Hello, United Kingdom! Today the Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — visited the Tower of London to learn about the country’s rich history of beheading and imprisonment, while also admiring the crown jewels. Afterwards we gathered on the green to listen to “Never Give Up On You” by Welsh singer Lucie Jones. Have we given up on her and her chances at Eurovision? Read on to find out…
Lucie Jones – “Never Give Up on You”
About Lucie Jones
Twenty-six-year-old Lucie Jones made it to the live shows of The X Factor UK in 2009. She notoriously lost out to Jedward after the vote went to Deadlock. The Welsh singer quickly moved on, partnering her music career with several modelling gigs. But she’s not just a pretty face. Lucie has become a fixture of the West End, where she’s starred in both Legally Blonde and RENT.
“Never Give Up on You” reviews
William: The studio version was like a wet pancake — flat and without flavour. But during the UK’s national selection West End star Lucie turned up and turned out, putting so much emotion into the song that I thought her head might explode. The sensitive revamp has added digital texture and a contemporary sound, taking the studio version to another level. The new song is strong. And I have a feeling Lucie will take it even higher in Kyiv.
Score: 6.5/10
Sami: Many countries that have failed to do well in recent years are really upping their games in 2017. The United Kingdom is one of them. This year they don’t just have an amazing singer, but also a very current song with lots of potential. When Lucie is singing, you really believe every word she says. With the right staging and a good spot in the running order, this could easily crack the top ten.
Score: 9/10
Chris: The night of the national final I, alongside many other fans, decried this song on the tube ride home. But my feelings about “Never Give Up On You” have shifted significantly. It compares much better to many of the other ballads on offer, with Lucie’s vocal having the right amount of texture and emotion to make it stand out. The revamp, whilst subtle, built on areas where the song had been lacking without detracting from the song’s purity and flow. The juries should respect this, even if the public likely will not.
Score: 7/10
Antranig: It takes something special to stand out in the sea of ballads and unfortunately the UK does not have that je ne sais quoi. It’s deep and stirring but it’s nothing that Finland, for example, doesn’t do a million times better. This is obviously the UK’s best entry since Molly but it won’t be enough to get back to the left side of the scoreboard. In the ballad battle, the UK is somewhere in the middle — there’s a lot better but there’s also a lot worse.
Score: 5.5/10
Deban: Lucie Jones evokes power and deep emotion in the revamp of the UK’s entry. Her model looks behold a fragility which makes her delivery even more compelling. “Never Give Up On You” is a grower, but too lyrically heavy to have an impact on first listen. Its success relies on the producer’s running order and the atmosphere of a dead silent arena.
Score: 6/10
Luis: Back in January, when we first heard this song, it didn’t stand out at all. Lucie’s vocals were the only thing that shone there. However, after the most stellar revamp this year, the United Kingdom is skyrocketing to my top. “Never Give Up On You” may be another ballad, but there’s a lot of thought and so much gusto behind this. That’s how you play it simple. Hopefully this will translate to the stage in Kyiv.
Score: 7.5/10
Robyn: I’m hoping that the UK have got it right this year: a talented performer with stage and television experience, performing a strong, emotional song with edgy electronic production. All it needs is some thoughtful staging that treats the performance like a television show act and not an arena rock gig and the UK should end up on the left-hand side of the scoreboard. Oh please…
Score: 7.5/10
Steinunn: At first I wasn’t a huge fan of this song. With time it has grown on me. The song itself is a decent love ballad, even though it doesn’t really bring anything fresh to the — rather overflowing — table of this year’s ballads. Lucie is also a decent singer even though her performance in Eurovision: You Decide didn’t produce any goosebumps. With the right staging this could captivate the audience, if it doesn’t get lost in between the other ballads.
