2013's Eurovision took place over the weekend (May 18) and saw the UK's entry, which was 'Believe In Me' by Bonnie Tyler (pictured below), finishing in 19th place. Ora told British magazine Event that she initially saw the opportunity as a chance to sing in front of the world, but soon realised it was a bad idea:

"I did it because I thought it was a chance to sing, but then I felt inside that it wasn't right for me. I was chosen to perform and sang Ain't No Sunshine in front of people like Andrew Lloyd Webber and got through to the next stage (of the auditions)."

"I was incredibly nervous because I was just 17 and I was making this really big decision to pull out. Amazingly, the BBC producers were unbelievably kind and supportive, which made me feel more sure of myself artistically. I wasn't going because I had another option, I was going because it wasn't right."

Watch behind-the-scenes footage from Ora's ELLE fashion shoot here:

The Welsh vocalist, who found fame in the 80s with ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart,’ only managed to pick up 23 points with her track, ‘Believe In Me.’ But the 61-year-old told BBC News that she was still very proud of her performance:

“I'm sure a lot of people will be disappointed on my behalf but I have really enjoyed my Eurovision experience. I did the best that I could do with a great song. I don't feel down and I'm ready to party."

Denmark’s Emmelie de Forrest was crowned the winner at the Malmo event after scoring 281 points with ‘Only Teardrops,’ a result which Tyler admitted was a fair one:

"The songs at the top of the table totally deserve to be up there. Of course I would have liked to bring it back to the UK but it's been a night to remember."

"I'm so glad and so happy that I did it because it was an incredible experience. It was like the Grammy Awards all over again."

The Swedish band’s 1992 Best Of collection has inched ahead of The Beatles’ 1967 album by nearly 15,000 copies with both albums selling over 5.1 million copies in the UK.

The announcement coincides with this year’s Eurovision Song Contest being held in the group’s homeland; ABBA famously won Eurovision in 1974 with Waterloo, which became their first ever Number 1 single on the UK’s Official Singles Chart.

ABBA founder / songwriter Björn Ulvaeus told OfficialCharts.com "It’s feels unreal - outselling the greatest record of all time!"

An estimated one in five British households owns a copy of either 'Gold' or 'Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band'.

'Gold' features all nine of the Swedish band’s Official Singles Chart Number 1s – including 'Waterloo', 'Mamma Mia', 'Fernando', 'Dancing Queen', 'Knowing Me Knowing You', 'The Name Of The Game', 'Take A Chance On Me', 'The Winner Takes It All', and 'Super Trouper' – and has spent a total of eight weeks at No.1 on the Official Albums Chart.

Former-ABBA blonde Agnetha Faltskog may have her highest charting solo album of her career later today (May 19). Faltskog's new album, 'A', could go Top 10 when the new Official Albums Chart Top 100 is announced. 

Watch the video to Faltskog's favourite ABBA song, 'Winner Takes It All' below:

]]> Pressparty http://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/londonnewsdesk/view/76112/ Sat, 18 May 2013 10:01:55 +0100 http://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/londonnewsdesk/view/76112/ Bonnie Tyler says "less is more" when it comes to "talented" singles like Adele and Emeli Sandé.

The 61-year-old songstress is representing the UK in tonight's (May 18) Eurovision Song Contest.

Tyler has weighed in on the new breed of female singers storming the charts today, and doesn't think people like Beyoncé or Lady Gaga show off too much skin.

Speaking to British magazine Star, she revealed: "No, not really. But I think when you are really talented like Adele and Emeli Sandé, less is more."

Tyler also gave her opinion on TV talent shows including The Voice and The X Factor.

She explained: "Some good singers such as Leona Lewis, One Direction and Will Young have come out of those shows. Yet I don't think the judges on The Voice always turn around for the right people..."

When asked if she could ever be a judge on one of these TV talent shows, she exclaimed: "Absolutely no chance! I don't like ridiculing people. If somebody's performance was bloody diabolical I would feel sorry that their parents let them go on the programme - you think they would know better!

"But there are a lot of talented people out there."

2013's Eurovision took place over the weekend (May 18) and saw the UK's entry, which was 'Believe In Me' by Bonnie Tyler (pictured below), finishing in 19th place. Ora told British magazine Event that she initially saw the opportunity as a chance to sing in front of the world, but soon realised it was a bad idea:

"I did it because I thought it was a chance to sing, but then I felt inside that it wasn't right for me. I was chosen to perform and sang Ain't No Sunshine in front of people like Andrew Lloyd Webber and got through to the next stage (of the auditions)."

"I was incredibly nervous because I was just 17 and I was making this really big decision to pull out. Amazingly, the BBC producers were unbelievably kind and supportive, which made me feel more sure of myself artistically. I wasn't going because I had another option, I was going because it wasn't right."

Watch behind-the-scenes footage from Ora's ELLE fashion shoot here:

The Welsh vocalist, who found fame in the 80s with ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart,’ only managed to pick up 23 points with her track, ‘Believe In Me.’ But the 61-year-old told BBC News that she was still very proud of her performance:

“I'm sure a lot of people will be disappointed on my behalf but I have really enjoyed my Eurovision experience. I did the best that I could do with a great song. I don't feel down and I'm ready to party."

Denmark’s Emmelie de Forrest was crowned the winner at the Malmo event after scoring 281 points with ‘Only Teardrops,’ a result which Tyler admitted was a fair one:

"The songs at the top of the table totally deserve to be up there. Of course I would have liked to bring it back to the UK but it's been a night to remember."

"I'm so glad and so happy that I did it because it was an incredible experience. It was like the Grammy Awards all over again."

