Olly Alexander admits Eurovision is 'risky' and shares chances of winning

01 March 2024 , 00:00

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Olly told Graham Norton that the competition is 'risky'

Eurovision fans can enjoy the full version of Olly Alexander’s UK entry Dizzy from today, complete with a swinging video.

Olly swings half-naked in the video for the song, which he will sing in Malmo, Sweden, on May 11. He said of writing the song last summer with Danny L Harle: “We started off with the word Dizzy because it just popped into my head and I liked it. I was thinking about fun things that could make you dizzy and I remember saying ‘dizzy from your kisses’ so we built the song around that.”

The former Years & Years frontman, 33, also told Eurovision host Graham Norton earlier this week the competition was “risky”. He added: “Everyone is there to pull every little detail apart... but I think that’s fun.” Dizzy will be performed live by Olly at the Contest, taking place in Malmö, Sweden, on May 11. But first, the song gets its commercial release alongside a video directed by Colin Solal Cardo.

Olly Alexander has opened up about competing in Eurovision (BBC/Universal Music)

The full version of his song is out now

Introducing the song, Olly said: “I wrote the song last summer with Danny L Harle, we started off with the word ‘Dizzy’ because it just popped into my head and I liked it. I was thinking about fun things that could make you dizzy and I remember saying “dizzy from your kisses” so we built the song around that. Danny and I believe music should transport you somewhere magical and we wanted to describe this magical place in the song; a place of beautiful gardens, eternal flowers and time turning endlessly in an ecstatic loop.”

Speaking earlier this week to Eurovision host Graham Norton for a special BBC1 interview, the former Years and Years frontman, 33 said of entering Eurovision: “It is risky, but that’s why it’s exciting. It’s literally a competition, where everyone is there to pull every little detail apart and judge you against all the other performances. They literally rank you. It’s totally unique in that aspect, it’s not something you would usually face as an artist, but I think that’s fun.”

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Olly will hope to improve on the UK’s disappointing Eurovision performance last year, when Mae Muller came second to last. The UK hasn’t won since 1997, and its recent track record has been largely disappointing. But bookmakers Paddy Power this year have Olly as a 17-1 with only six countries shorter priced than him, including favourites Ukraine.

Asked if Dizzy could go all the way and win, Olly said: "I think its got a good shot. I’m just going to give it my best. No matter what happens, I already feel so happy that this song is going to be performed on the stage, so it’s already a win! I want to be memorable, I want to leave an impression and I want people to be a little bit surprised. I am quite a happy-go-lucky guy, but the performance is going to be strong and have a lot of impact.”

* Dizzy is out now on Polydor Records. Eurovision 2024: Graham Meets Olly is on BBC1 at 10.40pm today(Friday) and available on BBC iPlayer.

Mark Jefferies