11:15 pm - 07/03/2012
Andrew Lloyd Webber has said that racism in Europe is a reason for the UK's poor performances in the Eurovision Song Contest.
The composer's Your Country Needs You TV show picked 2009 entrant and later-Sugababe Jade Ewen, who finished fifth in Russia with a song co-written by Lloyd Webber.
"I don't think there's any point beating around the bush," Lloyd Webber told Radio Times.
"Did you see the Eurovision Song Contest this year? Well, if you had seen it, you might have noticed one thing - I don't think there was one black face on the programme."
He continued: "At the press conference in Moscow, I was asked, 'Why have you brought a black artist?'
"I said, 'Because she is the most talented artist that we had and I think she's a major, major star'. I think we would have come second but there's a problem when you go further east."
Lloyd Webber added: "It doesn't mean that we would necessarily have won that year but we could have come second.
"If you're talking about Western Europe - Germany, fine; France, fine; Spain, fine; Greece, fine; Scandinavian countries, fine. But Ukraine? Not so good."
During the interview, Lloyd Webber also claimed that none of the acts on The Voice UK could sing in tune.
Source
Andrew Lloyd Webber: 'Eurovision racism hurt UK acts'
Andrew Lloyd Webber has said that racism in Europe is a reason for the UK's poor performances in the Eurovision Song Contest.
The composer's Your Country Needs You TV show picked 2009 entrant and later-Sugababe Jade Ewen, who finished fifth in Russia with a song co-written by Lloyd Webber.
"I don't think there's any point beating around the bush," Lloyd Webber told Radio Times.
"Did you see the Eurovision Song Contest this year? Well, if you had seen it, you might have noticed one thing - I don't think there was one black face on the programme."
He continued: "At the press conference in Moscow, I was asked, 'Why have you brought a black artist?'
"I said, 'Because she is the most talented artist that we had and I think she's a major, major star'. I think we would have come second but there's a problem when you go further east."
Lloyd Webber added: "It doesn't mean that we would necessarily have won that year but we could have come second.
"If you're talking about Western Europe - Germany, fine; France, fine; Spain, fine; Greece, fine; Scandinavian countries, fine. But Ukraine? Not so good."
During the interview, Lloyd Webber also claimed that none of the acts on The Voice UK could sing in tune.
Source
not really tho?
/butthurth from the last contest
i'll show you why the uk does shit, it's because they enter shit like this:
exhibit a:
exhibit b:
i could go on...
shame on you imo
"Would you like some complimentary nuts sir?" is possibly the best line ever.
I had to scroll up and I am still in shock.
we dont care about the competition until we do bad then we're all like "BBC NEEDS TO PULL OF THE EUROVISION,BLOC VOTING IS RUINING EVERYTHING!!" and then get all butt hurt because ~nobody likes us~
However I do think Eurovision can be racist, hardly any of the acts are poc, they're mostly backup dancers. It would be good if we could have more poc acts perform and win/get lots of points. There is also the issue of a lot of Eastern European countries voting for their friends, but sometimes that seems a little conspiracy-theory-esque.
Because we have no friends.
Edited at 2012-07-03 11:03 pm (UTC)
We could pull it out like Ireland
we would so win it
it's because you always send shit songs lbr ;)
but tbf you don't really have many friends, altho some of the geopolitical blocks are eroding....
eternal summer jam
However it doesn't stop the fact the BBC just can't be bothered in actually sending decent songs to the competition. Jade was our best result in a while thanks to the juries, and Andrew being on stage, but the song was still shit tbh. I do think there was a case for Javine doing a lot worse than she should of in 2005. I think her song and idec, Blue's were the best songs the UK had taken to the contest in a while. I just want us to take it seriously for once. Get some decent songwriters involved. I thought we were on to something in 2008 but then Andy fucking Abrams won the UK selection.
Before him our acts would never promote their song to europe except on the week of the show.it was like we were so sure we would do well that we didnt need to do the work that other countries do every year.
but thats the way the UK rolls,we dont give a shit about eurovision and still except to do well.
also Javine's song was the best out of a bad bunch when she was picked.wasn't she up against Jordan?
There needs to be a good mix of a good song, a decent performer and some actual promotion. Also less expectation of winning.
Well when you put it like that, yes, it was, but I still find it an actually decent pop song. It sounded current which is what can't be said about a lot of the entries we send. It was the only song that stood out that year. Hell of lot better than Daz Sampson which shockingly did a few places better.
I think the only reason we still send acts is so we can have parties and laugh at the acts/Graham's commentary. It's just something to cheer us up, and then give us something to grumble about after.
Although I'm not sure how performing in a different country would have helped, ebcause you still have the same people voting for your song.
JFC.