Michael Ball's Second Place Is the 1990s UK Pattern

MAY 15 1992 · 12:05

Michael Ball · "One Step Out of Time" · United Kingdom · 1992 Placement: 2 · Score: 139 · Language: English · Composers: Tony Ryan, Victor Stratton, Paul Davies · Venue: Malmö Isstadion · Host: Malmö, Sweden · Type: upset · Broadcast: color analog Ball — rising West End star, 29, thick British-boy-band chest voice — takes the Malmö stage in a crisp dark suit and delivers a polished uptempo ballad with high-bpm orchestration. 139 points for 2nd place. Linda Martin's 'Why Me?' wins for Ireland. The UK-Ireland rivalry, now a decade old, tilts decisively Ireland's way for the rest of the decade. Context Ball had been in the original London cast of 'Les Misérables' and had just finished a West End run as Alex in 'Aspects of Love'. The BBC's 'A Song for Europe' chose him partly as counterweight to Ireland's dominating string of entries. The song's uptempo energy was rare for Ball but worked. Legacy Ball went on to one of the longest-running West End careers in British musical theatre, including a landmark Radio 2 hosting career. 'One Step Out of Time' became his first Top-20 UK single. The 1992 second place was the UK's last genuine top-three finish until Katrina's 1997 win, making Ball the pivot between eras.