The musically-minded eggheads have used their findings to predict that this could be England’s first winning year since 1997.
Blinkbox music commissioned the London College of Music to analyse the key elements winning Eurovision entries have in common. The study analysed all of the winners from the past 10 years to find out what made them a cut above the rest. So what makes a winner?
The results of the study suggest that length of the song and notes used are key when it comes to getting votes on the Eurovision stage. Indeed, winning songs are usually no more than three minutes long and generally have a three note hook on the chorus. A sense of familiarity and plenty of cheeky charm were the other two key variables identified by the study.
The formula is expressed in the following way: (3 minutes long + 3 Note Chorus) + Sounds Familiar + Cheeky Charm = Win or (3m + 3NCh) + SF + CC = W
“The study shows that past winners share a cunning secret for success – they keep it simple,” said Sam Sutton, Senior Lecturer and member of the Senior Fellowship at the London College of Music at UWL. “A song which is three minutes long combined with a three note hook in the chorus is their first step. The next is to engage potential voters with a sense of familiarity by serving up a dynamic chorus. All of this then sits above that all-important factor, cheeky charm.
“This year’s UK entry Molly Smitten-Downes does this brilliantly. The vocal melody has that familiar quality and only requires one listen before it’s firmly rooted ‘on repeat’ in your brain. It is also three minutes long on the nose, which firmly puts her in the running.”
Well, you heard the man Molly – smash it on Saturday night!
Image credit: YouTube/BBC
