We might have come second last but Liverpool did us proud
It would be very easy for me to ‘diss’ Eurovision after our dismal display on Saturday, finishing second from last, so I won’t. It would also be very easy for me to say how it’s an insult from the rest of Europe to give us so few votes, as we stepped into the breach to host the event on behalf of Ukraine. Europe still hates us? Don’t be silly.
I really liked our song. I Wrote A Song by Mae Muller has been on the Wave 105 A-list for a couple of weeks now and it’s one of my favourites on that list. It’s been playlisted by many other stations across the UK as well - maybe that’s where the problem lies.
It’s a great radio record. It sits well against the likes of other solo female artists like Ava Max, Mimi Webb and Mabel.
Sadly, it didn’t come across that well in isolation on that visually impressive Eurovision stage in Liverpool.
The bonkers Finnish entrant, Käärijä, stole the visual show for me with the cage, strange dancers and a barmy Sam Smith-esqe outfit. The song Cha, Cha, Cha, though, was rubbish. Then there was the winner from Sweden. What a song, what a voice – and her outfit got us talking too.
Sadly Mae Muller got lost in all the razzmatazz and theatre. Being last on didn’t help either.
Where we did win was the show we put on.
Liverpool did us proud, from how the city welcomed Eurovision to how the set looked.
You couldn’t help being impressed with the lights and screens which in many respects dominated the show more than the music.
The cheeky humour of Graham Norton kept us entertained, the beautifully filmed visuals of Ukraine, British and performing nation vistas showed how culturally rich Europe is.
Many may not know cohost Hannah Waddingham, but she was superb and even kept a straight face when Mel Giedroyc seductively started churning butter behind her!
Let’s not be typically British with our Europhobia, we may not have won the song contest, but we shone brightly in all other departments.
As ABBA celebrate 50 years since their ‘Waterloo’ win next year in Sweden, let’s bring out our inner Bucks Fizz and bring it home in 2024!