The United Kingdom's Eurovision Song Contest entry, Look Mum No Computer, has ignited a fierce backlash from viewers, with many branding it the country's 'worst ever' performance. The act, also known as Sam Battle, represented the UK in Vienna, Austria, with his song 'Eins, Zwei, Drei' — a zany electronic-pop track heavily reliant on synthesizers. During the Saturday night performance, Battle danced energetically alongside performers dressed as computers, attempting to engage the crowd by chanting, 'When I say eins, you say zwei.'
Performance Details and Criticism
Dressed in a pink boiler suit, Battle played a synthesizer while performers in fluffy headwear danced in a mock workshop, culminating with him ending up in a cardboard box. The 37-year-old YouTube star has faced damning criticism on social media following his 'bonkers' performance. One person wrote on X, 'I'm so sorry we entered this guys honestly we all feel sick.' Another joked, 'Not sure Europe will even let us rejoin after this,' while others claimed it was 'the worst' they had heard and that the UK would 'definitely' finish in last place.
Harsh Reactions and Underdog Status
The song choice was labeled 'shameful' by a critic who noted, 'England, which has created enormous amounts of great music, comes with a kind of German march music. Shameful.' Another viewer joked that the song was a 'small crime against humanity,' while others described the performance as 'diabolical' and only worth 'zero points.' Despite the backlash, Battle is aware of the odds stacked against him, with bookmakers placing him at 80/1 to win. However, the musician and YouTuber has expressed contentment with being an underdog in the annual contest.
In an interview with The Independent before the final, Battle stated, 'There's all different ways of looking at it, but it's not bothering me, because nobody's actually seen the full [performance]. There's a lot more going on than meets the eye — I'm hoping it's going to surprise people.' The UK has not won Eurovision since 1997, when Katrina and the Waves triumphed with 'Love Shine a Light.' Since then, the nation has often placed last or near last, with the exception of Sam Ryder's second-place finish in 2022 with 'Space Man.' As one of the Big Four countries, the UK automatically qualifies for the final, sparing Battle the need to impress in the semi-finals.
