After a series of disappointing results, the United Kingdom has decided to change its Eurovision’s approach. Europe’s largest music industry has decided to recruit some of its top names for the selection of its representative at Eurovision 2022.
As it became known in October, the BBC and Tap Music would join forces to make the best possible choice for the UK representative in Turin.
Dua Lipa, Sir Elton John and Mel C. gave a “vote of confidence” to the project. Three months later, four more names are added to the selection process for the UK’s representative at the 66th Eurovision Song Contest. They are Lana Del Rey, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Nile Rodgers and Leigh-Anne Pinnock.
Speaking about this project, Lana Del Rey said:
Ben and Ed have always liked a challenge, proud of them for taking this on…and I’ll be wishing them and the UK the best of luck on the night. The UK was my home in the early days of meeting Ben and Ed so I have a special affinity.
Moreover, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, a former competitor in our favorite competition, commented:
The Eurovision Song Contest was originally meant to be a celebration of songs and songwriters. I’m glad Tap have the desire to follow in this path and I really hope this year the British entry rediscovers those basics, and we find a great British song delivered by a Great British singer.
Nile Rodgers also spoke about his involvement in the search for the UK representative:
Merck and I are both excited that our friends at Tap are getting serious about a real Eurovision effort for the UK. Eurovision is a massive global institution that means so much to so many people around the world and there’s no reason not to have a good UK entry that’s as soon as the pop dominance it delivers to the world daily. It was wonderful to see Maneskin win last year and become a global success story and it’s now time for the UK to once again make its best effort by bringing the very best song possible to the globe.
Speaking about her involvement, Leigh-Anne Pinnock concluded:
I love the fact that my managers are involved in finding this year’s act to represent the U.K., I know they will choose an act that will make the U.K. proud. European fans have always given Little Mix so much love, so I’m calling on all mixers to get behind the UK at Eurovision this year!
In the press release of Tap Music, its leading executive, Ben Mawson, stated that the preparations for the selection of the British participation in Eurovision 2022 are in the final stretch and that everything is going well so far:
We’re getting really close to making our final decision, we have lots of options and have been pleasantly surprised by how many wonderful artists, both new and more established want to be part of this process with us. Like us, they recognise that Eurovision is the biggest music TV opportunity in the world. It’s a tough decision with so many strong contenders, many with existing European fanbases, which is exciting. When we decide on the act, we will put an incredible team around the chosen act and look forward to sharing news shortly.
It remains to be seen whether the much-anticipated venture of the BBC and Tap Music will have an impact and the UK will return to positive results after its continued failures in the competition.
Source: MusicWeek
