2 Songs for Europe
Browse Works
Additional Information
Scores for large ensemble and for voice(s) and piano
Be Nice to Nice People (2008)
Big Society (2011)
My first mock-Eurovision song was written in March 2008, after I had challenged a group of my students to write a song for the Eurovision Song Contest. I my song, I tried to incorporate memorable gestures (such as kisses and blowing raspberries) as well as to imitate familiar devices from past Eurovision songs, such as a strong 2-beat rhythm, quirky accompaniment figures, and a semitonal key rise for the final chorus. My second song for Europe was inspired by a speech given by PM David Cameron about his ambitions for a ‘big society’, which I found hilarious. I thought a Eurovision song was the ideal vehicle to promote his social theory.