Image by BonDuke from Wikimedia
For the third year running, the UK has fallen flat at Eurovision, this time landing in 19th place out of 26. Despite fans not having a lot of hope in the first place, this one hurt more than usual, because our West End trio Remember Monday actually had talent.
Their entry, What the Hell Just Happened, was vocally on point. They had beautiful harmonies, and an infectious stage presence. Their years of musical theatre experience was evident and it was a strong contender for us to end up on the first half of the board.
So… why didn’t it translate into votes?
The song
Was it the song that didn’t connect with the audience? What the hell just happened was a mixture of genres, with aspects of Britpop and Broadway merged into one. I thought the lyrics were witty and fun but many Eurovision fans were left confused, as they felt there was too much going on and not enough time for it to connect with the audience.
It clearly impressed the juries, who awarded the UK 88 points. Italy was the most generous, giving us the top score of 12. But the public didn’t have the same reaction
The staging
The staging was directed by Ace Bowerman who has worked with big names like Blackpink and Dua Lipa in the past. It was energetic and fun and I think it represented Remember Monday’s infectious personality. But compared to the night’s flashier acts like Finland’s Erika Vikman, who rode a massive mic, or Austria’s winner JJ flailing in a storm on a sinking raft, Remember Monday’s staging felt less refined and possibly too chaotic.
The politics
Then there’s the age-old Eurovision debate: Was it politics?
It’s no secret that bloc voting exists and post-Brexit, the UK hasn’t exactly been swimming in neighbourly affection. But Eurovision lets you vote for, not against, a country. If you don’t make the public’s top 10, you get zero points from them, plain and simple.
Did Remember Monday make your top 10?
What’s next?
Despite the low finish, Remember Monday made the UK proud. They gave a strong performance, all the girls have such infectious personalities and were so positive throughout the entire process.
And they’re not finished. The trio already has a summer packed with festival appearances and a tour. Plus they have hinted that they would like another shot at the competition. “
So yes, the UK fell short again of what we had hoped for once again but Eurovision isn’t just about winning. It’s about connection, joy, and celebration. And Remember Monday gave us all of that.
Can’t wait to see what happens in Vienna 2026!
For more on Eurovision, check out our podcast What’s Trending: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0qMS3W9n1OFA7nNDkqmN9x?si=da7b60d4af7b445d
For more stories on TV and Entertainment click here: https://illuminatedmag.co.uk/tv-and-entertainment/
