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Tag: Eurovision

All the latest breaking news on Eurovision. Browse The THEGAYUK’s complete collection of features and commentary on Eurovision.

  • 2016 The Year The UK Has Decided It Is Time To Win Eurovision Again

    2016 The Year The UK Has Decided It Is Time To Win Eurovision Again

    After 6 years of the BBC handpicking a song to represent the UK at Eurovision to ever increasing levels of failure this year it will be chosen by the public vote in a live TV extravaganza.

    Later this month on February 26th the BBC are mounting a live 90 minute show entitled ‘You Decide’ where we will be presented with 6 songs to choose from followed by a live phone vote. The show will be hosted by Bake Off’sMel Giedroyc and the winner will be heading into the charts no doubt and off to Stockholm for the finals on May 14th. Mel said: “I am a huge fan of Eurovision and am honoured to be hosting this fantastic event. It’s very exciting that the great British public will get the chance to choose who will be sent to Sweden and I know it’s going to be an amazing night.”

    This year, the BBC allowed an open submission for songs to get the best possible entrants. Last year there was a lot of complaint about the song chosen by BBC executives that suddenly just appeared one night in video form just before the lottery result show. That was Electro Velvet with Still In Love With You which was only the second song in history that failed to make the UK Top 100 chart – so not popular with the general public. In the finals it gained little extra love as we came 24th out of 27.

    Cassian Harrison, editor of BBC Four, the channel showing the 90 minute live performance from The Kentish Town Forum which will include many special guests from existing chart acts and former Eurovision stars said: “I’m delighted that Eurovision: You Decideand both of the semi-finals are coming to the channel this year. BBC Four is the home of music on TV in the UK and, as any fan will tell you, Eurovision is one of the biggest music events on the planet and is much more than just one night of TV, therefore it is only right that BBC Four is able to showcase Europe’s favourite music TV event right here in the UK.”

    Last year the contest was won by Sweden with the songHeroes by Mans Zelmerlow who has been asked to co-host this year’s finals. There is a joint record number of countries this year 43 in total. Australia Is back after its special invite last year and Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Ukraine and Bulgaria have all come back but Portugal has left as their national broadcaster is not big on music.

    Some songs have already been selected and early interest has been drawn to former Westlife studmuffin Nicky Byrne with his song Sunlight representing Ireland. There is also considerable controversy from Germany. Their entrant was replaced just before Christmas. Xavier Naidoo, a well known star in his homeland was dropped two days after being picked due to heavy criticism. Co -ordinator for ARD broadcasters Thomas Schreiber explained: “Xavier Naidoo is a brilliant singer who is, according to my own opinion, neither racist nor a homophobe. It was clear that his nomination would polarise opinions, but we were surprised about the negative response. The Eurovision Song Contest is a fun event, in which music and the understanding between European people should be the focus. This characteristic must be kept at all costs.”

    The UK has won the contest 5 times since it’s birth in 1957. Namely Sandie Shaw/Puppet On A String; Lulu/Boom Bang A Bang; Brotherhood Of Man/Save Your Kisses For Me; Bucks Fizz/Making Your Mind Upand Katrina with her Waves with Love Shine A Light.

    We are the unluckiest country coming second an incredible 15 times including with Cliff, Michael Ball, Sonia, The Shadows and Mary Hopkin all falling just a point or two short. We have done really badly of late often chalked up to political voting and we have only made the top five once in the last decade and for that Jade Ewen from the Sugababes had to drag Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber onto stage with her to get the vote in. We are trying to forget the Blue, Bonnie Tyler and Englebert entries. As for what happened in 1996 when the superb Ooh Aah Jut A Little Bit by Gina G made it to number one in the UK chart and did great in Euro charts but somehow only came 8th at Eurovision….well we was robbed surely the best Eurovision winner that never was.

    So it Is over to you, watch ‘You Decide’ pick wisely amongst the rumoured 80’s megastars and reality stars we have heard have entered and let’s get a real winner and bring the contest home to blighty.

    At The Gay UK we love everything Eurovision so check back in regularly and we will bring you all the news and gossip first in the European vote this year we all massively care about.

