern before being walked around the stage in the finale as a robot-puppet complete with what appears to be a head made from a paper plate and horror-film-esque glowing eyes. If you are feeling adventurous however, here is a link to the youtube clip which is to be viewed at your own risk...
One saving grace did come, as to be expected, from Sweden with the mighty Carola belting out "Invincible" in front of lame-clad dancers complete with huge silver flags and the obligatory scandinavian wind machine.
Careful Carola, you'll pull a muscle if you're not careful!
For all those Brits who bang on about the contest being a corny, old fashioned, out-of-date bore-fest... I now excuse you if your opinion is based on this poor showing. Three years later the competition was held in Moscow and I genuinely think that whilst this might not have been the most popular host city for many euro-fans, the Russians pulled the competition forward a good 10 years and since then the standard of the TV production as well as the entries (with a few exceptions!) has been infinitely more credible.
Apparently this is where next year's Eurovision Song Contest may be held....
There's just one problem... They've not even STARTED building yet, and the deadline is less than 9 months away!! Somehow, I think Ictimai and the city of Baku may have bitten off slightly more than they can chew! Pull the other one guys!!
This is the video for the song Wonderful by Gary Go, filmed on a Berlin rooftop with some great shots of the city and its people... The song was used as part of the production soundtrack to the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest in Düsseldorf. I think it's a really uplifting and empowering song...
The song was made popular in Germany after it was used on the soundtrack to the film Männerherzen, and is at the top of my must-see list for next weekafter I hand in my final uni work. IchLiebe Berlin, Ich LiebeDeutschland...
Here I am in sunny Dusseldorf getting ready for the Eurovision Song Contest Semi Final... I cant express in words how excited both I and the rest of Dusseldorf is for the show tonight.... Just look at the photos - you cant escape it here! = Heaven!!
The Dutch broadcaster TROS have sailed into town along the Rhine with a full on NEDERBOAT! - They obviously mean business!
The 3J's being interviewed for Dutch TV on board the Nederboat. As you can imagine, this made me smile so much I almost put my jaw out.
The Croatian delegation make their way to the arena ready for the show tonight!!!!
Dana International's less popular Israeli Garden Party...
There isn't really much explanation needed when it comes to the Eurovision, or maybe its just that most of it CAN'T be explained!
Anyway, I think you can tell from my face that I enjoyed it. A picture speaks a thousand words eh?
On a (if you can call it) more serious note, there's a lot to be said about 100 million people all sharing in the same moment right across the world. The atmosphere in and around the arena was as friendly as it was exciting - something which led me to write my dissertation on the contest....
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