In the current edition of The Radio Times, Andrew Lloyd Webber talks about the challenges of producing a successful act to represent the United Kingdom in next year's Eurovision Song Contest. He also discusses his previous attempt at Eurovision glory in 1967 and how he would feel if his song gets nul points.
When asked if he has written the song yet, Lloyd Webber said I'm not going to do anything until we get to the programmes; I'll write when I start to see how the artists are developing. We will find the singer and gauge their personality, and I will write for that personality. If that person is great fun, I might do a fun song; or if it's a great power-girl singer, I will do a great power ballad. I do find writing melodies quite easy. I have done so much in my career in different styles that I'm not really worried about it. But if I find a straightforward R&B act then I might be in trouble. I'm always very lyric-driven because I'm from the theatre, and one of our tasks for this is going to be a lyric that suites the performer. I'm not going to go for some silly nonsense song.
Lloyd Webber was asked about his previous attempt with Tim Rice to enter a song to represent the UK in the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest? It was called Try It and See and I reused the tune afterwords for King Herold's Song in Jesus Christ Superstar. They had so may entries in those days that i don't think anyone listened to it. I think Tim has got a copy somewhere, we must dig it out.
When asked how he would cope if he's entry gets nul points, Lloyd Webber said: I'm a foul loser. But as we are starting from zero, even one point above puts us in a better situation. I think the BBC would be appalled if we won, however, because they would have to cough up for the entire staging the following year. Since it's costing Russia about £25 million this year, I think I might be through out of the country if the song becomes a hit. Poor Ireland (RTE) was virtually bankrupted when it won all those years in succession. My quest is to come second.
The search to find the artist to represent the UK in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest start on the can be seen in Your Country Needs You on the BBC at 7.10 (GMT), 3rd January, when Lloyd Webber teams up with Graham Norton and a team of experts to whittle down the applicants to a shortlist of six.The full interview with Andrew Lloyd Webber can be found in the current edition of the Radio Times in the UK.
