News - UK fans take over Birmingham | Eurovision Song Contest News - 2009 Moscow, Russia 

The annual OGAE (UK) Euro Bash took place this weekend in a Birmingham hotel. About a hundred fans taking part in the sold-out event were offered several Eurovision themed activities during the whole day convention on Saturday 4 October. The day consisted of a video vote for songs performed in the dreaded 2nd place of the Eurovision Song Contest, a Eurovision quiz and the 10th anniversary running of the very popular �Stars in their Eurovision eyes� karaoke contest. The event was also visited by songwriter Bill Martin, who wrote the winning Eurovision entry for the UK in 1967, Puppet on a string. Also Gemma Abbey from Jemini, the first UK entry to get nil points at Eurovision in Riga in 2003, talked to the fans. A researcher from the BBC was also present taking input from fans about how the UK should proceed to be more successful in Eurovision Song Contest in the future.

The organisers of the Euro Bash had once again decided to hold the event in Birmingham after two successful previous events in the second city of the UK and of course the last city to host Eurovision Song Contest in the UK ten years ago in 1998. The Bash was booked to capacity well in advance, as fans from all over the country gathered to meet other fans, and even some overseas visitors. At 12 noon the event started with the club president’s, membership secretary's and treasurer’s reports, where it was stated that the club currently has over 300 members. Also it was noted, that only 45 members have this year requested tickets to see Eurovision Song Contest live in Moscow by the given deadline, which means the demand now is about half of a few recent years. It would seem to suggest that the number of fans travelling to follow Eurovision in Moscow would be lower than in years.

The number twos was the title for the Eurovision Song Contest video vote. Here Bash participants had voted amongst all the over 50 songs that have been performed on the second position of the Eurovision Song Contest, that so far has never produced a winner. Of the twelve songs taking part in Birmingham the Turkish entry Dinle from 1997 proved to be the most popular of the “Number twos” after the voting.

A rather quick-paced Eurovision quiz then followed with 12 questions all relating to the Eurovision Song Contest and even including some instrumental sound snippets from Eurovision songs that the participants tried to recognise.

The guest panel consisted this year of legendary Scottish songwriter Bill Martin, and Gemma Abbey of Jemini. Mr Martin, who wrote UK winner of Eurovision Song Contest of 1967, Puppet on a string and also the 1968 entry Congratulations, had loads of personal memories and opinions of the Eurovision Song Contests of the past and the present. Gemma Abbey, one half of Jemini that gave UK its worst ever score in Riga in 2003 had also accepted the invitation to come and meet Eurovision fans, whereas the other member of the now defunct group, Chris Crombey was not present. Gemma said she still occasionally talks to him, but she is now pursuing her singing career as a solo artist. She told she mostly likes soulful numbers in the style of Diana Ross and Dionne Warwick. Gemma said she met most of the pop acts of the time, like Atomic Kitten and Blue while she was in Jemini. She said she has never been able to watch back the ill-fated performance from 2003, where she found herself out of key in the beginning of the song Cry Baby. She revealed that the song had not been written for them and implied that it probably was not right for them on hindsight. She said she had experienced pitching problems already during rehearsals in Riga and let the British delegation know of her worries. According to Gemma the backing track that was used in Riga was not exactly similarly pitched to the one the artists had been rehearsing to. All the worry and the added noise from the cheering crowd made her eventually panic on the night, when she found not being able to pitch to the backing track at all to start with. Gemma was notably beautiful and revealed also to be pregnant, and won back the hearts of the UK fans by openly talking about how she was dropped like a used towel by the BBC bosses after the bad showing on the scoreboard in Riga and were left to face the hostile press on her own with band mate Chris.

After the buffet dinner 10 acts took to the stage for the “Stars in their Eurovision eyes” karaoke competition. This part takes its inspiration from the popular UK TV show, where fans dress up to perform as their favourite artists. This year we were treated to a male version of Charlotte Perrelli of Sweden, complete with a copy of the silver dress, the diamond studded microphone and silver heels. The runner-up team had dressed up as the Pirates of the Sea from the Latvian Eurovision entry of 2008. As all the contestants also sing live, the victory was however taken by two fans as Duo Datz,  performing the Israeli entry Kan from 1991. The couple on stage cleared the demanding vocals of the song beautifully and they were crowned as the winner by the compère Nicky French. The singer of the UK entry from 2000 is a familiar face in the UK fan parties and has always declared her continuing love affair with the Eurovision Song Contest.

The night then went on with a Eurovision disco until 2 am. DJ Dave Simmons has created himself a name as one of the favourite Eurovision DJs in the UK and internationally, and once again kept the dance floor full with all the Eurovision favourites wished by the Bash attendees dotted with a few favourites from the different national finals. Membership to OGAE (UK) is now also available online as they also accept payment by PayPal.

OGAE UK website