Cool Manchester

This week here at CoolManchester HQ we have caught a massive dose of Eurovision Fever

Joe blogged a few weeks ago about his thoughts on the last decade of Eurovision, today I want to share my favourite songs from the great song contest!

5.Eimear Quinn - The Voice

Winning Eurovision in Norway in 1995. This for me is Ireland's best winning entry. It just burrowed into my head and is SO Irish! Like most Eurovison songs the lyrics also drill home the title of the song, over and over and over and over again!

I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the voice and I will remain

This was the last time our "neighbours" has won but, let's be honest, the Father Ted episode "Song for Europe" where the Irish TV Networks were looking for a losing song wasn't a million miles away from the truth!

4. Gina G - Ooh Aah...Just a Little Bit

You could tell in the late 1990s that the UK really wanted to win and this is EASILY the best song we ever submitted. It was pure, unadulterated fun pop and one of the great injusties of the contest was that this didn't even get a top five placing. Gina G was probably not too upset though as this ending being a huge selling number one single!

3. Loreen - Eurphoria

As ABBA, Gina G and a few others have proved over the years, the best Eurovision songs are the ones that can stand up on their own on the radio outside of the contest. I think Loreen's song was a massive winner because of it was current, cool and took itself very seriously. No tongue in cheek here, and that's why I think the UK hasn't done that well in a very long time!

2. Sertab Erener - Every Way That I Can

Turkey are always scored highly by the UK in this contest, but 2003 is the only time the country has won and in 2013 they are not participating at all

Over the years there are certain songs you hear and just instinctively know they will be winners. Loreen was one, as was Alexander Rybak, Bobbysocks and, erm, Corrine Hermes. I had that feeling about this one, even though all the people around me during the show thought  I was mad. I'm always glad to be proven right...

1. Olsen Brothers - Fly On The Wings of Love

This is probably not a popular choice and it would have been very easy to pick Abba or Bucks Fizz as my number one, but I was going for my favourite songs from the contest and 2000's winner from Denmark is just that. I really uplifting track with no real gimmicks and one of those times when the best song won.

These are my choices, they probably aren't very popular songs when it comes to Eurovision, but I was looking at this based on the strength of the songs.

What have been your favourites songs over the years? Please share them with us!

David Hoyle Interview

Hello David, how are you doing today?

Am Ok, just Glad Spring Coming-on & Leaving Winter Behind!

In The Psychiatrist, you play a character called 'Dr Rosenburg', without giving too much of the game away, what is it about the character that made you interested in playing the role ?

The Character of Dr.Rosenburg was irresistible to Me!
To Me He Reveals Facets of Authority & Maybe Control! How Truly Self-Aware is He? He causes questions rather than providing Answers !!!

You've worked extensively on stage and you've made lots of movies with Nathan Evans, and appeared in 1997s velvet goldmine, can we expect to see you doing more in film or are you always going to prefer the more hands on live performance?

I Do Love Live Performance, however I Would LOVE to Be engaged in More Film Work, as to TV?
I think T'internet is Worth Exploring!

You have a scene with an actor called Harley Bartles, whom you have worked with before, is it nice to act alongside friends, does that effect you're performance, or doesn't it really matter one way or the other?

It Was of Course A Great Joy being re-united with Harley, having Worked with Harley before as We were both in the cast of :- "For All The Wrong Reasons" - Which was a Co-Production between The Contact -Manchester & The Former Victoria Theatre Production Co.,( based in Ghent Belgium ) and Featured as Part of The inaugural Manchester Theatre Festival, We travelled Around The Benelux Countries, Northern France and even Singapore! Harley's character in "The Psychiatrist"  comes the closest to Seeing The "Good" Doctor for What He is ,thus I enjoyed the tension within Our Scenes

You are perhaps best known for the TV show 'The Divine David'. Do you think you'll ever want to working TV again in the future?

I'm interested in t'internet.

The Psychiatrist is said to be a dark comedy, do you think there will be humour in this for fans of you're comedy work, or is it too dark to raise any chuckles?
By that I mean, you're excellent movie 'Uncle David' had moments of real laugh out loud humour, does The Psychiatrist's script keep that dark / fun balance?

Yes I Like The Balance of Humour&rama inherent to The Character of Dr.Rosenburg.The Script often Made Me want to Laugh-it was A Challenge remaining dead-pan & delivering The words Straight(ish) !

The film as well as being distributed in Europe is also being distributed in America, is that a country you've ever been to in a professional capacity?

No I Never Performed in The States ,maybe One Day!!?