Thursday, May 27, 2010

Dubovie: 'I'm under Eurovision pressure'

Thursday, May 27 2010, 15:33 BST

By Daniel Kilkelly, Entertainment Reporter

BBC

UK Eurovision hopeful Josh Dubovie has admitted that he is under pressure to do well at the contest following Jade Ewen's success at last year's event.

The 19-year-old singer confessed that he has a hard act to follow after Ewen secured fifth place and 173 points with 'It's My Time' last May - Britain's best result in seven years.

Speaking to Inside Soap about Ewen's legacy, Dubovie commented: "I am under a little bit of pressure, but the only thing I can do is my best. I think as a country all we can do is support our act and see what happens.

"All the other countries have got their own opinions, and the voting system changed last year [to include juries]. I think we did very well then, so I hope I can follow in Jade's footsteps."

Dubovie was also asked whether he has made plans for the future after seeing Ewen land a post-Eurovision career in Sugababes.

He said: "Well, I think I'm probably not best suited to being in the Sugababes. They get through members at an alarming rate, though, so it's bound to be my turn soon! I've got complete tunnel vision at the moment, I'm completely focused on Eurovision - but who knows what may happen afterwards, especially if I end up doing well?"

The Eurovision Song Contest final takes place in Norway on Saturday and will see Dubovie performing the Pete Waterman-penned 'That Sounds Good To Me'.

Title: Culture Club web chat: Is Eurovision alive or dead?

Get your cheese-tinted spectacles, foreign-themed food and accusations of tactical voting ready – it’s Eurovision time again, and we want to hear your thoughts. Is Eurovision the most obscenely fun night of the year, or a bonkers, outdated waste of time and money?

A worldwide audience of 125 million tune in as 39 countries attempt to outsing, outdance and outgimmick each other for the Eurovision prize. But it’s a spectacle which will drive just as many people to get their extra-strong earplugs reinforced. Indeed, the Making Your Mind Up glory days are well behind us, and even Terry Wogan - whose Baileys-fuelled commentary helped the contest slip down so nicely – has deserted his Eurovision duties, saying it just wasn’t funny any more.

Last year, Lord Lloyd Webber boosted us to a respectable fifth and propelled Jade Ewen to Sugababe status - but then there’s this year’s wimper. Pete Waterman’s schmaltz-in probably wouldn’t get past the semi-finals if we didn’t buy, with our fat financial contribution, an automatic pass-card to May 29’s final.

So, do we really need another farcical evening of getting whipped by Eastern Europeans writhing around in giant hamster cages? Or is it money well spent for a night of eccentric escapism - and some easy foreign policy?

We want to know what you think. Join The Times Rock & Pop Critic, Pete Paphides, and our resident Eurovision expert, Alex Hardy, for a live web chat on Friday May 28 at midday.

Live chat

Should we scrap Eurovision? Tell us

Friday May 28, midday

Our Eurovision entry really isn't up to much is it

It is rare that I ever blog negatively , but I agree 100% with this Popjustice article. How could we have got it so wrong after Jade got it so right last year ?



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Our Eurovision entry really isn't up to much is it
Story filed Thursday, 22 April 2010
We'd forgotten all about this but someone on the Popjustice forum has just posted a link to the studio verison of Josh Dubovie's 'That Sounds Good To Me'.


This is the song the United Kingdom is sending to Eurovision.

It is the song that it is felt - by idiots, let's be honest - will best represent the UK on the world stage.

Nothing about this song is good. It has no redeeming features. If it were a second hand car it would be one with a massive shit on the driver's seat. It is like a nightmare that exists in the physical realm, the Freddie Krueger of Eurovision entries slashing multiple cuts across pop's jugular. It is Comic Sans, a fart in a crowded lift, a dishwasher with an unsatisfactory rinse cycle, a Conservative election win, an unexpectedly hefty tax bill, homework on a Sunday night and next door's whining dog. It is all of that and more but it is not, and this is worth remembering as 'Eurovision fever' grips (trans: doesn't grip) the country in the coming weeks, something that "sounds" "good" to "anyone".

It is, more than anything, a real shame.

Read more: http://www.popjustice.com/#ixzz0mHqvfYBe