The UK’s Eurovision entrant was on the island this week to promote her song, written by a Cypriot
I REMEMBER feeling gutted a few years ago when she wasn’t chosen to be in the new girl group that ITV’s Pop Stars: The Rivals was set up to form. I remember thinking that if she didn’t have what it took, then who does? Turns out, the result was “a blessing in disguise” and Javine is now daring you to touch her fire.
I met Javine and the song’s writer, John Themis, this week when they were in Cyprus to promote the UK’s Eurovision entry ‘Touch My Fire’. The little girl who was turned down in front of the whole country a few years ago thinking her dreams had been crushed has grown into a tall, dark package of dynamite that will be exploding in Kiev on May 21. “I would love to win the Eurovision Song Contest but the truth is all I want to do is enjoy every moment of this exposure and attention I’m getting,” said Javine. “I have a very good team behind me and we are all very enthusiastic about what we are doing.”
Javine and our very own John Themis, who is enjoying tremendous success in the UK, wrote the song. “It was Javine’s idea to give the Eurovision a try, so we sat down and wrote this song, which has a mixture of R‘n’B and Greek culture,” explained John, “ and therefore it is dedicated to Cyprus as well.” John is an exceptional man, who explained that this is a song meant to come first because it is up-tempo, fun but above all because Javine is a great singer, performer and between them they cover both aspects of the song: the English R‘n’B and the bouzoukia, bagalmades, which is of course all John. “I wanted to put that kind of thing in the song because I am Eastern and I am allowed to,” he said, “but I can’t stand it when others, who aren’t Eastern, who are European, do it.”
Javine is having a great time promoting the song and has even had her first shock. “When we won and were selected to go to the Eurovision, Javine had to perform the song again,” explained John, “but unfortunately, due to the fact that she was wearing a small, let’s say, blouse, one of her breasts fell out. We were mortified but that’s the kind of thing that happens. Anyway, she learnt from her mistake, so she’s wearing something safe that night.” Although other countries have begun touring Europe promoting their song, the UK team is still at it’s first stop. “We’re going to Greece next but other than that, I have no idea,” said John, “and it doesn’t really help that we haven’t got a lot to spend, so I would like to thank our sponsors.”
It didn’t take Javine long to recover from the Pop Stars: The Rivals ‘break-up’ as she has already had hits with her own album and is enjoying herself more than ever. “I love what I do and sometimes forget I am in the spotlight,” Javine explained, “and although I do love this job, it can sometimes get hard especially when people nose around in my personal life. I don’t really like that but I suppose there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Cool, laid-back, beautiful and friendly, Javine has everything you admire in a person. But whom does she admire? “I grew up listening to Whitney Huston and Mariah Carey but honestly I wouldn’t like to meet them in person. However, I really like Justin Timberlake and wouldn’t mind meeting Usher,” she said laughing. Time’s up! Javine has to be hurried away for her next meeting, which isn’t with Aretha Franklin or Stevie Wonder (who she also loves), but the hotel’s masseur. Poor thing, she’s knackered but she promised she will give it her all on the specific night, so good luck.
SEVEN QUESTIONS
What car do you drive?
I drive a silver CLK convertible
Describe your perfect weekend
Meeting up with my girlfriends, going out on a Saturday night, drinking, waking up late on Sunday, and leaving London to go to the countryside and chilling out
What is your greatest fear?
Flying. I absolutely hate it and even took lessons to get over my fear but I am still afraid
What is your earliest memory?
Going with my grandfather to Jamaica when I was four
Assuming you believed in reincarnation, who or what would you come back as?
I would come back as a cat because they have a good life. They sleep and eat all day
What did you have for breakfast?
An egg sandwich
What was the last item of clothing that you bought?
A pair of shoes from Office
