Latest news with #MaryHopkin
Glasgow Times
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
The UK's most successful Eurovision Song Contest entries
This year's UK act, Remember Monday, is hoping to wow the crowds and the world with their song 'What the Hell Just Happened'. Ahead of the Eurovision Grand Final in Basel on Saturday, May 17, we thought we would have a quick look into the past and remember the most successful UK entries. From Lulu to Bucks Fizz, here are all the UK's most successful Eurovision Song Contest entries. Most successful UK Eurovision entries Mary Hopkin - 'Knock Knock Who's There', 1970 In 1970, Mary Hopkin took to the stage in the Netherlands with her upbeat number and impressive vocals. The Welsh-born artist had a big following with even Sir Paul McCartney supporting them, the star didn't win but did claim the second spot after being beaten by Irish Singer Dana. Bucks Fizz - 'Making Your Mind Up', 1981 The iconic, costume-changing and skirt-ripping Bucks Fizz won the competition back in 1981 with their catchy tune 'Making Your Mind Up'. Now, 40 years later, the band (minus one member) still enjoys playing the hit song and has found major success with their 'fizzy' attitude. Sam Ryder, 'Space Man', 2022 After years of defeat and many years of nil poi, the UK got a taste of success with Sam Ryder's viral hit Space Man. The song came second, losing out to Ukraine but Ryder won over the hearts of the nation. Lulu, 'Boom Bang-A-Bang' 1969 The Scottish singer performed in 1969 in Spain's capital, Madrid and won the contest with the hit song. Wearing a now retro pink dress, the singer performed at Eurovision following her massive success with the iconic song 'Shout'. Kathy Kirby: 'I Belong', 1965 Performed by blonde bombshell, the self-empowerment song gave her cult fame and even named her a 'gay icon'. The song was the UK's first entry of the sixties, and with its bold and modern-day feel, it was a worthy second-place winner. RECOMMENDED READING Katrina and the Waves, 'Love Shine a Light', 1997 Known for their 80's hit 'Walking on Sunshine' Katrina and the Waves went with a simple yet strong anthem that got them the crown in Ireland. The band beat out any competitors with their closest rival Ireland 70 points away from the British winners.
The Guardian
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Graham Coxon: ‘I saw Robbie Williams and Danny Dyer doing Parklife. It's flipping bizarre'
The first song I fell in love withMy dad used to have Beatles evenings that he referred to as Abbey Road Nights. I was only two or three, so I couldn't read but I could use the record player. Sometimes when I wanted Strawberry Fields Forever, I'd get Turn! Turn! Turn! by Mary Hopkin and wonder why it didn't sound like the Beatles. The first single I boughtRoxanne by the Police, from Lion Records in Colchester. The song I do at karaokeBlue Eyes by Elton John. I saw a clip of Robbie Williams and Danny Dyer doing Parklife. It's flipping bizarre, although I do like Danny Dyer. That song is overplayed now. People want to have a knees-up, like Knees Up Mother Brown or Roll Out the Barrel. The song I inexplicably know every lyric toBat Out of Hell by Meat Loaf. Come to think of it, I've probably done that more times at karaoke than I have Blue Eyes. The best song to play at a partyI recently rediscovered New Frontier by Don Fagan after finding it confusing the 80s. Now I have to have it on four times in a row. It's got sinister, sarcastic lyrics and an amazing groove. The song I can no longer listen toAnything by the Carpenters, apart from Goodbye to Love. The rest makes me feel as if I've injected acid and sugar, which makes me sad because of the tragedy of the Carpenters. The song I secretly like but everyone I hateI don't really admit to liking Barbra Streisand, even though Evergreen is beautiful. I've also only recently been able to palate Abba and got obsessed by Lay All Your Love on Me. The song that changed my lifeWhen I was teenager, getting into Van der Graaf Generator, Caravan, Matching Mole and Robert Wyatt, Ladies of the Road by King Crimson changed my life, because it was so odd. I was learning the sax, as well as the guitar, and it's got the filthiest tenor saxophone solo ever. The song that gets me up in the morningMy dad had Blow By Blow by Duke Ellington on vinyl. Paul Gonsalves's sax solo cuts across the rest of the album. I thought it was so out there, like free bebop getting freer. I still listen to it every morning. The song that makes me cryI've got three. I tested them this morning. If You Go Away by Scott Walker. The Way Love Used to Be, and Moments, both by the Kinks. When I listened to The Way Love Used to Be, the lump in my throat was pretty hefty. So I think that has to win. The song I'd like played at my funeral It was going to be I'm Your Man by Wham! but I don't want people chucking at my funeral. I want them to be in emotional agony. So Inheritance by Talk Talk. The Waeve are on tour to 21 March. The band's new EP, Eternal, is out now. The 10th-anniversary vinyl rerelease of Blur's The Magic Whip is out 25 April.
