James Blunt wants to represent the UK at Eurovision – and says he’ll win
ORLANDO, FL – MAY 08: Singer James Blunt performs during the Opening Ceremony of the Invictus Games Orlando 2016 at ESPN Wide World of Sports on May 8, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. Prince Harry, patron of the Invictus Games Foundation is in Orlando ahead of the opening of Invictus Games which will open on Sunday. The Invictus Games is the only International sporting event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women. Started in 2014 by Prince Harry the Invictus Games uses the power of Sport to inspire recovery and support rehabilitation. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Invictus)
Singer-songwriter James Blunt has said he wants to represent the UK at next year’s Eurovision – and says he’ll win.
Speaking to Publik DELFI after playing a concert in Tallinn, Estonia, Blunt said that he wanted to remedy the UK’s bad spell at the annual singing contest.
“I guess the thing I’m saddest about is that the UK just — it’s so bad — England never wins and I’m really just waiting for them to call me because I’m here to fix this,” the “You’re Beautiful” singer said.
Blunt was then asked when he would consider singing for the UK at Eurovision.
He responded: “I think whenever the UK is ready to win Eurovision.”
Blunt also praised 2018 Eurovision champion Israel, which was represented by Netta Barzilai, known simply as Netta, who gave a show-stopping performance of track “Toy,” complete chicken noises and an electronic looper.
James Blunt arrives at the 59th Annual Logie Awards at Crown Palladium on April 23, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Scott Barbour/Getty)
“I thought it was great. I genuinely thought it was exciting and different and full of character and was so relieved it won,” Blunt said of Netta’s performance.
The timely song is about female empowerment in the era of #MeToo and #TimesUp, with the Israel bagging the award just before Tel Aviv Pride.
Netta was a hot favourite to win the accolade, with her official video for the song racking up more 25 million views on YouTube before the final had even started.
Israel’s Netta Barzilai performs with the trophy after winning the final of the 63rd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 at the Altice Arena in Lisbon, on May 12, 2018.(FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty)
The 25-year old singer already has a big LGBTQ+ fanbase, even picking up an OUTtv award.
And earlier this month she rejected the chance to pick up an award in Russia – because she’s marching at Tel Aviv Pride instead.
Britain’s representative at this year’s Eurovision, SuRie, had her rendition of “Storm” temporarily halted when a man managed to get onto the stage and grabbed the microphone from the singer, reportedly shouting “for the Nazis of the UK media, we demand freedom.”
SuRie was given the chance to perform again, but turned down the offer.
Other highlights from the final this year included Ireland’s Ryan O’Shaughnessy performance of “Together,” a moving ballad about a failed same-sex relationship.
His performance included two male dancers re-enacting a same-sex love story. Watch the video here.
Chinese broadcaster Mango TV was banned broadcasting the final of the competition after censoring parts of O’Shaughnessy’s performance during the semi-final.
SuRie’s performance at Eurovision crashed (BBC/Eurovision)
And the BBC threw Australia’s Jessica Mauboy some serious shade, likening her to drag star Miss Vanjie.
Meanwhile, bonafide queer icon Saara Aalto represented her home country Finland with the up-tempo song “Monsters.”
The track’s official video is a glorious celebration of identity, featuring genderfluid performers and drag artists – and a very queer reenactment of The Last Supper.
But the on-stage performance appears to have taken a different route, featuring dancers in militaristic uniforms gathered around a giant Illuminati-esque pyramid and Aalto trapped to a rotating wheel.
Aalto previously told PinkNews the song is about “living life as you want, finding your strength, being brave as who you are and not being afraid to show it.”
She added: “I am very proud to be lesbian and I feel very much like I am lesbian, totally.”
