United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015
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United Kingdom| United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurovision Song Contest 2015 | ||||
| Participating broadcaster | British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) | |||
| Country | United Kingdom | |||
| Selection process | Internal selection | |||
| Announcement date | 7 March 2015 | |||
| Competing entry | ||||
| Song | "Still in Love with You" | |||
| Artist | Electro Velvet | |||
| Songwriters |
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| Placement | ||||
| Final result | 24th, 5 points | |||
| Participation chronology | ||||
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The United Kingdom was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with the song "Still in Love with You", written by David Mindel and Adrian Bax White, and performed by the duo Electro Velvet. The British participating broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), internally selected both the song and the performer. Electro Velvet and "Still in Love with You" was announced as the British entry in a special presentation show titled Our Song for Eurovision 2015 broadcast on the BBC Red Button service in March 2015.
As a member of the "Big Five", the United Kingdom automatically qualified to compete in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest. Performing in position 5, the United Kingdom placed 24th out of the 27 participating countries with 5 points.
Prior to the 2015 contest, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing the United Kingdom fifty-seven times.[1] Thus far, it has won the contest five times: in 1967 with the song "Puppet on a String" performed by Sandie Shaw, in 1969 with the song "Boom Bang-a-Bang" performed by Lulu, in 1976 with the song "Save Your Kisses for Me" performed by Brotherhood of Man, in 1981 with the song "Making Your Mind Up" performed by Bucks Fizz, and in 1997 with the song "Love Shine a Light" performed by Katrina and the Waves. To this point, the nation is noted for having finished as the runner-up in a record fifteen contests. Up to and including 1998, the UK had only twice finished outside the top 10, in 1978 and 1987. Since 1999, the year in which the rule was abandoned that songs must be performed in one of the official languages of the country participating, the UK has had less success, thus far only finishing within the top ten twice: in 2002 with the song "Come Back" performed by Jessica Garlick and in 2009 with the song "It's My Time" performed by Jade Ewen. For the 2014 contest, the United Kingdom finished in seventeenth place out of twenty-six competing entries with the song "Children of the Universe" performed by Molly.
As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, the BBC organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country. The broadcaster announced that it would participate in the 2015 contest on 9 September 2014.[2] Between 2011 and 2013, BBC opted to internally select the British entry, a selection procedure that continued for their 2014 entry.[3]
Before Eurovision
Internal selection
On 6 October 2014, BBC announced that the British entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 would be selected internally. An open submission was announced for interested artists to submit their songs in the form of a video recording until 7 November 2014.[4] In addition to the open call, the BBC also considered entries provided by record labels and music industry experts including writers, producers and artists from the BBC Introducing platform.[5][6] The 300 received submissions were reviewed by a professional panel headed by British Eurovision executive producer and Head of Delegation Guy Freeman, and a twelve-song shortlist was compiled and presented to an alternate twelve-member panel that ultimately selected the British entry.[7] On 24 February 2015, Guy Freeman revealed that the British artist and song would be revealed on 7 March 2015 on the BBC Red Button service.[8][9][10]
On 7 March 2015, the song "Still in Love with You" written by David Mindel and Adrian Bax White and performed by the duo Electro Velvet was revealed as the British entry during the show Our Song for Eurovision 2015, hosted by Scott Mills on the BBC Red Button service. The song was also presented to the public on the same day through the release of the official music video via the official Eurovision Song Contest's YouTube channel. Electro Velvet consists of singers Alex Larke and Bianca Nicholas, and was formed specifically for the Eurovision Song Contest.[11]
Promotion
Electro Velvet made several appearances across Europe to specifically promote "Still in Love with You" as the British Eurovision entry. On 10 April, Electro Velvet performed during the Eurovision PreParty Riga, which was organised by OGAE Latvia and held at the Palladium in Riga, Latvia.[12] On 18 April, Electro Velvet performed during the Eurovision in Concert event which was held at the Melkweg venue in Amsterdam, Netherlands and hosted by Cornald Maas and Edsilia Rombley.[13] On 24 April, Electro Velvet performed during the Eurovision Pre-Party, which was held at the Place de Paris Korston Concert Hall in Moscow, Russia.[14]
In addition to their international appearances, On 26 April, Electro Velvet performed during the London Eurovision Party, which was held at the Café de Paris venue in London, United Kingdom and hosted by Nicki French and Paddy O'Connell.[15] On 8 May, Electro Velvet were part of the guest line-up for the BBC One programme The Graham Norton Show where they performed "Still in Love with You" live and were interviewed by host Graham Norton.[16]
