Eurovision was such a farce...I did not deserve to finish last

8:10pm Friday 9th January 2009

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ANDY Abraham felt just like James Bond when he sunk without a trace behind the enemy lines of a Eurovision disaster mission.

The former dustbin man and bus driver turned international soul singer, was handed a continental wooden spoon after finishing bottom of the 25 countries competing in Serbia last year.

“I was very proud to represent the UK – but the whole competition was a farce,” says the 44-year-old, who only managed to score 14 points, finishing behind Germany and Poland.

“It was like being in the middle of some political Cold War conspiracy. I should have been James Bond, not singing a song.”

Andy, who performed his own song, Even If, is obviously still bitter about the whole Eurovision Song Contest experience.

“Don’t get me wrong, I loved every minute of performing in front of 150million people – who wouldn’t?” adds the vocalist, who visits the Palace Theatre, Westcliff, on Thursday, February 26, as part of a national tour.

“The performance was great. The audience loved it. There’s no way it was the worst song on the night. But the whole competition has turned into a bit of a joke.

“The whole voting process is pathetic. There’s so much neighbourhood voting going on. Cyprus and Greece vote for each other, all the Scandinavian countries back each other up and then you’ve got all the Eastern Block nations.

“We’ve got no chance of winning. The whole thing is so political and sadly looks to have destroyed the competition as a musical contest, which is what it is supposed to be all about.”

Andy couldn’t resist the temptation to have a dig at Andrew Lloyd Webber, who has been handed the task of radically improving the UK’s Eurovision performance in Russia.

The theatre composer will choose a performer from an elimination show, Your Country Needs You, to perform a song he has written in Moscow this May.

“Andrew is a legend in his own right, but he has really put his head on the block,” adds Andy.

“He will find it very hard to make an impression in Moscow, but I hear he has been holding meetings with political figures, such as Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, to try to gain votes. But how is that going to work? It’s the people who vote, not the politicians. The whole thing amazes me. It’s a song contest everyone… not an election!

“He has also been very dismissive about past UK entries and I don’t think that’s fair. We didn’t have the time or money he is able to use now to improve our chances.

“I look forward to seeing how he fares. I don’t think we have any chance of winning it.”

Andy has just released his third album, also called Even If, which follows on from his first two releases, the Impossible Dream and Soul Man. He first shot to fame as runner-up to Shayne Ward in the second series of the X Factor, in 2005.

The Impossible Dream sold more than 300,000 copies, with Soul Man reaching the top 20 in the UK album charts.

The very likeable singer claims going on tour to promote Even If is the most exciting thing he has done to date.

“This is the first album which is all my own work,” he adds. “Even If is 100 per cent Andy Abraham, which is something I have dreamed of achieving all my life.

“It is heavily influenced by the likes of Kool and the Gang, Lionel Richie, Luther Vandross and George Benson.

“I love to sing soul music as it is an enduring sound loved by everyone, from kiddies to grannies.

“Putting on a good show is the most important thing for me. I just want the people at my concerts to have a great time.”

But Andy admits the music business is a hard grind. “This is a tough business and you have to work hard every day,” he explains.

“There is a false high attached to the X Factor. It was great for me, but when the show is over you have to learn fast how to stand on your own two feet.

“There is also a stigma attached to the performers on the show, that you’re not a real musical artist.

“But I know that’s not the case for me. I’ve been singing in pubs and clubs since the Eighties and used to do the circuit in a Lighthouse Family tribute band.

“I’ll always be grateful to the X Factor and don’t intend to join the ranks of the show’s stars who have dropped completely off the radar. I want to be known as Andy Abraham in my own right and plan on sticking around for a long time yet!”

Tickets for the show start at £15, concessions £14, and doors open at 8pm. For more information, call 01702 351135.