She will represent the UK in Malmo, Sweden this coming weekend (May 18) with a track called 'Believe In Me' and Wales Online has quoted her as saying that fans keep saying it's unlikely the UK will win with such a strong offering:

"It has been said to me over the last couple of weeks, ‘You’re not going to win this Bonnie, your song is too good!’ Which is crazy, huh?"

Referring to being asked to enter Eurovision 2013, she added: "Firstly it was like, ‘Wow, Eurovision!’ I’d been asked 30 years ago and I couldn’t do it because I was so busy with 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart', which was number one and the album was number one too."

“About 120 million people watch Eurovision and I have a lot of friends in Europe. Maybe that’s why the BBC asked me because maybe they thought there’s a good chance. We have got a good song but you never know what can happen in Eurovision. It’ll be a great experience, I’m sure about that.”

Watch her perform the song live on Graham Norton's show here:

The veteran singer is representing the UK at the ceremony, where she will perform the track 'Believe In Me'.

Footage of Tyler rehearsing for the main event has now been released via the official Eurovision YouTube channel.

The hopeful star will aim to win the contest for the UK for the first time since 1997 when Katrina and the Waves reigned supreme with the track 'Love Shine a Light'.

This year's Eurovision is taking place in Malmo, Sweden on Saturday (May 18).

The hitmaker will front the National Citizen Service's initiative to encourage young people to have the confidence to make goals and go after what they want in terms of youth work opportunities.

Speaking about her own experieces of doubting her talent, Ora explained to Sb.TV that after she lost the bid to represent Britain at the Eurovision Song Contest several years ago she was hesitant about her future but managed to overcome the negative feelings: "I was broken, upset and hurt. But I always believed in myself."

"I always believed that one day I was meant to do this, someone would hear me. Self-belief is kind of the main thing if you want to get on, especially in this industry full of sharks. It is very unpredictable, but I always believed."

Watch Ora talk about the importance of confidence and self-belief here:

Writing on her official Twitter page earlier today (March 7), the Scissor Sisters beauty revealed her involvement in the competition, which will take place in Malmö, Sweden on May 18:

"So I guess the cat is out of the bag. Eurovision here I come! Looking forward to sharing the experience with you lovely British lot. Allow me to clarify - I will be providing commentary for the BBC's Eurovision coverage. Really looking forward to the spectacle!"

When asked by one of her followers if she will be performing at the well-loved kitsch event, Matronic explained that she is "just providing commentary for the BBC coverage".

It has also now been confirmed that 80s legend Bonnie Tyler will represent the UK this year with a song called 'Believe In Me'.

Watch Matronic talk about how to have a perfect party below:

The 61-year-old Welsh singer, who is best known for her 1983 hit single 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart', will take song 'Believe In Me' to this year's event, which will be held in Malmo, Sweden on May 18.

Tyler said in a statement: "I promise to give this everything that I've got for the UK!

"I am truly honoured and delighted to be able to represent my country at Eurovision, and especially with such a fabulous song."

"Bonnie Tyler is truly a global superstar with a fantastic voice," added Katie Taylor, BBC Controller for Entertainment and Events.

"We are delighted she will be flying the flag for the UK in Malmo."

'Believe In Me' was written by American songwriter Desmond Child and British songwriters Lauren Christy and Christopher Braide.

Englebert Humperdinck represented the UK in last year's Eurovision Song Contest in Azerbaijan with 'Love Will Set You Free', where he came second last.

Watch the video for Bonnie Tyler's 2013 Eurovision entry 'Believe In Me' below:

]]> London Newsdesk http://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/londonnewsdesk/view/68935/ Tue, 26 Feb 2013 21:52:55 +0000 http://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/londonnewsdesk/view/68935/ Earlier this week, 'Shine Ya Light' hitmaker Rita Ora revealed that she was glad she didn't take part in Eurovision because she would have been "at best, a contestant on that diving show 'Splash'."

While Ora didn't aim her remarks at any one person in particular, former Sugababe Jade Ewen came 5th in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest and went on to be a contestant on 'Splash', so took Ora's comments to heart and hit back at her on social networking site, Twitter.

Writing on her page earlier today (February 26), Ewen explained: "Easy to mock when you are enjoying success. Eurovision and splash? Proud of both Some manage to sleep their way to success some have morals. #justsayin."

Ewen's fans reacted excitedly to her message, with one replying: "I love you for this Jade Ewen."

Watch Ewen perform her '09 Eurovision entry here:

She revealed that as a teenager she auditioned for 'Eurovision: Your Country Needs You!' and sang for Andrew Lloyd Webber, but left before she was told if she made the next stage or not:

"I was 16. Andrew Lloyd Webber was there. Right from the start I was, like, 'What am I doing here?' I did my song and walked out. No-one knew what to do. They started looking for me, calling my agent."

Referring to what might have happened to her if she had taken part in the competition, Ora added: "Imagine! If I'd stayed, it would probably have been all over for me. At best, I'd be a contestant on that diving show…?' Splash!? Yeah, Splash! I love that show."

Meanwhile, she took to her official Twitter page this afternoon (February 25) and told her followers that she's currently in Spain: "We're in Barcelona my second home I love it here, straight to the venue, straight to work..yeeeeeeaaaahhhhh #showtime :)"

Watch Ora talk about her tattoos here:

It has been reported that the 'Something New' singers will take up the responsibility this year, but these rumours have now been dispelled by the ladies' PR company, Supersonic.

In response to a tweet about the rumour, Supersonic explained that "the story isn't true" and called it "so ridiculous".

This year's Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Malmo, Sweden between May 14-18. Meanwhile, Girls Aloud are set to head out on their reunion tour of the UK on February 21.

Watch Girls Aloud's music video for 'Beautiful 'Cause You Love Me' below: