Abba: We’ll write UK’s Eurovision song...but Dua Lipa has to sing it
ABBA hinted they would consider writing the UK’s Eurovision Song Contest entry to try to end the country’s humiliations including last place this year – but only for the right singer.
Legendary songwriters Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson said they would pick Dua Lipa.
The Swedish hitmakers told BBC Radio 4 Today’s programme yesterday they would help come up with a UK entry, adding: “What is the risk? You can’t be worse than last. It needs to be a really good act – like Dua Lipa.”
Benny added: “Picking an act is one thing, writing a song is different. So, you need both a great song and a good act.”
The pair agreed it was “promising” that Don’t Start Now singer Dua Lipa’s management Tap Music is to scout a pop star to compete at next year’s Eurovision.
It will be staged inside
the Pala Olimpico in Turin after Italy’s Maneskin won this year with Zitti E Buoni. Swedish supergroup Abba – Agnetha Faltskog, 71, AnniFrid Lyngstad, 75, Bjorn, 76, and Benny, 74, shot to global fame after winning the contest in 1974 Waterloo.
It was chosen as the best Eurovision song ever for the competition’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2005.
Abba recently releasedVoyage, their first album in nearly 40 years – but the foursome have said it will be their last.
The UK’s 2022 song entry is set to be released on the major record label in a “new tactic” to further boost the country’s chances of victory.
London-born Dua, 26, said: “I’m a proud Brit whilst also being a proud Kosovan…
“I’m happy to lend my manager to the cause… I’ll be cheering them on.”
The move comes after the UK finished up marooned in bottom place at Eurovision 2021.
Singer-songwriter James Newman failed to score a single point with his entry Embers.
No UK entrant has made the contest’s top 10 since Jade Ewen in 2009, when she managed fifth with the Andrew Lloyd WebberDianne Warren number It’s My Time in Moscow.
The UK’s Eurovision song entry used to be chosen by a public vote.
Excited
But in 2019, the BBC scrapped that method – instead opting to give a record label the final say.
Ben Mawson, co-founder of Tap Music, said: “We’re really excited to be teaming up with the BBC for this event and will use Eurovision to authentically reflect and celebrate the rich, diverse and world-class musical talent the UK is globally renowned for.
“For many years, we’ve witnessed the United Kingdom not doing as well as we would’ve liked, when pop music is something we usually excel at. It’s time to show what we can do and the wonderful musical talent we have.”
The UK last won Eurovision with Love Shine A Light by Katrina and The Waves in 1997.