Entries for the UK’s Eurovision: You Decide closed on Friday and already the rejection letters are being sent. Among those getting a “no thanks” is Norwegian songwriter and producer JOWST. And he’s not happy about it.
When entries for Eurovision: You Decide opened last month, JOWST was very public about his intention to enter. At the time he wrote, “I decided I wanted to try to help the UK win Eurovision this time (not that I have ever won before) …UK has some of the best artists and songwriters in the world, but they don’t take part in this. If they could change that, they would change Eurovision.”
Now it appears that the “Grab the Moment” hitmaker entered three new songs in the UK’s song selection. And all three were rejected.
JOWST wasn’t happy about this and expressed his feelings on social media. He wrote, “#UKxJOWST IS OFFICIALLY DEAD 💀 they didn’t want any of my songs. Good luck 🇬🇧”
#UKxJOWST IS OFFICIALLY DEAD ? they didn’t want any of my songs. Good luck ??
— JOWST (@JOWSTMUSIC) October 26, 2018
But he wasn’t done with just that. He went on to have a bit of a rant, saying “They actually think that my 3 best songs/demos are worse than ALL the songs they will have in their national final.”
They actually think that my 3 best songs/demos are worse than ALL the songs they will have in their national final.
But don’t worry, you’ll hear it one day, and can decide for yourself ??? https://t.co/l1tl5M5faB— JOWST (@JOWSTMUSIC) October 26, 2018
JOWST’s fans were largely in support of his songwriting efforts, with many suggesting that he submit his songs to the broadcasters of countries such as France, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Montenegro.
It’s not known whether JOWST entered his songs a part of the public song submission process or whether he was one of the songwriters directly invited by the BBC.
While the BBC does run a public song submission, in the past, most of its entries have come from the broadcaster’s team directly liaising with songwriters and singers. The public submissions are assessed by members of the UK OGAE fan network, who select a shortlist for the BBC to consider.
Last month we spoke to JOWST about his UK bid and he was full of enthusiasm. He told us, “The reason I chose the UK is because of two things mainly. One is that they have the biggest potential. Some of the biggest and best artists and songwriters are from the UK.”
He further elaborated that the generally poor attitude of the average Brit gives him motivation to take part. He explained, “The UK has the worst ‘attitude’ against ESC in general. You could probably say reputation. So I feel it’s also the biggest challenge. I want to prove to the people there that it’s not about politics, it’s just about the song/performance and the emotions.”
At the time, he also revealed that fellow Scandinavian Eurovision acts Norma John and Mørland had helped him with one demo for the BBC. He said that some of the songs were “sounding like JOWST, others aren’t”.
The BBC is expected to announce the selected competing acts for Eurovision: You Decide early next year.
What do you think? Was the UK wise to reject JOWST’s demos? Should he submit them to another country? Share your thoughts below!
BBC doesn’t really want United Kingdom to win. That is obvious from their halfhearted efforts.
Brexit never dies
Why he even tried for the UK? As if the UK is the Mecca of success at Eurovision. I mean it is clear that he faces more competition there. It wouldve been easier for him to try it f.ex. in Iceland or maybe he can bring San Marino back for next year?
You know the UK has won 5 times and finished second 15 times? Hardly a failure of a country.
JOWST will bounce back, no worries. Probably better off away from the UK anyhow, given the politics right now.
Hopefully, he releases his demos at the same time as the UK reveals the (probably) poor selection of songs in the national final this year.
Oh, fantastic idea! When is that??
JOWST are no major loss, it’s not as if they’re known in UK outside the ESC fandom. I really liked “Grab the Moment” but it’s hard to follow up a Top 10 finish(regardless where the song finished) maybe BBC are focusing on more domestic home written songs for 2019 as internationally produced songs in recent years aren’t cutting the trick, despite how excellent “Never Give Up on You” was(co-written by Emmelie de Forest, an ESC winner this decade ofc) tbh I’d rather for UK to go back to internal selections than sticking with a 6 song national final where the… Read more »
I think it has more to do with the fact that the BBC sinks so much money into the writing camps that they’d want to use those songs rather than the songs submitted through the public entrance.
Only if BBC could take note of what Wales is doing in JESC and send a song in another of our language and take a break from singing in English, let the true British Eurovision fans decide
I hate this British Eurofan cycle of “we’re going to come last again cuz Europe hates us” and stuff like that. Stop being Debbie Downers. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the new HoD is gonna turn the UK into a Bulgaria or a France or something like that. I can dream, can’t I?
Totally agree. As JOWST was rejected, they automatically assume another 24th place. Yes, I can see why they think that but at the end of the day, let’s just wait and see what the songs are like first. Hopefully, we’ll have some decent songs!
I think it’s because they’re using the same process as previous years which didn’t produce any results. So when we hear that a talented song writer has been rejected we assume the same result as previous years.
As a Scandinavian, Lila probably thinks that non-British should not be in a competition like Eurovision: You Decide, as it’s denying the British a right to compete in their home, so she doesn’t think JOWST should return. He is not good live anyways (since he’s not a singer), and Brits will probably never vote for him to win. So she probably thinks he should try representing Norway as he’s such a star there and very clearly could win.
