United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010

Eurovision Song Contest 2010
Country  United Kingdom
National selection
Selection process Eurovision: Your Country
Needs You
Selection date(s) 12 March 2010
Selected entrant Josh Dubovie
Selected song "That Sounds Good to Me"
Selected songwriter(s)
Finals performance
Final result 25th, 10 points
United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2009 • 2010 • 2011►

The United Kingdom participated at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, held in Oslo, Norway in May. The BBC announced on 29 January after months of speculation that British record producer and songwriter Pete Waterman would write the UK entry for the 2010 Contest.[1][2][3] The song, "That Sounds Good to Me", was performed on 12 March 2010 on Eurovision: Your Country Needs You, where Josh Dubovie was selected to represent the UK at Eurovision over five other finalists.[4][5] The song came in last place. The song was 12th in the line-up for the Grand Final.

Before Eurovision

Selection process

Pete Waterman and Graham Norton in a promotional image for Your Country Needs You! 2010

After the United Kingdom's 5th place finish in the 2009 Contest, thanks to Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jade Ewen, there was wide speculation on how the BBC would select the 2010 entry. The first news on the selection came in November 2009, when Jayne Collins Casting, the company which was responsible for the auditions for Eurovision: Your Country Needs You in 2009, again called for singers to contact them for taking part at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 auditions on Twitter. The casting company also tweeted that a new songwriter, rather than last year's Andrew Lloyd Webber, would be responsible for writing the UK's entry for Oslo.[6]

On 24 November 2009, British and Irish media reported that the BBC were in talks with Blue singer Duncan James and Take That singer Gary Barlow for the 2010 entry for the United Kingdom. Barlow was named as a composer while James would perform the song in Oslo.[7] However, news of castings for this year's Eurovision entry suggested that these rumours were unlikely to be correct.[6]

In January 2010 the BBC continued to be tight-lipped over its selection for 2010. A teaser on the BBC Eurovision indicated that an announcement would be made soon.[8] On 29 January it was finally announced that Pete Waterman would write the British song for 2010. Waterman is known for having worked with such acts as Kylie Minogue, Steps and Westlife, creating over 200 hits and 22 number ones in the UK, and as a member of the famous Stock Aitken Waterman recording trio. He is also known as one of the judges of the original Pop Idol and Popstars The Rivals. Waterman had previous Eurovision experience, having produced the 1984 Cypriot entry, "Anna Marie Lena".[1][2][3] The executive producer for the BBC on Eurovision 2010 Phil Parsons said: "This year, with an extremely successful pop writer, the aim is to build on the UK's success while moving on in style and doing something different."[9] On 19 February the BBC confirmed that Mike Stock would join his Stock Aitken Waterman partner in co-writing the British Eurovision entry for 2010.[10][11]

Eurovision: Your Country Needs You 2010

The United Kingdom national final took place over one night - 12 March, and contained six acts, hosted by Graham Norton from the BBC Television Centre in London, the 2010 Eurovision was judged by Pete Waterman, Jade Ewen and Bruno Tonioli. An expert panel in the studio reduced this number to three, who then performed different versions of the Stock Waterman written Eurovision entry, with the viewers deciding the winner.[10][11] When interviewed Waterman confirmed the song contained a key change and described the title as "obvious" he also said "It's like entering a competition every time you write [a pop song]. You're after a number one, not a number two."[12]

Both Eurovision 2009 winner Alexander Rybak, and the group Sugababes, who include the United Kingdom's 2009 entrant Jade Ewen, performed during the show. The Sugababes performed their newest single, "Wear My Kiss"[10][11][13][14] The show was only watched by 2.9 million people 4 million less than the 6.9 million who watched the program last year.[15]

Acts

Performer Age Location
Alexis Gerred 20 Biggin Hill
Esma Akkilic 17 London
Josh Dubovie 19 Basildon
Karen Harding 18 Consett, County Durham[16]
Miss Fitz 23–27 London
Uni5 18–25 Various

Results

On 4 March the BBC introduced the six Your Country Needs You finalists on the website, and also revealed the line-up for the expert panel: last year's UK entry Jade Ewen, Pete Waterman, and Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli.[17][18] The six acts each performed a Stock Aitken Waterman classic, as well as a group medley of ABBA songs "Take A Chance On Me" and "Dancing Queen". Waterman then selected his three favourite acts from the six: Alexis Gerred, Esma Akkilic and Josh Dubovie. These three acts went on to sing the Eurovision song - "That Sounds Good to Me" - with a public televote selecting the winning performer - Josh Dubovie.[4][5]

Round One - Stock Aitken Waterman hits
Draw Artist Song (original artists) Result
1 Karen Harding "What Do I Have to Do?" (Kylie Minogue) Out
2 Alexis Gerred "Never Gonna Give You Up" (Rick Astley) Advanced
3 Uni5 "Last Thing on My Mind" (Bananarama) Out
4 Esma Akkilic "This Time I Know It's for Real" (Donna Summer) Advanced
5 Josh Dubovie "Too Many Broken Hearts" (Jason Donovan) Advanced
6 Miss Fitz "Better the Devil You Know" (Kylie Minogue) Out
Round Two - Eurovision song
Draw Artist Eurovision Song Result
1 Alexis Gerred "That Sounds Good to Me" Runner-up
2 Esma Akkilic "That Sounds Good to Me" 3rd
3 Josh Dubovie "That Sounds Good to Me" Winner

