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Home , Andy Abraham, Bonnie Tyler, Imaani, Jade Ewen, Jemini, Jessica Garlick

EUROVISION ON TO A WINNER? Could this be the year we finally claim victory THE EUROVISION in the ? SONG CONTEST, TONIGHT, 8PM, Mike Ward speaks to UK entry SuRie… BBC1 or some Eurovision acts, the contest’s golden age can be a Fbit of an obsession. Tey are fxated with its colourful history, its legendary names. Tey can’t quite believe This is Graham Norton’s they’re following in the 10th year as Eurovision host footsteps of , and such like. A glance at the CV of SuRie, the Hertfordshire singer- representing the UK tonight in Lisbon, would suggest she fts this profle to a T. Tis, afer all, will be her third appearance at the contest. She appeared as a backing singer and dancer with Loïc Notet’s Rhythm Inside – Belgium’s entry in the 2015 Song Contest, who fnished in fourth place – and was musical director for their 2017 entry, Blanche’s City Lights, which also came fourth. Surely that’s obsession personifed? Or possibly not. “I’ve actually never been Eurovision- obsessed,” she insists. “Eurovision had never been on my radar growing up. I’d never watched it, I’d never seen a contest. I’d never tuned in. I’d been missing out on all these amazing years.

“I’VE GONE THROUGH LIFE TRUSTING MY GUT, AND THIS FEELS LIKE A REALLY POSITIVE THING TO BE A PART OF, WITH A SONG I REALLY BELIEVE IN” SURIE

SATURDAY MAGAZINE 9 EUROVISION

“But then my brain was blown good thing about doing it for when I had the opportunity of Belgium as a support was that the working with the Belgians. pressure was slightly of me. IT HASN’T BEEN ALL BAD… “I went to Eurovision just “Maybe I wouldn’t have been ince our last triumph, back in 1997, when Katrina and the Waves working it as a gig, and it was like, ready for it at that stage. Now, won in Dublin with , it’s fair to say the UK has ‘What have I missed?! What is this hopefully, I am. It’s funny how life struggled a litle at Eurovision. And yet it hasn’t been an out-and-out incredible world that I didn’t really works out that way.” Sdisaster. Here are fve of our Eurovision low points from the past 20 know existed?’ Nerves, mind you, shouldn’t be years – but also fve of our happier moments. “Now I’m a complete convert. a problem for SuRie. She’s been I’ve delved back. I’ve listened to a singing in public most of her life. THE LOWS THE HIGHS lot, I’ve watched a lot – with Aged 11, she even 2003 1998 those iconic Terry performed Latvia’s capital The UK very “I WAS IN was the nearly notched Wogan and before royalty. setting as ill-fated up a second win Graham Norton AN AMAZING CHOIR “In Bishop’s Liverpool duo on the trot with commentaries. THAT TOURED ALL OVER Stortford, where took their Where Are You?, Tey’re amazing. I grew up,” she place in Eurovision sung at the “I’ve seen how THE WORLD. WE WON explains, “there history – as the first UK act to come contest in Birmingham by . positive and was an amazing rock bottom, with no points at all. wonderful the COMPETITIONS LEFT, choir called 2002 whole Eurovision RIGHT AND CENTRE” Cantate – which is 2007 Former experience can be. And still running – that Cheesy star now I fnd myself in this SURIE toured all over the outfit came a very brilliantly bizarre position.” world. We won competitions stunned the respectable joint Helsinki third in Estonia, Te song that SuRie will be lef, right and centre. audience tying with the hosts with the rousing performing, Storm, is a rousing, “It was a fantastic musical with their ballad Come Back. upbeat number with an infectious venture that I thrived on, and one excruciatingly suggestive rendition of chorus. But given the UK’s woeful of the amazing opportunities was Flying The Flag (For You). It finished 2009 recent track record at the contest, singing at the for joint 22nd out of 24 entries. Written by doesn’t this engaging 29-year-old Prince Charles. I had a litle solo. Andrew worry that her positivity is about to I think my career peaked at quite 2008 Lloyd take a knock? Being the UK’s a young age!” Runner-up to Shayne Webber – Eurovision representative, afer all, Back then, mind you, nobody Ward in 2005’s X who also is seen by many as a bit of a called her SuRie. Her real name was Factor, played poisoned chalice. – and remains – Susanna Marie had high hopes as he piano on headed to Belgrade to stage – and sung by future Sugababe “I don’t think of it like that,” she Cork. But she decided a couple of sing our 2008 entry , It’s My Time managed says. “I’ve always gone through life years ago that this was “a bit of a Even If. Sadly, he came equal bottom. fifth place in Moscow. taking opportunities that feel right mouthful. I wanted to condense it and trusting my gut, and this feels a litle bit.” 2012 2011 like a really exciting, positive, So has she had a chance to weigh Veteran act Reformed wonderful thing to be a part of, up tonight’s opposition, to fgure Englebert boyband with a song I really believe in. out which songs may pose her the Humperdinck may “Obviously there’ll always be a biggest threat? was a bold have had lot of chater about other aspects, “No, I think in life the only choice to settle but I’ve seen frst-hand at competition you should have is to sing for us at the contest in for 11th place in Dusseldorf, but Eurovision that it’s ultimately all with yourself. I mean, I’m fully Azerbaijan. But the gamble didn’t the televote part of their score entirely pay off. made theirs the fifth most popular about the song. aware I’m involved in a contest, but came 25th out of 26. song that night among viewers “So it was a no-brainer for me to I don’t want to get bogged down in across Europe. get involved, to do it for my country comparing myself to others, to 2013 which I’m very proud of.” people who have very diferent The BBC put its 2017 And was it SuRie’s previous songs, genres and styles. faith in another Former X Factor Eurovision experiences that “My focus has to be on my own familiar name finalist wheted her appetite? Did she performance, on my song. from pop history. performed in Kiev watch those Belgian acts that she “Ultimately, we’re all in it Believe In Me, sang with Never Give Up worked with and long to be together on a wonderful night of , our On You. Fifteenth standing in the spotlight herself? entertainment. Result-wise, who representative in place, to put a “Well, that’s always where I feel knows? We’ll see what happens…” Malmo. Unfortunately, few people positive spin on it, was our fourth

did. Bonnie came 19th out of 26. highest placing this century. BBC ARCHIVE; GETTY IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHS: BBC; REX FEATURES; most at home,” she admits. “But the Mike Ward