United+Kingdom

=Artist Biography: = Representing the United Kingdom this year in the 2009 Eurovision song contest is a young solo artist by the name of Jade Ewen. The pop/ballad musician can send chills through the body with her voice, hitting notes whom we've heard from music legends like Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin, all the while making it seem so effortless. Not only is she an outstanding singer, but a remarkable dancer and actress as well. It is no wonder why she won on UK's TV show, 'Eurovision: Your Country Needs You', sending her to Moscow for the Eurovision contest. Though it may seem she has it all, Ewen has had to overcome many obstacles to get where she is today.

Growing up, Jade had many responsibilties. With a father who is blind and a mother suffering from Myasthenia Gravis, leaving her partially blind and deaf, she was in charge of taking care of her two siblings as well as her mother and father (which can be read in her biography on the [|Eurovision] website). While taking care of her famliy, she did manage time to take dance lessons and pursue an acting career. She has even starred as the leading role in TV shows such as the Australian drama series 'Out There' ([|Wikipedia]). With all being said, it is quite obvious the challenges she faced growing up didn't hold her back from pursuing her dreams.

With finals nearing, the anxoiusness can be felt around the world. A question being asked now is, it is the United Kingdom's time? Though competition wise, Jade rates Spain's Soraya as one of her main threats to win the Eurovision Song Contest, as well as Chiara from Malta and Alexander Rybak from Norway. But att the same time, Jade Ewen is regarded one of the most promising vocalists the UK has produced in years (as said on the [|Eurovision] website). As she presses forward in this competition, it looks as if nothing is standing in the way of Jade Ewen and the winning spot at this years Eurovision song contest.

=Song Information: = The song Jade Ewen is to perform is called It’s My Time, composed and written by the famous Andrew Lloyd Webber and Diane Warren (which can also be read on her [|Eurovision]page). Jade explains that the song is a “passionate emotional song that just talks about a journey.” Because Andrew Lloyd Webber and Diane Warren collectively worked on the song, it has a very musical sound to it, which some people dislike. There has been a lot of talk about how this sort of song is not suitable for the competition. While most people believe this, they still give praise to Ewen’s voice and the quality of the song. As of right now, the general consensus is that, while this song is very beautiful, it may not be a suitable song for Eurovision 2009.

The song is extremely musical, starting out with a soft piano as Ewen begins singing. Throughout the song you can also hear drums, and horn instruments. Much like many musical style songs, it begins slowly but as the song continues, it picks up pace and, near the end, hits the ceiling and explodes. Ewen has a very powerful voice that demands attention, but is also very elegant and beautiful, an amazing balance. She adds a lot of emotion into the song as well.

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=Country's Eurovision History: = In 1956 the Eurovision song contest began, but it wasn’t until the second year that the United Kingdom decided to compete. They weren’t able to compete the first year because the deadline had passed once they had applied. Since 1957 when the United Kingdom made their first appearance they have fifty one competitions since. Not only have they competed in fifty one, but they have won five of those. Along with winning five of the competitions, they have come in last place twice as well.

In 1967 was the first year that the United Kingdom had won. They won with the song “Puppet On a String,” it was one of the largest victories in the competition. The song had twice as many votes as the group that had come in second. In 1969 there was a unique win between the United Kingdom and three other countries, they all tied for first place each gaining eighteen points. It wasn’t until seven years later that the United Kingdom won again. In 1976 when Brotherhood of Man performed “Save Your Kisses for Me,” was when they won for the third time. In 1981 the United Kingdom won by only four points just in front of the second place team. The las year that they have won so far was in 1997. The song Love Shine a Light sung by Katrina and the Waves won the competition over the Ireland team.

This year Jade Ewen is representing the United Kingdom and performing It’s My Time. It should be interesting to see how well she does in the competition considering last year the United Kingdom took last place. Hopefully she will make the country take a turn for the better.

=Narrative of Entry: = 'Eurovision: Your Country Needs You' is the catchy name the United Kingdom has chosen for this years 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. Throughout the past few decades, the UK and BBC television network have made many changes and adjustments to the way the United Kingdom picked their finalists that they would send to the Eurovision song contest. This year they let both amaetur and proffessionals compete on the show. Unlike years before, it was held out throughout multiple weeks, narrowing down the competition to the top finalists. As it is known, the winner was a young woman by the name of Jade Ewen. With changes to show being done each year, the composer(s) change each year as well. This year the song It's My Time was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and written by Diane Warren. While some people may think of the song as a beautiful ballad, many think otherwise.

"Sir Lloyd-Webber claimed he was going to compose a song to the strengths of the winner but clearly hasn't listened to a piece of music recorded since 1958, and so seems to have pulled out a leftover from his cabinet of theatrical rejects... It's My Time is an old fashioned, by-the-numbers, theatrical ballad with a whiney, [and] vocal stretching melody (well it certainly stretches Jade, not always pleasantly)... It is so utterly boring and predictable it verges on pastiche. I don't know who thought it would be a good idea to ask an American to write the lyrics, but we can't really complain if the atrociously simplistic offering from Diane Warren is inherently American in its almost aggressively sentimental proclamation of self worth... I wonder if it is too late to call the whole thing off. Maybe we could send a sick note... Britain has suffered enough already." (written by Neil McCormick on the [|Telegraph.co.uk] website). Yes it is a bit lengthy but it all goes to show what some people __really__ think.

Like mentioned before by Neil, Webber has recieved much grief for picking an American to write the song. And come to find out, the [|Daily Mail]website interviewed Webber where he told the press it only took 2 hours to write the song. Coming as a bit of a shock, it didn't hold him back from being porud of his work, as he should be! Jade has gotten great reviews so far with a wonderful response from the audience at this years Eurovision contest. So whether one believes the song to be rubbish or a work of art, it has done the UK good thus far. Not much longer until the results come in and we find out if the United Kingdom's own Jade Ewen wins the contest at this years Eurvovision song contest!