Scooch
British pop group who represented the UK at Eurovision 2007.
Scooch are a British pop group made up of Natalie Powers, Caroline Barnes, David Ducasse, and Russ Spencer. They are most known for being the United Kingdom's entry in the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki, where their song "Flying the Flag (For You)" tied for 22nd place out of 24 acts, earning 19 points. The single reached number 5 on the UK Top 40 chart on 13 May 2007, after being available for download for two months prior.
The group was formed in October 1998 following auditions held between autumn 1997 and spring 1998, overseen by songwriters and producers Mike Stock and Matt Aitken, along with future manager Steve Crosby. Heidi Range auditioned but was turned away because she was only 14. For the first few months, the group stayed low-key, focusing on their image and sound. Their name comes from a term used to ask someone to move over on a bench or sofa.
In 1999, Scooch won a contest on the BBC One show *Live & Kicking*, beating the boy band Glitterbug to get their single released. This contest predated the UK's first music talent reality show, ITV's *Popstars* (2001). Their debut single "When My Baby" entered the Top 40, leading to a tour supporting Irish girl band B*Witched. Their second single, "More Than I Needed to Know," became their biggest hit, entering the UK chart at number 5 and reaching number one in Japan, where it was also featured in the video game *DDRMAX2: Dance Dance Revolution 7thMIX*. A support tour for boy band Five helped promote their third single "The Best Is Yet to Come," which charted at number 12. Their debut album *Welcome to the Planet Pop* reached the Top 20 in Japan. The group performed at every arena in the UK and spent a year as Ambassadors for the Children's Health Authority. Their fourth single, the flamenco-inspired "For Sure," reached number 15, and the UK version of their album, *Four Sure*, peaked just outside the UK Top 40. The band was then dropped by their label and privately split. They briefly reformed in January 2004 for a performance at G-A-Y's Gone But Not Forgotten night, which led to a tour of gay venues and events around the UK.
In 2006, Russ Spencer appeared on the E4 reality show *Boys Will Be Girls*, where he and two other former boyband members tried to pass as a girl group, recording a single, making a video, and performing live over four weeks.
Quick Facts
- Landscape
- yes
- Background
- group_or_band
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Genre
- Dance-pop · Eurodance
- Years Active
- 1998–2001 / 2004 / 2007–present
- Label
- EMI / Warner Music
- Current Members
- Natalie Powers / Caroline Barnes / David Ducasse / Russ Spencer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Scooch were formed after auditions held between autumn 1997 and spring 1998 in front of songwriters Mike Stock and Matt Aitken and future manager Steve Crosby. Heidi Range auditioned but was declined as she was only 14. The final foursome was formed in October 1998 and spent months developing their image and sound. The group's name comes from a term used to ask someone to move up on a bench or sofa.
In 1999, Scooch won a contest on BBC One's Saturday morning show Live & Kicking, competing against boy band Glitterbug to have their single released. Their debut single "When My Baby" charted within the Top 40, leading to a tour supporting B*Witched. Their second single "More Than I Needed to Know" entered the UK Singles Chart at number 5 and reached number one in Japan, where it was featured in the video game DDRMAX2: Dance Dance Revolution 7thMIX. The group released three more singles and two album versions before being dropped by their record label and privately splitting.
The group briefly reformed in January 2004 to perform at G-A-Y's Gone But Not Forgotten night, leading to a tour of gay venues. In 2006, they reformed again for a Eurovision bid. They won the UK selection show Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up on 17 March 2007, though the result was announced with confusion as co-host Terry Wogan simultaneously named another entry as winner. Scooch received 53% of the public vote. Their Eurovision performance in Helsinki finished joint 22nd out of 24 entries with 19 points.
Reader's Guide
Scooch's significance lies primarily in their role as the United Kingdom's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2007, a period when the UK's Eurovision fortunes were in decline. Their song "Flying the Flag (For You)" reached number 5 in the UK Top 40 Singles Chart on 13 May 2007, giving them a brief resurgence in popularity. The group's earlier career in the late 1990s and early 2000s saw them achieve moderate success, including a number 5 single and a number one in Japan, as well as tours with B*Witched and Five. Their formation via a contest on Live & Kicking predated the UK's first music talent reality show, Popstars, by two years. The controversies surrounding their Eurovision selection—including accusations of miming, a plagiarism claim from Swedish singer Pandora, and a newspaper apology—highlight the often contentious nature of the UK's Eurovision selection process. After Eurovision, members pursued individual careers in theatre, television presenting, and teaching. The group's legacy is as a footnote in Eurovision history and as a representative of the UK's pop scene at the turn of the millennium.
Did You Know?
- Heidi Range auditioned for Scooch but was declined because she was only 14 years old.
- Their song 'More Than I Needed to Know' reached number one in Japan and was featured in the video game DDRMAX2: Dance Dance Revolution 7thMIX.
- The winner announcement for Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up was confused when Terry Wogan simultaneously announced a different act as winner.
More in British mixed-gender vocal pop groups 1-21
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