Your Country Needs You

As predicted by me from the very beginning, Jade won and will represent the UK at this year's Eurovision final in Moscow.

The first thing to say about this is that it's obvious that Andrew Lloyd-Webber and the show's producers got exactly who they wanted. Think back to that very first episode when the acts who would go on to the live shows were chosen. Jade was parachuted in at the last minute when the clearly talented contender withdrew, leaving a selection of frankly mediocre acts. Faced with this, they dropped in a ringer. Moving on to the live shows, Jade faced no critical opinions from Lloyd-Webber at all while Lulu heaped nothing but unequivocal praise upon her throughout.

So they all got the winner they wanted, but was it the right choice? Engineering aside, I have to say yes. She's clearly a capable, confident singer, comfortable with dancing (not that the song will require it) and she looks good. That said, on the night, I did think the twins did a better job with the song. They did their usual cute twins thing but were able to put the power into it when needed. There's a very clear contrast here with Jade. Jade has the better voice, but when she has to belt it out at volume it becomes flat and she has a tendency to shout, whereas the twins really come into their own in such a situation because they don't lose the vocal control.

Anyway, it's all rather moot now. Jade won and that's that. There's a few months until the contest though so I think Lloyd-Webber and a vocal coach will be able to hone her performance and fingers crossed she'll do very well.

And what of that song? I didn't like it at first, but in retrospect that was because the first act to perform it was the guy (whose name I've already forgotten) did such a terrible job, over-annunciating every word and far too West End musical for my liking, though in his defence that is his background. After hearing the other two acts though it became clear it really is out best entry in years. Finally, we've broken away from the vapid pop numbers by the likes of Scooch. Lloyd-Webber and lyricist Diana Warren (the fact we managed to enlist her still amazes me) have delivered a power ballad in the classic Eurovision mould with a mighty crescendo that, crucially, sticks in the head, yet is still unmistakably Lloyd-Webber. This latter point shouldn't be underestimated because here in the UK, we don't fully appreciate the high regard in which Lloyd-Webber is held on the continent. The so-called 'block voting' may be our undoing again, but this is undoubtedly our best chance in years. 12 points please, Malta!