     

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  • Eurovision 2016 To Be Hosted In Stockholm

    Eurovision 2016 will be hosted in Stockholm it has been decided – and the TV producers have come up with a unique concept…

    Swedish host broadcaster SVT and European Broad Casting Union (EBU) have decided that Eurovision 2016, the 61st in the show’s history, will be hosted in Stockholm. Together with SVT, the City of Stockholm will create a new innovative arena concept, including all four venues – Tele 2 Arena, Ericsson Globe, Hovet and Annexet – in the Stockholm Globe District.

    The 60th competition, held in Vienna, saw Sweden’s Mans Zelmerlow win beating Russia and Italy. The UK’s Electro Velvet managed to scrape 5 points coming 24th out of 27.

    The main events will take place at all four venues in the Stockholm Globe District. The finale will take place in Ericsson Globe on May 10-14th 2016.

    “The solution with multiple arenas enables us to produce the Eurovision Song Contest in the Globe, have the press centre at the Hovet and the delegations area at the Annex. The Jewel in the Crown is to take Eurovision Song Contest to the next level by incorporating Tele2 Arena during the evening of the finale” ,says Martin Österdahl, executive producer of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016.

  • Eurovision Singer Goes Gay In Hot As Hell Music Video

    Iranian-born Norwegian singer Tooji – real name Touraj Keshtkar – who represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 with the song Stay has just issued his latest music video.

    He is as hot as hell which is where some say he may end up at after seeing him not just come out as gay but practically jumping a handsome priest in a church.

    Have a glass of very cold water beside you before you watch this one.

     

     

    @RogerWakerDack

  • And The Eurovision 2012 Winner Is…

    Well what an explosive night of Eurovision 2012.

    (more…)

  • Man Who Said Gays Were “Abnormal” Wins Eurovision

    A singer who made anti-gay remarks has won Eurovision 2015.

    The show, which was the 60th competition, held in Vienna, saw Sweden’s Mans Zelmerlow win beating Russia and Italy. The UK’s Electro Velvet managed to scrape 5 points coming 24th out of 27.

    Man Zelmerlow has been accused of making homophobic comments stunning an audience into silence according to

    The 28-year-old claimed it “isn’t equally natural for men to want to sleep with one another”. He also branded homosexuality an “avvikelse” (abnormality), according to WiWiBloggs, before backtracking saying: “There isn’t anything wrong with it at all, but the more natural thing of course is that men and women make children together.”

    Zelmerlow later issued a statement apologising to “all who take offence”.

    “I believe and hope that the vast majority know that I respect differences and all forms of love,” he said.

    The singer went on to work extensively with LGBT groups in Sweden and has told Sweden Metro that he would date a man if it felt right.

    Of his win, he said, “I just want to say that we are all heroes, no matter who we love, who we are or what we believe in. We are all heroes.”

  • The five best Abba comedy videos

    With Eurovision rapidly approaching most of us are recalling the dazzling days of yore where the contest could create lasting stars and songs the whole world remembered.

    No act, though, could ever match the massive legend that would become ABBA the fabulous foursome left a legacy that continues to influence new generations.

    The most interesting thing is that ABBA did not just touch the gay scene and the music scene, but the comedy scene as well.

    Let’s take a look at some British comedians whose acts were touched by Swedish genius.

    5 ½. Dannii Cohen Yes, I too am part of those the group influenced. When starting out as a comic in the late 90s I had a comedy music group with a friend. It was called Mayallzone: named in tribute to both Rik Mayall and Boyzone (yes, yes I know.) The music was strictly ABBA, though. Understandably, it did not last very long.

    Okay, now that’s out of the way:

    Let’s take a look at some British comedians whose acts were touched by Swedish genius.

    5. Peter Kay Kay has acknowledged his love for ABBA several times, giving a rare interview to talk about the group in a documentary about 1976 and even refusing to host ITV’s Sunday Night at the London Palladium because the group would not reform for him.

    He performed the Bjorn and Benny classic “I Know Him So Well” with Susan Boyle for Comic Relief.

    4. Rowan Atkinson Starting with this amazing performance with the cast of Not The Nine O’Clock News:

    Rowan has used the music of ABBA on various occasions, with this great scene of Johnny English as a highlight.

