2019: United Kingdom | Michael Rice | Bigger Than Us

Big talent: Michael Rice to represent the United Kingdom

The BBC granted the UK another Eurovision national final this year, once again under the banner Eurovision: You Decide. The process was a little different this time, but it was Michael Rice with Bigger Than Us which topped the public vote and who will fly the British flag in Tel Aviv.

Six acts presenting three songs was the twist this year; each song nominated to be sung in two different styles by each of two singers. The "expert" panel, having eliminated three of the singers in the first round, left it to the public to choose between Kerrie-Anne's dated dance track Sweet Lies,  Jordan Clarke's nursery rhyme Freaks, and Michael's gospel-tinged offering.

Admittedly, none of the options was overly inspiring, but I feel Michael Rice pulled off the selection solely because of his outstanding vocals - lifting what could have been an unremarkable song to a whole different level.

21-year-old Rice is no stranger to the competitive talent show circuit, though, having appeared on The X-Factor in 2014 and winning the debut series of the BBC's All Together Now singing competition. His strong voice was evident there on songs such as Hallelujah and Proud Mary.

Bigger Than Us is constructed for Rice's style of vocalisation: a power ballad which grows to a mighty conclusion - possessing a well-placed key change and all held together with the help of a gospel choir backing. Think Austria 2018 and you may well notice some similarity.

Despite his lack of big-stadium experience, You Decide suggested Rice is an assured performer with good stage presence - albeit he does need to tone down the incessant arm waving before May. Nevertheless, there’s a real buzz building around this entry and I’m reasonably confident that we could be in for our first top ten placing in a decade. I can’t tell you how great it feels to be able to type those words.

United Kingdom

Artist: Michael Rice

Song: Bigger Than Us

Big 5 Finalist

Eurovision 2017: Review: United Kingdom: Never Give Up On You

United Kingdom: Lucie Jones: Never Give Up on You

It's nearly two months since the British public and a panel of "expert" judges chose - from a field of six - its song for Europe. The result: Lucie Jones has been given the daunting task of flying the flag for the UK with the Emmelie de Forest penned Never Give Up on You.

Although there were a couple of other songs among the "You Decide" selection which sounded as if they were more suited to Eurovision, it was former X-Factor contestant Lucie who stole the show with her emotionally charged performance of this rather maudlin ballad.

Her impassioned vocals have been honed from her recent experience of appearing on the London stage in Rent, so a live vocal should not prove a problem. That's something that should bode well with the Eurovision jurors.

While her vocals are proven, what about the song? It's a composition as far away from Emmelie de Forest's 2013 winner as one could probably get - barring punk or heavy metal. Never Give Up on You is something of a stagey, stripped-back composition which begs for the level of passion that Lucie  happily delivers.

Over recent weeks though, the song has been the subject of a subtle revamp: the addition of synthesizers during the chorus, along with a subdued beat, giving the overall package a more contemporary flavour.  The visuals have changed too.

If the evidence from the video is a guide then Lucie's presentation will be in keeping with her age. Instead of the drab, outmoded appearance of the national final, there has been a much-needed transformation to more modern outfits and styling.

At last, the UK may have married composer, song, singer and production into a winning package - or at least one which might appear a lot higher on the scoreboard than recent examples.

8/10.

Eurovision 2016: Review: United Kingdom: Joe & Jake: You're Not Alone

Joe and Jake prove they're not alone

Fans of The Voice UK  with very good memories will recall these cheeky chappies who have now joined forces in the hope of pushing the United Kingdom to the dizzying heights of the left-hand side of the Eurovision scoreboard: Joe (Woolford) and Jake (Shakeshaft).

The day after Germany chose its entry, Joe and Jake were among six expectant acts at the 02 Forum in Kentish Town, London taking part in the first UK national final for several years, aptly named Eurovision: You Decide.  Performing last, their upbeat offering, You're Not Alone, captured the bulk of the British public's votes - the actual voting pattern has not been revealed - and will now see more action on the Eurovision stage in Stockholm.

Unlike many of the songs this year, this one is in its native language (ha!), but joking aside, You're Not Alone has a very laddish Britpop feel about it. Bouncing along at a rate of knots, at times Joe and Jake sound like a mixture of One Direction and Coldplay with a splash of The Wanted stirred in for good measure. Not surprising really as one of its writers is Siva Kaneswaran of said Wanted.

As a result, the song has a fresher, more youthful vibe than many of the UK's entries from the recent past and should appeal to a wide cross-section of the audience, especially younger voters who will be particularly engaged with the sound - as well as with Joe and Jake.

All good so far, then. But if there is a fly in the ointment, it could be Joe's live vocals and performance skills. His lower register sounded shaky throughout the duo's performance at the national final, though he shines when he steps up to deliver the energetic and memorable (uh-oh oh) chorus. However, stumbling around like a still-drunk teenager who has partied too much the night before is not going to cut it. Mind you, if the video presentation is a clue to the pair's staging in Stockholm, then perhaps this is not so much of a concern.

Hopefully, neither is the bottom quarter of the scoreboard.

Thankfully, the majority of the reaction to the song has been positive so far and given that this is one of the best entries the UK has fielded for a long time, a place in the Top 10 is not an unthinkable proposition.

What do you think?

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Imaani: Where Are You? : 1998

Imaani

It Should Have Won

United Kingdom: Where Are You?

Back in 1998, the United Kingdom was still on a Eurovision high. The previous year the country had won the Contest with Katrina and the Waves singing Love Shine a Light and it was now preparing to host the event from the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham. The country also had another solid contender vying for a successive win.

