The Big Five continue their first rehearsals at Eurovision 2021. Next up to the Rotterdam stage for his first run-through is United Kingdom’s James Newman with “Embers”. Has the UK upped its staging game? Let’s see…
United Kingdom’s James Newman “Embers” — Eurovision 2021 first rehearsal
Oliver: The bisexual red and blue lighting returns! The British star begins his performance of “Embers” stood on a circular platform in centre stage with two gigantic — and rather comical — white trumpets either side of him, shining red and blue lights from their bells. Very camp. Fortunately, that is offset by the stylish fashion choices — James is wearing a black coat and he’s joined by four dancers in white, wielding trumpets and trombones. The United Kingdom’s light show is also very dynamic with lots of colour shifts throughout. As the second verse builds, the stage is lit in warm shades of orange. Then during the bridge, James steps back onto the round platform surrounded by laser lights from above. And by the time the final chorus rolls around, there are bright and punchy flashes of red, blue and white. We’re yet to see a run with pyro, but some fuego would certainly make this run much more impactful. Right now, this fades into the background in a lineup of big pop bangers.
Padraig: The UK’s staging is certainly a departure from what we’re used to from them. James begins the performance standing on a black circular plinth, slap bang in the middle of two ginormous trumpets. They’re probably the biggest props on stage this year. Romania’s canons from 2017 don’t come close. James is dressed all in black, including a long leather trench coat with gold trimming. He’s joined by four backing dancers. They’re all in white and each of them has a regular-sized trumpet of their own. Two have white trumpets, the other two have white ones. James’ delivery is competent, but this lacks a spark compared to much of the other acts we’ve seen. It’s definitely a respectable effort from Britain, but it’s unlikely to trouble the higher end of the scoreboard.
Reaction to United Kingdom’s first rehearsal at Eurovision 2021
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What do you think? Did James Newman live up to your expectations? Let us know in the comments below.
Read more United Kingdom Eurovision 2021 news here
Photo: EBU / THOMAS HANSES
It’s not a bad idea, it’s a messy idea. Rather than cluttering themselves with huge sets (and which scare me, I always feel those trumpets are going to crash on stage) they had the ability to project it onto the digital screen, and make effects with it. The same with digital trumpets that seem to throw effects on James (stars, glitter, musical notes, whatever you want), it looked like “that’s cool”. There it’s right …. A lot of effort for little effect.
so many comments about the staging and dancing. how I long for the old days when yes we paid attention to the nice costumes but we judged on the song and the singer. I appreciate creative staging makes a song stand out and creates an exciting show to watch, but to moan that a pair of trumpets have nothing to do with the song seems just mean. I find them playful, light hearted and they do connect to the instrumentation we hear. Have we complained about Switzerland’s blocks, or Malta’s ballet bar? so many staging concepts of the past that… Read more »
I long for the days when people were allowed to express an opinion without being rounded on and preached at. The staging is a key part of the overall presentation of the song. Just enjoy the diverse opinions and recognise people have different views.
Please if James Newman or his stage management team are watching could they explain the concept of all the trumpets?
So Embers = Trumpets?? I dunno what story/symbolism James and the Uk stage directors are trying to tell. I’ll reserve my judgement for now till the 2nd rehearsals for Big 5 are finished.
No, the trumpets = the horn section within the song
This has the makings of a great performance and I’m really excited to see the full thing. Been a fan of this song from the start and am not disappointed in that first rehearsal. It really is there, they just need something to make it that little more eye-popping and energetic because that’s all that it’s lacking right now; some firework effects and pyro will definitely achieve that, especially when the chorus beat comes in. The trumpets work, they don’t look too gimmicky at all for me personally – the song contains trumpet sounds,there in the music video so I… Read more »
I don’t understand the concept. Yes, I get there are trumpets in the song, but why make the staging all about that? Do the staging people think Europe and Australia are crazy about brass instruments? Or that the trumpets on the track are just not prominent enough? The UK entry is now more akin to a jokey novelty act than a serious contender. The staging has hints of Josh Dubrovnie and Electrovelvet.
I really thought the staging would be probably themed around the song meaning…rising from the embers to light up the room….but no. It’s trumpets
Stage designer: TRUMPETS!!! OMG TRUMPETS EVERYWHERE!! EFF YESS, IT WILL BE GREAT!!
James – seems honest and kind, those qualities shine easily in his persona. In interviews, you can tell he’s not putting on a show because he is, as others have said, the friendly guy next door, which is to his credit. He’s a decent guy. But performers are required to ‘put on a show’, that’s part of performance, and that may be why he’s looking out of place right now on admittedly the biggest stage he’s ever been on. I hope he rises to it on the night. He’s written a good radio-friendly song, a bop to be easily enjoyed… Read more »
Do you listen to the radio stations that would play it?
Yes. BBC Radio 2. Could you answer my question now – about whether you listen to radio stations that would play it? Do you listen regularly, for example, to Radio 2? I’m sure you’re right though, that almost all commercial and non-BBC radio stations will not play Embers, which has something to do with how Eurovision is treated in the UK. It it common for radio stations in other European countries to feature Eurovision songs indiscriminately. It’s likely, for example, that German radio stations have played Embers more than BBC Radio 2. A good question to think about might be… Read more »
Have googled it and it isn’t on the Radio 2 playlist. The only airplay in the UK listed for the last 30 days (10 plays) have been Anker Radio (Nuneaton), Erewash Sound (Community radio in South Derbyshire) and Solid Radio (Nottingham). I don’t live in the East Midlands so that is why I probably missed it.
Embers has been on the Radio 2 A list and as someone who listens to Radio 2 regularly, I’ve heard it played lots of times.
It isn’t on any of the radio 2 playlist.
I agree, I listen to radio 2 all day at work and at home at the weekends and its literally on every show, I’d say a minimum of 3-4 times a day. also we should note radio 2 is the most listened to radio station in the UK
Scott Mills is playing 10 Years on BBC Radio 1
Good Morning James, thoroughly enjoyed your Post and agree with a lot of what you say. However, I also disagree with some aspects. I think a lot of people in the UK should really drop the narrative of we have to work so much harder to get points or the UK is just not liked. Know these arguments from Germany… It has far more to do with that BBC and NDR (the German broadcaster) don‘t really get how eurovision works. You need a good song and a good staging to make it memorable. A decent song you might like, but… Read more »
I think this will either open or close the final show depending on whether it is drawn in first or second half. If it closes it will get some votes. If it opens it won’t and will finish last.
I also think they will give it an early spot (open the show as well) if it is drawn in first half. It would be a nice opener but it’s bad news for UK team.
Will the wiwibloggs upload the press conference of James? You guys seem to be snubbing the UK entry almost every year because there is not much hype.
Another internal selection flop. Unfortunately, I do not think the UK have sent anything amazing. Writing hits for other artists gives no guarantees at all.
Uk has to work harder than any other country to get votes, this is not going to do it. He has also put on a huge amount of weight. which is unfortunate as he has had plenty of time to prepare for this. Last place is my prediction. France 1st place.
I’m sure ‘famously skinny’ Netta will agree with you.
Zero idea why this is supposedly relevant.
Netta had style and charisma. And a winning entry. None of those apply here if you are honest.
Seriously? What has his weight got to do with anything?!
I completely agree, the songs have been dire…but even without Brexit UK has always had to work harder. The BBC seems to relish in mediocrity, when it comes to the Eurovision, as if they are ashamed of a possible success.
I don’t agree the UK has to work harder than any other country to secure any votes. After 1998 our entries have been almost unrelenting garbage – for example Electrovelvet, Josh Dubrovnie, James Fox, Javine, poor old Engelbert and that fat lad who waddled around wailing bigger, bigger into a hole on the floor for some reason. Europe doesn’t hate us, they have hated our entries. And given that virtually none have made the slightest dent on our chart, we hated them too.
Yes yes , I agree with everything you say, but I insist there is a lot of resentment towards the Uk..actually it is not the Uk as a whole it is England…particularly by Spain and France,..but the songs were dreadful, and the annoying thing is, I have heard so many good songs by artists, who tried to enter for the Uk, and were completely ignored. The problem within the BBC is there is so much political correctness swimming around, it is very hard to choose a suitable song on merit alone., as the BBC panders to whatever ‘ism’ is in… Read more »
James is too wholesome for ESC
This is one of them songs which I hated at first, grew to enjoy, loved it more with the live acoustic sessions then started to slip after seeing a live uptempo tv show. Mainly due to James’s lack of natural stage presence. Then here is the first rehearsal. I’m so confused. I need to see the tv edit before passing full judgement. If pushed, It reminds me of the oversized chairs from Denmark 2019. I wasn’t a fan of that song but I vividly remember the staging. It looks as though the trumpets will move up or down during the… Read more »
Hard to make a judgement from the Wiwibloggs live stream coverage. Suzanne spent the whole 3rd rehearsal talking to someone off camera and there was no description of what was taking place on stage.
usually she talks about her cyct, her love of cats and anything else apart from the reason why she is there
I like the big trumpets. They won’t be forgotten, helping the song to stick in the mind – already an improvement on usual UK stagings.
Ah now I wouldn’t call him boring
Agreed – he seems like a great guy on Instagram! Really good fun
Totally! He’s a down to earth, guy next door type.
With loads of money
I love James, he’s a great guy! Embers is catchy, a party song! Very good effort with staging but unfortunately i think this is not a song that will make people vote for the UK. I tihink people will say oh nice fun song but it won’t make them vote for it.
I really think BBC needs to bring a female singer singing a banger next year or a big ballad.
We’ve had none stop ballads so no thanks.
agree
Cyprus and Malta are two tiny islands, i am sure the UK can do even better,
Cyprus and Malta were also both British colonies – so the British ego can certainly come down another few notches.
Britain is also a tiny island. Malta is three tiny islands.
Australia is a big island.
With one little island.
