ON Saturday night, British girl band Remember Monday will walk on to the Eurovision stage in Basel for the biggest performance of their career.
More than 160million people globally are expected to tune in to watch as 26 bonkers, brilliant and beautiful acts battle it out in Switzerland to be crowned the champion of the world’s biggest music contest.
The all-female trio are preparing for the crucial three-minute performance of their rousing, theatrical song What The Hell Just Happened?
But as I speak to them during rehearsals, Lauren Byrne, Charlotte Steele and Holly-Anne Hull make it clear they won’t let any outside noise, or the all-important scores on the night, get to them.
Lauren, 30, tells me: “You just have to accept as an artist that what you do isn’t going to be loved by everyone.
“There are people out there that don’t like Taylor Swift. I think they’re a bit crazy, but they do exist. So, you know, we can’t be for everyone and that’s fine.”
The three met in sixth form in Hampshire and are the first girl group to represent the UK since Precious, who finished 12th in 1999 with Say It Again.
Holly, 30, explains: “We’re a band that have been together for over 14 years and we pride ourselves in our genuine friendship. I think that’s our superpower — how much we love each other and no matter what happens, we’ll still be solid at the end of it.
“We’re absolutely buzzing that this is an experience we get to do together. Who else gets to do this with their two best mates?”
It is a refreshing take given 2023 entry Mae Muller said she was unable to get out of bed after coming second to last, while 2024’s Olly Alexander, who came 18th, said his best advice to this year’s hopefuls was: “Get a good therapist.”
So have they taken that tip?
Lauren says: “Yeah. I think everyone should have a therapist. And we do. We’re very lucky that we do.
“But we do also think, there’s three of us and we’re each other’s best friends as well as work colleagues.”
Holly adds: “There’s no better therapy than just talking it out with each other and having a girly night, unloading and things like that. So we are very fortunate that we’re in that position.”
They insist they feel “very well looked after” but also believe their background in theatre means they have thicker skin than most.
Holly has performed in West End productions of Phantom Of The Opera and Les Miserables, while Lauren has starred in Six: The Musical and Matilda.
Meanwhile, Charlotte, 31, made her West End debut aged ten as Jane Banks in a production of Mary Poppins.
She says: “We’re used to high-pressure situations where we don’t have much rehearsal and we’ve got to still deliver. We’re used to being extremely nervous.”
That said, she confesses: “The nerves definitely exist, but I think that’s normal. It means we care.
BIG CHALLENGE
“And with there being three of us, we are able to share the load. If one of us is really stressed and nervous, it kind of balances out and we can get each other into good spaces.
“The overriding feeling is excitement.”
The challenge might even be more stomach-churning than performing for the late Queen, as Holly did in 2006 at Windsor Palace as a member of the National Youth Music Theatre.
With a laugh, she says: “You have this ridiculous amount of confidence that you lose as you get older.
“When I was 11, I was the most confident little thing in the world and I couldn’t wait to sing for the Queen and shake her hand.
“I was in a costume, because I was in a musical. I was a woodlander. I didn’t have shoes on.
“She said to me, ‘Oh, why don’t you wear your shoes, dear?’. And I was like, ‘Because that’s part of my costume’. ”
The group have built a hardcore fanbase, helped by appearing on ITV show The Voice in 2019. They gained a strong supporter in Jennifer Hudson, their mentor on the talent contest, who is publicly backing them in the contest.
The group have built a hardcore fanbase, helped by appearing on ITV show The Voice in 2019 GettyOlly Alexander, 34, said his best advice to this year’s hopefuls was: ‘Get a good therapist’[/caption]They already have a 16-date tour of the UK and Ireland lined up for the autumn and have been praised for their grace and class, as well as their impressive vocals, in the lead-up to the final.
But a lot rests on their position on Saturday’s leaderboard.
The UK has won the contest five times, most recently in 1997 with Katrina And The Waves’ Love Shine A Light, and achieved a record 16 second-place finishes, the last of which was Sam Ryder’s brilliant Space Man in 2022. But since 2000, we’ve finished last five times and only reached the top ten three times.
That track record isn’t stopping Remember Monday aiming for the stars. Asked if they will be bringing it home, Holly says: “We obviously, genuinely, think we deserve to. I think we absolutely have the ability to, but who knows?”
They hope to hit the top ten on the leaderboard, which would be an impressive achievement out of 26 entries.
And they have promised to get matching “WTHJH” tattoos, referencing the song title, if they reach the top five or score the dreaded nul points.
Charlotte adds: “The scariest thing is I want us to be proud of the performance and the only people that can control that is us. We’d love some lovely numbers to come up but that’s not anything we can control. As long as we are proud of what we do on that stage . . . ”
Last year’s contest was dominated by protests, infighting and security fears, with heightened tensions among the fans and the acts over Israel’s participation, amid the country’s conflict with Palestine.
Several acts, including the UK’s Olly Alexander, condemned Israel but refused to boycott the contest.
Last weekend, the European Broadcasting Union committed to a “wider discussion” about the country’s appearance at Eurovision in the future. However, Israel will still compete and is being represented by Yuval Raphael — a survivor of the October 7 attacks — with her rousing ballad New Day Will Rise, which is fifth in the bookies’ odds.
This year’s acts have been told to steer away from discussing politics.
In a diplomatic response when questioned about their position, Lauren explains: “It’s such a complex issue and that’s really difficult to comment on in a little soundbite.
Shattered chandelier
“Eurovision was literally created to celebrate . . . the slogan is United by Music and we’re so excited to be here and be meeting all the acts and participating in such an amazing competition.”
Charlotte adds: “We just try to focus on what we’re here to do, which is, hopefully do our country proud.
“Such a small number of artists get to represent their country.”
Everything you need to know about Eurovision
Here's your complete guide to all things Eurovision:
Who was Marcel Bezençon, when did he come up with the Eurovision Song Contest and what’s the EBU? How to host a Eurovision party – from drinking games to decorations and costumes How many times has the UK received ‘nil points’ at Eurovision and been bottom of the leaderboard? Why is Australia in Eurovision and what would happen if they won? How much is Graham Norton paid and what’s his net worth? Eurovision winners: where are they now? From working in Tesco to global stardom When has Eurovision not been hosted by the winning country? How do I vote in Eurovision and when will results be revealed?On Tuesday, the first semi-final saw ten acts advance to the final, while another 16 will battle it out for the remaining ten spots in the second semi-final from 8pm on BBC One tonight.
Automatically through are host nation Switzerland, plus Eurovision’s Big Five — who contribute the most money to it — France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.
Despite already sure of their place, Remember Monday are due to perform their entry tonight — dancing around a shattered chandelier in pastel outfits.
Then they will have just 48 hours until Saturday’s grand final, on BBC One at 8pm, with Graham Norton commentating.
Sweden’s male trio KAJ are favourites to win with their ode to saunas, Bara Bada Bastu.
�Manuel HarlanLauren in Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical[/caption] AlamyHolly in Phantom of The Opera in London’s West End in 2023[/caption]Austria’s JJ, with a high-pitched opera-inspired song, Wasted Love, is second in the latest bookies’ odds.
Currently at number 18, the UK are outsiders in this year’s contest — which is sponsored by Royal Caribbean Cruises. But anything could happen.
For now, Remember Monday are shutting that out and focusing on their plan to put on the performance of their lives.
Holly adds: “Our ritual before the show is the three of us having a moment alone.
“Just us three, to check in with each other and remind each other how far we’ve come and the amazing thing that we’re about to do.
“Like, if our 16-year-old selves knew what we were doing now, what would they say?”
I’m sure they’d be very, very proud.
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