So the big build up is finally over and we get to hear the UK's 2014 Eurovision entry. Opinions range from "Who? Boring! Worst entry ever!" right through to "Ohmygawd we're going to win! Squeeee!" And of course the sensible opinion is somewhere in between.
And of course you've never heard of her - that was part of the point. The BBC are finally thinking of this contest with a musical head on and using their hit-finding Introducing strand to pick out this year's act. Well, did you want someone's nan sleepwalking through a mid tempo yawner again?
Now in the wider scheme of things this is no real world beater, but in UK Eurovision terms this is a bold new dawn. Of course she's on a hiding-to-nothing whatever the result. Anything less than a win will be considered a failure, and even a win will probably consign her to the post-Eurovision dump of history. But it's a start. And it's a bold start, so I hope we stick to this bright new path for at least another two or three years, and see what fresh new talent we can attract to help rebuild the image of the contest within the British music scene.
Let's not forget, the girl's got form. She's sung on a handful of pretty respectable dance hits with the likes of Sash and Basshunter, and has been winning a rack of new artist awards for her breathy, delicate new material. And the song? Actually it ain't bad. It could do with a chorus, but it's far more jury-flavoured than our last dozen or so entries. But then that's hardly as important as the very fact that it exists at all. It's going to be pretty interesting come voting time come 10 May.
Videos from YouTube. Underlying © lays with the owners of the clips
It's a great song, and way better than any of the 80s throwbacks we've been offering up recently. It goes right up to the line in delivering that mid-90s vibe that seems to be the thing right now in the countries with the voting power, but pulls back each time when it has the chance to deliver a dubstep wub-wub in a Eurovision-friendly way
ReplyDeleteIt's not as terrible as recent stuff we've submitted, but it's a small step in the right direction. I'll predict the UK finishing this year outside the bottom 10. It's not a winner by any stretch, but it's a definite step up over the shite we've been sending the last few years,
In the space of typing the above comment, I've only grown to like it more. It's not a winner by any means, but it's definitely the most Eurovision song the UK has offered up in many a year.
ReplyDeleteI've no expectations of it finishing anywhere near the top 10. but it's a sold little song that ticks a number of Eurovision boxes. Calling it now, ,I predict the UK having our best result in 2014 out of the last 5 years at least.
That would make us top four, Mark. I'm not sure it's got the legs for that.
ReplyDeleteBut a damn good analysis otherwise, sir.
I'm sorry to say that at the moment, the more I listen to this song, the less I like it. It feels like a weird filler for some charity event Bono is organizing. It's kind of a non-song, self indulgent mess. And when the backing singers are more interesting than the actual singer, we've got a problem. I haven't heard any of her previous tracks, but as a performer, I'm not convinced. 15-20, I'm afraid, for me. I still prefer this over half of the songs chosen, though. :-)
ReplyDeleteProps for the Bono line, sir!
ReplyDeleteNick coined that, I'm afraid. But I thought of the rest... really, I did!
ReplyDelete