Released: 17 May 2021
Rating: ****
Nicki French celebrates the return of Eurovision with her brilliant new EP ‘Let’s Play That Song Again Vol. 2’.
Fans of the singer, who represented the UK at the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm, Sweden with her classic hit Don’t Play That Song Again, will remember Volume 1 of the series, which debuted in 2019.
And while that featured four ESC classics – from Gigliola Cinquetti’s Go (Before You Break My Heart) to Sergey Lazarev’s You Are The Only One – the new collection includes 17 songs from the show’s 51 year history.
Opening the set is Nicki’s glorious version of Sweet Dreams’ 1983 UK Entry I’m Never Giving Up, produced by Matt Pop, with layered harmonies, thumping beats and a euphoric key change, all tied together with that iconic ending. It’s Eurovision through and through.
So her second choice – Shine by Russia’s 2014 entrants, the Tolmachevy Sisters – is a curveball from the dance floor diva’s usual offerings. Beginning with tinkling keys, the mid-tempo number might initially seem out of place on an ESC collection, but it cuts to the heart of Eurovision as a Song Contest.
Not only is the tune itself stunning, it’s also the perfect vehicle for Nicki to show off her vocal prowess, combining lush, soft backing vocals with powerful belts that demonstrate her undeniable range.
Another highlight from the set is the Candlelight Mix of Don’t Play That Song Again, arranged by Pete Ware, stripping back the dance floor beats to showcase the track as a heartfelt ballad and, once again, Nicki’s stunning vocal.
Among the mixes is another new Extended version of the ‘00 classic – plus 12” cuts of both covers – along with an 11 minute Eurovision Mega Medley that has to be heard to be believed.
Kicking off with Milk and Honey’s Hallelujah, the epic set includes classics from ABBA, Bucks Fizz, Cliff Richard, Dana International, Katrina and the Waves, Lulu, The New Seekers, and even the Olsen Brothers’ Fly On the Wings of Love, which topped the leaderboard in Nicki’s year.
It’s the perfect ending to a set that celebrates everything we love about Eurovision: strong vocals, superb production and, most of all, great songs.
