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Welcome to the 197th edition of the Forum Song Contest, hosted in the vibrant city of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
This edition will be proudly hosted from my hometown (no, not Husavik
) Wolverhampton after the United Kingdom's victory in FSC #196 with the song "Wax" by Scottish band Newshapes. This was the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 16th victory in the Forum Song Contest and our first since FSC #124 back in June 2019. Let's hear this hard-hitting winning entry from our previous contest once more:Our host city for this edition is the English Midlands city of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.
Queen Square and statue of Prince Albert
FSC returns to England for the first time since FSC #69 and makes it's first ever visit to the English Midlands in the storied history of our beloved contest. Wolverhampton is the third-largest city in the West Midlands region of England and gained official city status in the year 2000 as part of the UK's millennium celebrations. The city is located around 12 miles/19 kilometres to the north of the UK's second city, Birmingham, and borders fellow West Midlands and Black Country towns of Walsall and Dudley to the east and the south respectively. In the north-western corner of the West Midlands, Wolverhampton also has excellent transport links to the beautiful counties of Staffordshire to the north and Shropshire to the west, allowing residents to easily visit the spectacular British countryside. As of the 2021 Census, Wolverhampton's population is 263,700 and is the 8th most ethnically diverse city in England and Wales. The largest religious community in the city is the Christian population, however the city is home to the largest population of Sikhs in England and Wales (by percentage) at 12%. The city's Muslim and Hindu communities are also a higher percentage of the city's population than the national average. The city experiences similar weather to the rest of the UK, with average highest daily temperatures in summer ranging between 18-22 degrees celsius and average lowest daily temperatures in winter ranging between 1 and 2 degrees celsius. Of course we can't discuss British weather without mentioning rainfall. The city experiences a monthly average rainfall of 56.8mm, similar to the rest of the UK, with usual variations between months/seasons.
St. Peter's Church
The city is named after Lady Wulfrun, a Mercian noblewoman and landowner, who founded the town in the year 985, which then took the Anglo-Saxon name Wulfruneheatun (Wulfrun's high or principal enclosure or farm). She was granted the lands by Royal Charter from King Æthelred the Unready and Lady Wulfrun also later endowed a collegiate church for the town in 994 at the site where St. Peter's Church stands today after being built in the 13th Century. However, some local historians do dispute this being the earlier settlement of the town, with some believing that King Wulfhere of Mercia founded an abbey of St. Mary at Wolverhampton in 659, though no evidence of an abbey has ever been found. A statue of Lady Wulfrun, sculpted by Sir Charles Wheeler who was born in the city and later became a 'Freeman of Wolverhampton', can be seen on the stairs outside the church. In the period of time between Lady Wulfrun's death (1005) and before the Norman Conquest (1066), the area's name appears only as variants of Heantune or Hamtun, with the prefix Wulfrun (or similar) missing until 1070 onwards. In medieval records around the time of 1381, the town's name had evolved once more to Wolveren Hampton, the predecessor to the city's modern name. After first being used in 1959, the demonym Wulfrunian is included in the Oxford English Dictionary as "an inhabitant of Wolverhampton."
Wolverhampton Grammar School - one of the oldest active schools in Britain
There are many more notable moments in the long history of the city. In 1512, Sir Stephen Jenyns, a former Lord Mayor of London who was born in Wolverhampton, founded the Wolverhampton Grammar School, which remains open today and is one of the oldest active schools in Britain. In terms of education, the city would also later have the University of Wolverhampton (founded in 1827) and the City of Wolverhampton College (founded in 1962). The city suffered two Great Fires: the first in April 1590 and the second in September 1696, with both fires starting in today's Salop Street. The first fire lasted for five days and left nearly 700 people homeless, whilst the second destroyed 60 homes in the first five hours alone. Following the second fire, the city purchased it's first fire engine in September 1703. In January 1606, two farmers were executed on High Green (now Queen Square) for sheltering two of the Gunpowder Plotters who had fled to the Midlands. The pair played no part in the original plot, nevertheless suffered a traitor's death of being hung, drawn and quartered in the square a few days before the execution of Guy Fawkes and several other plotters in London. The city's New Cross Hospital was opened in 1903. In terms of transport, the city saw the installation of England's first automatic traffic lights and first pedestrian safety barriers. Today, due to the city's central position within the country, Wolverhampton has excellent transport connections by road, rail, buses and metro. Whilst the city does have it's own small airport, the nearest major airport is Birmingham airport.
