THE Scots songwriter who penned Russia’s hotly-tipped Eurovision entry has been quietly invited to defect to UK for next year.
John Ballard, 64, who grew up in Glasgow, is part of the songwriting team behind Sergey Lazarev’s You’re The Only One, Russia’s entry to the annual song contest.
Mr Ballard achieved his first taste of commercial success as a key composer for 90s Swedish pop group Ace of Base, which sold 30 million albums worldwide.
He has lived in Sweden since the 1970s but the former Drumchapel native has revealed the UK has already approached him about deploying his talents for his homeland.
Agenda: Martin Docherty-Hughes MP on the serious side to Russia's hopes of wining Eurovision
The songwriter said: “Also some talks are under way about writing for the UK next year which would be fab.
“Believe it or not our first writing session was actually held [this week] with that in mind.”
He added: “We will most definitely be writing a bunch of songs for them to choose from.
“They will come to Gothenburg during the writing process in June.”
Mr Ballard’s first tilt at the Eurovision came in 2013 when his anthem for Azerbaijan finished in second place. A song he wrote for Russia in 2014 came seventh.
You Are the Only One - the chorus of which was inspired by an old song by the late Scottish folk singer Hamish Imlach, The Zoological Gardens - would mark the first winning entry for the Glaswegian, who runs a studio complex in Gothenburg.
The last time a UK entry won the competition was in 1997 when Love Shine a Light was performed by Katrina and the Waves.
Mr Ballard said it “felt great” that the Russian entry had earned a berth in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest being hosted in Sweden.
“It feels great though its been such a hectic week, I haven’t really thought about specifics if we win,” he said.
“I do reckon the kilt will be going on, on the Sunday to celebrate if we win.”
As a young man Ballard performed on the folk scene in Scotland and the UK, playing with performers such as Billy Connolly and Matt McGinn before relocating to Sweden.
“I know it’s never really been a big thing in the UK, but the Eurovision is massive in Europe,” he said.
“It is like the World Cup of football, and I am thrilled to be in it again.
“We came close with Azerbaijan, we got the most votes worth [the maximum] 12 points in the competition but came short - to be honest, politics always plays a part in the voting process, as I am sure people know.
“I think this year it is a great Eurovision song, and we have a chance.”
Ballard first discovered Ace of Base when they were called Tech-Noir, and worked with the band - Ulf Ekberg, Jonas Berggren, Malin Berggren and Jenny Berggren - on three albums, writing and producing songs.
Now more than 200 gold, platinum and diamond records adorn the walls of his Tuff Studios complex in Gothenburg.
Last week he said he would love to be part of a UK entry.
He said: “I am proud of the work I have done but I am still a Scotsman and I still feel very strongly about the old home country.
“I would love get a chance to do it if I could.”
Another Scot, Bill Martin, penned a song which won the Eurovision for the UK in 1967, Puppet on a String, sung by Sandie Shaw.
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