The most well-known musician to represent the UK in recent memory is Olly Alexander.
Olly Alexander adds, “I’m excited, but I’m scared.” “I’ve wanted to do this for a really, really long time.”
Shortly after announcing live on television that he will be representing the United Kingdom in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, the celebrity appears backstage at Strictly Come Dancing.
Regarding the announcement, he remarks, “It’s all a bit of a blur,” but reality is beginning to set in.
An endless stream of messages from friends, family, cousins, and even the local pet owner’s group buzz his phone.
One of the many important decisions he has ahead of him is who will look after his cats when he travels to Malmö for the competition the next year. Other decisions include choreography, staging, costumes, and adding more words to his vocabulary in Swedish than just the one phrase, Tack (thank you).
- The UK will be represented at Eurovision by Olly Alexander
He plonks himself down on an awful lime green couch and gets comfortable for the first (of many) interviews on his Eurovision aspirations.
Olly, congratulations! For what duration have you been awaiting this news?
I have roughly two months of knowledge. Maintaining the secrecy has been incredibly difficult.
Are you an avid follower of Eurovision?
It all dates back to when I was a child and my family and I used to order pizza and spend the entire evening in front of the TV watching this crazy, fantastic show.
I’ve always loved Eurovision so passionately that for me, it’s almost like a spiritual homecoming.
Why is it so meaningful to you?
I adore the drama and theatrics. The sheer variety of performers and musical genres is astounding. In one night, you receive so much. It’s just so much camp and fun.
It’s always a major deal for the staging. You have to be browsing through endless books on outfit inspiration.
Yes, without a doubt. everything’s exciting to just picture what you could accomplish on stage, but since there is such a small interval [between performances], everything needs to be feasible in a short amount of time.
You have previously collaborated with Lady Gaga. She might be able to lend you her meat dress.
Mark, I’m a vegetarian! That is not something I would wear!
Then perhaps a garment akin to a Linda McCartney veggie burger.
An outfit fit for Tofurky! Yes, yet, there must be a wow factor. There can be more than one outfit. Three looks, three minutes.
Although the music hasn’t been announced yet, is there anything more you can tell us?
Danny Harle and I co-wrote the song, which will be released the following year. And it’s excellent.
For those who are unaware, Danny has collaborated with Dua Lipa and Charli XCX on songs. This means that the pop music Danny creates will be extremely innovative and progressive.
That is the vibe, for sure. You can dance to the electronic music that it will have. That being said, I’m limited to what I can say.
That is, in fact, quite a bit!
It was never going to be a ballad, really. Alternatively, it might have been a ballad. A ballad is something I adore. Do I now have too much to say?
This isn’t a ballad.
Alexander is also a Bafta-nominated actor for his work in the Channel 4 drama It’s A Sin
The fact that the BBC usually announces the participants for Eurovision around February or March indicates that you’re taking the competition very seriously.
Yes, that’s true, but isn’t that good?
I really hope so! In order for people to be familiar with the song by May, are you planning to promote it with a European tour?
Yes, without a doubt. I’m eager to go outside and mingle with the spectators and other participants. It promises to be the most exciting event of my life.
- Sweden’s Loreen wins the Eurovision Song Contest, with the UK finishing in 25th place; • Why did the UK’s Mae Muller do so poorly at the Eurovision Song Contest?
- “Advised to hide sexuality” is how Olly Alexander put it.
You realize that the UK hasn’t had the best history if you watch Eurovision. What is the weight of that on your mind?
Since it’s a competition, you never know what will occur on the final night. I’m simply going to try my hardest, ignore everything else, and try to make the most of it.
One benefit is that you’ve performed at festivals like Glastonbury, so you have a ton of stage experience.
Yes, I have attended the rodeo before. Even though this will be my first time participating in Eurovision, I plan to apply all I’ve learned from the stages I’ve been on to this performance. My goal is to accomplish something extraordinary.
Not Years and Years, but Olly Alexander is who you’re doing it as. Why did you make that choice?
I guess I’ve wanted to do it for a while. This seemed to
be the appropriate moment for me to begin putting out music under my own name. New music, a new chapter.
Lastly, I must know which Eurovision song is your all-time favorite.
Oh, that’s really difficult. I knew you would ask, because I genuinely adore Loreen’s Euphoria. It’s among the greatest ever.
And as the defending champion, she’ll be in Sweden the following year.
She is going to. Majesty!
