THE first time I heard the UK’s Eurovision entry, I thought it was dreadful.
But on second listen, I’m a paid-up member of the Look Mum No Computer fan club – and he’s enlisted a Eurovision mastermind to help bring his song Eins, Zwei, Drei to life on stage at the contest in Vienna.
The musician, whose real name is Sam Battle, released his track yesterday and has hired Swedish choreographer Fredrik ‘Benke’ Rydman, which is a big deal for us.
He worked with Sweden’s Mans Zelmerlow on the 2015 winner Heroes and then 2023’s Cha Cha Cha for Finland’s Kaarija, which finished second, and The Code for Switzerland’s Nemo, who was another winner in 2024.
The song is clever, switching between an over-the-top Cockney accent and a German chorus, which will hopefully win over our European neighbours.
He emailed the BBC Eurovision team in September about writing an entry, but was encouraged to consider performing, too.
Sam, who says The Human League and Elvis Costello are his biggest influences, told the BBC: “Whether it’s winning or whether it’s not winning, I just figured the best thing to do is just try my hardest.
“There’s a lot of stuff going on with the voting, a lot of favouritism and stuff, and maybe the UK isn’t everybody’s favourite when it comes to the Eurovision.
“So I’m just going to be myself and hope they see that I’m an all right guy.
“Because if they don’t like you, then there’s no hope, really.”
Harry’s riding high
GOOD things come in threes, which is why Harry Styles dropped his album, released a video, and performed his first gig in three years yesterday.
Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally shot to No1 on iTunes and the record’s second single, American Girls, now has a video which sees him riding a motorbike against a green screen.
The clip, which racked up more than 300,000 views in its first hour, also sees him drive a sports car under a lorry, and pose alongside stunt doubles.
But there was no rest for Harry, as he played an album launch show at Manchester’s Co-op Live last night.
If you didn’t manage to get a ticket, the show will be available to watch on Netflix from 7pm tomorrow.
Crack open a bottle of wine and get ready to dance.
ALEX FAITHFUL TO FEASTIVAL
BLUR’s Alex James turned down the chance to compete on the next series of The Celebrity Traitors because he’s too busy.
The Britpop star, who is in the middle of planning his annual event The Big Feastival in the Cotswolds this August, was quizzed by winner Alan Carr about whether he had been asked to take part.
On Alan’s Bottoms Up podcast, he said: “I really wanted to do it as well. I’m just absolutely up to my neck. I wish I had.”
The pair also discussed the Brit Awards, but Alex admitted that a recent bash he went to for cheesemakers was even more raucous.
He said: “I’ll tell you what, the British Cheese Awards are more of a tear-up than the Brits.
“People are getting absolutely blatted. The Wensleydale boys are a handful.”
But Alan has his own experience of the Brits.
He said: “Back in the day it was feral. I remember it was the last ever show at London’s Earl’s Court and people were just stripping things off the wall. I ran home with a potted plant.
“There’s everyone with prostitutes and drugs and I’m like, ‘Ooh, that’s a lovely fern.’”
ELIZA’S NOT SO GREEN
ELIZA has admitted she struggled when she was launched into the music biz.
Back in 2010, the Pack Up singer was known as Eliza Doolittle, but has rebranded for her third album The Darkening Green, which came out on Wednesday.
In an exclusive chat, Eliza told me: “My experience was that [the music industry] was really pressurised.
“I was really young at the time so I took a lot of that pressure to heart. It felt like male artists got more respect than me.
“It did feel like I was being undermined a lot. Personally, I feel more empowered now than I ever did back then.
“But then I’ve also put myself in a position where I wouldn’t take any s**t.”
Of her new record, Eliza said: “It’s a mission-based album. I think that becomes more the case as I get older – my music reflects my mission.”
IF you love Nineties music then Virgin Radio UK has got you covered.
On Monday, they will launch Virgin Radio 90s, playing Mariah Carey, Madonna, MC Hammer and more.
Listeners will get back-to-back Nineties hits all day, every weekday morning after Chris Evans’ Breakfast Show with the National Lottery, finishes.
Maura makes a splash
MAURA HIGGINS got a nice lift while out and about in New York – getting a helpful bloke to carry her so she wouldn’t get her clothes wet.
The former Love Island star has been reaping the rewards of her stint on The Traitors US and wore this lace bra under a burnt-orange coat and skirt while out on the promo trail yet again.
She said the show took it out of her, as she already “doesn’t trust men”.
Maura explained: “I’ve already got severe trust issues. I’ve been cheated on by the majority of my exes – that’s the reason I’ve been celibate for a whole year.”
At least some blokes have some uses – and this one looks rather handy.
Freya’s starry night
SHE may only be 16, but British pop prodigy Freya Skye already looks like the next generation’s Sabrina Carpenter.
Taking to the stage on her Stars Align Tour in London, the Buckinghamshire-born singer delivered a pop spectacle packed with glitter, choreography, and a fanbase shouting every lyric back at her – the moment most young artists can only dream of.
Freya paused to tell the crowd: “Someday I wished I could hear people singing back to me. The fact that’s happening is something I would never be able to comprehend.”
From the opening bars of Can’t Fake It, the rising star’s influences – like Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo – are clear, but Freya is already carving out her own path.
Before performing her track London, she said: “It’s extra special to sing this song here. I feel extra at home.”
Closing the show, she reflected: “When I look up at the stars, I know I’m truly aligned.”
OLIVIA MONK
