A British boy band that sold over 15 million records worldwide reformed ten years ago in an effort to retake the Eurovision Song Contest did not quite go according to plan.
Tonight’s Eurovision Song Contest 2025 final will be flashing on our screens, ready to dazzle us with outrageous costumes, catchy yet cheesy songs, and a voting system that frequently places the UK at the bottom of the leaderboard. However, there was a cherished boy band who was determined to win the Eurovision prize and bring the nation’s crown. However, the decision was labeled as “reckless insane.”
Duncan James, Simon Webbe, Lee Ryan, and Antony Costa of the well-known boy band Blue had high hopes of winning some seriously important points when they represented the UK at Eurovision in 2011. The noughties band, who had a huge hit with “All Rise,” “One Love,” “Too Close,” and “Guilty,” were confident that Eurovision would be a place where they would receive the humiliating “nil points.”
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When Duncan confirmed their coverage of Eurovision, Duncan stated at the time: “We’re celebrating our 10 years together in 2011; it seemed a great way to take advantage of both being a part of something that is still a British institution.” “This is a truly exciting experience for Blue because I’ve always wanted to represent my country,” Simon continued.
With the song “I can,” they entered the competition, and Simon expressed his excitement at the time, stating that he didn’t anticipate political undercurrents to undermine Blue’s attempt to win the Eurovision title. He confidently declared, “I’m not getting zero points.”
“We want to make it clear that the Eurovision is about music, not the political side, but what it does is bring together a large audience from various musical genres. We’re hoping politics won’t interfere with the enjoyment of the evening because people only want to have fun on the night.
However, their decision to represent the UK was quickly criticized, in part because of the unusual acts that frequently appear at the annual contest. By the time they entered Eurovision, the band, which were formed in 2000, had sold more than 13 million records, won two Brit Awards, and already had three UK number one singles. In 2005, Blue and their solo careers broke up, only to change in 2011 and make their Eurovision debut.
However, their former manager, Daniel Glatman, who helped create the group in 2000, called their choice “reckless insanity.” They will have to win, Daniel said. Anything less and they’d lose their way.
Lewis Hamilton will be the strong favorite, but there is also the possibility of losing, as he would in a go-kart race. Why take a chance, then?
Meanwhile, Eurovision executive producer Phil Parsons at the time described Blue as “real pop stars who have superb vocal ability, great on-stage presence, and can really deliver on the night in Dusseldorf.” He continued, “We have a highly credible act who have had a number of smash hits in this country and have also had a lot of success in Europe.” They receive a lot of genuine love both domestically and abroad.
At Eurovision 2011, which took place in Düsseldorf, Germany, Blue performed their song “I Can.” The song, praised by Lee as being “very powerful and very strong,” would be great for making a comeback at Eurovision.
Despite what BBC host Graham Norton tactfully called their song “tea tentative start,” Lee and Duncan, the band’s members Lee and Duncan wrote, received enthusiastic applause on the night. “Blue dominated the leaderboard briefly and quickly when voting began. However, other nations quickly surpassed them.
After collecting 100 points, they placed them in 11th place. The small Azerbaijani nation won the romantic duet “Roading Scared,” which Ell and Nikki performed. However, Blue’s performance was not all bad, as Josh Dubovie’s, who had previously represented the UK, was a top score, which was ten times higher.
With what Lee described as a number infused with a “Bryan-esque” vibe and an American pop sensibility, Blue had also faced Irish rival Jedward in the same year. I enjoy Jedward’s humor, and Antony shared before the competition. I’ll be satisfied with that as long as we can put in 100%. With their rendition of “Lipstick,” the twins came in eighth place.
After the scores were released, Blue’s former manager, Daniel, brutally predicted that the group would now be remembered as the “fake band at Eurovision””. He said, “Blue’s reputation would be in ruins if they didn’t win Eurovision,” as I previously stated. But I sincerely hoped that they would receive more votes than they did.
The band’s performance at Eurovision was a “sad night” because they have changed from being a “massive boy band” selling 14 million records to a “band who flopped at Eurovision.” Unfortunately, that is how history will remember them today.
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Source: Mirror
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