The city's coat of arms | 
The city from above at night |
Historically a part of the county of Staffordshire, Wolverhampton grew as a market town specialising in the wool trade, reflected in the inclusion of a woolpack on the city's modern day coat of arms. However, during the Industrial Revolution, Wolverhampton became a major centre for coal mining, steel production, lock making and automotive manufacturing. There is evidence that Wolverhampton may have been the location of the first working steam engine, named the Newcomen Steam Engine in 1712, though the most widely recognised oldest working steam engine in the world is the Smethwich Engine which was installed on the Birmingham-Wolverhampton canal in 1779. Wolverhampton had a prolific bicycle industry from 1868 to 1975, during which time a total of more than 200 bicycle manufacturing companies existed, however none remain today. Many traditional industries in the city have closed or dramatically downsized over the years. In present day, the economy of the city is is dominated by the service sector such as public administration, education and health. The largest non-service industry is manufacturing, most notably at the Jaguar Land Rover Engine Assembly Plant which produces diesel and petrol engines.
British Prime Minister David Lloyd George (centre-left) with businessman Sir Charles Mander (centre-right), accompanied by their wives at The Mount, 1918
The city of Wolverhampton has played host to many monarchs and other members of the Royal Family through the years, as well as hosting many other notable public figures. A few years before beginning her reign, Queen Victoria visited Wolverhampton in the 1830s and described it as “a large and dirty town”, but one which received her “with great friendliness and pleasure.” In 1866, Queen Victoria would return to Wolverhampton for the unveiling of a statue erected in memory of her husband, Prince Albert. This was Her Majesty's first public appearance since the funeral of her husband and she was so pleased with the statue that she knighted Wolverhampton's mayor at the time. The statue remains standing in Queen Square today and is known locally as “The Man on the Horse” (as pictured earlier in the show). In 1909 the president of the Board of Trade, Winston Churchill, addressed an event at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre for the Budget League, which campaigned in favour of the People's Budget by Chancellor David Lloyd George. Lloyd George would later make his own appearances in Wolverhampton, after achieving victory in World War I in 1918 as Britain's Prime Minister. Firstly, he appeared at The Mount Hotel Country Manor in Tettenhall Wood where he announced a general election, and on a second visit, this time at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre in front of a packed auditorium, he made his famous speech vowing 'to make Britain a fit country for heroes to live in.' Lloyd George's coalition won the 1918 General Election and he remained as British Prime Minister until his resignation in 1922, leaving behind a legacy as one of the greatest British statesmen of all time (in my opinion, the greatest). David Lloyd George MP was made a 'Freeman of Wolverhampton' on 23rd November 1918 giving him the freedom of the city, 12 days after the end of World War I.
British Prime Minister David Lloyd George (centre-left) with businessman Sir Charles Mander (centre-right), accompanied by their wives at The Mount, 1918
The city of Wolverhampton has played host to many monarchs and other members of the Royal Family through the years, as well as hosting many other notable public figures. A few years before beginning her reign, Queen Victoria visited Wolverhampton in the 1830s and described it as “a large and dirty town”, but one which received her “with great friendliness and pleasure.” In 1866, Queen Victoria would return to Wolverhampton for the unveiling of a statue erected in memory of her husband, Prince Albert. This was Her Majesty's first public appearance since the funeral of her husband and she was so pleased with the statue that she knighted Wolverhampton's mayor at the time. The statue remains standing in Queen Square today and is known locally as “The Man on the Horse” (as pictured earlier in the show). In 1909 the president of the Board of Trade, Winston Churchill, addressed an event at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre for the Budget League, which campaigned in favour of the People's Budget by Chancellor David Lloyd George. Lloyd George would later make his own appearances in Wolverhampton, after achieving victory in World War I in 1918 as Britain's Prime Minister. Firstly, he appeared at The Mount Hotel Country Manor in Tettenhall Wood where he announced a general election, and on a second visit, this time at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre in front of a packed auditorium, he made his famous speech vowing 'to make Britain a fit country for heroes to live in.' Lloyd George's coalition won the 1918 General Election and he remained as British Prime Minister until his resignation in 1922, leaving behind a legacy as one of the greatest British statesmen of all time (in my opinion, the greatest). David Lloyd George MP was made a 'Freeman of Wolverhampton' on 23rd November 1918 giving him the freedom of the city, 12 days after the end of World War I.
