The UK’s Eurovision: You Decide 2017 national final takes place on Friday, January 27. So the Wiwi Jury continues to work its through the six songs and artists. Today our music unprofessionals have a listen to Holly Brewer — another former X Factor contestant — and her song “I Wish I Loved You More”. Does she leave us wishing for more? Read on to find out…
Holly Brewer — “I Wish I Loved You More”
About Holly Brewer
Holly’s X Factor appearance in 2015 was short-lived. Whilst she made it through the auditions, she was cut off-screen before the bootcamp section. Boooo. Thankfully that hasn’t stopped the 21-year-old from continuing to perform. Among other gigs, she has performed at Michelle Keegan’s wedding to TOWIE star Mark Wright. She also starred in a pantomime alongside ex-Blue star and Eurovision 2011 singer Duncan James. Perhaps she’ll be calling on Duncan for some Eurovision tips, soon?
“I Wish I Loved You More” Reviews:
Robyn: “I Wish I Loved You More” is full of drama and will appeal to fans who like performances with lots of vocal tricks. For me, the song is over-done, and substitutes a catchy song for theatrics. All it would take is another Eurovision finalist that sounds cool and modern to make this seem like a remnant of the late 2000s.
Score: 5/10
Bernardo: After three minutes I’m like: meh. It doesn’t get me moving, it doesn’t get me crying. Holly’s vocals are — once again — the standout of the entire song. They’re soulful, deep and inviting. I just wish she had a more memorable song to get her to the top, because this voice is Eurovision material.
Score: 6/10
Josh: Upon first listen I really enjoy Holly’s efforts. Her voice is powerful and it suits the big-ballad style of song. Repeat listens lost momentum for me. This sounds like a cheap man’s “Halo” by Beyoncé, lacking the “queendom” and fierceness that Mrs. Carter exudes. A solid effort, but not my favourite.
Score: 6/10
Jovana: Although the song is not my personal favourite, I think that it works the best for Eurovision. “I Wish I Loved You More” features a classic recipe for an ESC ballad: slow start followed by an explosion in the chorus. Throw that in with a likeable singer with a good voice — done. It’s nothing revolutionary, but it works. With some good staging, it could actually look great on stage in Kyiv.
Score: 8/10
Forrest: I was ready to label this as a fairly generic, paint-by-numbers pop song…but then it hit the pre-chorus and it throws a curve ball. It’s all down to the gentle “ooh, amen” that gets your attention. Then the song hits you with a lovely swell into the chorus. When too many songs feel a need to do something edgy, it’s a breath of fresh air to have an anthemic chorus that makes you want to sing along.
Score: 6.5/10
Chris: I’m trying put the lyrics to one side here, because justifying them is just far too big a task (particularly the threesome allusion at the start). “I Wish I Loved You More” is obviously the best choice for the UK out of this selection. It’s the only song that remains in my head for more than a couple of minutes once it’s finished. If Holly nails this on the night, it should be open and shut.
Score: 6.5/10
William: Holly has a soulful voice that works across registers. It oozes attitude and could make the most trivial and shallow verses seem deep and meaningful. Unfortunately, I can only wish I loved her song more — it’s bland, predictable and smacks of an American Idol winner’s single (that quickly falls off the charts and into oblivion). A lyrical mess, the narrative is muddled and I’m still not sure what her preacher was going for with the sunlight. And I’m unlikely to find out: This puts me to sleep before the sermon ends.
Score: 5.5/10
Sinan: The UK would be back in the game if they sent “I Wish I Loved You More” to Eurovision. Holly’s voice is very powerful, yet controlled. The song is the best one for me: super clean and sleek and I know it’ll stand out live. I can already imagine her performing on the stage in Kyiv! It’s definitely my favorite to win the national final. I wish Holly success and a great live performance!
Score: 10/10
In our UK Wiwi Jury, we have 18 jurors but only room for 8 reviews. The rest of our scores can be found below:
Andy: 7.5/10
Anthony: 7/10
Antranig: 8.5/10
Dayana: 7.5/10
Edd: 7.5/10
Florian: 10/10
Kristin: 7/10
Luis: 4.5/10
Matt: 8/10
Zakaria: 6.5/10
Before calculating the average score, the highest and lowest scores are dropped. This is to remove outliers and reduce potential bias. We have removed a low of 4.5 and a high of 10.
@nacboy: Comparing football to Eurovision is usually tenuous at best, but your point is well-taken this time. 🙂
“Ballad” and “Boring” the two Bs that will always walk hand in hand within the Eurovision fan bubble … as some stunning innovative and earth shattering Gina G’s “oh ah” are playing in the background of true artistic musical credibility.
I’ve said in another post that I am between this song and “never give up on you”. Still I am not a big fan of any song in the UK’s NF.
Generally, I’m not so excited about the Big 5 this year. However I have hope as we’re still waiting for Italy, France and Germany. (I listened to the San Remo songs and there’s some really good stuff).
God I so despair at the choices we’ve got this year – good voices, but all bland songs destined for the bottom left hand side!
Whoever chose the entries must live in a beige house, drive a beige car and wear beige clothes,
Just like in the football Iceland have shown bigger countries how it should be done!
This Is the song and singer I’m voting for on Friday. The only song I can kind of get excited about. The song could be better the artist and her personality are great for interviews and talent. THIS!
@Colin: Let me rephrase my comment: if this song represents the UK and finishes last at the ESC, I think this last place would be deserved. 😉 Of course it depends on what the other countries will send, as you said, but how in the world could any of these songs reach the top 10, even the top 15? All these singers have talent, but these songs are all so bland and uninspired… It’s a pity that they waste young singers’ talent like that, just as they did last year with Joe and Jack. I think Olivia’s is the best… Read more »
I don’t really know how this can achieve 7.06/10. It’s an horrible and dated song, the typical ballad the UK would sent that gets a deserved bottom. But she gets two 10s, seriously??
@Racal, ”this would be a deserving last place for the UK” None of these songs would be a deserving last place for the UK if Spain actually goes with Ouch or Do It For Your Lover. Not to even mention Spin My Head, but that one is so atrocious I don’t even consider it actually winning. France or Germany would literally have to pick someone screeching random words out of tune to assure the last place if Spain picks Spin My Head. Other three are slightly better, but either way Spain ain’t going above 19’th place this year. UK, on… Read more »
I honestly think Holly’s song is more memorable than Olivia’s so the score is justified. This is my favourite song in the NF, just hope it can be good live.
Talented performer, but OH MY GOD is this song BORING! There’s no way that would do well at the ESC, this would be a deserving last place for the UK.
Wow, I didn’t expect you to like this more than Olivia’s entry. I think it’s a very good song, maybe generic, but I like it.
7.5/10
Olivias song is much better in my opinion. I feel like this is Bianca 2.0, which isn’t a bad thing, just I thought people would feel similarly about both songs else that’s slightly hypocritical.
Olivia’s song is much better.
This would see the UK place around the 25th mark again in the grand final. There is just not a lot to the song.
This song sounds like it comes straight from Disnen Channel… from 2009. Actually, it would completely fit in Selena Gomez’s debut album from that year. Needless to say, it’s the typical harmless song that nobody is going to hate but that would bother to vote for either.
Deban ? you are the voice of reason in the reaction video…
Holly, Olivia and Lucie all have great songs. What UK now needs is a good staging and confidence in promoting their own song.
It’s a hard one because obviously Lucie has the most performing experience of all of them, but the song doesn’t really work for Eurovision. Whilst I might like it, I think Holly’s would be a better fit, maybe even get somewhere near Molly’s 17th placing.
i’m a sucker for the diva vocal acrobatics and this song has plenty of that.
Yes yes yes!! Good job, wiwijury!! Love this song! Hope it will be the one that will represent UK this year!
I really like Holly, and the song is okay. I can see this winning the UK selection if it is staged right, and if other people falter. Best of luck to Holly! 🙂
Wow, the jury have seriously put Holly above Olivia. Don’t think the results will reflect that, but OK.