    3. David Walliams What was it that made David Walliams survive the gruelling swim down the Thames in 2011? Was it strength and pure determination? Or did it have something to do with playing music by 4 magic Swedes in his head? It certainly helped. David requested various songs by ABBA when calling into radio stations for updates about the swim, but no song drove him more then the all time classic Dancing Queen, his favourite song, which saw him through the worst day of the swim, when falling ill.

    After recovering he paid tribute to the group on Sport Relief night with pall Miranda Hart.

    (Bonus: a very funny sketch ABBA sketch from his Rock Profile series)

    2. Steve Coogan AHA!! With the first series of his TV show named after an ABBA track Steve was a strong contender for the number one spot. In earlier years, of course Steve Coogan claims it is Alan Partridge who is the ABBA fan, but no-one can know so much detail about a group and it’s music without being a fan.

    One of his inner circle has claimed that one one occasion he was given a lift by Coogan and the car radio was on, playing songs by ABBA loudly. Coogan blushed, swiftly switched it of and exclaimed: “JUST RESEARCH!!” Yeah, right. In recent years he admitted: “Just because Alan likes it, it doesn’t mean it must be naff. That’s very two-dimensional thinking. A lot of the music I choose for Alan is stuff I like.”During recent series The Trip with friend Rob Brydon the duo perform The Winner Takes it all in a bar.

    1. Rik Mayall – Who else!! In the early 90s during his Rik Mayall Presents series, Rik starred in a fabulous movie called “Dancing Queen” about a man falling in love with the stripper (Helena Bonham Carter) who dances at his wedding. A lovely romantic comedy romp.

    Over the years Rik often referenced ABBA (with “Money, Money, Money” even being used in The New Statesman). And now here’s for a twist: ABBA were fans of him too!! Well, at least Bjorn and Benny, which led to him being cast in ABBA’s Our Last Video Ever. The role of the producer was written especially for him and shows all the signs of his trademark humour.

    With this trump card there was no doubt Rik should be number one!!

  • Australia To Enter 60th Eurovision Competition

    Although its many thousands of miles away from Europe, Australia will be allowed to participate in this year’s Eurovision competition.

    For the first time in its 60 years, Eurovision will allow Australia to enter the competition – and will a free pass to the final in Vienna, Austria, meaning that it will not have to go through the various heat stages.

    Organisers of Eurovision, the theme for which this year is “Building Bridges”, decided to offer a place to Australia after Jessica Mauboy performed as the interval act at one of heats in last year’s competition. It now has until 16th March to decide whom it’s going to send; already reports of Dame Edna Everage have been put forward to represent the Australian entry.

    Jon Ola Sand, executive supervisor of the contest on behalf of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), said, “It’s a daring and at the same time incredibly exciting move.

    “It’s our way of saying; let’s celebrate this party together!”

    Michael Ebeid, managing director of broadcaster SBS which airs the competition in Australia, said, “We are very excited to have secured this historic opportunity for Australia to be represented on the world’s biggest stage at the 60th anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest and are honoured that the European Broadcasting Union has supported us to achieve this ambition.

    “SBS has been broadcasting Eurovision for over 30 years and we have seen how Australians’ love of the song contest has grown during those years.”

    If Australia wins the competition the show will remain in Europe.

  • First British Muslim Drag Queen Has Eurovision Hopes

    Britain’s first Muslim drag queen Asifa Lahore releases her self-penned debut single ‘You And I’.

    According to the UK’s first Muslim Drag Queen Asifa Lahore, what differentiates this project from her other songs is that for the first time, she releases original material with a strong focus on thoughtful contemporary lyrics and stunning vocals.

    ‘You may have seen me trying to discuss the topic of faith and sexual identity on the BBC Three show ‘Free Speech’ earlier this year, and subsequently in the press. Since then I have appearing on BBC World News with leading Bollywood actress Celina Jaitly and an array of British Asian community channels talking openly about LGBT issues.

    ‘I have also spent the summer recording an EP in the UK, America and Sweden.’ says Ms. Lahore

    The first single from the EP is ‘You And I’ has been submitted as a potential Eurovision entry for the United Kingdom after the success of Conchita Wurst at the Eurovision in May 2014.

