Credits
News
© EBU
Latest updates...
United Kingdom: Your Country Needs You 2010?
Last year the BBC, chose the format for their national selection as 'Your Country Needs You.' That format had Andrew Lloyd Webber and Diane Warren, as the song writers while the public chose Jade Ewen to sing 'My Time' at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. The outcome was a success as the United Kingdom finished in a respectable 5th place in Moscow.
The BBC have yet to announce their national selection format for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. Various leaks have been posted on the internet to this years format including some by the BBC itself.
Today the BBC official website posted this picture:
Also the BBC have been posting tweets on their official Eurovision Twitter site saying an announcement is due in 'the next week or two" and that "Graham (Norton) is still involved. The date and format of "Your Country Needs You" is yet to be announced! :)" (see here)
The casting organisation, Jayne Collins Casting, which found last years entrant, Jade Ewen, is also believed to be involved with the UK search this year but that has yet to be confirmed.
A confirmation of the selection format for the UK is expected shortly, so stay with esctoday.com for the latest developments.
Watch Jade Ewen perform 'My Time' at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009:
Related polls
- Norway: Vote for your favourite song in the final of Melodi Grand Prix
- Azerbaijan: Vote for your favourite act in the final of Milli Seçim Turu
- Hungary: Vote for your favourite act in the final of A Dal
- Iceland: Vote for your favourite song in the final of Songvakeppni Sjonvarpsins
- Malta: Vote for your favourite act in the final of Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2012
- Hungary: Vote for your favourite act in the second semifinal of A Dal
- Norway: Vote for your favourite song in the third semifinal of Melodi Grand Prix
- Sweden: Vote for your favourite act in the first semifinal of Melodifestivalen
- Malta: Vote for your favourite act in the semifinal of Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2012
- Bulgaria: Vote for your favourite act in the Bulgarian national final 2012
- Latvia: Vote for your favourite act in the final of Eirodziesma 2012
- Belarus: Vote for your favourite act in the final of EuroFest 2012
Go directly to the reactions
Recent news about United Kingdom
UK: New Eurovision and europop party in London 11
Charity Show : Interview with Sue Lawrence 1
Special Charity Show on April 11th 9
UK: Scott Mills to present Eurovision semi-finals from Baku 32
Paddy O'Conell's One Man Show: My Semi Heaven 9
Reactions
When reacting to a news item, please stick to the topic. Inappropriate messages (swearing, racism, hate, etc.), messages in other languages than English and spam (which includes URL advertising) will be deleted and you risk your account being removed. Reacting on newsitems is only possible when logged in as a member. Still don't have member account?
Click here to react Click here to become a member (free!)
Yes, we can Ben!
All we can do is wait and hope.
I was just thinking, if we were still in the days of A Song For Europe etc, then I would wonder about asking Katie Melua to particpate. She might have slipped under the radar for a few years now, but I always thought she was class.
I think that a celtic song would do very nicely for the UK to show our Scottish and Northern Irish side. 
If we do send an up tempo song, we must understand that the vocals may not be as good on the night as we've seen in previous years. :/ and i hope iot's not going to be a 6 song line up again..
However, now that we are taking Eurovision seriously i'm sure the UK will so well! 
By the way, there was a Scottish bloke on the show Mastermind in the UK tonight, who answered questions on his specialist subject which was the Eurovision Song Contest.
Here's the link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk(...)ind_2009_Episode_14/
Thorazin
It just goes to show you I think how a bit of luck at seemingly the right moment could help those who participate in the competition from this country.
Also, anyone who doesn't want to particpate needs to see the opportunities that participation can bring.
Michael UK
Yes, the twins would have been a disaster!
the twins would have been a total disaster , too twee by far. whos heard of them since last february??
i think the saturdays would be great, a song like "up" would do very well i think
Ben your right we don't know but the BBC advertised for songs in other years or promoed early. This year nout. I dread the Saturdays since they are failing a bit and are JCC band. The BBC for it's faults would advertise for talent for any other show, but no. JGarlick was very interested and said last year it would be great to sing on home soil. Maybe she's having fun. I feel something is up but what I don't know & why would the BBC hype eurovision with its rep, that photo suggests somebody's involved like a name not entry no1.
Country who dont take eurovision seriously dont derves to win it.... but since they do .. after the representive they send in 2009 they sure do .... =]
"the Twins would have won and I think that would have been a disaster to be honest. Can nobody here realise those girls CANNOT hold a tune together?!"
Well, I liked their performance of About you now, even if it was a bit shouty 
But tbh they did harmonise quite well on their performance of My time, even if it was a little pitchy in parts. Imo Mark's version was awful, it was boring, even more old fashioned than Jade's, and came across a bit pretentious, and I presume Damien's version would have been similar. The fact is that song was OK for a woman, but for a man it just wouldn't work.
And if we go back to the 6-crap-songs format, eh I won't mind It may be crap but its enjoyable, and I do love the fact that we always pick the worst song of a bad bunch
I think the leaks from the BBC and the changing of their ESC webpage/twitter reactivation is due to fans/media etc making constant requests about our 2010 participation. It's just a temporary smoke screen to keep the "hysteria" down - I don't think their building a big announcement up...
I also look at it this way; I agree with a lot of what you've said Ben Gray, and I think last year there were two key elements as to why we did well, and may not fare so well this year.
Firstly, they did an excellent promo tour. This stood us in really good stead because not only could Jade bang out some of those long loud notes (she has a serious set of lungs on her), but having her do this, live was sheer genius (remember Hadise lip-synced I think every time - now we know why, just listen to Hadise's performance on the big night!). The reason it was genius? People remembered her... look at the You Tube videos of the national finals she went to... she blew people away with that voice. This year, it's looking less and less likely that that will happen, therefore immediately diminishing our vote.
Secondly, ALW. Do not underestimate how *big* a name he is in Eastern Europe. People bloody love his showtunes! He's a recognised name and I understand he insisted in being on stage with Jade. This helped us gain loads and loads of points too. Wil we have a big well-known name this year? Not bloody likely.
I too fear that we're going back to the "6 cr*p songs in an hour" format which has given us drivel since 2003. Just look at Gemini, Daz Sampson, Andy Abrahams - all appalling. Why did they get through? Because the only people voting were half-bored teens who just happened upon the programmes, whereas the YCNY format (whilst being a ratings flop I understand) allowed the audience to get to know the performers a bit more.
The only reason the YCNY format was chosen and the promo tour undertaking is because ALW wouldn't let his name be associated with a lemon. This year, it'll be back to normal; nobody singers with nobody lyricists/musicians with lame production.
You would have thought that the BBC would have learnt valuable lessons from last year, and would double the effort to win this year. Afterall, it's starting to look brighter and brighter for the Big4 and you'd think that with all the talent in the UK, they could do a better job of it.
Oh, and by talent, I don't mean famous singers/groups. I'm going to contradict myself from my text above and say that the UK has a big enough music industry that groups and singers such as JLS and Leona can get international attention via other means and don't *need* Eurovision; however what chance has someone from Moldova of getting big international attention, however brilliant they are? (and I'm sure there are some out there in Chisnau!). I'm not being offensive, just stating facts!
To summarise, don't expect much. If it's something spectacular and we do better than last year, I'll show my arse on the town hall steps!
Ben
It doesn't matter HOW Jade came to be in our selection last year. The truth anyway is that while she didn't audition, she recieved a phonecall from her manager who persuaded her to do it, which is why she turned up late. True, we probably wouldn't have done as well if it wasn't for Jade. I would have liked Damien or Mark to go in her place but clearly the Twins would have won and I think that would have been a disaster to be honest. Can nobody here realise those girls CANNOT hold a tune together?! They would never have got anywhere after the contest either. But none of that matters now. Jade and Andrew did us proud, the song was better than the dross we came out with before, we came 5th, we'll take that and run thank you very much, so stop saying it was luck or something.
I don't mean counter negativity with negativity here but seeing as the BBC are a little bit late this year to do a multi-week contest, signs are pointing to a more traditional selection for us this year. I have tweeted them to say I really hope we're not going back to 6 bad songs in one night, and they have responded to a tweet of mine before where I asked about doing a small afternoon show discussing the contest and showcasing the entries, so they might respond to this too!
I really DO hope we won't go back to 6 bad songs in one night, but something tells me they're either going to hold a national final, possibly with a semi-final if we're lucky with hopefully good songs... OR... they have spent a lot of time planning another big YCNY and have simply been keeping everything top secret.
I mean, Jayne Collins Casting DID say "wait 'til you find out who the songwriter is" and that was quite a while ago now... but that could have fallen through, and I wouldn't put it past the BBC to do a smaller selection with the same name.
Also isn't it possible our selection could air at the same time as So You Think You Can Dance? Like, after it?
In regards to welsh/gaelic every year Wales has it's own Welsh song festival which is hugely popular. It is also present in some folk music and some older artists have done things similar like Sting, it's not a big seller but there is a market. The BBC messageboard did request these sought of songs should not be excluded. They did listen as they did with changing the end of My Time so it's not impossible.
Jade had problems with her record label that didn't push her or just eurovision stereotyped which is stupid. Keisha originally wanted Amelle out and Jade in the record label had then had it with Keisha. Also the BBC showed a total disregard to the talent they found. ITV were publisizing her a lot for a BBC find of it stopped with the Sugababe rumours. Two days after My Man was released. Charting was a surprise as of this with only 1extra behind her & a MOBO nod. My Time's lyrics were bad (Warren) Melody was good with guitar accents etc. The Twins would have been OK and probably doing decently.
Layla
Yeh but I think the UK public have to like our song at least a little, and if we sent a traditional Welsh song, or something in Gaelic, it would only appeal to a small group of people, and the majority of the public would probably find it awful, and theres no point us sending a song which basically everybody in the UK finds uninteresting. I mean, there is absolutely no market whatsoever for ethnic music here, none whatsoever, it just doesn't interest us, so sending an ethnic song just seems pointless as it doesn't really reflect our interests or culture anymore.