Australia has lots of little islands. Tasmania is just the biggest one, albeit often the only one that’s visible on big atlas-type maps.
Is there a point to this geographical game of who has the biggest?
Yes. Humour as an attempt to disprove Alex’s comment that being a tiny island is relevant.
Goodnight.
Ah, it was so dry and factually dubious that I missed it 😉
but in fairness to Alex, I think he was trying to say that Cyprus and Malta punch above their weight in their contribution to Eurovision, while the UK underperforms despite its world-famous music industry
Australia is generally regarded as a continent.
Britain is a cultural concept. Great Britain is the geograpgical island, which is one of many that make up the British Isles.
Great Britain is the 9th largest island in the world.
Una, please. The UK can do much much better.
🙂
I really like this. I think its going to look good on tv and with a live crowd its going to give off a great party atmosphere. Add a bit of pyro and i think its a pretty good effort.
Well I actually love this! James is bring the party atmosphere and you can tell he’s a great time, with a couple of little tweaks here and there this has top 15 on lock! I’d love to see a left hand side finish but we all know that won’t happen. Also anyone else think this will end up opening the show if UK Draw first half?
Just like Englebert!
Umm ok, this is nothing like Englebert
I guess it was about Engelbert opening the show as well …
Yeah it was!
Funny to see that you just try to explain something to avoid misunderstanding and get downvoted … some people really need to get a life haha 😉
Ha ha, yes i just noticed that, i was going to ask why you are getting down voted just for stating something that is true. People do love that down vote button.
I hope it comes across better on camera than it does on stage. I don’t understand why the giant trumpet couldn’t just be on LED. But ok.
After watching the rehearsal clip a couple of times, I do think given the restrictions of the pandemic in place and it’s the first of the Big 5 + Host rehearsals, it has a good base, it just needs finessing. Ultimately it won’t finish bottom 5, anyone who thinks that this will finish bottom 5 deluding themselves and is just hating for the sake of hating.
tbf this year is crazy good, especially with staging
Uk top 5 . Good job
I really like the staging! It’s bright and playful! Hopefully we’ll see some pyros in the 2nd rehearsal to add that bit more to it!
But overall, great job!
They travelled from the UK at 5am this morning so what youve seen is their performance 12 hours after travel
Well first from the bottom is still an achievement
Kirkorov did the staging for the UK and BBC for Moldova. No?
The staging looks like a circus
Isn’t Eurovision just a massive circus??
Like life, eh
San Marino is circus.
I actually really like the staging, this does appeal more to jurors rather than the public, I didn’t think for a moment that the UK could get a massive televote score but, given some of the dregs this year (Portugal, Israel, Belgium, Croatia to name a few). I still expect a result of 12-15th but anything lower is a insult
Owww… Portugal I get, but the others are three of my top 5 🙁
No way is Belgium a dreg.
What is that??? lol
I just watched the clip and my first impression is (and I do hate to say this about my own country’s entry) that we sent quite a decent and modern pop song and paired it with joke entry staging. The staging seems to overshadow the respectability and modern vibe of the song. That’s only from seeing the short clip so maybe I’ll change my mind…
I’m not a fan of those props. I’m now wondering if the producers will pick it to open or end the show, since it has the obligatory utempo vibe for the duty and this would mean that the staff would have more time to push these huge trumpets to or from the stage.
The usual number two doesn’t seem to have anything to push on to the stage, so that would help too.
If Albania qualifies and also gets 1st half, I can see Anxhela being sacrificed with the dreadful number two, since it’s a woman, singing a slower song and it’s just her on the stage. But hey, now I’m really jumping guns with my predictions. 😀
I can’t see them being too happy with that, since they were also number two in Tel Aviv. It’s been only two contests since it was Spain… but I can see it happening again.
I didn’t remember Jonida was 2nd on the running order, in my memory it was Germany (which should be…). Yeah, 2 contests in a row sound too much. It could also be Romania, if Roxen improves enough to qualify but not enough to get a good result in the semi.
What would be complicated in this year’s running order is that there are a lot of contenders, so if we see 4 or 5 of them in the first half, somebody will be seriously unsatisfied.
The UK finally sends its best entry since Molly in 2014, and what do the BBC do? Mess up the damn staging just like they did with Molly in 2014!
Too messy, too much going on.
Simple pyro/laser probably just would of cut it I dunno.
Some delegations need to learn that sometimes too much is not good. UK/BBC is one of those delegations.
Absolutely!
They should have just kept it like the music video. Would have been way better.
Yeah, I felt that. Bored or hungover. Much more energy and interest would be good.
I think it’s quite cool, top 15 for me better than some, it’s a party on stage, that’s what we need, but that could just be me been biased been from UK myself
I agree – it’s cool. It feels British as well. It might not be understood by other countries but I think the general British public will appreciate it and relate to it
Oh my Thor, they really put giant trumpets on stage and thought it will do.
Gosh the staging doesn’t sound great according to descriptions. Hope I’m wrong, still rooting for James on the night!
Lazy effort as usual from the BBC