  • Conchita Rise Like A Phoenix At No 1 In Russia Despite Backlash

    adda Girl… Conchita’s Eurovision entry is riding high in the Russia iTunes Chart.

    Despite the backlash that Conchita Wurst has received, her song Rise Like A Phoenix is storming the Russian charts and is currently sitting at Number 1 and Number 5 in the iTunes music chart. It is beating Not Alone, Armenia’s entry by Aram MP3.

    Conchita’s victory has spurred on some men across Russia to shave off their beards in a backlash against the drag queen’s victory. Conchita’s song Rise Like A Phoenix amassed an impressive 290 points in the 59th Eurovision Competition.

    Wurst, real name Tom Neuwirth, has been the subject of much hate mongering from a number people Russia, Armenia and Belarus. One top Russian politician even called the contest a ‘sodom show’.

    In the UK the song is charting at number 25 and 35.

  • INTERVIEW | Molly Smitten Downes: Eurovision – I wouldn’t say I’m an avid fan

    The UK’s Eurovision entry this year is a fresh breath of air for the UK. I chat to Molly Smitten Downes before the Finals of the world’s biggest music competition to find out that she’s a big hippy at heart, why she rates Gina G and how Hugh Jackman is a big fan!

    What are you most looking forward to about Eurovision?
    Oh gosh, loads really, but the performance the most. It’s going to be the biggest show I’ve ever done, it’s going to be an incredible experience to perform in front of that many people and to have such a big stage.

    Does 120 million viewers haunt you at all?
    A little bit… A little bit! Yes, but weirdly I feel more excited than anything. I’m genuinely excited. I feel really strongly about the song, and I’m really excited about getting everyone to hear it and to judge as they will. I don’t know if they’re going to like it or not but I’m really happy with the song, if they don’t like it, then that’s absolutely fine, but hopefully some of them will…

    Well out of 120 million, we’ll think you’ll find some fans!
    Some must, at least one or two!!! (Laughs)

    Was Children of the universe a co write or self penned?
    That was self-penned, I wrote and Anders Hansson
    produced it – he’s incredible. He’s an absolute dream to work with and he really understands my writing style and it’s amazing how much he can hear when I write. My little demos of basic chords, he just hears what I can hear and he knows how to make it into what you hear.

    What are you trying to say in your song?
    The song is about knowing your worth as a human being and feeling a bit disconnected, dreaming, feeling not really sure about yourself in the world and waking up and realising ‘you know what I believe every human is important, we all have a part to play, we’re not really sure what it is – but it’s about knowing your worth as a human being’.

    I guess I’m just a bit of a hippy… some people might find it very sickly – that message, but it’s what I believe.

    So a bit of a hippy then?
    I’m a massive hippy in fact.

    Is the UK ready for a hippy monster?
    (Laughing) I don’t know. But I think the UK is more hippy than we know. We love animals; we’re quite pioneering with human rights.

    We’re a lot more hippyish than we like to admit – but we’re quite a deep nation, I think we care a lot about issues and we’re quite rebellious and we don’t like to conform too much.

    Are you going to go for the full camp costume for Eurovision?
    It’s pretty glam, but that’s all I’m going to say. It’s going to be the most glamorous thing I’ve ever worn.

    Are you an avid fan of the show?
    I wouldn’t say I’m an avid fan… No. I used to watch it when I was little, but the last few years, I’ve lost interest in it I guess. I didn’t feel that connected to it, for whatever reason. So I’ve had to sort of do my research, after agreeing to do it. Looking at those who have come high up in the scoring, I feel like in this Country, certainly we’ve got a preconceived idea about it and a lot of people think it’s a bit naff. But if you look at the winning songs coming through, they’re really good.

    I’m really proud to be representing the UK

    To date who’s your favourite entry?
    I love Loreen – ‘Euphoria’, I think her performance two years ago was world class…

    Any UK acts?
    Not really. Not in recent years. A long time ago… Gina G was great, Katrina and the Waves obviously; she wrote that song and that means something to me. But in recent years not so much. I can’t speak highly enough of people of that ilk (Bonnie Tyler and Engelbert Humperdinck) and they were great performances, but with regards to the competition and looking at other acts that have won I think the winning acts have done well and deserve to be up there.

