Uk Eurovision Contestants Under The Microscope
The six Eurovision hopefuls in “BBC 1’s Your Country Needs You” are unveiled.
After patiently wading through thousands of entries from hopefuls, carefully working out the fine points in auditions, and travelling all over the continent to garner votes… it’s now time for Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Graham Norton to get serious about the 2009 Eurovision national final, as the six lucky acts were revealed to the public last night on BBC One. So, who are the six? And what do my fellow contributor Ewan and myself (no strangers to Eurovision…) think of their chances?
Emperors Of Soul
These five black close-harmony singers from London are named after a Temptations album, which hints at their roots – lead singer Gerod started the group as a Temptations tribute band, but changed the line up to include his friends, including an ex-member of 1980s acapella singers The Flying Pickets, who scored the 1983 Christmas #1 in the UK with their cover of Yazoo’s “Only You”.
Well, they certainly have the experience in the music industry, but their big problem is their genre of music – despite Lord Webber saying he could have a lot of fun with writing and arranging music for them, soul is not a particularly popular style at Eurovision (we had arguably Dave Benton & Tanal Padar for Estonia in 2001, but that was a much more poppy sound compared to what we’ve heard of these boys) Also, Lordi being the obvious exception, bands aren’t in vogue and haven’t been for a while – not including groups such as Katrina & The Waves, which are really a singer and backing vocalists, you have to go back over 20 years for the last group to win Eurovision – and that was Bobbysocks, a duo rather than a five part harmony group. The form is not good…
Charlotte Finlay-Tribe
This Essex girl is the youngest of the sextet of hopefuls, and has been a dancer in various adverts. A former pupil at the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London (as well as the likes of Amy Winehouse and Emma Bunton), she also has West End stage experience (in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) and despite admitting “I’m a little bit worried about my words, because I only learned them yesterday…”, she wowed Lord Andrew with her performance of Duffy’s “Mercy” at the final audition.
She’s certainly pretty and willing to put the work in – but the advice given to Lord Andrew time and time again on his fact finding mission was “take it more seriously – you must be more professional in your outlook“. It remains to be seen whether she will be professional enough – and her dislikes are listed as “pre-show nerves” which can kill a performance stone dead…
Damien Flood
A songwriter and resident singer at a bar in Charing Cross, this Londoner is no stranger to public performances. As well as his regular gig, he’s been on the stage in three musicals and is a Performing Arts graduate from Middlesex University. He’s also appeared on BBC1, BBC2 and ITV1 last year, doing backing vocals for the legendary Tom Jones.
This guy certainly has the experience. A pub crowd is not the easiest of audiences to work and he’s also clearly comfortable with appearing on television. He put in a rousing performance of “Who Wants To Live Forever” at his final audition, which impressed me for one. And, on a more frivolous note, his father is Irish – probably the nation most associated with Eurovision! Between us, we think he will do very well.
Francine and Nicola Gleedall
19-year old identical twin sisters from Sheffield are the classic “twin stereotype” – they even work the same shift at Morrison’s Supermarket! They’ve done work as extras, and sang in a band at school. They are no stranger to the reality TV mill having already auditioned in the 2008 X-Factor, and have appeared on Myspace as part of the five piece group “Sdollz”.
You really cannot fault these ladies for trying, putting the failure to make an impact on one reality show behind them, and having another go with this one; but, watching the show last night showed up what must be their main weakness – they have terrible trouble with nerves and seemed to be always in floods of tears. They won’t get away with that at BBC Television Centre – never mind in front of an audience of thousands at the Moscow Olympic Arena.
Mark Evans
A young Welshman, Mark went to London to seek his fortune and found it on the stage, appearing in West End musicals like Spamalot and Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. He’s also had dance tuition and has strutted his stuff for the likes of Will Young, Liberty X and Gareth Gates. His latest stage appearance was in pantomime, but his rousing performance of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” at his final audition showed he was no stranger to the serious side of singing.
Another strong contender, already being tipped in internet forums as the likely candidate. His current gig in pantomine practically writes it’s own headlines, not to mention his appearance in the Monty Python musical “Spamalot” but his background in more serious musicals should sway the doubters. Definitely one to watch.
Jade Ewen
This Plaistow girl is the former singer with R&B band Trinity Stone, and was a late choice for the final six. “She needs a lot of [vocal] work…but she’s got a good basic voice and she’s very willing”, was Lord Andrew’s opinion of Jade, who’s also got TV work in shows like The Bill and West End stage experience behind her as a teenager. She’s also another Sylvia Young theatre school graduate.
Well, she appeared as a surprise very late in the day, and while she’s had not one but two recording contracts behind her already (with Sony BMG and RCA), she’s not been able to make any impact on the music scene with them. She is an unknown quantity – but I can’t stop seeing the 2005 UK representative Javine in her – and whether she could improve on the 22nd we got then, well, I don’t know.
So, the six hopefuls have been chosen – it’s now down to the Great British Public to decide who will have a date with destiny in Russia…
“Your Country Needs You” continues on BBC One at 6.45pm on Saturday, January 10. Stay tuned to the Daily Dust for updates, opinions and the latest news during our National Final for Eurovision
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