Slade | 
Beverley Knight | 
Liam Payne |
There are many famous musicians from Wolverhampton who have made national and internationally successful careers. Perhaps the most famous is the rock band Slade who formed in 1966 and rose to prominence during the glam rock era of the early 1970's. The band, fronted by Noddy Holder and Dave Hill, would go on to achieve 17 consecutive top 20 hits and six number ones on the UK Singles Chart. Their best-selling single is the Christmas hit “Merry Xmas Everybody”, with other well known songs including “Cum On Feel the Noize” and “Mama Weer All Crazee Now.” Another famous artist from the city is soul/R&B singer Beverley Knight MBE. She released the first of her nine studio albums in 1995 and is widely regarded as one of Britain's greatest soul singers. Some of her most notable singles are “Greatest Day”, “Shoulda Woulda Coulda” and “Come As You Are.” Knight was awarded the freedom of the city as a 'Freeman of Wolverhampton' in 2018. More recently ascending to fame on the world stage was the late Liam Payne, who in 2010 came third in The X-Factor with his boy band One Direction. In March 2012, the band became the first British group to go straight to the top of the US music charts with their debut album. Notable songs by the band include "What Makes You Beautiful", "Story of My Life" and "Best Song Ever."
Wightwick Manor | 
The Red Arrows flypast at the RAF Cosford Air Show |
Now let's take a look at some of the landmarks and places of interest within the city. Firstly there is Wolverhampton Art Gallery, which is home to England's biggest Pop art collection after that held at the Tate. Wolverhampton also has a number of live music venues, with the largest indoor venue regularly used being the Wolverhampton Civic Hall, which has a capacity of 3,404 people. The city is also home to historic manor houses which also serve as museums of life in earlier eras. Such houses include Bantock House, Wightwick Manor, Moseley Old Hall and Chillington Hall. For those interested in aviation and military history, Wolverhampton is also home to the Royal Air Force Museum at RAF Cosford. The museum displays many historic aircraft including planes from the Battle of Britain, the world's oldest Supermarine Spitfire and also hosts the fascinating National Cold War Ex.hibition, There is also an annual RAF Cosford Air Show held in the summer, which typically attracts an attendance of around 50,000 people. Worth a visit to the outskirts of Wolverhampton is the beautiful town of Bridgnorth, with 12th century castle ruins, England's oldest and steepest inland electric funicular, Bridgnorth Cliff Railway, and also the famous Severn Valley Railway, with traditional station and classic steam trains and diesel locomotives. Other nearby attractions worth a visit are the Black Country Living Museum, located in nearby Dudley, and also the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, which is a site of national remembrance to honour the sacrifice and service of military personnel, emergency services and others.
Molineux Stadium, home to Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club | 
Wolverhampton Wolves Speedway, formerly at Monmore Green Stadium |
As in many areas of the United Kingdom, sports play an important part in the lives of the city's residents. The most famous of the city's sporting teams is the Premier League football club, Wolverhampton Wanderers, often referred to as Wolves. Wolves were founded in 1877, making them one of the oldest English football clubs and they were one of just 12 founder members of the Football League in 1888. They play their home matches at the Molineux Stadium close to the city centre, which has a capacity of 31,750. The club had it's most successful period in the 1950's and in total, they have won three top division titles, four FA Cup's and two League Cup's. Their most notable players are Billy Wright (former England captain who was the first player to win a century of international caps), Steve Bull (hometown hero who became the club's all-time top goalscorer) and Ron Flowers (who was Wolves' only member of the 1966 World Cup winning England squad). In other sports, the city also has it's own Athletics Club which has produced Olympic Medallists, there are a number of cricket clubs in the city and Wolverhampton Racecourse is an all-weather horse racing course. Monmore Green Stadium is another sporting venue in the city which is home to greyhound racing and, between 1928-2023, was home to one of the leading British motorcycle speedway teams, the Wolverhampton Wolves. Dane Ole Olsen, American Sam Ermolenko and Brit Tai Woffinden were all riders for the club when they became World Speedway Champions. Other notable riders for the club were Swedish legends Peter Karlsson and Fredrik Lindgren. Since being without a home, Wolverhampton Speedway have been working to find a suitable site to develop a stadium so this much loved sport can return to the city.
The theme for this edition of FSC is “Out of Darkness Cometh Light”
The theme for this edition of FSC is “Out of Darkness Cometh Light”
The Black Country Flag | 
An illustration of the Black Country landscape during the Industrial Revolution |
The theme for the edition is also the motto of the city of Wolverhampton, which reflects it's history of overcoming challenges and achieving prosperity, particularly in the industrial era. “Out of darkness cometh light” emphasizes the idea that hope and positivity can emerge from difficult and challenging situations. It also suggests that even in the darkest times, there is always the potential for a brighter future and that good can come from hardship. You will see a visual representation of the edition's theme on the entry banners below depicting a steam train travelling through a dark night with only it's headlight to guide the way until it reaches the well-lit station. The motto also reflects the stoic nature of the people of Wolverhampton and the Black Country, who are known for their resilience, hard work and self-reliance. The Black Country refers to an area in the West Midlands (Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley and Sandwell) which is historically known for it's heavy industry and coal mining. The name for the region was first recorded in the 1840's and is thought to derive from the production of coal, iron, glass, bricks and steel which produced high levels of soot and air pollution. Famous author Charles Dickens wrote in his 1841 novel 'The Old Curiosity Shop' a description of how the area's local factory chimneys “poured out their plague of smoke, obscured the light, and made foul the melancholy air.” The Black Country flag features a white triangle (representing the glass cones and iron furnaces that were once prominent in the area's landscape), with a chain representing the manufacturing heritage and sections of black and red either side to represent the industrial heritage and its famous description as “black by day and red by night” due to the smoke and fires of industry.
