Cheshire, UK – As an 18-year-old, I am a little ashamed to admit that, until 2025, I had never watched Eurovision.
Listen to the author read this article:
Despite its popularity and fame, for some reason the contest had never appealed to me. Perhaps it was the lack of familiarity with any of the artists, or the overwhelming range of music styles.
That was until the UK entry, Remember Monday, was announced this year.
An avid West End listener, against all the odds, this Eurovision-dodger had actually heard of this little-known band.
Some years ago, when Six the Musical’ had been on its first UK tour, I saw Lauren Byrne, who makes up one third of the band, perform as Jane Seymour. With the cast being limited to, well, six women, it was easy to remember that I’d seen her perform live.
In October 2021, I saw Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella in the West End, and as I flicked through my program, I noticed she was also in the chorus and an alternate for Cinderella. That night, I made sure to look out for her in the chorus.
I remember when I saw Byrne and Holly Anne Hull on a YouTube broadcast of “West End Live” last summer, performing songs from Matilda and The Phantom of the Opera respectively, and followed them on Instagram shortly after. Then they announced with their friend Charlotte Steele that they were leaving their jobs to pursue their girl band full time. In solidarity, I listened to their music as it was released.
When they announced that they were the UK entry for Eurovision, I knew that it was probably a sign from the universe to start watching it. I couldn’t help feeling proud of them. Jobs in the theater industry are unstable and risky at best, so I admired their bravery in leaving these roles to pursue their music full-time.
On first listen to their song, ‘What The Hell Just Happened?’ I wasn’t entirely sold. But while many on the internet doubted their ability to belt the impressive harmonies live, I knew that as ex-West End performers, this wouldn’t be an issue. It was more that the song felt very busy, like it was trying to fit a lot of pop aspects into one. Nevertheless, I persisted and eventually the song grew on me.
Particularly, I found the lyrics and premise of the song charming, waking up after a night out with hazy memories, and subtle but stereotypical British features, like tea. The aesthetic of the music video seemed to be based on old English aristocracy, with symbols of wealth like chandeliers and pearls, but mixed with the more modern experience of a ‘big night out.’
It was at the semi-final that I became engrossed in Eurovision. While I, and many online, had had doubts over the song, I felt it came across best when they performed it live. Not only was the trio pitch perfect in their impressive harmonies and belts, but the strong sense of friendship and excitement was crystal clear as they sang.
Having been there when Byrne and Hull grew in prominence on the West End, seeing them achieve huge fame at Eurovision meant I could only root for them and be proud of their hard work and subsequent achievements.
In particular, in the last “what the hell just happened” before the final verse, I felt my pride soar, as you could see the genuine disbelief and delighted astonishment on their faces as they celebrated this milestone in both profession and friendship.
This pride only reached breaking point when they achieved top 10 in the jury votes, which I was told was a huge achievement. I couldn’t help feeling confused when they got zero from the audience, as plenty of comments online had suggested otherwise.
But, alas. My friends, who were more familiar with Eurovision, told me it wasn’t a surprise. The UK doesn’t often score high in the audience votes.
Alongside Remember Monday, I also loved the huge array of songs performed in the contest. From emotional ballads like France’s, to upbeat pop like Spain, the catchy earworm of Sweden and hilarious song and dance from Estonia, I was never bored for a moment.
I’m confident that I, like my peers, will be watching Eurovision next year. Thank you, Remember Monday, for getting me into it!
Gemma Christie is a Senior Reporter with Youth Journalism International.
