Back in the early 2000s Blue were the British boy band, racking up three #1 hits and nine other singles that reached the Top 20. The band split in 2005 before reuniting four years later. In 2011 it was announced that they would represent the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011, with their comeback single "I Can," which coincided with the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the band in 2001.

Blue wrote the song with Dsign Music, a Norwegian songwriting/production company formed in 2006 by Robin Jenssen, Anne Judith Wik, Nermin Harambašić and Ronny Svendsen. Duncan from the band told Digital Spy the song was not written specifically for the contest and was penned before they were asked to represent the UK. "This would have been our comeback single regardless, we didn't write it especially for the competition. It just so happens that the message in the song fits with the theme of it," he said.

The song finished in 11th place on the Eurovision Song Contest with a final result of 100 points.