Revamp of the song

On 15 March co-writer Mike Stock confirmed that the version of "That Sounds Good To Me" performed at Your Country Needs You would not be the version presented by Josh Dubovie at Eurovision, but "would be significantly different from what has already been served up", and completely revamped to suit Dubovie's voice more.[19][20] On his official website he said the song was remixed on 26 March, suggesting the new, yet to be released version was more suited to Dubovie. He suggested the focus was now on rehearsals and the performance and said "But for the song itself, that's all over and completed; I can do no more."[21]

A studio version of "That Sounds Good to Me" was broadcast on Swedish radio on 22 April.[22] However this was not the final version of the song, which was premiered on 24 April at the Eurovision in Concert preview concert in Zaanstad, the Netherlands.[23]

Promotion

On 24 April Dubovie appeared at the Eurovision in Concert preview concert in Zaanstad, the Netherlands, performing alongside 16 other contestants in this year's Eurovision Song Contest and performing the final version of "That Sounds Good to Me".[23][24] The following day Dubovie appeared on private channel RTL 4, where he again performed his song.

Dubovie also performed at the UKEurovision Preview Party in London on 2 May alongside representatives from Iceland, Ireland and Romania.[25]

At Eurovision

As a member of the "Big Four", the United Kingdom automatically qualified for the final on 29 May. It came last, with ten points.

Paddy O'Connell and Sarah Cawood provided commentary for the semi-finals, with Graham Norton doing likewise for the final. Ken Bruce provided commentary on the final on BBC Radio 2.

The United Kingdom votes were announced by BBC Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills.[26]

Points Awarded by United Kingdom

Semi-final 2

12 points Romania
10 points Ireland
8 points Turkey
7 points Lithuania
6 points Bulgaria
5 points Israel
4 points Cyprus
3 points Sweden
2 points Ukraine
1 point Georgia

Final

12 points Greece
10 points Turkey
8 points Romania
7 points Ireland
6 points Denmark
5 points Ukraine
4 points Germany
3 points Israel
2 points France
1 point Albania

Points Awarded to United Kingdom (Final)
12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points
5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
  •  Ireland
  •  Georgia
  •  Azerbaijan
  •  Albania

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Hondal, Victor (2010-01-29). "Pete Waterman announced as UK songwriter". ESCToday. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
  2. 1 2 "Pete Waterman to write UK's Eurovision Song for 2010". BBC. 2010-01-29. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
  3. 1 2 Kirkpatrick Green, Simon (2010-01-29). "Pete Waterman to write United Kingdom entry". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
  4. 1 2 Webb, Glen (2010-03-12). "Josh flying the flag for United Kingdom in Oslo". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  5. 1 2 Hondal, Victor (2010-03-12). "The United Kingdom sends Josh to the Eurovision Song Contest". ESCToday. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  6. 1 2 Repo, Juha (2009-11-09). "UK: Call for singers to take part in auditions". ESCToday. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  7. ↑ "Media report Duncan James and Gary Barlow for UK entry". ESCToday. 2009-11-22. Retrieved 2009-12-22.
  8. ↑ Murray, Gavin (2010-01-29). "United Kingdom: Your Country Needs You 2010?". ESCToday. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
  9. ↑ Singh, Anita (29 Jan 2010). "Pete Waterman to produce UK Eurovision Song Contest entry". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  10. 1 2 3 Hondal, Victor (2010-02-19). "Stock confirmed as UK co-songwriter". ESCToday. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  11. 1 2 3 Schacht, Andreas (2010-02-19). "UK: national final details announced". ESCToday. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  12. ↑ "UK's Eurovision entry to be chosen". BBC. 12 March 2010. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  13. ↑ Murray, Gavin (2010-02-09). "Rybak's national final tour schedule". ESCToday. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  14. ↑ Montebello, Edward (2010-02-10). "Sugababes guests at UK's selection". ESCToday. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
  15. ↑ Lewis, Daniel (15 March 2010). "UK: Mike Stock speaks of change". esctoday.com. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
  16. ↑ Davies, Katie (2010-03-06). "Singer Karen Harding aiming for Eurovision". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  17. ↑ Montebello, Edward (2010-03-05). "United Kingdom: Six acts announced". ESCToday. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  18. ↑ Webb, Glen (2010-03-05). "BBC reveal United Kingdom finalists!". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  19. ↑ Lewis, Daniel (2010-03-15). "UK: Mike Stock speaks of change". ESCToday. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
  20. ↑ Storvik-Green, Simon (2010-03-15). "United Kingdom entry to be revamped". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
  21. ↑ "That Sounds Good To Me". mikestockmusic.com. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  22. ↑ Murray, Gavin (2010-04-22). "United Kingdom: Studio version of 'That sounds good to me'". ESCToday. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  23. 1 2 Viniker, Barry (2010-04-25). "Exclusive: Josh performs final version of UK Entry". ESCToday. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  24. ↑ Medinika, Aija (2010-04-16). "Netherlands: Josh confirmed for Eurovision in Concert". ESCToday. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  25. ↑ Viniker, Barry (2010-04-25). "Josh to perform at UKeurovision Preview Party". ESCToday. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  26. ↑ "Scott to speak for the UK". BBC. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
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