Score: 6/10
In our Wiwi Jury, we have 38 jurors but only room for eight reviews. The rest of our scores can be found below:
Anastas: 2/10
Andy: 8/10
Angus: 5.5/10
Anthony: 7/10
Antony: 5/10
Bernardo: 7.5/10
Bogdan: 7.5/10
Dayana: 7.5/10
Edd: 3.5/10
Erdi: 3/10
Forrest: 6/10
George: 6/10
Jacob: 4/10
Jason: 8/10
Jordi: 7/10
Josh: 6.5/10
Jovana: 7/10
Kristin: 7.5/10
Marek: 7/10
Matt: 9.5/10
Mikhail: 4.5/10
Natalie: 6.5/10
Padraig: 8.5/10
Patrick: 7/10
Renske: 7/10
Rezo: 9/10
Sinan: 7.5/10
Stanislav: 8.5/10
Tobias: 3/10
Zakaria: 7/10
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 2 and a high of 9.5.
Wiwi Jury verdict: 6.58/10
What do you think of this song? Share your own score and review below!
See our current Eurovision 2017 reviews and rankings
The song is monotonous. The auto tune enhanced singing is OK and she is quite pretty but the performance is overwrought and overacted. I just hope that when we are yet again in the very bottom echelon that people here in UK don’t start going on about political voting and Brexit. We won’t get votes because it’s simply not a very good entry.
Nate was my favourite in the national final and I was honestly devastated when he didn’t win. The revamp has definitely changed my initial opinion of the song – it’s gone from a dull, lifeless ballad to a dark and emotional piece of chamber pop. I think to say that this can definitely hit a top 10 would be an overstatement, honestly. I’m still bitter about Nate and I think, had he gone to Kiev, he would have done the best out of all the other NF contestants.
@Siranush: I wouldn’t put her that low. But suffice to say that, after having heard Janice Mangion’s “Kewkba” (my benchmark this year for ballads like this), Lucie’s song doesn’t convince me nearly as much that she’s a real contender.
This was a BIG no when I first heard it, and that was because it wasn’t the first time I heard it, it was probably the 587903578238millionth time. It didn’t have anything original except her voice, so when Olivia Garcia did NOT win and she did I was REALLY mad. BUT!! The revamp is SOOOOOOO good!!!! It makes the song so much more modern!!! But it is not looking good draw-wise for the UK, look at this running order pattern: 2012: 1 2013: 15 2014: 26 2015: 5 2016: 25 2017: probably performing in place 1 to 5 And a… Read more »
Here’s a very interesting musical aspect of this song. I tried playing it on the piano in different keys to see if I could try singing it one day; it just doesn’t sound as good in a different key. This song is devastatingly effective in the D Minor key, but it is very heavily grounded in that key. Even though there are glimpses of the F Major relative in places, the song consistently falls back to D Minor, suggesting that despite her reaching out her hand, this story has a tragic ending. I’ll be direct: This song would perhaps better… Read more »
Because she composed it
seriously she’s amazing, when there’s a great song from the UK, people give negative comments, she will do amazing people just have to vote. come on vote for her, and she will one hundred percent win. she’s a winner.
12 points Uk
It’s simply amazing. 10/10
Joe and Jake last year, i liked them more, wish her luck but in the same time i dont think is fair to have a better score than last year song. hope it makes sense.
Not like I’m a fan of revamp, but Lucie puts you to listen without melting down glitter and sugar, like danish entry, where from this song originates also. I tend to agree with ranking (but to me should be higher with previous version).
Just a moaning lovesong. I can’t take it seriously. She desperately tries to put emotions into nothing. 2/10
The UK is taking it serious this year. I admit I wrote them off after that, albeit well sung, dull as wallpaper song we saw in January, but this revamp proved they can still bring it to an extent. This is the path this country needs to take! It’s not perfect, probably somewhat lacking of a lyrical hook, but the music production is on point; a great take on the usual “big female ballad” department. Lucie can bring it live, and now she has a track to match. I hope the UK does good with this entry, it’s completely deserved… Read more »
Outstanding song, excellent songwriter, average vocalist with a cracking set of knockers. Hopefully they will make their Brexit after another low finish. 6 points from Slovakia
The original version was well suited to win the UK national selection show. The song was similar to one of those West End musical tear-jerkers like I Dream a Dream from Le Miz. The revamp tones down the West End aspect and gives the song a more Eurovision feel. It will be interest to see the staging and if Lucie can ramp up the emotion pull in the new version. If she does, this could be one of the better chances the UK has to make the left side of the scoreboard.
