SuRie’s “Storm” has arrived in Lisbon, and she’s taking shelter in a stunning tunnel of lights.
The UK’s Eurovision 2018 star centres her performance around a gorgeous series of diamond-shaped light fixtures. From one angle they look like a single, luminous structure. But move the camera up, down, left or right and it becomes apparent that she’s actually utilising a series of structures that form a gorgeous centrepiece around which all the action takes place.
That tunnel lights up in numerous colours — blues, pinks, reds — invoking a slightly retro colourway. At times SuRie sings before the structure; at times she dances inside of it; at one point the camera pans in through it and we see her smooth back as she pumps her fists with vigour and life to the audience. SuRie is feeling this and her enthusiasm is infectious.
Sweden also utilises a gorgeous lightscape, but SuRie’s feels somehow warmer and more inviting. And around that light show we see a sea of fog and, at times, a variety of lights around the circulate stage that illuminates with countless lights. While the pyro wasn’t turned on full blast today, it’s clear the BBC hope to bring this home with gorgeous geysers shooting sparks.
Visually this feels fresh and inventive. Unlike Australia, which uses light pipes as a backdrop, the UK uses the lights as part of the performance. SuRie is in a whole new world and she’s taking us along for the ride.
Surie, who wears white and occasionally catches the reflection of the lights at the beginning of the performance, seems totally unfazed by the mammoth stage. She’s been here before as a backing vocalist and that confidence shined through today. The UK can be proud of what it’s done. This is a visual feast that honours SuRie’s undeniable talent.
SuRie — “Storm”: Reviews and Reactions
United Kingdom: First rehearsal at Eurovision 2018
United Kingdom: First press conference 2018
Video coming soon
Read all of our Eurovision rehearsal reviews
Read all of our United Kingdom Eurovision news here
Photo: Andres Putting (EBU)
I think that lights diamond is SO distracting!
Once put this song in my bottom 5- but then a couple of others were later released and pushed her out of the doghouse with ferocity.
Still not a favorite but squarely middle of the pack now and she gets a lot of credit for making a huge improvement to the presentation.
And a couple of credit points for putting out a video version with sign language.
Regarding the staging. Many of the escfans are dissapointed in Sweden for having same staging in ESC as in melfest every year. But think about the benfits if UK would choose a song whith the hole package. Then ALL the artists has to think from the begining how they want the staging and they will need to think big and in a way that works in ESC. Then there would be six songs whith the highest level of staging possible. Then the level of the hole TV-show itself would be a better experience for the UKviewers. More viewes more intresting… Read more »
brexited chick
SuRie is such a great performer, I definitely feel that the BBC are gradually learning how to ‘do’ modern Eurovision. Personally I would like to see a return to using BBC Introducing (the BBC’s vehicle for new music which produced Molly’s entry in 2014). I would love to see the BBC send a selection of artists/songs from BBC Introducing into You Decide, because these songwriting camps are churning out quite dated songs and the UK needs something fresh and interesting. Also, BBC Introducing is more likely to produce artists singing their own songs that actually mean something to them, instead… Read more »
Another bottom 5 for me. Although similar idea of staging, Australia has a stronger song and it’s a song contest at the end of the day though. If UK only came 15th last year, I don’t see this being away from bottom 5.
Bottom 3.
I love that breed. 😛
I’m not wowed and in a competition as big as eurovision, i need to be wowed. This song just isn’t competitive. And wtf is that cliff richard inspired twirl about? it looks so un-natural. The only time I’ve felt proud of this song at the pre-parties is when I’ve heard the crowd singing along (i’ve also attended discos where people sing along to agadoo – doesn’t make it a great song!) With 26 songs in the final and countries only awarding ten points (1 – 8, 10, 12) and easily the ten strongest songs are qualifying from semi 1 alone,… Read more »
I think that this is further proof of the UK (more so the BBC) gradually learning how to approach Eurovision, they started by bringing in a national final, they’ve begun to understand staging and now all that’s left is for them to develop more competitive songs ( Ironically I do actually enjoy storm as it was one of the few songs I could remember after hearing it from this years field). Although I fully expect SuRie to be elevated by having a live audience present I still worry this may fall victim to not being amazing enough nor being ridiculous… Read more »
Hopefully BBC will learn more towards creative staging ideas once they start getting better at selecting songs to compete in You Decide.