Greta Salome is Icelandic and they used her song in You Decide. Only difference is that she was apart of their song writing camp.
A lot of people may not know, but in 1984 the BBC rejected Jim Diamond’s “I should have known better”, which became a big hit.
On the BBC website, it says songwriters must only submit 1 song, whereas he submitted 3. Nevertheless, people shouldn’t be saying stuff such as “that’s us screwed for another year then”, it might seem like it but you wouldn’t know if you haven’t heard the songs.
They could have given him the chance to withdraw two of them
The BBC are strict on terms and conditions. JOWST didn’t follow them obviously
This probably just proves he was approached by the BBC and it wasn’t a public submission?
People are upset because the one time they’ve known a talented songwriter with a unique sound was interested in BBC Eurovision he gets rejected and all we’re left with is the same method of song selection as last year. Which didn’t produce any results and saw Austria win the jury vote with a song the BBC rejected.
Even if we don’t know the selected songs it is a fair bet to say UK will end up somewhere between 20th-25th place, as usual. That said, there isn’t any guarantee JOWST songs would have faired much better either. Just because they ended up top 10 once doesn’t mean UK would end up top 10 with them
It doesn’t matter what the UK sends we will end up 20 – 25th as usual. Even Bonnie Tyler couldn’t get the Europeans to put aside the jealousy towards the UK
What jealously. I’m fed up with the crap I hear come out of people from my country, stuff such as “no one likes us” or “even if we sent Ed Sheeran, we’d still come last”. Bonnie Tyler was terrible live, but due to her fame, she ended up as 19th. Overrated, as if that had been an unknown singer, it would’ve been in the bottom 2 hands down!
Didn’t Bonnie placed 19th?
Yes, she did placed (sic) 19th
I’d be happy for You Decide to have a more eclectic mix of songs in 2019.
The BBC rejected JOWST. Red flag sign…. They DO NOT take it seriously.!!!
How can we comment whether BBC was right in turning down JOWST s songs if 1. We haven’t heard the rejects 2. Haven’t heard the qualified. 3. Don’t know anything about it after all (like what BBC was looking for or what JOWST wanted. As for now I JOWST comes across like a juvenile loser after ranting. Not very adult like.
He obviously sent three songs of the same calibre as “Talk to the Hand”.
I thought Talk to the hand was not his song? Was it?
He is credited as songwriter under his real name, Joakim With Steen.
Oh! Didn’t know that! Thanks for the info
Didn’t really like the song, didn’t hate it either
But I have great faith in Morland’s abilities as a songwriter! If BBC rejected his work, I’m hoping they have something good up their sleeves
And yet that song was better than all six songs in You Decide.
A lot of people are forgetting that Guy Freeman and Helen Riddell (former UK HoD) have resigned and that a new team has taken over. I am intrigued to see what songs come out of this year’s NF.
Just hope OGAE have smaller or no involvement picking the shortlisted songs this year
Don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll have another brilliant track like “Still in love with you”.
Despite the BBC’s track record speaking 100% against that, it is still possible that they actually have better stuff than the songs Jowst was offering. I do not like artists being so vocal about something they aren’t in yet. It looks needy to me.
If the BBC would be that stupid to send something like Electro Velvet again, British fans should start a riot like seriously. Only 3 top 15 finishes in the last 10 years, I just hope they’ve finally got it right next year!
https://youtu.be/wtQLeK7-sVk
I am inclined to agree except that I really enjoyed this year’s entry, and also Joe & Jake. I thought they were going to do really well, but they didn’t.
No matter how many good songs will be in You Decide, UK will vote the most kitch one just because “it sounds like a song for Eurovision”. They need a jury that doesn’t care about what was successful in the past.
What kitsch* song have been in You Decide since the selection started in 2016?
I actually don’t know what the word means but I assume it means “campy”?
None. The closest to kitsch was Dulcima, and even that is miles away.
Storm was beyond Kitsch
I’m not surprised, tbh I’m not a huge fan of JOWST and I strangely prefer Talk to the Hand to GTM. I found songs of that production kind of generic even though they aren’t. And I have high hopes for UK this year. But it’s possible that they had better songs than these that were selected
What about Tamar Karelian?
If they rejected JOWST, of course there’s no chance for Tamar. JOWST makes better songs than Tamar.
I hope we see Jowst in Norsk MGP. This show is miles ahead of You Decide and so is he.
Obviously he is not in MGP, he would have twittered it.
When’s the deadline to submit songs for MGP?
BBC hates Eurovision and wants to ridicule it by rubbish songs. UK should be forced to go through semifinals, and we would never see them again ever unless they finally send a good song.
I honestl believe Jowst had great songs and BBC ran scared of winning with them.
Haha. Don’t be so silly. And while I do agree that the big 5 should go through the semi finals (even though their support financially is under estimated) I think we need to move on from the UK being negative about Eurovision. The BBC has engaged the public now more than ever. This is just a case of a songwriter being sour about their songs not being selected. Next!
