Eurovision Winners Party

The Saturday after I got back from Eurovision was the UK Eurovision Winners Party at the Scala in London so I took myself along for one of the last big Eurovision events of this year. To be honest, the title "Winner" only applied to two of the acts - Bucks Fizz and Dima Bilan as from what I can remember, Sonia, Nikki French and Ani Lorak didn't win... I would have much preferred a Eurovision "Favourites" party with a line-up of my favourite acts like Euroband, Kalomira etc.

With no Euroband on the line-up, it was left for me and my friend Moa to form our own tribute to them. We co-ordinated ourselves in outfits and were armed with Icelandic flags to complete the look. The turnout wasn't as impressive as the Eurovision Preview Party and the audience waiting to watch the show consisted of mainly Russian girls and really die-hard Eurovision fans (even a lot of my friends didn't show-up). The first artist out to perform was 2nd place runner-up in 1993, Sonia, who looked a bit worse for wear and didn't seem to know where she was as she "performed" - I say "performed" but it was more like a sing-a-long karaoke with her leading the way (maybe she doesn't know the words to her songs anymore??). The mostly Russian audience looked bemused when Bucks Fizz took to the stage to perform their "extended set" - in honesty even the hardened Eurovision fans only wanted them to do their 3 UK no1's and then get off stage. If the Russian's didn't know what to make of Bucks Fizz, well they didn't have a clue what was going on as Nikki French (16th place) managed to squeeze herself in the actual jacket she wore at Eurovision. Fortunately for the Russians (who looked like they were about to commit murder by this point), Dima Bilan came out. Dima looked like he didn't want to be there as he went through the motions of his 2 song set. He didn't even come back for a reprise of "Believe" - hardly the gracious Eurovision winner... Ani Lorak saved the evening with a great performance I have come to expect from her (even though she is STILL wearing the same dress - really hope she has washed it). The response "Shady Lady" got from the audience suggested that perhaps the wrong song had won in Belgrade. Ani went one step further by performing Tina Turner's "The Best" - perhaps she was sending a message to Dima Bilan?? While Dima may have taken the prize in Belgrade, it was clear that Ani is the unoffical winner of Eurovision 2008.
With the performances over it was Moa and my turn to perform as our tribute to Euroband - though they were not there at the Scala they were with us in spirit!!

Eurovision Preview Party - Part 3

As we waited for our moment to go on stage and dance back-up for Maria infront of over 1,500 people Alex and I were in a prime spot to watch the artists performances from the side of the stage.

The opening act were Eurovision legends, Bucks Fizz who opened with "New Beginning (Mamba Seyra)". They followed with the UK no1 hits "The Land Of Make Believe" and the Eurovision winner "Making Your Mind Up" - complete with the obligatory ripping the skirts off.

After a great start, it was the lovely Maria from Norway who came out to perform her Eurovision song "Hold On, Be Strong". Maria looked stunning in an orange dress and as Alex and I waited for our moment to join her on stage we could see all the audience singing along with her. Before we knew it Maria had finished "Hold On, Be Strong" and was begining her second song a cover of the 80's hit, "More More More". Despite the audience not being that familiar with the song they all got into the swing of it especially when Alex and I came out to join Maria to dance. It was a fantastic experience for Alex and I as we felt so happy to have been asked to participate. After our "performance" Maria thanked us backstage and told us that she was "amazed" everyone was singing along to her song.

Ruslan from Belarus was next out to perform "Hasta La Vista". Following Ruslan was Romania's entry Nico & Vlad who performed their Eurovision entry, "Pe-o margine de lume" and "Beauty & the Beast". To liven up the mood, Malta's "volcano" Morena erupted onto the stage with the frantic "Vodka" which went down well with the audience.

To close the first half my favourites, Euroband came out and gave an amazing set. From the moment they came on stage the atmosphere was amazing and they definitely got the best reaction from the audience. As they performed you could see they were really enjoying themselves as much as the audience. Not only did they give an fantastic performance of their Eurovision track "This Is My Life" but they performed a medley of past Eurovision hits that sent the audience crazy and a brilliant cover of "A Ba Ni Bi". Both Fridrik and Regina are extremely talented vocalists with two of the best voices I have heard. For me, Euroband were definitely the highlight of the party as they really gave 100 percent on stage.

Following my favourites, Euroband as the opening act in the second half was was never going to be easy, but Nanne Grönvall managed to do well. Nanne gave an energetic crowd pleasing performance including her second place Melodifestivalen entry, "Håll om mig" which had the audience singing along despite it being in Swedish!!

Pall Oscar followed Nanne in a dazzling white suit. Laka had clearly cheered up since I had spoken to him backstage to give a quirky performance of "Pokušaj". Armenia's Shirusho certianly came alive onstage and was a completely different character to how she was backstage when she performed "Qele Qele". The Polish entrant, Isis Gee looked stunning in a full length pink gown and sung her beautiful ballad, "For Life". To end the evenings performances, Ukraine's "Shady Lady", Ani Lorak took to the stage. Looking gorgeous in a silver outfit that resembled Charlotte Perrelli's silver Melodifestivalen dress, Ani gave a fierce rendition of her Eurovision entry, "Shady Lady" and a cover of Tina Turner's "The Best" - was she sending out a message to anyone??

With all the performances over, it was time for me to say goodbye to the acts I had met backstage and head to the dancefloor to dance to the Eurovision hits past and present.

Squeezy x

Eurovision Preview Party - Part 2

After meeting some of the artists taking part in the performances later in the evening, Alex and I went to change into our matching outfits as we were to join Norway's Maria on stage to dance during her second song, a cover of the 80's hit "More More More".

The host of the evening BBC's Paddy O'Connell said that we looked like Amy Winehouse's backing dancers - we are not sure if he meant that as a compliment or not!!

When Alex and I were asked if we would dance for Maria we jumped at the chance as during our podcasts for ESC today we had both liked Maria's Eurovision entry for Norway - the jazz inspired, "Hold On, Be Strong". I, particularly enjoyed the song as there was a quality to the sound of Maria's voice that I really liked and the fact that there was something so likeable about her as a performer. I'm glad to say that Maria is as likeable as she comes across we chatted and went through our routine with her backstage as we waited to go on.

Whilst backstage, Alex and I met Eurovision legends Bucks Fizz who were really nice, Cheryl told us all about the new Bucks Fizz album that was due to come out "The Lost Masters" whilst Mike told me that he still has his sweater that he wore for Eurovision all those years ago!!

One artist that Alex and I were very excited to meet was Nanne Grönvall who was waiting to go on stage with her two dancers. We told her that we had been to Sweden earlier this year for Melodifestivalen and that we hoped that she would enter again. From the look in her eyes it seemed that she was thinking the same thing - could we see Nanne return to Melodifestivalen next year??


Bosnia and Herzegovina's entrant, Laka wasn't looking too happy backstage. Alex and I enquired why he was sad to which he replied, "I don't like to work overtime" - !!?? Despite him not being very happy he still posed for some amazingly crazy photos as did his sister.



The gorgeous Shirusho representing Armenia was a complete contrast to the unhappy Laka. Despite having a big voice and a big song "Qele Qele", she was tiny and really quiet as she waited to go on - I think she was saving all her energy for her stage performance.