It’s everyone’s favourite time of the year. Yes, this Saturday it’s the Eurovision Song Contest. After years in the doldrums in 2022, the UK, courtesy of Sam Ryder, claimed a fantastic second place. And, in 2023, we staged the contest in Liverpool on behalf of Ukraine.
Sadly we’ve not been able to maintain our newly found strong position in the competition, but this year we can at least say our act can sing – like really sing. Our hopes rest with Remember Monday, a three-piece girl group with an impressive musical theatre pedigree.
Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steele met at Sixth Form College, where they used their free periods (on Mondays, hence the name of the group) to come together and sing.
Byrne’s credits include Matilda, Cinderella, Six and Beautiful – The Carole King Musical. Steele made her West End debut as Jane Banks in Mary Poppins at the age of 10, and is a professional choreographer, performer and vocal coach. Hull has appeared in The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables and Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends.
As Remember Monday the girls took part in The Voice in 2019, with Jennifer Hudson as their mentor, since which they’ve released two EPs and 12 singles. Later this year they’ll be going on a UK tour.
It’s clear that all three girls have voices that harmonise beautifully. They’re also able to sell a song, which is essential for Eurovision success. Representing the UK also comes with its challenges, but they don’t seem phased and are embracing the opportunities the experience offers.
Their song, ‘What the Hell Just Happened?’ – which they co-wrote – is a lively track about waking up after a raucous night out. Although it tips its hat to the likes of Queen and The Beatles, it feels like something that wouldn’t be out of place in a musical. To be fair it’s attracted mixed reviews from the Eurovision fan community, but it certainly deserves to pick up points, particularly from the juries who make up half of the final vote and usually reward acts who can actually sing.
It won’t be the first time the UK has been represented by performers with a background in musical theatre. Michael Ball and Frances Ruffelle were selected by the BBC in the 1990s, with Ball achieving a notable second place in 1992. More recently Lucie Jones restored some British pride in 2017 with ‘Never Give Up On You’. Other competitors include Jade Ewan (2009) and Surie (2019). And if we look further afield Colm Wilkinson (the original Valjean in Les Mis) flew the Irish colours in 1978.
Let’s not also forget that Andrew Lloyd Webber himself co-wrote the UK entry in 2009, for the afore-mentioned Jade, bagging a fifth place with ‘It’s My Time’.
Whether they win or not, I’m sure that Remember Monday will give us a performance of which we can be proud. Good luck girls!
Dean Asker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlZSQZm8j8c
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