Eurovision rumour mills are beginning to pick up traction right across Europe, not least in the UK. Katie Price got the British one rolling last month, when she declared a desire to make up for her disastrous 2005 effort. Soon after, Olly Murs was added to the list, only for the man himself to swiftly deny the speculation. Now, former Steps singer and reality star, Claire Richards, has thrown her name into the mix.
When questioned about Eurovision by Attitude, the late ’90s popstar answered “I never say never to anything anymore”. Emphasis on anymore, since she also reveals that herself and ex-bandmate Ian “H” Watkins turned down the opportunity to compete in 2003, paving the way for Jemini’s nul points.
Richards credits her change of heart towards the contest to the “fantastic experiences” she’s had on shows like Popstar to Operastar and Celebrity Big Brother. “Everything happens for a reason”, she tells the magazine. Could this reason be the need for a career boost?
Steps “Tragedy”
Given the UK’s recent Eurovision efforts, and Claire’s cheese-filled musical past, it would be easy to scoff. Her chart-topping days with Steps are long gone (their 2012 comeback single peaked at 82). But to be fair, she has acknowledged the need for the Brits to take the contest seriously.
“I think someone who is passionate about the competition needs to take charge of it though. Someone that will put the effort in and source a great song to actually compete and invest in great production. It’s become a bit of a joke so we’ve just stopped trying. I know there is a bit of politics that goes on but if we entered an amazing song with a great singer/act then it can’t be ignored.”
Ignoring the politics cliché, we have to agree with her viewpoint. If Claire does become the next act to fly the Union Jack, at least we know that she has plenty of practice performing in front of massive crowds (sorry Molly and Electro Velvet). Another major bonus is that unlike Bonnie Tyler, it doesn’t sound like she’s spent her time in pop-wilderness gargling gravel.
What do y’all think? Is Claire “the great singer” the UK need? Or is she just another pop-relic fit for the scrap-heap? Let us know below.
Photo: clairerichards.co.uk
No thanks.
Pick a current name.
@Racal But this isn’t about the singer or band though is it? If you send a rubbish song you aren’t gonna get anywhere. Some ESC winners of the past haven’t been remotely successful before their appearance and they still managed to bring the title home. The UK doesn’t have to send their biggest star to compete. Just someone who has experience singing live and a decent voice (Claire) with an amazing song and performance. But this is the BBC. That checklist is never going to be completed in the near future. Of course Claire isn’t the best choice out of… Read more »
@Mario: With all the amazing singers and bands that the UK has produced, you’re not seriously telling me that Steps or Claire would be a serious option because they had two #1 twenty years ago? This would just show, again, that the UK considers the ESC as a freak show for bad commercial dance music.
This news is nowhere near serious anyway: just because she said she would never say never doesn’t mean she’s interested, nor that she would be chosen. But the mere fact that her name is associated with a potential UK act gives me the creeps.
No. No. No. No. No. The UK is already accused of not taking ESC seriously. So why pick a formula the Beeb has shown doesn’t work for the UK. You need a way to convince and show famous acts that it’s not a career killer. Sandi Shaw, Lulu, Cliff Richard, Michael Ball, all had great success after Eurovision. So much so that people don’t even think of Eurovision straight away when they think of Ball or Lulu. We are in the mist of the third British invasion. During the first we can second so many time and won twice. Our… Read more »
“Part of a band that has been successful during 6 months twenty years ago”
More like part of a band that’s had 15 UK Top 20 hits (including two #1’s) over five very successful years. Not to mention #1’s in Australia, Belgium, and New Zealand. Yeah… They sure are nobodies, huh?
Claire could be great if she had a good song that was not as cheesy as Steps but not as ‘snoresville’ as her new single – her own version of ‘Deeper Shade of Blue’.
Oh come on… Part of a band that has been successful during 6 months 20 years ago, and now craving attention so much that she takes part in all the crappiest TV shows. The UK deserves better than this.
Claire would be one more in a long string of has-been acts. It certainly wouldn’t be an advantage for her, but if she can still hack it live, then there’s no reason that she couldn’t do very well … IF she has a great song … and a great arrangement … and a great presentation … and great costumes … and great camera work … and backing singers who have been known to sing in tune … Oh yeah, THAT’S gonna happen to a UK entry! (/sarcasm) If I were a UK performer and wanted to do Eurovision, it would… Read more »
I used to love Steps, when I was like 10 years old. Doubt I would care much about them now. Nostalgia is why their album ended up number 1.
I rather have S Club 7 performing again. That is pop at it’s best and with a good ballad they could do well. They did before.
Does anyone in the UK remember Over The Rainbow back in 2010? When we decided the nation’s Dorothy. Why not try that selection for Eurovision, Andrew Lloyd Webber can write the song (he proved he can back in 2009) and we end up with a possible fantastic singer.
Slightly unfair to equate current popularity with how their comeback single did in the UK charts a while back, as radio will be notoriously unsupportive of pure pop music acts such as Steps. Many artists no longer have hit singles the way they used to, but their latest Greatest Hits album shortly before that single, did make No1 in the UK album charts, which is more a real indication of the love for Steps the UK still has.
I wouldnt mind seeing Claire in Stockholm, but I doubt that it will happen. Usually there are plenty of rumours that ends up being untrue.
Anyway, I say as always,.. with the right song Claire could win. But with the wrong song it will be another failure..
the UK need to realise that it isnt about sending a popular singer…. it is about sending a great song.
I mean neither Loreen, Emmelie de Forest, Conchita or Måns had much international success before winning eurovision.. and with the wrong songs all of them would have not won.
A modern pop song- could be good!
Steps could do a comeback? 😀
Compared to a lot of ‘former’ pop stars, we in the UK could do a lot worse! She needs the right song though…’Operastar’ was not her forte.