Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber and Diane Warren teamed up to write the song, and Graham Norton hosted a talent show to pick the singer. Put it all together and you get Jade and "It's My Time."
Jen says, "This is why Simon Cowell prefers doing American Idol."
Andrew Lloyd Webber has agreed to write the U.K. 2009 Eurovision entry. Now, if they can just get Morrissey to sing it.
Let's be honest: the past couple of U.K. entries into Eurovision have really, really sucked. This year, the Brits decided to try a different tactic and enter a legitimately good song. Here is Andy Abraham's "Even If":
Jen's commentary, based on notes, continued.
13. France
Wow, this seems pretty disrespectful, like they're mocking other Eurovision countries. And, wait, is that in the opening riff a sample of the Belarus song? Sheesh. They come off like total assholes.
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14. Latvia
Let's bring it boys, the contest is ripe for the picking. Their performance has benefited from the extra rehearsal time. They sound much better than in the semis.
All of them are holding white roses. Except the Italian. He gets the red rose. You know, like the flag.
At least I now have the answer that nagging question: what does it sound like when 6 opera singers sing Leo Sayer.
Dangerous. They sounded good.
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15. Russia
Doesn't pretend to be anything anything other than what it is - barely legal eye candy singing a dance confection. And they work it. I love it, and so does the audience.
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16. Germany
It's hard to follow Russia. But he's a pro - sounds good, looks good (although maybe a tad too much like Jack Black for my liking), and has a 5 piece jazz combo complete with upright bass. There's some sensitivity in the vocal - he knows exactly how to sing to a big crowd like this.
On the backdrop is only a giant ROGER CICERO in BIG ASS LIGHTS. That suggests to me he doesn't think he's got a shot at this and is only here for the exposure. Eh, so be it. He's the best entry Germany's had in years, and I dig it.
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17. Serbia
I see we're in the heavy artillery section of the draw. She's got a great voice, and sings with great musicality. And, unlike Georgia, knows not to oversing. I'm very impressed by the amount of support she's got on the really big notes.
Really good - I think she' s got it.
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18. Ukraine
He's dressed like a giant disco ball, with a communist star on his head. On his back is a "69", like a ballroom dancing competition number. The backup singers are dressed in silver lame 40s-GI-inspired outfits. To me, it really does remind me of WWII. And cartoon mice, like when they're "making the dress for Cinderellee", except in this case they're mocking Germans. "La la lalalala la la..."
But, hey, the performance has good energy, and is well sung even though there is a lot of movement. This is the better performance compared with Denmark. Of course, it doesn't change the fact the song goes nowhere.
I don't get it.
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19. United Kingdom
It rough placement for the UK to follow Ukraine, especially with this fluff. It's like having a 5 year aged blue cheese, followed immediately by mild cheddar.
They're dressed like flight attendants, and clearly the song isn't strong because they have tons of props. Utter theatrics.
Miserable. An embarrassment.
I guess they deserve points
1) for their commitment; and 2) for being in tune.
Bottom line: it's Saved By The Bell comes to Eurovision. I'm so excited... so excited... so... scared.
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20. Romania
Like Latvia, this act is 6 men. Except each one is singing in a different language. And, aw, it's at Eurovision... like we should all come together. Kumbaya, my lord, kumbaya.
They have better choreo than Latvia, but not better singing, and it's not a better song.
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21. Bulgaria
Sigh... 3 more left. Rock it, kids.
I like that the intensity of this song is driven by percussion. By drums, not by backup dancers or by singers trying too hard.
This builds nicely - it's really good, they look relaxed and like they're having fun. They did better than the semis. They might place top 10 after all.
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22. Turkey
Good placement for Turkey here, the last song of consequence. He too looks comfortable, better than the semis. He's also playing to the crowd - nice touch. I'm digging it.
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23. Armenia
Someone TP'd his tree. Probably the Turks.
Who's strangling the cat?
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24. Moldova
Over singing in a big way.
Sheesh, she's pitchy, screechy.
Moldova could learn a lesson from Bulgaria.
18. Ukraine
Euro-kitsch at its most manic. Verka has a big 69 sewn into his coat. He dances in high heels much better than DQ did, incidentally. Really, this is competently performed and all that, but it's just such an awful song. If I were from somewhere in Europe, maybe I'd see the appeal.
19. United Kingdom
This is so fucking stupid.
20. Romania
My goodness, it's a lost Benny Hill skit! Is it really just three minutes? It feels as long as "In-a-Gadda-da-Vida."
21. Bulgaria
This song is growing on me, I must say. Elitsa and Stoyan are doing it better than they did on Thursday, too. It's a really intense, exciting performance. I hope they do well in the voting.
22. Turkey
Kenan sang this much better tonight than he did during the semis. I hate how much I like this song. I have a good feeling that it'll do well tonight.
23. Armenia
A dead tree covered in ribbons as a stage prop. What a bland song. Why can't our feed kick out now?
24. Moldova
How did this make the cut during the semis? Natalia isn't doing herself any favors. She's almost in tune throughout. Eurovision has had a strong show this year, so it's unfortunate to end on these last two songs.
Scooch - "Flying the Flag (For You)"
"We're flying the flag all over the world, flying the flag for you.
Is this a meditation on British colonialism? A political commentary on Europe's failure to support the US and the UK in Iraq? Perhaps a statement on the triumph of liberalism.
Scooch: "Flying The Flag (For You)"
Negotiations to get Morrissey to compete didn't work out, so the U.K. went with the next best thing: Scooch. There is no curse in Elvish, Entish, or the tongues of men for this treachery.
We took a look at the British PM's e-petitions site in class yesterday. It is my new favorite site. Just scroll through the rejected petitions to see why. If I were a U.K. citizen and it weren't rejected, I would have signed the petition to get Graham Coxon to rejoin Blur.
The BBC wants Morrissey to represent the U.K. at this year's Eurovision. Beats Sugababes.
The stage is filled with women in schoolgirl outfits sitting at desks. They're singing in thick, Eliza Doolittle accents. Daz is wearing a bright yellow jacket and is rapping about his school days. This is silly (he name drops Mr. T, for crying out loud), yet still way better than The Streets. Imagine "Gangsta's Paradise" in a major key and you'll get an idea of how this sounds.
Daz finishes by saying, "Thank you and vote for the music." Take that, LT United!
