Eurovision legend Nicki French was originally set to be part of Scooch’s 2007 entry.
The dance superstar – who scored global success in the mid-nineties with her cover of Bonnie Tyler’s Total Eclipse of the Heart – represented the United Kingdom during the 2000 edition of the Contest with the ABBA-esque Don’t Play That Song Again.
Despite being hotly-tipped, the song finished in 16th place overall, but that hasn’t put her off the idea of returning to Eurovision, with plans to take part in a reunited Scooch’s performance of Flying the Flag (For You).
Speaking in RETROPOP’s May 2023 issue, she reveals: “I was supposed to be doing backing vocals for Scooch. It was Natalie [Powers] that got me involved and we recorded the vocals, then the following week was ‘A Song For Europe’ and I was scheduled to go to the BBC studios in Maidstone on the Friday.
“But the day before, the guy that got them back together sent me a text message saying, ‘Sorry, you’re not needed’. I contacted Natalie and said, ‘What the hell’s going on? Do you know anything about this?’ and she was in the dark too.”
Ultimately, the group appeared with different singers and although Nicki was “very upset at the time”, she reflects: ”With all the controversy from people saying there were backing vocalists backstage and that kind of thing, I thought maybe I’d dodged a bullet.”
By the time of her Eurovision bid, Nicki was no stranger to the spotlight; having reached the UK Top 5 and hit No. 2 in the US with her debut single, she went on to release two albums – ‘Secrets’ (1995) and ‘French Revolution’ (1997) – before receiving a phone call from songwriter John Springate who, along with Gerry Shephard, wanted to pitch their track for the biggest show in Europe.
“John contacted me and he was very hesitant,” recalls the singer. “He was very reticent about whether I’d be interested, but once he mentioned the word ‘Eurovision’ I actually screamed. I said to him, ‘Oh my God, John, I love Eurovision!’”
They submitted the song and the trio soon found themselves on the shortlist, at which point eight entries were played on BBC Radio 2 before a final four performed during “a live final on BBC One, tucked away on a Sunday afternoon”.
“We won that and suddenly we’re off to Stockholm a few months later,” Nicki cackles. “It was a whirlwind; a whirlwind of excitement and enthusiasm and fun… It was just lovely. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever been a part of!”
‘Let’s Play That Song Again Vol. 3’ – the latest instalment of Nicki’s Eurovision cover EPs – is due early May on Energise Records.
Read the full interview in the May 2023 edition of RETROPOP, out now. Order yours or subscribe via our Online Store, use our Store Finder to locate your nearest stockist, or get Digital Copies delivered direct to your devices.
