Eurovision’s SuRie reveals the inspiration behind UK entry Storm: ‘The crap doesn’t last forever’

Can Britain break back into Eurovision? The biggest show in the world rolls into Lisbon, Portugal imminently and with it comes SuRie, Britain’s brightest new hope for success.

If younger fans think Eurovision and Britain are the shadiest couple, they’d be surprised to hear we’ve actually won the competition five times throughout history.

Our run of luck turned around the millennium though, and since we’ve placed last three times.

SuRie, with her dusty pink pixie cut, is here to change all that.

Her Eurovision entry Storm, she says, “is a reminder that the crap doesn’t last forever – it just doesn’t.”

SuRie will represent Great Britain at Eurovision (Getty)

Rather than employing bells and whistles, Storm feels like a thoughtful and more contemplative track. A slow-burning anthem with a powerful pop chorus, it infuses slowly rather than brashly.

Although singer-songwriter SuRie – whose real name is Susanna Cork – reads the song “personally,” she insists it’s open to interpretation.

“I think there are daily storms we face and there are bigger political discussions and conversations that have to happen,” she explains.

“But our own personal bubbles are very important to us in that we have to deal with them day to day.”

SuRie was chosen to represent the UK by a board of professionals and by the British public, who voted for her after she sang live with five other contestants on national TV.

As preparation intensifies ahead of the competition, SuRie fears things “out of my control,” but has a calm and measured presence and an addictive sense of humour.

A “bizarre” new part of her every day in the lead up has been dealing with trolls.

“I think it’s a fascinating aspect of society that someone will take time out of their day to write something based on something fairly negative, or hateful…

“And then bother to tag me on that message so they know it’ll specifically come through directly into my phone, and into my hands…

“I’m very lucky that for every message that is slightly unflattering I get a very positive message from someone around the world who is dealing with something.

“There was a boy in Birmingham who lost his dog the other day and he said: ‘But Storm is such an upbeat track it’s really getting me through it.’”

SuRie will represent the UK (Instagram)

The recurring challenge for Britain with Eurovision has been that having a good song hasn’t been enough to have the nation hooked to their televisions for the final.

“In the UK we really do tend to get behind any sporting feature, any big football or athletic event,” she says. “But when it comes round to Eurovision everyone goes a bit [she pauses then makes a funny sound].”

“I’m not sure why – I’m still trying to put my finger on it.”

“I’m going to try my best [to break that]. I am very serious about what I do in my job, my career, my music, but it’s trying to strike the right balance.”

Who has she turned to for help? “Conchita gave me a fab bit of advice recently,” SuRie tells PinkNews from the majestic Portugese Embassy in West London.

“Conchita said, quite rightly, ‘just concentrate on the music.’”

“There’s a lot of (good) fuss that happens around Eurovision – staging, styling, all of that – but the song and your vocal performance has to come first and everything else is secondary to that, so don’t lose sight of that.”

“It can be hard, with all the media fun and worrying about a lightbulb or a skirt or whatever – but it’s a song contest. I need to stay true to that.”

Watch SuRie represent Britain in the Eurovision Grand Final May 12 on BBC2

• TV
• Dec 18 2024

All 14 seasons of Doctor Who ranked from worst to best