I wouldn't mind Katherine Jenkins. I've never been a huge fan but has she actually ever put her voice to a song that isn't a cover?

 

I really think she could turn her hand to a pop career a la Charlotte Church, she's certainly popular enough - her albums always seem to sell well anyway. But I can see something like La Voix going to ESC for us if it is her, which I expect I'd love, but it probably wouldn't do much.

 

I think Katherine's last single, Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming, was an original song and it certainly sounded like she'd toned down the operatics on it so maybe she is looking at venturing in a similar direction to Charlotte. If Katherine was to go to ESC, I can see her doing more of an Is It True style number than something like La Voix, but who knows!

This argument doesn't work.

 

The one year we actually pulled our finger out our arse and sent a decent track with a decent artist we came 5th. Behind the machine that was Norway and Iceland. Both of whom have sod all neighbours.

Sorry but it does work. :)

 

I'm happy to be proven wrong, BUT doesn't it say a lot when we make a full on effort and manage (a reputable) 5th?

 

What other things is there left to do?

Sorry but it does work. :)

 

I'm happy to be proven wrong, BUT doesn't it say a lot when we make a full on effort and manage (a reputable) 5th?

 

What other things is there left to do?

 

To be fair, It's My Time was hardly typical 2009 fare, it was such a grand production it sounded like it could have been a 50's entry :lol: These sorts of songs never do well in the contest anymore so it was quite an achievement to finish 5th with it imo.

 

A decent, capable singer with a contemporary standout song is all we need to have success again. I truly believe that.

To be fair, It's My Time was hardly typical 2009 fare, it was such a grand production it sounded like it could have been a 50's entry :lol: These sorts of songs never do well in the contest anymore so it was quite an achievement to finish 5th with it imo.

 

A decent, capable singer with a contemporary standout song is all we need to have success again. I truly believe that.

I'd love to think that, and maybe deep down I do.

 

But this is the one time that my pessimsm rules over. :(

Re; 'It's My Time', Andrew Lloyd Webber was onboard the campaign trial promoting Jade in several European countries meaning these countries got to hear the song before the actual Eurovision Song Contest.

 

That rubbish Pete Waterman 1989 reject we had last year - where exactly was this promoted last year prior to the Eurovision Song Contest? Iirc, the singer (whatshisface?) went to Holland. Oohhh, such massive promoting. -_-

 

Anyways, I'm already anticipating another fabulous last place for the UK. Only when I hear our entry and see who is representing us will I know for sure if last place is once again inevitable. :lol:

 

To echo Ghosty, if we did have Katherine Jenkins represent us, she would need a ballad et la 'Is It True?' to win me over at least. I didn't "get" 'La Voix' at all - usually opera and dance music don't mix. 'The Opera Song (Brave New World)' seemed to work for some reason but for me 'La Voix' just didn't. :(

I'd love Katherine Jenkins for Eurovision, but as mentioned she'd need a big ballad a la "It's My Time" to succeed.

 

Other choices I'd like are:

 

Beverly Knight - I would love a West Midlands entry ;) Other than that a strong up tempo number or soulful ballad would work in hers and our favour.

Emma Bunton - Retro pop would work for us, plus she is known across Europe.

Little Boots - Something quirky and modern would be perfect for the UK and a good chance to take a risk.

The Saturdays - This would be a dream choice :)

Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Known across Europe and an ideal choice.

Will Young - I think he'd do it and would do very well.

One Night Only - Rock does quite well in ESC and I think a song in the vein of "Say You Don't Want It" would work. On top of that, they are semi-famous which fits the criteria.

The Hoosiers - Germany proved that indie-pop can work, so why not? Something in the style of "Goodbye Mr A" would work, even if it would be a Denmark 2008 result which is an improvement on last year.

The Feeling - Something different from the UK and I think it would be a radical step forward for us.

Kate Nash - Considering she has flopped, this may be the shot in the arm plus her and Lena would get on very well ;)

 

 

Sorry but it does work. :)

 

I'm happy to be proven wrong, BUT doesn't it say a lot when we make a full on effort and manage (a reputable) 5th?

 

What other things is there left to do?

