UK

The UK entrant was announced a few months back as the ‘boyband’ Blue. They have been working hard, writing and producing a song not only for Eurovision, but to make a comeback as a four-piece. The presentation of “I Can” was made on the Graham Norton Show on Friday 11th March.

The four guys were joined by 2 backing singers. They band did very simple choreography walking around the stage, singing in pairs and then forming lines for the choruses, where they did simple and memorable hand gestures to emphasise the lyrics of the song. They were dressed very casually, as Blue always seemed to, but each dressed in a slightly different style, which in part also mirrored their role in the song.

Now the boys were singling live and their performance was at a very high standard. The song is in a typical Blue style - a mid tempo RnB influenced number – and the boys seem very comfortable singing the song. The verses are quite straight forward with a good bridge part but it is the chorus when the song comes into its own. The chorus part is slightly chanted and the fact that there are so few words in the chorus and is repeated quite a few times during the song makes it easy to remember.

It is very much a contemporary song and could be heard on almost any radio station in Europe, not just because they are Blue, but because it is actually a well made song and fits today’s music scene. At this point I am tempted to say that we could be onto a winner, but the phrase ‘to goo for Eurovision’ is also at the back of my mind.

I am pleased to see the band taking this contest seriously, as it could have been too easy to just present a video clip or to mime. Let’s hope the boys get round Europe and get this song heard!


SINGER – Blue
SONG – I can
MUSIC – Lee Ryan, Duncan James
WORDS – Lee Ryan, Duncan James