The mother of UK Eurovision entrant Sam Battle has defended her son’s divisive semi-final performance, insisting he “nailed it” despite criticism from some viewers who branded the act “atrocious” online.
Mr Battle, who performs under the name Look Mum No Computer, took to the stage during Thursday’s second Eurovision semi-final with his energetic electro track Eins, Zwei, Drei.
The performance featured frantic choreography, flashing visuals, and dancers dressed as computers.
While social media reactions were sharply divided, Mr Battle’s mother, Jane Battle, was full of praise after watching the performance live from the Wiener Stadthalle arena in Vienna.
The star has received mixed reactions after his performance
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Speaking to BBC Radio 2, she said: “It was fantastic. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I think he nailed it. It was great.”
She added that she had been cheering so enthusiastically throughout the show that her voice was left sore the following morning.
The energetic Eurovision performance quickly became one of the night’s most talked-about acts, with fans split between praising its originality and criticising its chaotic staging.
However, supporters argued that the entry perfectly reflected Mr Battle’s unconventional artistic style and longstanding reputation for turning technology into performance art.
Mr Battle’s mother praised how well her son performed
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Mr Battle first rose to prominence on YouTube in 2013, where he built a dedicated following through videos showcasing bizarre homemade musical instruments.
Among his creations are a functioning organ built from Furby toys and a triple oscillator synthesiser constructed from Nintendo Game Boy consoles.
Ms Battle also revealed a possible origin story behind her son’s unusual stage name and suggested it may have stemmed from punishments involving his bedroom computer.
“He was in trouble as a late teenager, and we said: ‘Oh, you go to your room anyway,’” she explained.
“He would be like, ‘Anyway it doesn’t matter, I’ve got my computer in my room.’ But of course, when he went to school we just went to his room and emptied it and just left his school books.”
She joked that this may have inspired the name Look Mum No Computer, although she admitted her son has given other explanations over the years.
Despite the backlash, Mr Battle’s place in Saturday’s Eurovision grand final was never under threat.
The UK automatically qualifies as part of Eurovision’s “Big Four” nations alongside Italy, Germany and France.
The singer automatically gets through to the final
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They contribute the largest financial support to the competition. Host nation Austria also receives an automatic qualification.
The Eurovision Song Contest grand final takes place on Saturday, May 16, with Mr Battle hoping to win over audiences across Europe when he performs once again on the international stage.
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