United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Eurovision: Your Country Needs You | ||||
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Selection date(s) | Introduction show: 3 January 2009 Heats: 10 January 2009 17 January 2009 Semi-final: 24 January 2009 Final: 31 January 2009 | |||
Selected entrant | Jade Ewen | |||
Selected song | "It's My Time" | |||
Selected songwriter(s) | ||||
Finals performance | ||||
Final result | 5th, 173 points | |||
United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest | ||||
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The
As a member of the "
Background
The British national broadcaster,
Before Eurovision
Eurovision: Your Country Needs You 2009
Eurovision: Your Country Needs You 2009 was the national final developed by the BBC in order to select the British entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. Six acts competed over four televised shows between 10 and 31 January 2009 held at the
Contestants
On 18 October 2008, BBC announced an open application for interested artists to submit their applications in the form of a video recording of themselves performing a cover version of a popular song or a self-written song. Eligible artists were those being 17 years old by 1 January 2009 and living in a country within the European Economic Area. The application period lasted until 21 November 2008.[6][7] All applicants were presented to a professional panel consisting of Andrew Lloyd Webber (composer of the British song) and Colin Barlow (record company executive) that ultimately selected six artists to compete in the national final.[8][9][10] An introduction show was broadcast on 3 January 2009 which involved the background preparation processes of the national final.[11] The six contestants were also announced during the show: Charlotte Finlay, Damien Flood, Emperors of Soul, Francine and Nicola Gleadall, Jade Ewen and Mark Evans.[12][13]
Results summary
- Colour key
- Act received the most public votes
- Act was in the "danger zone" but saved by Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Act was eliminated by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Act | Heat 1 | Heat 2 | Semi-final | Final |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jade Ewen | Safe | Safe | Safe | Winner |
Francine and Nicola Gleadall | Safe | Safe | Safe | Runner-up |
Mark Evans | Safe | Safe | Safe | 3rd place |
Emperors of Soul | Safe | Safe | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 3) |
Charlotte Finlay | Safe | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 2) | |
Damien Flood | Eliminated | Eliminated (Heat 1) |
Shows
Introduction show (3 January 2009)
The introduction show was aired on 3 January 2009. The show involved the background preparation processes including the selection of the six contestants and the visitation of Norton and Lloyd Webber to Russia (at the venue of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 Olimpiysky Arena), Poland and Hungary. The show also included meetings and interviews with the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and previous Eurovision Song Contest winner Dima Bilan, who won the contest for Russia in 2008 with the song "Believe", and several Russian Eurovision fans who suggested that the United Kingdom should avoid amateur artists and focus on a more professional approach to the contest. Back in Britain, Lloyd Webber teamed up with record company executive Colin Barlow, who has worked with the likes of Take That and Girls Aloud, having had 15 number ones and sold over 40 million albums as a producer, to help select the lucky six performers who will progress to the live shows. After seeing a number of entries sent into the BBC by the people, getting a "fabulous look at people's living rooms" as Norton said, we got a sense of who may be the future qualifiers to the live shows. After a number of auditions and workshops, showing some potential qualifiers rehearsing at their homes and elsewhere, the final six qualifiers were finally introduced.
Heat 1 (10 January 2009)
Six acts competed in the first heat on 10 January 2009. All contestants were also accompanied by a 17-piece band during their performances.[14][15] In addition to their performances, the female contestants performed "One Rock & Roll Too Many" from Lloyd Webber's musical Starlight Express, while the male contestants performed the song "No Matter What" by Boyzone. Guest performer was Lemar performing the song "Weight of the World" from his latest album The Reason.[16][17]
A panel of experts provided feedback alongside Lloyd Webber regarding the performances during the show. The panel consisted of Lulu (Eurovision Song Contest winner for the United Kingdom in 1969 with "Boom Bang-a-Bang") and Arlene Phillips (choreographer, talent scout and television presenter). A public televote saved four of the contestants from the "danger zone", while Lloyd Webber saved Charlotte Finlay and eliminated Damien Flood.
Draw | Artist | Song (Original artist) | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Emperors of Soul | "Love Train" (The O'Jays) | Safe |
2 | Mark Evans | "Your Game" (Will Young) | Safe |
3 | Charlotte Finlay | "Because of You" (Kelly Clarkson) | "Danger Zone" |
4 | Damien Flood | "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" (Michael Bolton) | Eliminated |
5 | Francine and Nicola Gleadall | "You've Got a Friend" (Carole King) | Safe |
6 | Jade Ewen | "Déjà Vu" (Beyoncé) | Safe |
Heat 2 (17 January 2009)
The five remaining acts competed in the second heat on 17 January 2009. All contestants were also accompanied by a 17-piece band during their performances.[14][15] In addition to their performances, the female contestants performed the song "Rhythm of the Night" by DeBarge, while the male contestants performed the song "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by Starship. The contestants together also performed the winning song for the United Kingdom in 1976 "Save Your Kisses for Me" by Brotherhood of Man. Guest performer was the group The Saturdays performing the song "Up" from their latest album.[18][19][20]
A panel of experts provided feedback alongside Lloyd Webber regarding the performances during the show. The panel consisted of Lulu and
Draw | Artist | Song (Original artist) | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Francine and Nicola Gleadall | "The Promise" (Girls Aloud) | Safe |
2 | Emperors of Soul | "Kiss" (Prince) | "Danger Zone" |
3 | Jade Ewen | "The Voice Within" (Christina Aguilera) | Safe |
4 | Charlotte Finlay | "Rain on Your Parade" (Duffy) | Eliminated |
5 | Mark Evans | "Me and Mrs. Jones" (Billy Paul) | Safe |
Semi-final (24 January 2009)
The four remaining acts competed in the semi-final on 24 January 2009. All contestants were also accompanied by a 17-piece band during their performances.[14][15] In addition to their performances, the female contestants performed the song "I'll Stand by You" by The Pretenders, while the male contestants performed the song "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" by Elton John. Guest performers were Lulu performing the winning song for the United Kingdom in 1969 "Boom Bang-a-Bang", and Alesha Dixon performing the song "Breathe Slow".[23][24]
A panel of experts provided feedback alongside Lloyd Webber regarding the performances during the show. The panel consisted of Dixon and Emma Bunton (singer-songwriter and actress).[22] The contestants each performed two songs: a ballad and an up-tempo song.[25] A public televote saved two of the contestants from the "danger zone", while Lloyd Webber saved Jade Ewen and eliminated Emperors of Soul.[26][27]
Artist | Draw | First Song (Original artist) | Draw | Second Song (Original artist) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mark Evans | 1 | "Rock Your Body" (Justin Timberlake) | 5 | "I Don't Want to Talk About It" (Rod Stewart) | Safe |
Jade Ewen | 2 | "All by Myself" (Eric Carmen) | 6 | "Think" (Aretha Franklin) | "Danger Zone" |
Emperors of Soul | 3 | "Patience" (Take That) | 7 | "Uptown Girl" (Billy Joel) | Eliminated |
Francine and Nicola Gleadall | 4 | "About You Now" (Sugababes) | 8 | "All I Have to Do Is Dream" (The Everly Brothers) | Safe |
Final
The three remaining acts competed in the final on 31 January 2009. In addition to their performances, the contestants performed the winning song for the United Kingdom in
A panel of experts provided feedback alongside Lloyd Webber regarding the performances during the show. The panel consisted of previous panellists Lulu and James. The contestants each performed three songs, including a previously performed song during the preceding three heats and the British song "It's My Time".[29][30] A public televote selected Jade Ewen as the winning artist.
Artist | Draw | First Song (Original artist) | Draw | Second Song (Original artist) | Draw | Eurovision Song | Place |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jade Ewen | 1 | "Lady Marmalade" (Labelle) | 6 | "The Promise" (Girls Aloud) | 9 | "It's My Time" | 1 |
Mark Evans | 2 | "Try a Little Tenderness" (The Commitments) | 5 | "Déjà Vu" (Beyoncé) | 7 | 3 | |
Francine and Nicola Gleadall | 3 | "Sweet About Me" (Gabriella Cilmi) | 4 | "Me and Mrs. Jones" (Billy Paul) | 8 | 2 |
Ratings
Show | Date | Viewers (in millions) |
Share | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduction show | 3 January 2009 | 4.9 | 21% | [31][32] |
Heat 1 | 10 January 2009 | 5.0 | 22% | [33] |
Heat 2 | 17 January 2009 | 4.6 | 22% | [34] |
Semi-final | 24 January 2009 | Unknown | ||
Final | 31 January 2009 | 5.5 | 30% | [35] |
Promotion
Jade Ewen made several appearances across Europe to specifically promote "It's My Time" as the British Eurovision entry. On 7 February, Jade Ewen performed "It's My Time" during the final of the
In addition to their international appearances, on 17 May, Jade Ewen performed during the UK Eurovision Preview Party, which was held in London, United Kingdom and hosted by Nicki French and Paddy O'Connell.[44] On 1, 2 and 4 May, Ewen appeared on the BBC One programmes Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Saturday Kitchen and The One Show, respectively.
