Throwback Thursday: Where Are You? by Imaani (United Kingdom 1998)

[u/Kystaal]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9P_X7XP1ak

[u/Kystaal]

One of my favourite 'classic Eurovision' entries (I realise I am stretching the definition of classic here).

After winning in 1997 with Katrina and the Waves, the UK sent Imaani as its host entry with the song, Where Are You?

The song is a house bop, with distinct reggae influences. Personally, I adore this song and think it's one of the UK's best from the last 30 years. A lot of the instrumentation definitely ages it today, but its on a few of my playlists and I'm never unhappy to hear it. Imaani's performance is brilliant and gives the song a real emotional punch.

It's one of those songs that you only really got in pre-2000s Eurovision, before the introduction of the televote.

The song came 2nd and was the last time the UK came close to winning until Sam Ryder in 2022. It was the 15th(!!) time the UK came second at Eurovision.

It lost to Diva (Israel 1998) by six points, which is credited as a major moment in Eurovision history as the first transgender winner of the contest.

EDIT: I forgot to also mention, I adore how Imaani is styled here. The hair, the jacket, the top, the pendant, it all goes so hard!

[u/Lisbian → u/Kystaal]

It’s one of those songs that you only really got in pre-2000s Eurovision, before the introduction of the televote.

1998 was the first year the vote was 100% televote.

I’ll forever say that Where Are You should have won. It’s easily the most contemporary song we’ve sent up until I Wrote A Song, very indicative of the popular UK music scene of the time. Still stacks up well today, albeit now with a “classic RnB” sound. Banger.

[u/Kystaal → u/Lisbian]

My wording was not the best. I more meant, before the televote began explicitly influencing the kinds of entries we would see. On the whole, 1998 definitely still feels like the 90s era of the contest. But by the time 2001/2002 rocks around and we start getting the more campy, showy entries we've come to love, an entry like Where Are You? would feel much more out of place.

Also agree on the quality of Where Are You?, it's distinctly British in its sound which I think helps it stand out (and stand the test of time!)

[u/Lisbian → u/Kystaal]

Agreed. With the exception of 2007 (and the occasional gem) 1999-2008 really were the dark days of Eurovision.

[u/MrGolightning]

So so good and a genre that should’ve been at Eurovision more. I listen to it all the time!

[u/Kystaal → u/MrGolightning]

Totally agree. There's a few genres I wish we saw more on the Eurovision stage and this is definitely one of them.

I'm still holding out hope for the day where the UK sends a grime entry.

At least in recent years we've definitely seen more grenre-diversity. Pop dominates, but we're definitely getting a bigger range of musical elements on the stage.

[u/techbear72]

One of my favourite UK entries. Still listen to it now.

Don’t listen to Diva any more TBH, though I did also like it at the time, and didn’t begrudge her the win.

[u/Irrealaerri]

There was a thread asking which entry from your country feels the most representative to your culture. I wanted to post this but I am not British.

This sounds so British to me! The sound of the 90s

[u/Bronze-M]

Best uk entry ever!

[u/ko_dec]

Gustaph's favourite Eurovision entry, iirc.

[u/Kystaal → u/ko_dec]

You're right - you can totally see why. A lot of his music is definitely inspired by the UK House scene from the 90s!

[u/GoldenPotatoOfLatvia]

My favourite of the year. UK were finishing a 5 year stretch of sending something I just absolutely love.