I’m with Deban…the lyrics (weak)…why so many comments hate Denmark lyrics as if this song or anyone else’s are different.
And don’t say about Italy, their lyrics sound like are written by somebody who searched ”smart quotes by famous people”.
When listening to this year’s song, I tend to skip it, which is not a good sign. I cringe at the cheesy lyrics. “Together we’ll dance through this storm”, enough with the dancing-in-the-rain metaphor! I rate this in the 30s so no points from me.
Woops wrong post :p
Anyway I really like the UK this year, the revamp is better than the original to me. I think they have a chance to do well now. The song feels special to me if you keep the Brexit situation in mind
To Blanche: How does it feel to have support from your whole country (Flanders & Wallonia)? Does it encourage you to do well in Kiev? Have you met previous Belgian acts like Loïc Nottet or Laura Tesoro?
It will be one those amazing songs that finish unfairly last on the board
I like the old version better. The old version was just her with her soothing voice. The new version feels slightly busy for the song. Regardless a great entry. 7/10 is good for 4/43, but a huge gap to top 3.
William, this can’t come last! Honestly! I totally agree!
I didn’t quite like the studio version, I find it a bit dull! But when I saw her live, I was amazed! She can sing and she can deliever emotion! Probably around 15th in the final!
I would give this a 7!
Personal rating: As I’ve written before, I really like this song, it’s my no. 5 this year. I like the way it builds up musically and the lyrics are very well written. It goes without saying that Lucie is a superb singer. Overall, there is something magical about this entry (at least to me). I also like the fact that it feels kinda British, so it’s the right song for the right country. 9/10 Prediction: The placing in the grand final will depend on the running order. If the UK gets a decent position and if Lucie manages to create… Read more »
I like Lucy, but is this enough? For an artist to stand out among the 43 acts in Eurovision, she needs to bring the game to the next level. Vocals and looks are not enough–95% of the acts have that. You have to have an outstanding song, you must connect to it, and you must be able to project you passion about the song and the contest. There are many great female ballads this year, and this just does not stand out for me. Alma for example, litrarary creates romantic magic with Requiem and her charm and personality are very… Read more »
P.S. this song is already emotional, but if it can get 15th place at least, i’ll really be crying all over the place then! 🙂
@Runil the lyrics have nothing to do with stalking…. it’s not “I will never give up on trying to date you” it’s “i will never give up on you as a person”. it’s like 2 people who are already very close, but one of this is suffering or struggling, and she’s saying “if you could see how far we’ve walked, you would see that all’s not lost” and that she’ll always support him or her.
This is my favorite of all 43 songs. You really need to get a connection with this song, else you’ll see this entry as a bland and boring ballad. If this entry wasn’t from the UK it would’ve easily gotten a top 5 spot without doubt.
I really hope that Germany, Italy and Spain sing in the first half of the final, so that Ukraine (already in second half), France and the United Kingdom perform in the second half. To be honest the running order doesn’t matter for Germany and Italy, but it does for the UK!
I already liked the original version, but the revamp is pure gold. Together with Lucie’s stellar vocals and (hopefully) fantastic staging concept, this could be a dark horse. I really want this song to go at least top 10.
I really like UK’s song. <3
A powerful intense sweet ballad that will even get better when Lucy (with her beautiful voice) will perform it live in Kiev.
My grade: 8/10 — My rank: 9th/42
My #1. Love it. 12 points from Finland!
boring brexit entry
Outstanding vocalist, average song…..that plateaus and does not develop enough.
