Eurovision makes a star out of Jade

Competing in the Eurovision Song Contest was the “best thing” that could have happened to Jade Ewen, the budding star has said.

The 21-year-old Londoner came fifth in the music spectacular in Moscow on Saturday night — reversing the UK’s recent poor record.

Speaking as she returned to Heathrow Airport, she said: “I’m really happy.

“I felt like I couldn’t have done any more.”

Ewen said she was “in shock” when she received high marks and praised Norway’s contestant for winning the title with a record number of points.

“He deserved it,” she said.

“It would have been amazing to win, but I learnt that the experience was the best thing that could have happened to me.”

Of her moment singing It’s My Time, she said: “It was absolutely amazing — I’ve never seen an audience like that in my life. It has been an amazing platform for me. I have gone from no-one knowing me to this.”

Ewen revealed her plans to release an album featuring more pop-style songs, which she hopes will come out in September.

She said: “I am going to have a week’s break and then I’m going to start work on my album.”

Britain’s song was co-written by musical giant Andrew Lloyd Webber, but came far behind the winning entry from Norway, which received the contest’s highest yet total of 387 points.

Last year’s UK hopeful Andy Abraham finished joint bottom, raising questions about whether there was any point in the UK bothering to enter the competition if political voting took precedence.

Ewen, who won Your Country Needs You to represent the UK, said: “I’m disappointed not to have won, but I was delighted with my own performance and to have Andrew Lloyd Webber onstage with me and supporting me so much throughout the campaign.”

She sang in the Russian capital Moscow during what was the 54th Eurovision contest.

Dressed in a short white dress by British designer Amanda Wakeley, she was the 23rd act out of 25 finalist countries to perform and was joined on stage by Lord Lloyd-Webber on the piano.

Lord Lloyd-Webber believes the young singer was a star in the making. He said: “Jade performed brilliantly, as I knew she would.

“I’m delighted with her fifth place.”

Taken from the Belfast Telegraph