Sorry guys, but when you send a 90’s song like “storms” , you can’t say “we love Eurovision” afterwards.
the UK is the next global music scene after the US, there is no reason for you guys to send such noncompetitive materiels every year.
The Big 5 is never going away, get over it! UK had a brilliant song in 2017 but got screwed over by little televoters
I mean, he’s right. I obviously didn’t hear his submissions but UK is used to rejecting songs that have more potential than the ones they pick for whatever reason. “Nobody but You” was better than all You Decide 2018 songs.
Obviously, Cesar helped make “Nobody But You” be what it is.
Okay. But Nobody But You was never submitted to the BBC as both they and the team behind the London Eurovision Party have said.
I always wonder what’s going on in the minds of the people that decide this, the Swedish rejected ‘Higher Ground’ which got a better televote result than their actual entry, but they DID select a song about pie and that song from Kamferdrops. And the BBC also rejected Nobody but You if I’m right, so idk if they made a wrong decision again. The UK hopefully remembers that JOWST finished tenth, a place the UK dreams of getting.
More like “Talk to the Hand”, my guess…
In all fairness SVT argue that Melfest is about showcasing diversity. Still strange though, I’d consider Higher Ground to be a diverse entry.
The screening process for songs trying to enter Melfest is not exactly a walk in the park.
I agree. The Swedish cosplay Viking community is grossly underrepresented at Mello.
Fair enough but Jowst also produced a great song with Kristian Kostov.
Find it hard to believe that his entries were poor enough to get rejected at this stage but we’ll see.
I’m surprised they rejected him considering the past two years we’ve had Eurovision artists involved, their songs made the cut. However, his latter tweet is very egotistical. It’s not like he won in 2017 nor even made the top 10 televote. He only did well due to the juries.
Remember, Austria won the jury vote with a song rejected by the BBC.
And UK Jury have Austria even 12 Points. Hillarious
Well, we screwed up again. 25th place here we come!!
You don’t even know what the songs sounded like yet.
We didn’t know what last year’s songs sounded like at this point, but the end result was, as usual, a dismal formality anyway!
Has the Norsk MGP submission deadline passed yet?
No faith towards local talent?
Local song writers don’t care for Eurovision
Just because you don’t have a song written by Jowst? lol that might be a blessing…
Aren’t you being a bit optimistic? Somebody gotta take the 26th spot too?
God, British fans are so pessimistic. I know you have the right to, because the UK results haven’t been great recently. We haven’t heard any of the songs yet. If the songs are crap, you’re more than welcome to say “Well, we’re screwed again”
Either most of the songs submitted were downright bad or it was a very strong bunch that JOWST’s entries simply didn’t make the cut. Another possibility is that homegrown submissions were heavily favored over those penned fom overseas.
Either way, dude needs some humble pie. As in any selection process, the more the entries, the less likely of getting picked.
I think it would have more to do with the fact that they’d wanna use songs from their song writing camp. Remember, Austria won the jury vote with a song the BBC rejected.
Well, the BBC also rejected a song that ended up on Romania’s Selectia Nationala in 2017 if I recall. It didn’t make it to the semis, however.
Austria even won the UK jury vote, lmao
Stop worshiping the Brexit lovers. They will not vote a foreigner. Why people go there like flies to light only to burn themselves.
And in the end the U.K. burn themselves as well, Lucie being the only recent exception, although marginally.
What are you on about, a Dane wrote the song in 2017 and we sent a Belgian this year. Saara Aalto also came 2nd on X Factor in 2016
Isn’t SuRie from UK?
The fact that she was a backing vocalist for Belgium doens’t mean that she’s from this country.
Right, Saara Aalto became second, but only because the UK wanted the cute British boy instead of the Finnish singer. Saara was miles better in the competition due to vocal technique, but the UK prefered the British.
I think you meant came , because ‘became’ sounds like we will now have to count numbers like one, Saara, three ,four…..
Haha, great! But then it would be “first, Saara, third, fourth”. You understand the difference? Second is not the same as two 😀
Me not understand. Second is two no?
Yes.
Difficult for me. I don’t want to discuss English grammar on wiwibloggs, but of course I want to be friendly and answer your question… So let me just say: “Two” describes a number and “second” describes a placement 🙂 1, 2, 3 is not 1st, 2nd, 3rd 😀
I voted for Saara and you’re right she was better, but Matt Terry didn’t win because he was British (he’s actually half British half Spanish) he won because of all the tween girls voting with their vaginas.
In the final Saara was actually leading until the boyband were eliminated in 3rd place on the saturday their votes then went to Matt terry and he narrowly won on the sunday
OMG, thank you! I have known about the “cute reason” for the teenage votes, but I have never thought about the boyband. It was Five After Midnight, I think, and yes, the girls’ votes for 5AM went to Matt Terry on Sunday! And maybe it was her song choice: It’s All So Quiet again and then Whitney Houston. Musical style and an old song was wrong! Matt sung Writings On the Wall, this got votes. Saara should have sung Bad Romance as her Song of the Series and Skyfall as her winning song!