Engelbert Humperdinck, celebrated warbler and the UK’s 2012 Eurovision contestant, has imparted a few top tips to this year’s UK act Molly Smitten-Downes in the Leicester Mercury.
Humperdinck received a tidal wave of criticism in the UK press after placing 25th in Baku in 2012 and receiving only 12 points. This was despite Humperdinck being ranked 6th favourite to win the Contest as late as the day of the Grand Final in Baku itself.
Humperdinck remains staunch in defence of the results two years on, declaring to the Mercury: “It wasn’t my fault, I think they forgot me because I went first. I feel like I was robbed.”
Undeterred by the poor result, Engelbert has a couple of tricks of the trade for Molly that might give her the edge in Copenhagen.
“She needs to sing with her eyes,” Engelbert said. “My advice to Molly would be to get out there and do the best she can.”
Clearly Engy hasn’t seen homegirl throw it down in the video for ‘Children of the Universe‘ or observed the easy connection she makes with the camera – she has head-to-toe performance down to a tee, y’all!
Engelbert’s closed his advice for Smitten-Downes by stating: “She needs to remember whether she wins or loses the contest, she’s always a winner.”
The bitterness of defeat clearly hasn’t sobered Engelbert Humperdinck. And failure in Baku hasn’t put an end to his career. In fact he just released his EIGHTIETH album Engelbert Calling. It’s an album of duets with greats like Elton John, Cliff Richard, Lula and…well…Il Divo.
Engelbert clearly has experience on his side having sold over 150 million records worldwide. But Molly isn’t exactly struggling. Not only did she make the long-list for the Glastonbury Rising Talent award, she was announced as the Headline Act of the London Eurovision Party AND landed a recording contract with Warner Music. Engy, honey, didn’t anyone tell you this girl is a natural?
So what do y’all think? Is Engelbert in a position to be giving anyone advice after his second-last result in Baku? Or should Molly take no notice and rise above? Comments in the box bellow y’all!
Angus Quinn contributed this report from the U.K. You can follow him on Twitter at @Angus_Quinn17. Then like our Facebook page to keep up-to-date with all the latest news and gossip.
No Mr. Englebert, looks like you got it wrong again. Molly needs to sing with her mouth.
The Hump is still amazing!
Mmm… maybe you’re right Marcelo, just like Shakira’s hips, 120 years of experience can’t possibly lie! Besides, now that I think about it, if Molly manages to sing with her eyes that would be an spectacle to see!
@Thiefo
Naughty boy, hehe!
We have to grant Ole Bert one thing: he’s been around for, what, 120 years? From HIS perspective, style and experience, he meant good 😉
No Molly! Don’t listen to him! Sing with your mouth! Otherwise I don’t think we’ll be able to hear you and I don’t think that would be good …
Engelbert knows everything about scoring of course.
Engelbert you did it with your eyes and look where you ended up 🙂
he deserved a much much better place in 2012
1st in the running order didn’t help the Hump. It didn’t help France last year either. Will Denmark force one of the Big Five into the 1st spot? I sure hope not… no need to make it a trend.
That isn’t advice. That’s just a generic “you’re a winner in my eyes” comment. There is nothing to ignore and even if he was dishing out advice, I don’t think Molly would need it. The live video proves that she can perform live and connect with people. If she does that on the night, dear ol’ Engelbert’s performance will just be a distant memory.
I think BBC did a great job on preparing Molly for Eurovision this year. Recording the first live performance of the song and using that as the preview video was a smart idea.
It’s not not that he came in second-last, but his bland generic advice “out-trites” (I’m coining here) a grandmother’s advice to a girl on the day of a school gig.
“My advice to Molly would be to get out there and do the best she can.” “She’s already a winner.” And he must have thought himself the smartest guy in showbiz…
good advice… hopefully Molly will place in the top10