Sheffield woman competes in Eurovision Song Contest for Iceland after answering social media plea for choir members

Joanne Chapman aged 52, answered a social media plea for choir members from lead singer Da∂i Freyr and her voice was one of 1,000 blended together for a choir segment at the end of Iceland’s entry this year – a song called 10 years.

People from around the world were given lyrics to sing, which were then sent to Da∂i, with the audio put together by a music producer to produce a socially distanced choir section.

Iceland’s entry by Daði og Gagnamagnið proved a hit, finishing fourth in last night’s show, which was won by Italy, with France second and Switzerland third.

For the fifth time in Eurovision history, the UK’s entry came last, with James Newman's ‘Embers’ scoring nul points.

Joanne, who manages the Famous Sheffield Shop on Ecclesall Road, said: “I had been following Da∂i Freyr on social media and he put a call out to be in his choir because he could not put one together because of social distancing.

“About 1,000 people responded from around the world from as far away as Australia. A record producer put all the voices together and they appear at the end of the track.”

Joanne, who lives in Greystones and has lived in Sheffield for 21 years, watched the show with her partner.

She draped an Iceland flag over her pet dog in the run up to the show for a photo, which was shared on social media and generated multiple ‘likes’ from people in the country she was representing that night.

Joanne, who was ‘kicked out of the school choir, aged nine,’ said: “I’m really pleased to have been able to take part, it was an experience and enjoyable to be part of it all.”

Responding to the UK’s disappointing result, she said: “The UK entry was just bland pop. I wasn't surprised it didn't score. “I watch every year and I love everything about it.

“I got kicked out of the school choir, aged nine. But now I'm in the Gagnamagnid choir...what do you think of that, Miss Errington?”

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