Imaani Wins the National Selection

The British buzz surrounded the selection of Where Are You?, one of four compositions competing in that year's Great British Song Contest - the UK's national final. It would be sung by newcomer Imaani, who was suggested to the song's writers by Debbie French, a member of The Collective - a group which had also graduated to the final.

While the entry by The Collective did not click with the British public, Where Are You? caught the imagination and raced to victory, registering over 4,000 more votes than its nearest rival. It was not surprising, really: the song had pedigree, particularly with hit songwriter Scott English on board.

English had already penned or co-penned big sellers such as Bend Me, Shape Me and Hi Ho Silver Lining, as well as appeared in the UK Top 20 himself with his own composition Brandy. This later underwent a metamorphosis to become Mandy - Barry Manilow's first big hit.

The United Kingdom Vs. Israel

Dana International

This kind of reputation stands no chance, however, when there is unending controversy and media attention surrounding one of the other national contestants. It transpired that Israel was sending the act Dana International with the song Diva. 

In any other year, the performer and the song wouldn't have caused much of a stir. However, Dana International was formerly Dan International: the first openly transgender singer to enter the Contest. As a result, none of the other nations really stood a chance, no matter the quality of their songs.

Imaani's superior vocal and production gave Diva a run for its money, however, but many voters were already seduced by the Israeli story and Dana International went on to secure Israel its third victory.

The UK Finishes Second...Again

Chiara

In fact, just eight points separated the Top Three. Another battle had ensued between Imaani and Malta's Chiara - another 'It Should Have Won' contender - with the Brit securing the runners-up spot by just one point. Either could have been a better choice than the eventual winner, particularly Where Are You? which actually sounded current for its time and continues to impress today.

Imaani gives a soulfully explosive, yet measured vocal over a driving mid-tempo dance beat, helped in the storytelling by some excellent backing singers. They all contribute to the sense of anguish and heartache that the song evokes, painting a vivid picture of longing and despair.

Replacing the year-long high, the UK's result instead became a major cause of despondency. Despite being one of the nation's best entries, the United Kingdom was in second place again - albeit the song received points from every participating country, including top votes from four of them.

Eurovision is never fair, it seems. 1998 was less so than most years.

What do you think?

Imaani Performing at Eurovision 1998

Imaani image by Richard Kaby [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons 
Dana International image by Daniel Kruczynski (Flickr) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Chiara image by The Foto Grafer (photographer) and TVMalta (licensor) (The Foto Grafer) [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

 

Eurovision 2014: UK: Children of the Universe

Molly Smitten-Downes: Courtesy YouTube

It's been almost three weeks since the BBC revealed that the song Children of the Universe would represent the United Kingdom at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest.

Since then, Molly Smitten-Downes (or just Molly for performing purposes) has been rightfully lauded for writing a song that finally reflects what is currently happening on the British music scene.

Or, at least, a flavour of it. After all, this is still Eurovision and the song is going to have to appeal to a broad base of voters.

That said, Children... is what the BBC promised: anthemic and fresh. Fresh in both its sound and how it is delivered. Molly is 26 and a good forty years plus younger than her most recent predecessors: star names from decades past who could not deliver on the big night.

Having seen the reaction since the song announcement, delivery should not be a problem for Molly. I think we can all agree that UK supporters should not be concerned about her live performance. Her vocals are strong, even if her diction is occasionally unclear and her breathing erractic.

But the performance is not all about Molly. The song has been composed with both strong orchestral instrumentation and backing vocals to help carry it and make it memorable. I'm hoping both the drummer and the backing singers are a focal point of the staging in Copenhagen.

When Molly gets to Denmark, I believe the juries are going to love this and help push it up the scoreboard. With such an open field, it is currently among the favourites to win. Rightfully so, in my opinion.

UPDATE: Here is the official video for the song, released on April 23.

Eurovision 2013: United Kingdom: Believe in Me

Bonnie Tyler: Rocks And Honey

As we all know, Bonnie Tyler has accepted the BBC's invitation to represent the UK at this year's Eurovision Song Contest with her latest single, Believe in Me.

Taken from her latest album, Rocks and Honey, Believe in Me is a mid-tempo country ballad that builds to a catchy crescendo, but lacks a memorable last few bars. As a Brit myself, I want this to work and in many ways it does. One cannot deny Bonnie's pedigree as a singer, performer and hitmaker, but in the back of my mind, I would have preferred this song to be more like Total Eclipse of the Heart than Lost in France. In fact, Bonnie herself has been quoted as saying that she would have chosen a different track from the album:

"I would have picked a power ballad myself, this is the most gentle track on the album...there is another Desmond Child song called Stubborn, which has got a bit more energy to it, but if they wanted a power ballad, All I Ever Wanted is fantastic, and that was written by Frank Myers."

Without question, the song lacks the energy of many of the other entries, so it will now depend on the vocals and the presentation on the night. Bonnie will be backed by a four-piece band, who will also contribute to the vocals. Footage from the rehearsal shows the legendary singer working the stage and, in the final moments, raised on a platform to command the arena.

All in all, everything looks and sounds good so far. I'd love to see her win, even if just to silence all the critics - particularly those in the UK.

However, we now hold our collective breaths and wait until Friday to discover where in the running order the UK will perform.

What are your thoughts about Bonnie Tyler's chances?

Eurovision 2010: Josh to Represent the United Kingdom

Josh Dubovie by Oslo.no from Oslo, Norwayderivative work: HOUZI  [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Nineteen-year-old vocalist, Josh Dubovie has been selected by UK television viewers as the country's representative at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo. He will be singing a Pete Waterman composition called That Sounds Good to Me.

Josh won the vote over two other finalists (Esma and Alexis) selected by the judging panel of Waterman, Jade Ewen (last year's UK representative) and dance guru, Bruno Tonioli.

So, what do you think of the UK's song, and its chances?