Daily Mirror

Queen of Pop has worse night than our Michael as her turn hits bum note

Vote to 61011 Dutch display best courage

- BY NICOLA METHVEN TV Editor

Michael performs in the final MICHAEL Rice must have been disappoint­ed to sing his heart out for us at Eurovision only to finish rock-bottom.

But if the 21-year-old is still feeling glum, he can at least console himself that guest act Madonna’s night was even worse.

The superstar stunned viewers by delivering a “tone deaf” interval turn that was so dire many felt Michael would have beaten her had she been a contestant.

BBC newsreader Emily Maitlis said: “Have to say Michael Rice’s performanc­e was substantia­lly better than Madonna’s tonight. Not many people can say that.”

Madonna, 60, tried to politicise the final in Tel Aviv by having the Israeli and Palestinia­n flags on her dancers’ costumes.

But the biggest shock was the bum notes she was hitting, with one fan saying she was “butchering” her 1989 hit Like a Prayer.

Caring Graham Norton, hosting the BBC’s coverage, led calls for Michael to keep his chin up after finishing 26th with 16 points, saying: “I hope he’s not upset. You can’t fault his performanc­e. He didn’t deserve that.”

After the contest, Michael, Duncan Laurence ★★★★★ SO now we know what young Michael Rice was referring to when he sang Bigger Than Us on that daunting Tel Aviv stage on Saturday night.

He was clearly predicting everyone else’s points total would be bigger than the UK’s. But, I was surprised The Netherland­s won.

Duncan Laurence’s earnest Coldplay-meetsMike-and-the-Mechanics number did nothing for me (Switzerlan­d wuz robbed).

However, the Dutch did make the best contributi­on to a wonderfull­y entertaini­ng four hours of live TV.

That was thanks to Emma Wortelboer, whose job it was to read out the points from her country’s jury. Emma told viewers: “I’m so thankful for Madonna’s autotune.”

Cue audible guffaws from the commentary box as Graham Norton tried to maintain his composure.

Madge’s second song was much better, not least because it featured the classical tune from an old Cadbury’s advert.

This resulted in me going to bed singing, “everyone’s a fruit and nut case”.

Hardly the first time I’d done that after watching Eurovision, though.

 ??  ?? ON SONG OUT OF GROOVE Madonna on stage during Eurovision WINNER The Eurovision Song Contest, BBC1
ON SONG OUT OF GROOVE Madonna on stage during Eurovision WINNER The Eurovision Song Contest, BBC1

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom