Eurovision Song Contest 2015 Vienna - Grand Final (Preview, updated with results)

Saturday 23rd May, BBC1 8pm

Well, it's been a real Red Wedding of a tournament so far as at least five of my top ten have fallen at the semi final stage. So here are my thoughts on what's left in tonight's Grand Final.

1. Maraaya - Here For You (Slovenia)

Kicking things off in party style is a big fan favourite. Beginning as a ballad, it soon becomes a catchy, up-tempo modern pop song. It's a little let down by its staging, however, as the singer wears what is basically a wedding dress with massive headphones and remains static, next to a distracting air violinist that caught more attention on Twitter during the semis than the song itself.

Which one is this? The girl with the headphones and the air violinist

Memorable bit: "When you're down, down low..."

Result: 14th

2. Lisa Angell - N'oubliez Pas (France)

A moving ballad that pays tribute to the fallen soldiers and buildings, ruined by a century of war. The title, "Don't forget" refers to those who have fought, died or fallen. The dramatic staging would have seen this surge in the odds if it wasn't for the poor placing in the running order. Ironically, it will be forgotten by the end of song 27.

Which one is this? The one with the military drummers.

Memorable bit: "Mais je suis la..."

Result: 25th

3. Nadav Gedj - Golden Boy (Israel)

Performed by the oldest-looking 16-year-old in the world, this begins as an almost chanted ballad, but it soon kicks into an RnB gear before finding its banghra-esque groove with its catchy, Eastern-influenced chorus and ridiculous lyrics. And it has the most adorable ending.

Which one is this? The boy in the golden, winged boots.

Memorable bit: "I'm your golden boy, come here to enjoy"

Result: 9th

4. Elina Born & Stig Rästa - Goodbye to Yesterday (Estonia)

The first of two fan-favourite downbeat duets this year (see also Norway), this one kind of passed me by on first few listens, largely thanks to the gruff, uninterested male vocals and the “oh wait, THAT was the chorus?” moment. But there is some twisted charm in this tale of a man caught sneaking out of his girlfriend’s house in the early hours.

Which one is this? The bickering couple with the dramatic shadows on the floor.
Memorable bit: “I didn't want to wake you up” and the Bond-theme-esque guitar riff.

Result: 7th

5. Electro Velvet - Still In Love With You (United Kingdom)

A dreadful cross between Doop, Scatman John and Cotton Eye Joe (but not as good as any), this accurately represents the UK and BBC's attitude to Eurovision - cheesy, gimmicky crap, and will therefore deserve its inevitable record-breaking 27th place. At 3 minutes, it's way too long. Like a Lord of the Rings movie it carries on way after it should have ended, and if you don't groan when the final verse starts, you may need help.

Which one is this? The crappy Great Gatsby one. 

Memorable bit: This will be better best forgotten.

Result: 24th

6. Geneaology - Face the Shadow (Armenia)

If there is a song left in the competition that is worse that the UK one, it's this. They say a camel is a horse designed by a committee. This feels like a song written by a committee. In a desperate attempt to appeal to the diaspora (which appears to have been successful, since they have qualified), the group is made up of Armenian descendants from the four corners of the Earth. However, this super-group is anything but super, as the voices compete horribly, rather than blend beautifully, and even the political undertones (oblique references to the 100th anniversary of the oft-denied Armenian genocide) can’t make this caterwauling mess any more interesting.
Which one's this: The purple one with the shouty people.
Memorable bit: “Don’t deny…” (the original, more political title of the song)

Result: 16th

7. Monika Linkyte & Vaidas Baumila - This Time (Lithuania)

A bright, breezy, colourful, folksy, upbeat song that kicks off its chorus in fine style then meanders somewhat, but I find its charm irresistible. Make sure you catch the kisses in the second verse!

Which one is this? The lively, colourful one with the kiss.

Memorable bit: "I'm feeling love... love... love"

Result: 18th

8. Bojana Stamenov - Beauty Never Lies (Serbia)

The first of many girl power anthems this year, this one starts off like a ballad, with a thumping beat over the chorus and cheesy yet heart-warming lyrics of a girl’s discovery of confidence. In the final third it turns rather unexpectedly into a disco anthem, and Bojana truly delivers on the required diva vocals. A real crowd-pleaser.
Which one is this? The plus-size girl with masked backing singers-turned dancers.

Memorable bit: “Yes, I’m different, and it’s okay! Here I am!”
Result: 10th

9. Mørland & Debrah Scarlett - A Monster Like Me (Norway)

And now for something completely different. A very sombre, macabre duet ballad about a man's "terrible" confession. Less is more on this one, making it a big fan favourite.

Which one is this? The downbeat duet with the female readhead.

Memorable bit: "I'd better let you go, to find the prince you thought you found in me"

Result: 8th

10. Måns Zelmerlöw - Heroes (Sweden)

Do not miss this one! This year's bookie's favourite is an up-tempo pop/dance song with a bit of a country vibe. Even though the song is insanely catchy, it will be most memorable for its interactive staging, involving a cartoon stick man and a hunky singer in an incredibly flattering top.

Which one is this? The one with the interactive cartoon man

Memorable bit: "We are the heroes of our time, heroes, woah-woah"

Result: WINNER!!!

11. Giannis Karagiannis - One Thing I Should Have Done (Cyprus)

An acoustic ballad sung by a man who looks like he's wearing those comedy glasses with a fake nose. It's actually quite touching, if unremarkable, but the requisite subtle staging is very effectively done. 12 points from Greece.

Which one is this? The bloke with the glasses.

Memorable bit: "I should have done everything for you".

Result: 22nd

12. Guy Sebastian - Tonight Again (Australia)

Despite some controversy ("it's not in Europe" shocker - yawn, and it's not even alone in this) Australia are making a one-off (COUGH COUGH) entry for the 60th edition, and they've come up trumps with this high-energy, soulful, credible and modern pop song that would not sound out of place on a Bruno Mars album (along with Denmark's entry from last year). Very curious to see how well this does in the voting...

Which one is this? The Australian Bruno Mars-y one.

Memorable bit: "Do what you what, you what, you want"

Result: 5th

13. Loïc Nottet - Rhythm Inside (Belgium)

A very interesting one this. Teenager Loïc is an amazing dancer with a massive voice (YouTube his version of Sia’s “Chandelier” for proof of both) but his song is a moody Lourde-esque mid-tempo song whose sparse musical composition comprises of little more than clicks, bass bursts and drums beats, and yet makes a big impact, especially with its rousing chorus and unique choreography.
Which one is this? The weird, artsy, modern black & white-themed one.

Memorable bit: “And if we die tomorrow…”

Result: 4th

14. The Makemakes - I Am Yours (Austria)

Smack-bang in the middle, this year's hosts Austria give us a mid-tempo piano ballad with a slight old-school retro vibe. Not a million miles away from Coldplay's "The Scientist", this one kicks off a run of eight ballads.

Which one is this? The one with the burning piano.

Memorable bit: "You're what I belong to..."

Result: Joint last, 0 points

15. Maria Helena Kyriakou - One Last Breath (Greece)

This year, Greece have opted for the big female power ballad, and it’s for the most part a big success, building gradually in somewhat comforting if predictable style. It ends at around 2:15 but goes on for another desperate 30 seconds. 12 points from Cyprus.
Which one is this? The blonde woman in the blue circle.
Memorable bit: “I’m begging you, take me”

Result: 19th

16. Knez - Adio (Montenegro)

One of those Balkan ballads that we in the West only hear at Eurovision, it has a strange rhythm and Eastern instrumentation that builds and builds to an effective climax with crashing drums. I'm buggered if I can find a memorable chorus or melody, but it's pleasant enough. Knez is evidently a seasoned pro and gives a polished performance with his much younger female backing dancers, in front of a dramatic mountain backdrop.

Which one is this? The one with the weird helicopter/Zorba the Greek dance.

Memorable bit: Erm... None of it. And it's all in foreign.

Result: 13th

17. Ann Sophie - Black Smoke (Germany)

A funky, retro mid-tempo song with lots of attitude, sees an Amy Winehouse lookalike sing like Paloma Faith. The simple staging lets the song do the talking.

Which one is this? Amy Winehouse sings Paloma Faith

Memorable bit: "'Cause you said you'd never let me go..."

Result: Joint last, 0 points

18. Monika Kuszyńska - In The Name Of Love (Poland)

Consider your heartstrings pulled as we see real-life footage of a younger Monika strutting her stuff as the Carol Vorderman lookalike (thank you Mel Giedroyc) sings live from her wheelchair. It's a bit of a nothing song, and her voice isn't the strongest, but the (very) pink staging and lyrical sentiment are beautiful.

Which one is this? Carol Vorderman in a wheelchair.

Memorable bit: "Beyond the fear, let's build a bridge"

Result: 23rd

19. Aminata - Love Injected (Latvia)

A very strange one, this. Very sparse electronic beats and high, thin vocals soon transform into a belting chorus and back again, climaxing in a memorable chant of "oh-oh"s. The simple staging works superbly. A potential dark horse, this.

Which one is this? The electronic ballad with the big red dress.

Memorable bit: "Your love... revives my soul"

Result: 6th

20. Voltaj - Del La Capat/All Over Again (Romania)

A party political broadcast on behalf of UKIP, this concentrates on the plight of the children left behind when parents leave Romania to go abroad to earn money for their families. This one's sung mostly in Romanian, but has the final chorus in English. It has a strong melody, but the vocalist isn't the strongest in the world. He's promised to sing it all in English if they get to the final, but that hasn't gone down well with their Romanian fans, so we'll see. The original Romanian version has already been a massive hit back home, at the end of last year.
Which one's this? The bald man singing around the suitcases.
Memorable bit: "You will be the reason, you will be the reason"

Result: 15th

21. Edurne - Amanacer (Spain)
After relative success with Ruth Lorenzo last year, Spain have returned with another female power-ballad, complete with dramatic staging and (I'm reliably informed) international superstar Edurne. She's duetted with Olly Murs, you know.
Which one's this? The blonde girl with (and without) the cape.
Memorable bit: "Ee-yeah-ee-yeah-eah, ee-yeah-ee-yeah-eah"

Result: 21st

22. Boggie - Wars For Nothing (Hungary)

The ballad run concludes with the slowest so far, a repetitive, acoustic anti-war ballad. Very cheesy, but quite effective if you choose to go with it. The singer looks like a cross between the Duchess of Cambridge and Luisa Zissman, but you may have seen her YouTube video, "Parfum", which has achieved 8 million views so far.
Which one is this? The one with gun tree.
Memorable bit: "Do you know our Earth is a mess?"

Result: 20th

23. Nina Sublatti - Warrior (Georgia)
The ballads come to a thumping end courtesy of this, the most powerful of the girl power tracks. Nina goes full-on Goth rock chick, full of attitude, and the most effective staging since Sweden, with its dry ice and thunder clouds. The song isn't great, but this will definitely make a massive impact after the long string of ballads.
Which one is this? The goth rock chick.
Memorable bit: "Ooh-ooh I'm a warrior"

Result: 11th

24. Elnur Huseynov - Hour of the Wolf (Azerbaijan)

A gorgeous ballad sung by a man with a phenomenal voice - Elnur, who performaed Azerbaijan's debut entry in 2008 as a falsetto albino angel. Unfortunately his English pronunciation is pretty poor, but he is flanked by two contemporary dancers to help tell the tale. You may recognise the male dancer as Canadian Lukas McFarlane, winner of the third series of Sky's "Got to Dance".

Which one is this? The wolf one with the contemporary dancers throwing each other around.

Memorable bit: "No, I won't sleep tonight"

Result: 12th

25. Polina Gagarina - A Million Voices (Russia)
Another year, another peace ballad from Russia. You have to admire their cheek, especially as silencing a million voices is their particular speciality. As it is, it's a great power ballad, and, far from the recent tradition of boos, the combination of Polina's phenomenal voice, pretty face, and pitch-perfect staging might even see it snatch victory from Sweden, which has been favourite for so long it is facing a big fan backlash. It all really depends upon whether the more progressive, Ukraine-loving Western countries can bring themselves to vote for homophobic warmongers Russia. We'll find out shortly.
Which one is this? The pretty blonde Russian with the peace ballad.
Memorable bit: "We believe, we believe in a dream"

Result: 2nd

26. Elhaida Dani - I'm Alive (Albania)

One final, stirring, girl power ballad, this builds and builds with crashing drums, but ultimately doesn't go anywhere special. Elhaida's vocals struggle in the song's climax, but she gives it her all and has a lot of online support. At one point, it sounds like she sings "you shat on my dreams", but I'm assured it's "you shut down my dreams". Shame.
Which one is this? The shouty mousy one with the sparkly backdrop.
Memorable bit: "Ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay"

Result: 17th

27. Il Volo - Grande Amore (Italy)
And we finish with the other other favourite, a big Italian ballad sang in an operatic style by a trio of young men with big voices. Again, I'm reliably informed that they are well-known across Europe (and indeed the world) so expectations are big for this one. Opera never does well at Eurovision, but this year could be the exception. Anyone who uses George & Lorraine McFly as an example of "Grande Amore" in their music video gets a big thumbs-up from me.
Which one is this? The operatic one.
Memorable bit: "Grande amore"
Result: 3rd

Eurovision Song Contest Copenhagen 2014 - Grand Final (Preview)

BBC1HD, Saturday 10th May 8pm

01 Ukraine

Mariya Yaremchuk - Tick-Tock

Kicking things off in True Eurovision style is this fun, up-tempo track. Whilst the song may be a surprisingly weak effort from the usually reliable Ukraine, it is still strong enough to be in the better half, and the inventive hamster wheel staging certainly helps sell the song.

Memorable bit: "Tick tock, can you hear me go tick tock?"

02 Belarus

Teo - Cheesecake

Robin Thicke, eat your heart out. One of the most distinctive and contemporary songs this year, this stands out with its smooth, catchy RnB vibe. The silly lyrics may do more harm than good, but may also help the song be more memorable. By bringing the backing singers/dancers into the fray, they've turned it into more of a boyband performance, which has helped remove some of the sleaziness, but also made it a lot more generic.

Memorable bit: "I don't wanna..."

03 Azerbaijan

Dilara Kazimova - Start A Fire

Adding some class to proceedings is this sultry ballad sung alongside a trapeze artist by a Davina McCall lookalike with an equally beautiful voice. In a very short time, Azerbaijan have established themselves as a true force in the Eurovision Song Contest, having won just a few years ago, and never placed lower than eighth. I have a feeling this year may change matters with this surprisingly forgettable entry that's lacking a memorable hook, so even if you enjoy the performance, you won't be humming it afterwards.

Memorable bit: The distracting woman on the trapeze.

04 Iceland

Pollapönk - No Prejudice

Eurovision goes punk! Well, sort of. At times, it has that early-80s/Arctic Monkeys feel of a song that was recorded in someone's garage. However, the colourful outfits ensure that these guys clearly don't take themselves too seriously as this fun, up-tempo rocker puts its unfortunately necessary serious message about tolerance forward in a humorous way. Take THAT, Russia! Even though it is sung in English, make sure you have the subtitles on, the lyrics are an absolute gem.

Memorable bit: The colourful guys going "b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b...".

05 Norway

Carl Espen - Silent Storm

Less is more in this simple but stunning male-vocal ballad. A stand-out, for the right reasons; simple, yet moving and very powerful. Not everybody seems to be getting it, but the lyrics and Carl's sincerely emotional delivery get me every time.

Memorable bit: "Someday I'll be calm".

06 Romania

Paula Seling & Ovi - Miracle

The 2010 bronze medallists return for a second attempt that's nowhere near as strong as their first. Having scored Romania's best ever result, the duo that played a blinder on their conjoined piano are back with a circular piano, but this time the staging is a bit of a mess, although the up-tempo dance/pop song is still strong enough to win over fans.

Memorable bit: The circular piano

07 Armenia

Aram MP3 - Not Alone

The former bookies' favourite is a rather inconspicuous ballad that builds to a somewhat impressive dubstep crescendo. For me, there are far stronger ballads this year, but it's pretty good and Aram sings very well. The staging is relatively simple, with Aram (ironically) very much alone, and the backdrop comes to life as the song builds.

Memorable bit: "You're not alone, you're not alone, etc."

08 Montenegro

Sergej Cetkovic - Moj Svijet

A gorgeous mid-tempo Celtic ballad, full of lush strings, pan pipes, crashing drums and beautiful vocals. If THIS was the favourite, I'd understand better, although it does end rather unexpectedly. They've thrown a lot at the staging, but the song is strong enough to not require it.

Memorable bit: The Pandora-from-Avatar backdrop and the ice-skater.

09 Poland

Donatan & Cleo - My Slowianie/We Are Slavic

An intriguing mix of modern RnB Beyonce beats and traditional instruments, Poland return after a brief hiatus with a song about women's curves, and have the staging to match. As for the song, it's screechy, irritating, shouty and painful to listen to, but is one to watch as it has been a massive hit in several competing countries already. It does, however, improve when it shifts to English. As for staging, it's Carry On Baltics as even the most traditional garb cannot compensate for the close-ups of pendulous breasts and suggestive milking. One for the dads, then.

Memorable bit: "Shake what your Mama gave you".

10 Greece

Freaky Fortune feat. RiskyKidd - Rise Up

Don't be fooled by the old-fashioned traditional-sounding funeral march of an intro. This quickly transforms in to a modern, dancey up-tempo mix of rap, synth sounds and trumpets (think Sam and the Womp). It's repetitive enough to be memorable, and would not sound out of place on a Radio One playlist. That's not necessarily a compliment, but this will either irritate the hell out of you or win you over with its youthful enthusiasm.

Memorable bit: Trampolines & trumpets.

11 Austria

Conchita Wurst - Rise Like a Phoenix

And here we have the most talked-about entry this year. The Bond theme that never was, think Diamonds Are Forever reinvented for the 21st century by a bearded drag queen. It's high camp, and certainly provocative, but there no giggles to be had here as she takes the performance very seriously, and it is absolutely phenomenal. Expect Twitter to crash. Fabulous.

Memorable bit: The bearded lady

12 Germany

Elaiza - Is it Right?

The first of tonight's automatic qualifiers is a stompy, old-fashioned, folk number. Whilst there are a few folsky entries this year, this one isn't country-folk, but more traditional with its accordions and rhythms creating a unique sound in this year's selection. Elaiza has a terrific voice, very reminiscent of P!nk.

Memorable bit: "I can't go on, I can't go on"

13 Sweden

Sanna Nielsen - Undo

Eurovision powerhouse Sweden are always one to watch, and this year is no exception. Sanna is a seasoned veteran, and very well-known amongst Eurovision fans, as this is her SEVENTH attempt to represent her country. She's not only achieved her goal at last, but is also a strong contender for the win. Undo is a big, produced ballad, complete with the obligatory "doosh... key change" moment. Still pretty good though, despite the poor grammar. "Undo my sad", indeed.

Memorable bit: "u-u-u-undo my sad".

14 France

TWIN TWIN - Moustache

The second of tonight's automatic qualifiers, this is a fun, up-tempo rap track with silly lyrics and silly hairstyles to match. If it was given to radio stations and credited to Pitbull, it would be played constantly and almost a dead-cert Number 1. That's not necessarily intended as a compliment, but it's catchy as hell, even though it's sung in French.

Memorable bit: The pronunciation of "Mooostache"

15 Russia

Tolmachevy Sisters - Shine

Booooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! Eurovision, it's all political!! Well, let's see. After their attacks on homosexuals and Ukraine, Russia aren't exactly being overwhelmed by international support right now, and deservedly so. So whom have they entered this year (other than Crimea, that is)? A pair of identical-twin teenage girls, and veterans of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest to boot. So to boo them would be unfair, right?  However, the song's ironic lines about "telling all the world to show some love..." won't sit very well with anybody. Politics aside, the song epitomises bland (not necessarily a bad thing) and the bizarre staging is distinctive and effective.

Memorable bit: Children of the Corn on a see-saw.

16 Italy

Emma - La Mia Città

The third of tonight's automatic qualifiers is a ballsy, up-tempo rock-chick number sung in Italian with lots of attitude. Think heyday Courtney Love, minus the guitar.

Memorable bit: The Italian rock chick.

17 Slovenia

Tinkara Kovac - Round and Round/Spet

A bilingual, Celtic-inspired song with flutes and seductive rhythms, this is a real grower. It's songs like this that make me love Eurovison, as it's not the kind of thing I'm likely to hear anywhere else. The melody is very strong, and whilst it might not make a big impact, it is an effective palette-cleanser; nicely subtle, traditional and distinctive.

Memorable bit: "Round and round again we, round and round again we, go-oh-oh-oh"

18 Finland

Softengine - Something Better

The increasingly-rare sight of a rock act at Eurovision comes this year courtesy of these teenagers. Of course, by "rock" we're talking more Busted-wearing-shiny-suits than Iron Maiden. But it was the first of this year's songs to get stuck in my head, with a great anthemic feel and Coldplay-esque singalong "woah-oh-oh-oh"s. The staging is kept very simple- no movement, just a static band and lights. Lots of lights.

