The BBC remains tight-lipped about its plans for Eurovision 2021. As fans eagerly anticipate news, rumours are beginning to circulate about who will represent the United Kingdom in Rotterdam. One big name that has been thrown into the mix is X Factor superstar Fleur East, who fans believe could be in the running to sing for the UK this year alongside James Newman.
Rumours of her participation began when fans discovered a listing on the BMI database for a new track penned by Fleur East and the British Eurovision 2020 star James Newman. Fans thought the duo could be set to sing “Bringing Back Love Tonight” together on stage in Rotterdam.
But the London-born singer has denied her Eurovision involvement.
Fleur East denies Eurovision rumours
Fleur East addressed the rumours surrounding her Eurovision involvement in an Instagram live video. The singer was answering questions from fans, alongside her sister Keshia, when Eurovision fan @SamMarinoESC on Twitter asked Fleur about the rumours.
“There have been rumours about me doing Eurovision for about three or four years,” Fleur said. “Last year there were even more, just so many people message like ‘Fleur are you doing Eurovision?’ And then it came out and it wasn’t me, it was someone else.”
So I asked Fleur East on her live about the Eurovision rumours and here is what she had to say: pic.twitter.com/YDP71k6JPQ
— Beady Sam ? (@SamMarinoESC) January 31, 2021
“Where are they getting this from? Have you ever been asked to do Eurovision?” Keshia asked her sister. Fleur responds, “No. No, I haven’t been asked.” For now, Fleur denies her involvement in Eurovision 2021.
How did the Fleur East Eurovision rumours begin?
Rumours of Fleur’s participation sparked when fans on Twitter discovered a listing on the BMI — Broadcast Music, Inc. — database for a track she penned with the UK’s Eurovision 2020 act James Newman. “Bringing Back Love Tonight” is yet to be released, however many fans believe this could have something to do with Eurovision.
The BMI music database has previously been used as a tool to uncover Eurovision clues. In February 2020, fans spotted a listing for James Newman’s track “My Last Breath” on the database before it was announced as the UK’s song.
???#Eurovision2021 pic.twitter.com/EOrQbNPljU
— Conor Wells (@conwells2000) January 30, 2021
Furthermore, BMG owns the publishing rights to the song. The Germany-based music group partnered with the BBC in 2020 to help select the British Eurovision entry. The BBC opted for an internal selection process, following a series of poor Eurovision results from their national final format Eurovision: You Decide.
The track also lists Larsen Kasper as one of the songwriters. Kasper himself is no stranger to the Eurovision bubble. He’s written two Dansk Melodi Grand Prix entries in recent years — Emilie Moldow’s “Vi finder hjem” in 2014 and Anthony’s “Smoke In My Eyes” in 2017. Kasper also worked with Fleur East on a track for her debut album.
Perhaps most compellingly, Fleur East has previously expressed her interest in representing the UK. Following rumours that she would represent the UK in 2020, the singer took to Twitter to thank fans for enthusiasm. “I’m ready to fly the flag wherever I go,” the popstar said.
The amount of messages I’ve had about Eurovision is insane! Well, the organisers know where I am and you KNOW I’m ready to fly the flag wherever I go. In the meantime, I’m on tour in April so let’s do our own Eurovision! ? It’s gonna be a hell of a show! ?? pic.twitter.com/VwiRwcOrZc
— FLEUR EAST (@FleurEast) January 27, 2020
Who is Fleur East?
Fleur East is an English rapper, singer and songwriter from Walthamstow, London. In 2005, Fleur appeared on the second season of The X Factor as part of the girl group Addictiv Ladies. In 2014, she returned to the competition as a solo artist. Her performance of Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk” reached number one on the British iTunes chart — making her the first X Factor artist to achieve such a feat during the show. Fleur finished the competition in second place behind champion Ben Haenow.
Fleur East released her debut album Love, Sax and Flashbacks in 2015. The album’s lead single “Sax” peaked at number three on the British singles chart and was later certified platinum in the UK. Her second album Fearless was released in 2020.
Fleur is also known for her appearances on British TV and radio. In 2018, she placed fourth on the iconic UK reality show I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!. Currently, Fleur presents The Hits Radio breakfast show in the UK.
James Newman at Eurovision 2020
In 2020, the BBC chose James Newman to represent the UK at Eurovision with his mid-tempo pop track “My Last Breath”. But his Eurovision hopes were snatched away from him following the 2020 contest’s cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The British star sparked rumours of a Eurovision return in August 2020. In an interview with Eurovision Radio International, James said he had ideas for a new Eurovision song. Later that month, he spent a week in Norfolk writing new material alongside fellow songwriters Ed Drewett, Adam Argyle and Iain James. The trio also worked with James on “My Last Breath”.
The BBC is yet to announce its plans for Rotterdam. James previously said he would accept the offer to return if it was given. But with less than four months to go, his participation remains unconfirmed.
What do you make of this speculation? What will “Bringing Back Love Tonight” sound like? Will James Newman and Fleur East go to Eurovision for the UK? Let us know in the comments below.
I’ve heard Jane McDonald’s been approached
COVID permitting, her tour was due to begin on 6th of June (COVID permitting), so Eurovision could make sense time-wise. I would be so happy for her if she were to do it.
It’s a lovely idea but I’m not sure the way forward for UK unless maybe it was a high energy banger. I could see Jane representing someone else, for example, San Marino.
I remember when so many fans thought ‘Eurovision: You Decide’ was the BBC finally taking first steps to build a Melfest of its own—but no.
Why is it ridiculous? It’s only early February. They don’t have to announce anything until the middle of March if they want to.