At Eurovision
According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "
In the United Kingdom, the semi-finals were broadcast on BBC Three with commentary by Paddy O'Connell and Sarah Cawood, while the final was televised on BBC One with commentary by Graham Norton and broadcast on BBC Radio 2 with commentary by Ken Bruce.[46][47][48] Norton replaced Terry Wogan following his retirement as the British commentator since 1980.[49][50] The British spokesperson, who announced the British votes during the final, was Duncan James.
Final
Jade Ewen took part in technical rehearsals on 9 and 10 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 15 and 16 May. This included the jury final on 15 May where the professional juries of each country watched and voted on the competing entries. The running order for the semi-finals and final was decided by through another draw on 16 March 2009 and the United Kingdom was subsequently placed to perform in position 23, following the entry from Romania and before the entry from Finland.[51][52]
The British performance featured Jade Ewen on stage with the LED screens displaying white chandeliers. Ewen made her entrance on a staircase in the middle of the stage with four violinists dressed in black tailcoats and bow ties, and was later joined by the co-composer of "It's My Time" Andrew Lloyd Webber who played the piano.[53][54] The singer wore a dress designed by designer Amanda Wakeley during the performance, which was choreographed by Arlene Philips.[55] The performance also featured smoke effects.[56][57] The United Kingdom placed fifth in the final, scoring 173 points.[58]
Voting
The voting system for 2009 involved each country awarding points from 1–8, 10 and 12, with the points in the final being decided by a combination of 50% national jury and 50% televoting. Each nation's jury consisted of five music industry professionals who are citizens of the country they represent. This jury judged each entry based on: vocal capacity; the stage performance; the song's composition and originality; and the overall impression by the act. In addition, no member of a national jury was permitted to be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently.
Following the release of the full split voting by the EBU after the conclusion of the competition, it was revealed that the United Kingdom had placed tenth with the public televote and third with the jury vote in the final. In the public vote, the United Kingdom scored 105 points, while with the jury vote, the United Kingdom scored 223 points.
Below is a breakdown of points awarded to the United Kingdom and awarded by the United Kingdom in the second semi-final and grand final of the contest, and the breakdown of the jury voting and televoting conducted during the two shows:
Points awarded to the United Kingdom
Score | Country |
---|---|
12 points | Greece |
10 points | |
8 points | |
7 points | |
6 points | |
5 points | |
4 points | |
3 points | |
2 points | |
1 point |
Points awarded by the United Kingdom
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Detailed voting results
The following members comprised the British jury:
- Jasmine Dotiwala
- Paul Goodey
- Steve Allen
- Zoe Martlew
- Keith Hughes
Draw | Country | Results | Points | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jury | Televoting | Combined | |||
01 | Lithuania | 8 | 8 | 4 | |
02 | Israel | ||||
03 | France | 4 | 4 | 1 | |
04 | Sweden | ||||
05 | Croatia | ||||
06 | Portugal | 1 | 1 | ||
07 | Iceland | 10 | 5 | 15 | 8 |
08 | Greece | 10 | 10 | 5 | |
09 | Armenia | 2 | 2 | ||
10 | Russia | ||||
11 | Azerbaijan | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
12 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3 | 3 | ||
13 | Moldova | ||||
14 | Malta | 7 | 6 | 13 | 6 |
15 | Estonia | ||||
16 | Denmark | 3 | 3 | ||
17 | Germany | 12 | 2 | 14 | 7 |
18 | Turkey | 6 | 12 | 18 | 12 |
19 | Albania | ||||
20 | Norway | 8 | 7 | 15 | 10 |
21 | Ukraine | 5 | 5 | 2 | |
22 | Romania | ||||
23 | United Kingdom | ||||
24 | Finland | ||||
25 | Spain |
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External links
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