UK singer SuRie has spoken out for the first time about the stage invasion which disrupted her grand final performance of “Storm” on Saturday. Speaking on UK chat show This Morning, SuRie told hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield about the experience and why she refused the opportunity to perform again.
SuRie explained that she had no warning of what was coming. The first she was aware of the stage invader was when he was standing right by her, grabbing her.
Schofield asked SuRie if she felt fear at that moment, especially coming after recent terror attacks at music concerts. The “Storm” singer explained she had no time to feel fear. “He was suddenly there, security were suddenly on him as quick as he was on me. He got the mic. For a few seconds that was out of my hands but the song was still going, the backing vocalists were still singing, the crowd was still chanting … I turned back and I saw the mic on the floor and I went ‘Well, that’s mine and I’ll finish this song.'”
SuRie was also left with a few minor injuries. She explained that she had bruises on both her hands and her shoulder where the stage invader had grabbed her and pulled her mic away. But she clarified, “I’m ok, I’m ok”.
While the situation was shocking for her, it sparked an “internal fire” that kept SuRie going. “You can see that in my eyes,” she said with a smile. “The lyrics took on a new meaning – ‘hold your head up, don’t give up.”
SuRie was also rewarded with support from the crowd, who were firmly on her side. “The surge from them: that’s my lasting memory of this.”
And while Team SuRie had the option of performing the song again, she explained why they decided not to. “We had that conversation, but I was really proud of that performance … That was my moment and we didn’t need to repeat that.
But despite the drama of Saturday night, SuRie’s support for Eurovision remains strong. “The point of the Eurovision Song Contest is, it began a few years after World War II, when everyone’s reeling from grief and sadness and fear and they bring nations together to sing their way out of it. That’s the point of the Eurovision Song Contest.”
While SuRie joins Electro Velvet and Joe & Jake by giving the UK a 24th-place finish, she explained that she has her own measure of success: “My leaderboard for the night is the Twitter feed, the Instagram feed I’ve had with the love and support from so many people.”
I am kind of amazed that anyone thinks it’s trivial that a performer should be interrupted this way. The guy had time enough to have done her a serious injury.
Let’s be honest, that invasion was the best thing could happen to SuRie. She demostrated how great she is and otherwise no one would talk about her.
amazing woman!!
SuRie was SoRRy after confronting the masturbator from Albania
She got Kanye West’d
What an icon! Handled the situation amazingly and still delivered. Absolutely amazing!
She should go again for the UK next year. The BBC needs to do what Finland this year with Saara and give her 3 songs to choose from or something. Surie’s Song: You Decide…
I was breathtaken with SuRie’s performance after the invasion. It’s an instant classic. That must be one of the most memorable moments of Eurovision. Unfortunately, she got a bad place, which in my opinion is unfair. Not a top 10 material but something between 12 and 16 would have been fair.
such a brave soul and a great ambassador love her song too <3
SuRie for 2019, please!!! (with a more competitive song)
She has STAR qualilty, such a pro. I love her
Wallonia, you have one job!
*Edit: I know it won’t happen tho*
Dear SuRie! You didn’t forget to tie up your shoelaces. You did everything perfect. You were attacked because of the country you represented. Your country has to give you the second chance, and by this I don’t mean repeating the song at the end of the night. They should send you next year again and this time equip you with the necessary security measures.
No, she was attacked by the arsehole who is “Albanian but identifies as British”
SuRie <3
She has to be one of the best contestants the UK has ever had.
The result genuinely doesn’t matter (And I always complain if the UK doesn’t do well)
The British public are behind her and don’t forget the televote gave more points to the UK than Sweden got and the most the UK has gotten since 2014.
Such a class act. Very inspirational attitude.
I am glad she is safe and in good spirits
Philip Schofield didn’t get what Surie just said through his head. Sheesh.
I did not like the song and I still don’t but her professionalism stands out and made her one of the best contestants. She deserves another go but with a better song!
Same with me. I was watching her and, meh, pale, I thought…
Then the invader came and went, she recovered her mic and it was if she had grown 10 cm.
Typically British: “Why do we bother?” Surie provided him with an amazing answer, well done girl!
She’s a classy woman, and a strong one too. I hope to see her come back later and try for a higher score.
she’s a fighter…UK should be proud of her and her moxie…I think the show needs to move away from these mosh-pits…they are clearly giving crazies opportunities from getting too close or disrupting the proceedings…I’m guessing in Israel you won’t see that…the UK really needs to figure out a better format for picking UK entries…there are tons of talented songwriters in the UK…they need to focus on working on the talented stable of existing hitmakers and make them the “stars” of the UK song selection–and let them find the talent or take up and coming talent
I admire SuRie’s spirit even more now that I know that she was the one who actually got the mic back to keep singing. It was beautiful to see how she used all she was feeling on that moment to give one of the most memorable performances of the night. That bright on her eyes from the national selection came back and now it was even more impressive. Send her again to Eurovision and give her a good song, because she already proved that she has what it takes to represent the UK.
Thanks Robyn for this article – I appreciate the positive messages about Eurovision, very good to remember that Eurovision liftet people up after WWII . We need so much this spirit which is possible with artists like SuRie, with her kind of attitude and appreciation for what Eurovision can do – especially uniting people. I hope that the haters who love to belittle artists and songs that are not their favourites listen to this interview. And I would love an article from wiwibloggs about this destructive attitude or commentators and a statement about that, maybe?! I hope you had a… Read more »
We all love Eurovision but that doesn’t mean we should love every crap it serves and lame bloggers like you, Robyn!
Someone should already be composing a song for her called “Keep Calm And Carry On”
Could we give BBC 3 options
1. Internally pick SuRie again next year and let her write her own song
2. Revamp the National final add Semi Finals too it and show the results after
3. Give the rights to ITV and see how they fair with it
Option 1.1: Internally pick SuRie and create a special show where invited lyricists and composers (good ones…) compete with their entries, specially written for her. The public would then choose the winning act. In this way it would be a selection of the best song, because the performer was always the same.
she did great!!
She is the best ambassador we have in the UK.Credit must be given to the whole crowd and the Eurovision family who supported her through the whole process and the act on the night. It’s not all about winning – the true meaning of i is just what SuRie aid and it would be wise for every UK resident to remember that. Supporting this event financially is a privilege.
A class act. I was in love with her before ESC and I am even more now. Find her a song that fits her and send her again UK please, she’s bloody brilliant!
I love her answer to Philip’s stupid question about why the U.K. takes part and helps finance Eurovision if we don’t get good results.
If she comes back with a better song, I’m sure she has everything it takes to get the U.K. a much better result (without needing sympathy votes or votes just because the U.K. pays more!)
One of the winners of the night. They need to send her next year as well with a great song.
Let’s join the team: “A song for SuRie 2019”. But she needs to get a winner song composition to perform- I really would love to see her win eurovision.
Just now, above, I suggested something that perfectly fits your suggestion:
“Internally pick SuRie and create a special show where invited lyricists and composers (good ones…) compete with their entries, specially written for her. The public would then choose the winning act. In this way it would be a selection of the best song, because the performer was always the same.”
The name you suggested — “A Song for SuRie” — is a great title for such contest.
Find a song that’s as classy as she is, send her back next year and we might actually do well!
She really is just such a lovely person. <3
She was amazing! What a wonderful humble person!
“Class” thy name is SuRie!