Memorable bit: "We found something better"

19 Spain

Ruth Lorenzo - Dancing in the Rain

The fourth of tonight's automatic qualifiers sees former X Factor UK's very own [X Factor voice] RUTH LORENZO!!! Yes, her what did Purple Rain is belting out a rather magnificent mid-tempo Ryan Tedder-esque ballad (think Beyonce's Halo in Spanglish). The vocals are phenomenal, and she is a seasoned professional. Can't wait for this one.

Memorable bit: "We're dancing in the rain, dancing in the rain"

20 Switzerland

Sebalter - Hunter of Stars

An insanely catchy, up-tempo folk number with twanging banjos, hand claps and a very memorable whistled section. It may not make a strong first impact, but is a definite grower, and the band give it plenty of infectious energy. I love it when the staging and choreography matches the musical construction of the song, and this one certainly delivers.

Memorable bit: "Want me to go, want me to go" and lots of whistling.

21 Hungary

András Kállay-Saunders - Running

Something of a downer, this ballad about domestic abuse has a thumping drum & bass chorus that's catchy in a good way, but still manages to maintain the ominous tone. The dramatic staging makes a great impact, too, particularly the final shot.

Memorable bit: "She keeps on running, running, running..."

22 Malta

Firelight - Coming Home

A refreshing, bright, breezy, uplifting, foot-stomping, semi-acoustic folk song that's the perfect antidote to what came before, whilst also being somewhat moving in its own right. Evoking Mumford & Sons and Gary Barlow's Let Me Go, my biggest criticism is that it could use its very simple-but-strong chorus more often for a greater impact, as the excellent vocals truly soar. The poppy-field staging reflects a more subtle version of the WWI setting of the song's music video.

Memorable bit: "Oh I-I-I-I'm coming home"

23 Denmark

Basim - Cliché Love Song

Tonight, Matthew, I'm going to be Bruno Mars. The fifth of tonight's automatic qualifiers is pure joy. Yes, the lyrics are intentionally daft, a song that definitely lives up to its title, we kick things off with a "scooby-dooby-dap-dap-diddy-die" in a seriously divisive, cheesy retro song that I simply adore. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that his performance sells the song as well as it deserves to.

Memorable bit: "Scooby-dooby-dap-dap-diddy-die"

24 The Netherlands

The Common Linnets - Calm After the Storm

The true dark horse of the competition came out of nowhere after playing a blinder in the first semi-final. What began as a rank-outsider, not even expected to qualify, has now become one of the favourites to win. As nondescript as a song can get, it's a full-on Nashville-inspired country ballad that doesn't really go anywhere. Even the black-and-white staging is pretty basic, too. And yet this deceptively simple song with similarly simple staging makes an impact greater than the sum of its parts. One to watch.

Memorable bit: "Oooooh skies are black and blue, thinking about you"

25 San Marino

Valentina Monetta - Maybe (Forse)

Eurovision loves a trier, and Valentina's third successive attempt has finally taken San Marino into the Grand Final for the first time ever. It's a mid-tempo ballad that's remarkably unremarkable and almost a carbon-copy of her entry from last year. It's not offensive, and the build as it shifts from ballad to something more orchestral and up-tempo feels fluid.

Memorable bit: Venus in her oyster shell.

26 United Kingdom

Molly - Children of the Universe

The sixth and final of tonight's automatic qualifiers is also the final of the night, and it's Royaume Uni's attempt to redeem themselves after not-giving-a-shit for most of the last decade or so. It's a mid-tempo, thumping anthem with a catchy "power to the people" hook and haunting harmonies. A lot of people are declaring this the UK's second coming to Eurovision, and it does indeed have a unique, stand-out sound, with echoes of Lonely Symphony, Frances Ruffelle's UK entry from 20 years ago. Credit where it's due, the staging is very powerful and reflects the song's musicality superbly.

Memorable bit: "Power to the people"

NB There are far stronger songs this year, but cue the usual Nigel Farrage-type comments of "it's all political" if it doesn't win. It is not really a song you'd expect to hear on the BBC's own Radio 1, so when they begin to playlist Eurovision songs, especially ones they've picked to represent us with no public consultation, only then will I believe they're taking it seriously.