The official announcement has been a bombshell for Eurovision fans as Olly Alexander, founder of the pop band Years & Years, lead actor in “It’s a Sin” (a series depicting the early years of AIDS in the UK), activist, and LGBTQ+ icon, will represent the United Kingdom at the upcoming Eurovision edition to be held in Malmö. The chosen song has been written in collaboration with Danny L. Harle.
Who is Olly Alexander?
Oliver Alexander Thornton, known as Olly Alexander, was born on July 15, 1990, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. His connection with the world of art and music was fostered from childhood, influenced by his mother, Vicki Thornton, founder of the Coleford Music Festival. Although his initial desire was to become a singer or musician, he found solace in theater while facing school bullying. He studied Performing Arts at the Hereford College of Arts, but his path led him to become an actor, appearing in films such as “Summerhill,” “Bright Star,” “Tormented,” “Enter the Void,” and “Great Expectations” between 2009 and 2012.
In 2013, his career took a turn when he played Peter Pan in the musical “Peter and Alice” in London’s West End. From then on, he starred in various theatrical and cinematic projects. His most notable role came in 2021 with the series “It’s a Sin,” where his performance received acclaim for portraying gay life in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as the HIV/AIDS crisis. Simultaneously, in 2012, he joined the band Years & Years as a vocalist. After several successes, the band became a trio. With the release of “King” in 2015 and their debut album “Communion,” they reached number 1 on the UK and Ireland charts. Their second album, “Palo Santo,” in 2018, solidified their success with hits like “If You’re Over Me.”
In March 2021, Years & Years became Olly Alexander’s solo project after the amicable departure of the other two members. In addition to his musical and acting career, Olly has stood out as an LGBTQ+ activist, promoting awareness campaigns on HIV and fighting against anti-LGBT bullying.
“Dizzy” the British entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024
Olly describes the song as a representation of “beautiful gardens, eternal flowers, and time spinning in an ecstatic loop.” Inspired by 80s music icons like Erasure and Pet Shop Boys, Olly aims to “fly the (UK) flag in the gayest way possible” on the Eurovision stage.
The electronic and danceable track was written by Olly Alexander himself, with Danny L Harle, who also produced it. Danny is a British singer and songwriter who has worked as a producer for artists like Dua Lipa, Charli XCX, Hannah Diamond, and Caroline Polacheck.
The song was born out of the love that both writters have for the contest. Since they started working together, they agreed that one of the songs they created would be for Eurovision.
Lyrics of «Dizzy»
There’s a place where
We break the line
Make it a circle redefined
Beautiful gardens
Eternal flowers
You know the way so take me there
Won’t you make me
Dizzy from your kisses
Will you take my hand and spin me
Round and round until the moment never ends
Make me dizzy from your kisses
Will you take my hand and spin me
Take me back to the beginning again (again, again)
Pulling me close
I feel a stillness in the air
Time has frozen
All memories lost
So won’t you make me
Dizzy from your kisses
Will you take my hand and spin me
Round and round until the moment never ends
Make me dizzy from your kisses
Will you take my hand and spin me
Take me back to the beginning again (again, again)
So won’t you make me…
There isn’t an end
There isn’t a start
I don’t wanna stop
I can’t go too far
There isn’t an end
There isn’t a start
I don’t wanna stop
I can’t go too far
There isn’t an end
There isn’t a start
I don’t wanna stop
I can’t go too far
There isn’t an end
There isn’t…
So won’t you make me
Dizzy from your kisses
Will you take my hand and spin me
Round and round until the moment never ends
Make me dizzy from your kisses
Will you take my hand and spin me
Take me back to the beginning again (again, again)
United Kingdom’s participation in Eurovision
The United Kingdom is one of the countries with the most Eurovision participations, having started competing in the contest in 1957. It has won Eurovision five times (1967, 1969, 1976, 1981, and 1997). In 2019, the UK became the country with the longest uninterrupted streak of Eurovision participations since 1959, having debuted in 1957 and only missing the inaugural edition and the one in 1958. The country also holds the record for most silver medals in the contest, having finished in second place a total of 16 times.
In recent years, the UK had been going through a rough patch in the contest, achieving poor results with its various entries. In 2021, it was represented by James Newman, who had been selected for 2020, but the contest was canceled due to COVID-19. The artist finished in last place with “Embers,” scoring a complete zero from both the jury and the televote, the first time this had happened since the voting system changed in 2016.
After this significant setback, the BBC stepped up its game to provide quality music for the contest, and together with the record label TaP Music, they internally selected Sam Ryder, a well-known TikToker with thousands of views. His song “Space Man” achieved a fantastic second place in the grand final. In 2023, as co-hosts of the contest, after Ukraine was unable to hold it on its own territory, they tried to repeat the formula with Mae Muller and her song “I Wrote a Song.” Despite its success on the UK charts and among the public, it finished second-to-last in the contest.