    What’s in store for us?
    It’s not going to be an easy competition at all, they all seem really nice and Ruth Lorenzo, is an absolute babe. It’s been really nice chatting to her.

    Last year there were quite a few gay moments… Any thing gay this year?
    I don’t know if there are any… But you know what, great if there’s a bit of controversy and rebellion, I’m all for it. You’ve got to let people be.

    If you could hang out with anyone from music history, who would it be and what would you talk about?
    I would love to hang out with Debbie Harry… I feel like her coolness might rub off on me. And John Lennon, I really believe he had such good ideas about peace and the potential of human nature, I really like his ethic.

    Are you going to be keeping sober after the performance?
    Hell no. Not even a little bit.

    Have you practiced your poker face for when we’re not getting Douze point?
    I’ve got, unfortunately, one of those faces that really like says how I’m feeling, I might find it really hard… I’ll be trashing the green room.

    Is there a diva streak in you?
    Probably, when I get tired and under pressure, I do get a bit snappy, but generally no, I’m not high maintenance or anything. Just normal. I wish I was a bit more of a diva actually. It could be quite fun to make diva-ish demands and say things like… ‘Hey where’s my champagne?’

    Who was the last celebrity you spoke to and what did you talk about?
    Mark Feely from west life, he was at my gig last night, so we talked about my gig, he said, I’ve got a great voice and he really enjoyed the show.

    So he’s a bit of a fan then?
    I think so, (giggles)

    Any other VIP fans?
    Hugh Jackman after Graham Norton (show)! He was really nice, I’m not sure if I’ve got any VIP fans.

    How are you finding the newfound fame?
    It’s a whole new level! Fine… Yeah, good actually! I was a bit sort of thinking what was going to happen. I didn’t know what to expect really, but it’s been fine and fun actually. I don’t think my profile is quite getting stopped on the street or anything, although I did get spotted in Stockholm and that was really surreal. That was fun. I’ve not really had a chance to take it all in, because it’s all happened so fast at the minute.

    Is there anything so far in your career that demands that you be added to the rock and roll hall of fame?
    Hummmm, getting the goody bag after the Graham Norton show. In the dressing room there was this amazing goody bag, with all really nice products in and I was so excited is as was like ‘Ahhhhhhhhh. Free stuff!’ They were like, ‘It’s so nice that your excited about the goody bag, so many celebs don’t even take it…’ And I was like WHAT? These people are mad! It’s free, so I love a freebie.

    Do you have a favourite phrase or saying?
    Reach for the top of the trees and you won’t leave the ground. Reach for the stars and you might reach the top of the trees…

    Ooooft that’s deep, where did you get that from?
    A nun! I went to a convent school!

    Milly Smitten Downes will be performing at the Eurovision Finals Saturday 10th May

  • Top Russian Politician Calls Eurovision ‘Sodom Show’

    The Eurovision Song Contest has been branded a ‘Europe-Wide Gay Parade’ by the Russian Politician who called Stephen Fry ‘Sick’.

    Vitaly Milonov, a prominent anti-gay Russian politician has branded Eurovision a ‘Sodom Show’ and said that Austria’s Drag entry Conchita Wurst was a ‘pervert.’

    Last year Milonov, who was instrumental in creating Russia’s anti-gay law, banning the ‘promotion of non-traditional relationships’ to anyone under the age of 18 has branded the actor, writer and broadcaster Stephen Fry ‘Sick’.

    The Independent reports that he wrote a letter to to Russia’s Eurovision selection comittee requesting that Russia be removed from the competition altogether. He said that inclusion in the competition would: ‘contradict the path of cultural and moral renewal that Russia stands on’ and ‘insult millions of Russians’ watching the broadcast.

    ‘The participation of the obvious transvestite and hermaphrodite Conchita Wurst on the same stage as Russian singers on live television is blatant propaganda of homosexuality and spiritual decay,’ Milonov said.

    Conchita Wurst was subject to a backlash recently after thousands of Russians signed a petition for Austria’s entry to be banned or edited out of the Eurovision broadcast.

    Last year Turkish National broadcaster TRT was rumoured to have cancelled their broadcast of the 2013 Eurovision because of a lesbian kiss between two women in Finland’s entry Marry Me. There were in fact two gay kisses in the 2013 show.