rankly I’m left disappointed by the UK’s participation this year. What’s that? No, not with the 6 songs that were revealed today by the BBC ahead of our first national final in years this Friday. They’re remarkably good. It’s the lack of a good rumour that has marred this year for me. Where has Geri Halliwell been? Charlotte Church? Jane MacDonald? The rumour mill has been decidedly lacklustre. It’s not like the glory days where Juha Repo and I could just make something up and see how far it went around (all the way back to the artist herself in 2014, it seems). No, this year we’ve been denied much of the speculation, other than a bit of scaremongering about Jedward.
Now all that speculation has been put to bed, we’ve been served up something I thought was beyond the BBC; a decent – on the whole – set of options.
You could almost feel Facebook trembling with the nervy anticipation as 9.30am heralded the always reassuring tones of Ken Bruce and a slow reveal of the finalists. Credit has to go to the BBC, and with it the UK OGAE, for more or less managing Kate Bushesque levels of secrecy as the shortlist was compiled. As far as I can see no fully accurate list emerged ahead of time, and only one competing artiste and (their same) song made it on to my radar ahead of time. So, A) well done; and B) I can’t believe none of you buggers involved gossiped to me! Yet another reason to be disappointed – my currency as a confidante has clearly plummeted…
But what of the performers? None is a household name, but all have some grounding in their field, along with performance experience. There’s a pleasing mix of guitars, country, and tap-along pop and a number of rather jolly ditties. And then there’s Matthew James’ A Better Man. Still, five out of six ain’t bad, eh?
I like those other 5 though so on the whole it’s a hit from me in terms of the selection, a very pleasant surprise, as I’ve long thought we would still struggle to find a national final’s worth of songs passing muster. Perhaps it’s a sign that Eurovision could once again become aspirational for our songwriters and performing artists? Early publicity is seeing Karl Lund seek to establish himself as the one deserving the gay vote (marks out of 10? I’d give him one), and does the BBC’s headlining of Bianca’s songwriters indicate a subtle preference on their behalf?
It’s probably not going too far out on a limb to state I don’t see a Eurovision winner here though, that’s a step too far for yet another year, but I’m spirited by the game being raised. These songs offer credible options for the public voting on Friday, and an indication that the BBC is committed to the Contest in a way it’s not really been for some years. However I have a modicum of caution: for me growing the UK’s participation year on year depends on a good result in May. Whilst all of these (or maybe 5 of them) won’t embarrass the nation musically, do any really pack sufficient punch for a left hand of the scoreboard result? Somewhere around 16th might offer us fans succour after recent stinging results, but will a placing anywhere other than in single figures content the public or convince potential participants that UK 2017 is a goal worth working to?
So what do I think will, or should, win? I really can’t be making my mind up. It’s an unusual experience to have a real choice between genuinely decent options; can we not just have one picked for us again? What’s interesting is a glance at a selection of online polls whose varying results seem to indicate it’s wide open. It certainly makes Friday’s final a more interesting affair.
It’s a shame about Geri Halliwell though.
Monty x