Featured Image by Victor Frankowski
After last year’s cancellation, it looks like the Eurovision Song Contest will go ahead this year in Rotterdam. Eurovision is known for being somewhat outrageous with Russian Grandmothers and that weird Polish entry back in 2007 (look it up, it’s weird). However, as is often the case, there seems to be no extravagance in our entry as BRIT and Grammy-nominated songwriter James Newman gets another turn in bat. Personally, I’m amazed that any artists agree to take part in the contest given our pretty diabolical history.
Every year we look at our entry and wonder if they’ll come in last or second-to-last whilst dewy-eyed fantasists wistfully remember Bucks Fizz and think ‘what if’. However there will be no skirt ripping this year as James Newton sidles up to the plate once again and unveils his new entry ‘Embers’. It’s very different from last year’s foiled effort ‘My Last Breath’ which, if I’m honest, I prefer. ‘Embers’ is undoubtedly more upbeat with some good moments, but for me, ‘My Last Breath’ is just an objectively better song. Newman explains: ‘I wanted to write an upbeat and positive song that people could have a party to’. Seems odd given that having a party is one thing amongst many that we’ve been unable to do for coming on a year now. It’s the ‘anti-drops’ for me that leave me in want- just when you think we’re getting a big moment, the arrangement just drops out and you’re left somewhat disappointed. Of course, I may well be in the minority as the chirpy tune may go down well with an audience who just want to forget the last year and enjoy our latest effort to bring the contest to the UK for the first time since 1982.
So, will it happen? Will James Newman bring it home this year? Let’s not kid ourselves, it’s unlikely. But not because of the song. ‘Embers’ is decent enough but even when our relationship with Europe was half decent, we didn’t do overly well.
The grand final, for which Newman automatically qualifies, will take place in Rotterdam on May 22 and we wish him the best of luck!
Harry Fenn