The announcement of Olly Alexander as the United Kingdom’s Eurovision 2024 act has sent the Eurovision universe into overdrive with excitement. Olly’s breakout success came as lead singer of Years & Years, achieving 2 number 1 albums, 6 top-10 singles and legions of fans who fell in love with their contemporary 80s-inspired sound.
As well as music, Olly has achieved success with acting, having received a Best Actor nomination at the BAFTA awards for his role as Ritchie Tozer in Channel 4’s Its a Sin. As an established singer-songwriter known for electric live performances, it is no wonder the announcement of Olly as the UK representative for Eurovision 2024 has generated so much hype and expectation.
Here, we recap some of the many music highlights of Olly’s career so far.
King
As the fourth single released from Years & Years album Communion, King topped the UK Singles Chart in March 2015. Inspired by feelings of “How it feels good to be treated badly by someone”, the song demonstrates Alexander’s impressive vocal range love for creating an anthemic chorus.
Shine
The follow-up to King cemented the band’s breakthrough in 2015 by reaching #2 in the UK Singles Chart. Stating that light was a metaphor for the “overwhelming and unstable feeling of falling in love”, Alexander sings ‘It’s shaking the sky and I’m following lightning, I’ll recover if you keep me alive’.
Eyes Shut
Describing the song as being about ‘self-preservation’ and ‘wanting to hide from disaster’, Olly sings “Nothing’s gonna hurt me with my eyes shut“. Breaking from their previous up-beat dance releases, Eyes Shut was one of the first glimpses of heart-breaking honest and vulnerable lyrics from the band.
It’s a Sin
Timed with his acting performance in Channel 4’s It’s a Sin, this haunting rendition of the Pet Shop Boys song was released in January 2021. Alexander performed the song as a duet with Elton John at the 2021 Brit Awards before formal release as a duet in aid of the Elton John Aids Foundation.
Starstruck
As his first venture as a solo act, Starstruck signalled a new era of Alexander’s illustrious career. Following initial release in April 2021, the track was later re-released featuring the legendary Kylie Minogue to further global success.
Sweet Talker
Released with Swedish duo Galantis in November 2021, Sweet Talker talks of Alexander’s attempts to avoid temptation from a previous lover. Alexander sings ‘Man of my dreams, tell me where are you now’ in the song that became the highest charting release from the album Night Call in 2022.
100% Pure Love
A cover of the Crystal Waters track from her 1994 album Storyteller, 100% Pure Love released in 2023 became an instant Olly classic. Alexander perfectly pays tribute to the original, while inserting his own unique style on the track and in doing so, created one of the dancefloor anthems of the year.
As well as up-beat pop bangers, Olly has released acoustic versions of many of his songs, allowing for the vocal prowess and honest lyrics to be appreciated in a different context. Other notable mentions in Alexander’s back catalogue include Desire, If You’re Over Me and his covers of both Edge of Glory and Montero (Call Me By Your Name).
Fans eagerly await news on his Eurovision track, with Alexander confirming in one word the performance will be ‘drama’. With his unique style and vibrant performances, Olly’s illustrious career is surely the prelude to Eurovision 2024 success.