Eurovision, Your Country Needs You!

A dated show stuck in another decade and the man behind some of the cheesiest pop songs of the 1980s and 90s, it would seem like the perfect match. But instead Pete Waterman and Eurovision, Your Country Needs You! (BBC1, Friday 8.30pm) was painful viewing and highlighted just why the Eurovision Song Contest is so out-of-date.

Tonight's show, which saw 19-year-old Josh Dubovie chosen to represent the UK at this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo transported viewers back to Pete Waterman's finer days with performances of Kylie, Jason Donovan and Steps songs.

There was nothing wrong with these songs back then but now it just makes for cringe-worthy television. The UK's song for this year, 'That Sounds Good To Me', is unsurprisingly of the same mould as it was written by Waterman and Mike Stock and it would fit in perfectly with the predictable pop of decades long gone.

But yes I do admit that the Eurovision is all about cheesy, cringe-worthy songs that equally amuse and amaze (mostly for the wrong reasons) and the UK's entry this year meets these standards. But does this guarantee success this May in Oslo? Unlikely.

Picture from Eurovision.tv

Eurovision 2009

So it wasn't quite her, or the UK's time, as sung by our entry Jade Ewen, 21, last night in Moscow but finishing fifth in the Eurovision Song Contest is an achievement after years of being stuck rooted to the bottom of the leader board.

Ewen, with Andrew Lloyd Webber gave a powerful performance of Its My Time and she fully deserved to finish were she did, if not higher. Graham Norton, and myself included, was even getting annoyed when the UK was awarded only one point, something we would have taken as a monumental victory in previous years.

The top spot went to Norway's Alexander Rybak, 23, with his annoyingly catchy folk pop tune Fairytale, who achieved a record 387 points. The singer, who looks like a squeaky clean extra from High School Musical, seemed destined to win after his first twelve points.

New host Graham Norton had claimed there was a chance of a landslide victory and he was correct. But I must admit that the song, though annoying and cheesy, was extremely catchy and Rybak backed up his solid vocal performance whilst playing on the violin. As the twelve points started to roll in no one else really had a chance.

But even though Jade didn't quite manage to clinch the crown for the United Kingdom she can be proud to finish fifth with 173 points, Britain's highest finish since 2002. And the United Kingdom actually doing well was not the only new element at the 54th Eurovision Song Contest as Graham Norton took over from Terry Wogan as host. The Irish comedian and TV presenter delivered some of tongue in cheek humour whilst watching over the song contest; the worries of a Eurovision without Wogan can now be forgotten.

The spectacular contest held in Moscow was far more enjoyable to watch than previous years, with the majority of songs less trashy and the voting a lot less predictable. Finishing fifth is a commendable achievement and long may it continue as the Eurovision rolls into Norway for 2010.

Picture from popsugar