As for last year, I think the twins would have managed My Time OK aswell, but the thing is with Jade is that she didn't really audition. She was already working with the BBC on a few other things, as shes appeared on TV a few times before with the BBC, so the BBC essentially put her in YCNY themselves, so i'm pretty certain if nobody decent came up this year they'd do the same again, after all they've most definitely got a huge back-catalogue or singers and actors/actresses etc.
@Thorazin Corazon
Then why is there a market enough for those artists to have a career? This is Eurovision, ethnic sounding songs can do well.
Jade got lucky. Lucky because Sugababes kicked out the much-better-than-her Keisha. Lucky because the song My Time ONLY suited her in YCNY.
BBC got lucky that she walked in the door to the audition at all. What would have happened to UK last year if she hadn't? I doubt any of the others would have done as well with that song as her. It's beyond me how that song could have done well at all...
Anyway, why stick to this format when you never know if there's a good artist coming to the audition? They rely only on a "good well known composer" this way.
If they're gonna do YCNY concept, then at least give all the singers individual songs. Not just the one. Last year, It's My Time only worked for Jade, the other singers sucked.
"Why not try something in Welsh or Gaelic language?"
The trouble is with that is that, simply nobody listens to music in either of those languages lmao Even those who can speak Welsh and Gaelic mostly aren't interested in Welsh or Gaelic music, and they make up such a small percentage of the population anyway there is basically no market whatsoever for any form of music in either of those languages, or in any languages other than English tbh.
The trouble is that Jade's success story does entirely rely on the fact she was lucky in joining the Sugababes. Had the Sugababes not gone tits up, Jade's career would have been a bit of a dead end somewhat, unless her second single was a huge hit which seemed unlikely. My Man was a bit of a flop and entered the charts at 35 or something, barely selling 6,000 copies, and although her other solo work was alot better (Some other songs were leaked today, just search Jade Ewen on youtube and filter it to today's uploads), I don't think it would have ever been a success because she wasn't getting enough radio attention.
My point is, yes Jade's career has been fantastic, but did Eurovision launch her career, or did Eurovision merely make her known enough to join the Sugababes, which will launch her career? Cos tbh (although I don't wanna be depressing!) I think its the latter.
On the other hand I still think YCNY is a good selection method, as it produces competent singers with decent songs, but in terms of launching long term careers, I can't see it being hugely successful.
It's very interesting the BBC doesn't have this listed under take part in their show section. I'm surprised they would outsource everything. JCC hasn't actually specified singers on their tweets either. Probably reading too much into it. All we can do is ask for their best!
@Norse Knight problem is the promotional tour is not gonna be that big this year. Last year Jade went to quite a few national finals because we selected early. This year the show will likely only start on the Feb the 20th and who knows when it will end. What is certain though is the winner will miss most of the other national selections.
I think The United Kingdom should go for the same approach as 2009, Have a show to find the 'right' singer and maybe a 'Jade Ewen' type singer will come up again. Get a famous composer to compose one, maybe two songs which would be performed in the Final of the show and taa-dah. The Uk's ESC 2010 entry.
Because look what Eurovision did for Jade Ewens career, its been from nothing. Up then Up again.
1st - She came 1st in YCNY
2nd - She had a huge promotional tour around Europe
3rd - She came 5th in Eurovision
4th - She joined the Sugababes
5th - The 1st track with her vocals made no.4 in the UK chart
6th - currently the Sugababes are making a new Album and she is said to be dating Aston from JLS.
Would it not be nice to give another talented nobody a shot. They could repeat Jades sucess story, when a formula works STICK TO IT, but if The UK do poorly in ESC 2010 15th - 25th place then for 2011 send someone famous, with a whole production team and see if that works
I personally don't want some well known singer flying the flag for the UK. I rather have someone unknown getting the spotlight and possibly a future in the recording business. Jades done it shes moved from Eurovision to the Sugarbabes and has been quite successful in that.
I hope the UK would submit something as good as Jade.
Not Katherine Jenkins, I find her annoying! and I'm not into opera myself. UK really should send in a big artist this time. I'm not all for internal selections but I think we should give it a try, maybe a bigger artist might come forward. Also, I'm sick of having nobodies representing, they all flop afterwards (apart from Jade after joining Sugababes). Besides, I don't like our national finals.
@ Rougemont D'Castile
Now THAT would be AWESOME!!!!
Here's another great performance from Katherine Jenkins... covering I Feel Love by Donna Summer with the amazing Blue Man Group. Ok maybe the dress doesn't suit her but she really makes this song her own!
http://www.youtube.c(...)/watch?v=a-xgpqQiPa8
The list of 221 reactions is divided into 9 pages. Choose a page:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
React yourself
This news article is older than one week. Reacting to articles is only possible in the first week after publication.
