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Ready, set, go! The UK’s Eurovision contestant Look Mum No Computer is ready at the starting line with “Eins, Zwei, Drei”, the song he’ll be performing at this year’s contest in Vienna, Austria.
German for “one, two, three”, the track will get its first play on The Scott Mills Breakfast Show today (Friday 6 March) on BBC Radio 2, having been released to streaming platforms at midnight.
Look Mum No Computer is the alias of Kent-based electronic musician Sam Battle, who enjoys crafting unusual instruments – such as organs made from Furbies and flame-throwing keyboards – while also fronting his own YouTube channel.
Speaking to The Independent, Battle revealed that the inspiration for the song originated from his performances in Germany: “I’ve got an affinity with the very friendly people out there, and it became a bit of inspiration,” he said.
“It wasn’t about trying to write for Eurovision, but just including a feeling of togetherness that I think Eurovision is about.”
“Eins, Zwei, Drei” is described as a song about “escaping the soul-crushing boredom of the nine-to-five, into a world of dreams and endless possibilities”, while musically it has “undertones of Britpop and Eighties synthwave”.
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Look Mum No Computer is hoping to wow audiences with ‘Eins, Zwei, Drei’ (BBC)
Battle also works a number of “uniquely UK references” into the tracks, such as the school dinner staple, “roly poly with custard”.
Asked about the persistent narrative that the UK suffers from “political voting”, he joked that it could become a “look mum, nul points” situation, even while hoping he could win over the hearts and minds of Europe.
“Who knows… we might not be everybody’s favourite, but who cares?” he said. “This year, with me, I’m just gonna try my absolute hardest and that’s all I could do. Even if it is a nul point, it will have been an amazing time and I tried my hardest.”
In terms of success, the UK has endured a mixed few years at Eurovision. Last year’s entry, country-pop trio Remember Monday, crashed into 19th place (out of a possible 26) following their performance of original song “What the Hell Just Happened?”.
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Remember Monday failed to impress voters at last year’s contest (AP)
It was a similarly dismal result in 2024 when pop singer Olly Alexander competed with his song “Dizzy”, coming in 18th place, and again in 2023 with Mae Muller singing “I Wrote a Song”, landing a dismal 24th place out of 25.
The most successful Eurovision entry in recent years was Sam Ryder, who dazzled with his Freddie Mercury-emulating rock song “Space Man!” in 2022, coming in second place after Ukraine’s winning entry from Kalush Orchestra.
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Sam Ryder is the most successful UK entry at Eurovision in recent years (AFP/Getty)
“Eins, Zwei, Drei” was written and produced with Lasse Midtsian Nymann (NYLAN), a writer and producer on Switzerland’s 2024 winning Eurovision song “The Code” by Nemo; singer-songwriter Julie “Kill J” Aagaard; and Thomas Stengaard, a co-writer for Denmark’s 2013 Eurovision winner “Only Teardrops” by Emmelie De Forest.
Meanwhile, the staging is being overseen by Fredrik “Benke” Rydman, the man behind memorable Eurovision performances, including 2024’s winner Nemo and Finland’s 2023 runner-up Käärijä.
Asked to pick his favourite out of past UK delegates, Battle immediately responded with “Ooh Aah… Just a Little Bit” by Australian singer Gina G, who finished in eighth place for the UK in 1996. He also praised Ryder’s song “Space Man” as “a classic”.
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The musician is preparing for the possibility of nul points, saying he won’t let it affect him (BBC)
Praising “Eins, Zwei, Drei”, the BBC’s Eurovision commentator Graham Norton said: “This year’s song is a real banger. Joyful and supremely catchy. Hopefully, it can get the rest of Europe singing along.”
Presenter Scott Mills added: “We always get people saying we need to send something a bit different to Eurovision. So here it is! A synth banger from a mad professor of pop that will have them chanting in the arena in Vienna.”
Battle will be competing against experienced performers such as Delta Goodrem, who is representing Australia in the contest this year. She is one of the country’s bestselling singers.
This year’s event will take place under renewed controversy due to the involvement of Israel. Five countries – Iceland, Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Spain – have withdrawn in protest over Israel’s participation.
This means this year’s Eurovision Song Contest will feature the smallest number of participating countries since 2003, when the semi-finals were introduced. As one of the “big five” countries making the biggest financial contributions to Eurovision (down to four due to Spain’s withdrawal), the UK is guaranteed a place in the final.
The 70th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Vienna, with the semi-finals scheduled for Tuesday 12 and Thursday 14 May; the grand final will be held in Wiener Stadthalle on Saturday 16 May.