Don’t forget to poke the British HoD with a candle to check if they’re still alive, because they have been too quiet. 😛
It might once again be “exclusively revealed” by la Norton maybe in June or even the week of the contest (in other words after we all know)
That’s why I shrugged at this. The BBC could easily have a much more engaged and fan-centric approach to Eurovision. They don’t bother, and continue to take a lowest-denominator approach, that Eurovision is only and just camp nonsense. I remember when so many fans thought ‘Eurovision: You Decide’ was the BBC finally taking first steps to build a Melfest of its own—but no. It’s an annual consensus that the UK and BBC could do much better at Eurovision—it’s gotten very boring to be continually disappointed.
Exactly, it would not bother me in the slightest if the UK dropped out, but you would have to find something else to sneer at. Otherwise give it to another broadcaster.
I think if there was a decent, well known and established act that is still relevant that would do Eurovision, I think it would be Fleur. I think it would be good.
HOWEVER this year should belong to John Newman really. He has a job to finish and BBC should get him to do it.
I think you meant James there!
Haha yeah sorry my bad
I think a decent act wouldn’t risk doing eurovision with Brexit in full mode and the whole bad press for UK.
Now i strongly believe (unfortunately) that BBC has selected the drag queens (nothing to lose, no credibility) and they will announce it on the show (it’s shown on BBC!).
Otherwise, they would have announced James already but they haven’t.
BBC don’t usually like to announce the act until the song is known, when they do internal choices, so I bet the silence plays in James’ favour, particularly as Lee Smithurst was going to go big with staging, and with the B word in the past, UK has to play to improve its image, like Israel did with the fantastic works of Doron Medalie for Nadav and Netta.
That’s a bit of a reach, Leo, surely? I don’t think a couple of good Eurovision entries will have changed anyone’s political opinions about Israel and Palestine.
As much as I hate the X Factor, I think Fleur would be a great choice for the UK, as she’s regularly in the public eye and it’s refreshing to see someone who is up for it and interested, this could set a positive example and lead to us having better entries in the future. I work in a hotel and I breifly met her a few years ago (sent her a room service!), wish I’d asked her about it then! I think James deserves to be picked again, give him the chance, he has a very strong songwriting team… Read more »
To be fair, I’ve seen Fleur East rumours since 2016
yeah but these actually have some basis on them..
Perhaps because her song did so well for Belgium in 2016?!
I would be glad of something like this, where James supports an artist that is more congruent with my type of music.
My biggest question with him is not so much if he gets first refusal but how him, Iain and Ed are treated, and, given their reputations for writing songs with my faves, I would love their support for an act who would be ace for ESC
There is just enough time left to put together something, but the BBC are leaving it a bit later than usual. P.S. I’m still available. 😛
The Masked Singer-Songwriter 😉
One can only wonder what trash BBC has been cooking during the year..
Mel B, the only reason why the UK does badly at Eurovision is because of politics . We left the EU so nobody votes for us anymore .
I’m being sarcastic of course . We always send some cheap sounding song with absolutely atrocious staging and then blame politics. Norway isn’t in the EU and won the bloody televote for god sake.
If it was the EU song contest, Toy, Think About Things (and Hatrid Mun Sigra) Chains On You, Spirit In The Sky (and Grab the Moment and Fairytale), She Got Me, Truth (and Running Scared), Beauty Never Lies (and Hasta La Vista), Proud, Party for Everybody (and you are the only one), 1944 (and Solovei), Hey Mama (and So Lucky, Lautar and My Lucky Day), Kheteju Tokes, Cheesecake, Say Na Na Na and Warrior would not exist. And let’s not forget Toy won at a time when Israel got lots of negative coverage and the B word is nothing next… Read more »
Brexit because I hate it, and I hate our exceptionalism, even though other nations, such as Spain, also make excuses when underachieving.
Even when she explicitly says she isn’t doing it… eurofans still try to find theories as to why she would. A song James or Fleur work on doesn’t automatically mean its for Eurovision. Let Fleur East go and just wait and see what the BBC does. I’m still hoping James Newman will get his opportunity.
BBC doesn’t give a ….. so quiet which is concerning.
Fleur wants to do Eurovision, why is it so hard for BBC to reach out and get her onboard?
James is a talented songwriter but i’d rather see someone else perform, PLEASE!
I’m mean it basically ALL fits together – from who is involved (James who did it and Fleur who expressed interest), to the label (BMG), to the other songwriter (who wrote two DMPG songs), to the timing (a bit before the song release)… except that Fleur denied it, BUT of course she did since she is sworn to silence. I think it’s very likely that we will see her at esc + also why did she say somebody else did last year, when she is currently writing song with that somebody + they follow each other on instagram.. But if… Read more »
It would be great if James supports someone like her.
It makes a lot of sense that she’s actually messing with us and they will actually both do Eurovision in 2021…..
*shrug*
We’re gonna need to hear something from the BBC sooner than later at this point.
I think it’s gonna be frock destroyers. RuPaul is gonna feature a whole Eurovision episode. In that episode they will probably announce it.
But when was this episode taped? I kind of doubt it
Initial first four episodes I believe were filmed around march, but then they took a few months off due to the uk lockdown, so the last few episodes were actually filmed towards the end of 2020.
I doubt it. The BBC never usually goes to this much effort to reveal their artist .
But is it BBC showing that drag race show? If not, it’s not gonna happen.
Yeah it’s on BBC 3
Please noooooo! Another novelty act
YALL DID NOT NEED TO COME AT ME WITH THE DISLIKES THO! y’all are some toxic gurrrls