The venue for this edition of FSC is Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
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The Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, commonly known as The Grand, is located in the city centre and was designed in 1894 by architect Charles J. Phipps. It is a Grade II Listed Building and has a seating capacity of 1,200. The façade of the building on its 123 foot frontage has hardly altered during the theatre's two major refurbishments and the building remains one of the finest examples of Victorian architecture in the city today. Since the opening of the theatre, the interior has been described as overwhelming with its predominant colours of cream and claret and the ornate ceiling plasterwork. The decorations adorning the box, circle fronts and proscenium arch are painted gold. The theatre is currently used for events such as musicals, pantomime, opera, ballet, plays and concerts. The theatre also performs it's own in-house productions. Many famous and skilled actors and musicians have performed at the Grand throughout it's history, and the venue now looks forward to hosting the talented artists from around the world competing in the 197th Forum Song Contest!
Our hosts during the events of this edition are three British music legends - Sir Elton John, Ozzy Osbourne and John Taylor
Our hosts during the events of this edition are three British music legends - Sir Elton John, Ozzy Osbourne and John Taylor
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First of all, feeling right at home in our glamourous venue, we have the amazing Sir Elton John. In a career spanning 7 decades, Sir Elton has released 32 studio albums along with additional collaboration, live, compilation, soundtrack, holiday and tribute albums and EP's. John has had more than 50 top-40 hits on the UK singles chart and US Billboard Hot 100, including 9 number one's in both countries, as well as seven consecutive number one albums in the US. He is the most successful solo artist in the history of the US Billboard charts and has received many awards during his life, including being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sir Elton is known for so many hits over the years, but some of my personal favourites are “Rocket Man”, “Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)” and “Daniel.”
Our second host is a rock legend from the West Midlands, Ozzy Osbourne. He rose to fame during the 1970s as the lead singer of Black Sabbath, during which time he took on the nickname “Prince of Darkness.” Black Sabbath have released 19 studio albums and Ozzy has also released 13 studio albums as a solo artist. Osbourne has been inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame and also the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, both as a member of Black Sabbath and as a solo artist. Some of the biggest hits Ozzy has been a part of are “War Pigs” as part of Black Sabbath and “Crazy Train” as a solo artist.
Last but not least, our final host this evening is the hugely talented bass guitarist and backing vocalist of pop rock band Duran Duran, John Taylor. After co-founding the band in Birmingham in 1978, Taylor has been a part of 15 of Duran Duran's 16 studio albums and has also released 6 albums as a solo artist between 1997-2002. According to Billboard, Duran Duran have sold over 100 million records and the band has also achieved 30 top-40 singles in the UK singles chart, as well as 21 top-40 singles in the US Billboard Hot 100. The band have also been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There are many great songs to choose from, but here are some of my favourite Duran Duran hits: “Rio”, “Ordinary World” and my personal favourite “Save A Prayer.”
Our second host is a rock legend from the West Midlands, Ozzy Osbourne. He rose to fame during the 1970s as the lead singer of Black Sabbath, during which time he took on the nickname “Prince of Darkness.” Black Sabbath have released 19 studio albums and Ozzy has also released 13 studio albums as a solo artist. Osbourne has been inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame and also the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, both as a member of Black Sabbath and as a solo artist. Some of the biggest hits Ozzy has been a part of are “War Pigs” as part of Black Sabbath and “Crazy Train” as a solo artist.
Last but not least, our final host this evening is the hugely talented bass guitarist and backing vocalist of pop rock band Duran Duran, John Taylor. After co-founding the band in Birmingham in 1978, Taylor has been a part of 15 of Duran Duran's 16 studio albums and has also released 6 albums as a solo artist between 1997-2002. According to Billboard, Duran Duran have sold over 100 million records and the band has also achieved 30 top-40 singles in the UK singles chart, as well as 21 top-40 singles in the US Billboard Hot 100. The band have also been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There are many great songs to choose from, but here are some of my favourite Duran Duran hits: “Rio”, “Ordinary World” and my personal favourite “Save A Prayer.”