Enough said.
UK
January, when I first heard this song, it does not stand out. Lucie’s vocals were the only thing that shone there, but with the updates she improved a lot and entered my TOP10 Good luck UK from portugal
9/10
Imagine that somebody that you don’t want, screams at you ‘I will never give up on you’. What?…you must learn to let go. And why Emmelie is always the first name among song writers? She only co-wrote the lyrics. Only that. Its obvious that UK only wanted Emmelie’s name, as if she is some kind of genius. She just co-wrote some lyrics about stalking.
Before the national Final not many people liked the Song – when she sang it Live it went up a notch.
The Revamp is better than the original so logic dictates that the Revamp Live will be even better.
If We can get the staging right this could be a Dark Horse – It wont win but top 10 I think is achievable – The Juries should love it me thinks!
I love this song. Lucie puts so much emotion into her performance and the revamp makes it even more dramatic. I think the juries will like it, not so sure how it will do in the public vote though. Probably will end up high right-hand side of the scoreboard.
The revamp certainly added something to the entry, but not a lot. The song is all right and Lucie can sing live, but it’s not heart wrenching and show stopping. Landing in the middle of the scoreboard is the best result the UK can hope for, but around 20th, give or take, is where I’m predicting for them. Good song, but not great.
5.5 or 6 / 10
I might’ve given a higher score, had I not listened to the remix. Damn it. lol
The song is ok, definitely improved after the revamp but not more than ok. It is let down badly by the singer. Her voice is grating.
5ish/10.
I’m sorry, I just hate this song so much! It’s my number 43 🙁
Before the revamp, I found no qualities at all in the song – it was clearly written for the sake of showing off vocals, but it was really just a snoozefest. Then, that revamp made MIRACLES. The new instrumentals give it some action, but I’m afraid for the live version as she has very little room to breathe. 6.58 is a fair score imo.
I fell in love with this song from the very first moment I listened to it back in January. It’s really touching and Lucie is very good live. The revamp spiced it up and made the instrumentation much less repetitive. I think this is easily one of the best British entries of the century and it deserves to do well, even though it will probably not.
8/10
For me it’s 10/10 for Lucie who is the best singer this year she shows so much emotion and the song gives me chills every time I hear it, I love it so much and this should be top 10 in final but many people will overlook it
This is my third favorite overall and my favorite UK entry in awhile! I really wish this scores high in the final. Lucie can count on my vote as well.
Should have been at least over 7, but considering Wiwi jury and ballads, this isn’t that bad.
Fine song, the revamp was definitely good and Lucie is a good singer, tho I have to say I prefer Emmelie’s version. I think it will finish around 17th/18th.
I hope next year if they stage a NF they have more diversity and better singers
The problem with this song is that there is something missing. With the revamp she elevated the song but not to the point were you think: I will vote for this. Juries may like it but I’m afraid the televote won’t…
7/10
I love it ! One of the best songs, but of course “Eurovision fans” will not like this as it is a ballad. <3
The best ballad this year, amazing singer, nice lyrics, this is in my top 10.
UK should be proud of this entry, very good.
I like the song, but that’s it I just LIKE IT… that’s a problem, I don’t think many people will vote for this song, Denmark’s song is way better and it has higher climax which keeps you intrested, while UK’s song simply doesn’t bring that, Lucie’s vocals are really really good, but I feel without any charisma.
6,5/10 for me.
For sure this deserve a higher score than Denmark, but UK is underrated. At first, everybody said this was a bad boring song, but at the NF Lucie lift it up with her beautiful voice. The song isn’t the best, but when she sing I can feel what she says! This will shine on the Eurovision stage in Kiev. If the UK could place in the top 5 in 2009, there’s no reason to think Lucie can’t do it this year… it will be really difficult of course we have a high level. U.K is currently in my 8th position.… Read more »
A little overrated. It’s just a song. A little too linear and static for my taste. The previous arrangement was at least more emotional.