Make a full on effort with something a little more modern? I mean, effort is good but it isn't EVERYTHING - It's My Time wasn't the best song of that contest by any means (IMO of course!) and was pretty standard fare, and wouldn't have done anywhere NEAR as well had Andrew Lloyd Webber not been so visible. As it was it was a sign we were taking the contest seriously and we were rewarded - I've heard loads of anecdotes of people in foreign countries being asked about the UK in Eurovision and the main sticking point they have against us is that we have such a wonderful music industry but don't send anything at all representative of it! Andrew Lloyd Webber was the closest we got to it really - I have no doubt we'd be shoo-ins for the top three if we sent somebody properly big in Europe with a good song, like Melanie C, Amy McDonald, or HURTS - it doesn't have to be a HUGE name but somebody fairly representative of our music industry who's well known in Europe.

Sorry but it does work. :)

 

I'm happy to be proven wrong, BUT doesn't it say a lot when we make a full on effort and manage (a reputable) 5th?

 

What other things is there left to do?

Yep, what Tyron said, basically. It's My Time wasn't the best song of the contest.

 

There are countries that every and each year make a full on effort, yet they don't always succeed. Token win just for that, you say?

Hurts :wub: Oh god yes, please Hurts. They actually said they would do it this time last year (there's a thread in here somewhere) but I wonder if the success they have had in Europe made it (ironically) less likely...

I have no doubt we'd be shoo-ins for the top three if we sent somebody properly big in Europe with a good song, like Melanie C, Amy McDonald, or HURTS - it doesn't have to be a HUGE name but somebody fairly representative of our music industry who's well known in Europe.

 

This is why I get the impression BBC don't want to host the Eurovision Song Contest (are they in debt and wouldn't be able to afford to host such a lavish event?). The fact that acts like Hurts (like Tom mentioned) and Katie Melua showed interest last year but the BBC rejected them in favour of "flavour of the month" (ie; circa August 1987) Pete Waterman really did say everything.

According to this article, maybe so :o

I echo everyone elses comments regarding us "only" coming 5th with It's My Time. All 4 songs above it deserved their positions, Norway and Iceland entered two of the best, if not the best songs of 2009 and Azerbaijan and Turkey entered great uptempo numbers that appealed to a vast amount of Europe. It's My Time was lucky to come so high as it was incredibly dated and the lyrics were horrendous. It's final position was more than likely a result of both where we were drawn in the running order and Andrew Lloyd-Webber being on stage. If the UK entered something contempory sung by a better known artist then we'd have a great chance of winning. Germany won last year after a run of poor results afterall, and Norway are well known for their amount of last places too.

According to this article, maybe so :o

Good lord, my separate online lives keep randomly intertwining! I didn't even NOTICE that was Jon Chambers of Labour campaigning fame until the end!

I like how they blame Sweden for transforming the contest into a big spectacle - it's all Globen's fault :lol:

I agree Melanie C or Amy Mc... would be great choices actually.

I had a scarey thought of who it may be and the BBC's way of "cost-cutting" representing us in 2011:

 

Carol Decker from T'Pau. Yes she can sing, but she's a) too old and B) her last big hit was over 20 yrs ago.

 

 

I'd say, if we're getting a single artist national final, it's likely to be a singer who already has a relationship with the BBC, which narrows it down to Alesha Dixon, John Barrowman, Jodie Prenger and Charlotte Church. None of whom I'd have a real problem with, except that John Barrowman is a bit of a turd. But if he was willing to actually step forward and put his reputation on the line by actually singing for the UK rather than just talking about it then he would earn brownie points from me, and to his credit he can sing.

If it's John Barrowman, I'm following Jerick to Iceland (and then moving straight back when Yohanna isn't sent) - can't stand the man no matter how good his voice is.

If it's John Barrowman, I'm following Jerick to Iceland (and then moving straight back when Yohanna isn't sent) - can't stand the man no matter how good his voice is.

 

Neither can I as it turns out. After posting that last night I looked up a couple of videos of his, and to be honest I could barely hear him singing over the sound of my brain melting at how utterly punchable he is.

I'm still seething from 2007.