I think that this all goes towards improving Eurovision’s image in the eyes of the UK music industry to try and encourage better songs being put forward for You Decide, I feel that at the moment the BBC delegation is doing the best with what it has but I feel like the wider BBC as a whole needs to give the UK Eurovision team the extra support they need to truly bring the UK back into competitive form.
I think the UK needs to revamp the You Decide system, it simply does not work. The problem I find is that we always select the wrong song, or they are songs that are there to just participate not even attempt to win the contest.
I do think the BBC have understood what to do. With Asanda and Raya they had two very competitive songs, but in the final (in the theatre and on TV), only SuRie’s was in tune (and even that suffered from a bum note) and didn’t look like a Butlin’s talent show. If there’s any lesson they should take from this year, it’s got to be rehearsal rehearsal rehearsal. All three You Decide shows have suffered through a complete lack of rehearsal – it’s obvious to see. Those songs and routines should be drilled for months not days – Asanda may… Read more »
SuRie is an awesome personality stuck with a poor poor song. Sadly I Think UK will be back in typical manners and end bottom 5
Looks good actually.
hey people, I’m not saying it is a success, just looks better than I expected.
Honestly there are improvements with production and her vocals are stronger, so if she pulls out strong vocals and really uses the Crowd to her advantage she could do well,
Everything’s there her song Is the only thing unless she gets people interested
I mean everyone who likes her as a person and an artist should vote for her because last year and this year the Uk could grab a lot of the votes
Greetings from the Uk
Seems like Levina part two..
I still don’t really care about the song, but the BBC has done a wonderful job at the staging. Super effective.
Where is Italy and France rehearsals ???
This reminded me of Australia’s light bars this year and Germany’s performance from last year. I find many similarities with Levina. The lights are similar and the staging. Surie is a great person, but the song is just not good.
I have the feeling that UK is going to end last. SuRie is a very nice person and a great performer though.
In one scenario, Slovenia or Latvia could qualify from SF2 and then finish last in the Grand Final. Otherwise, the BIG 5 strike again (or get stricken).
The last place is again for us (Spain) Don’t worry this time, brits.
This one might finish mid-table.
No way, she will be beneath you but above France & Italy! Besos!
not enough to save her from the last place
downvoted for speaking the truth smh get over it brits
Everything is getting down voted though… From both those who say it is good and those who say it is rubbish. So it’s not just Brits who are bitter.
UK, I really want you to have songs that are in the same level as your musicindustry. Especially when you have a fantastic singer whith incredible carisma. Feel sorry for UKescfaans, you deserve sucess. But it look rather good on stage so maby…
Good luck from Sweden
Can you Swedes ask Christer Bjorkman to come and have a word with the BBC so that they can fix the mess of You Decide
I think it won’t change over a night, whith or whithout Christer Björkman, and I think it will be a long process. The only way to get a lot of good songs to choose from is to make You Deside intresting for the record companis. They have to see the show as somting they and their artist will benifit to participate in. Even if they don’t win. In Sweden SVT don’t sit and wait for good songs. They go to the recordcompanies. Make them see the benefit to partisipate. ESC is’t the goal. Partisipate in melfest is. So there are… Read more »
I guess I’d have to see more of her to make up my mind… the song is growing on me tbh
It seems that the UK and Australia will end up getting compared: charismatic and competent singers, uplifting but safe songs and a similar idea of how to stage it. Both also sound much better on live performances than on the studio versions. We’ll have to see how both work with camera angles, but I believe UK’s props will give it much more depth. It’s far from exciting, but seems very decent.
Also SuRie’s stage presence is better imo
I like them both actually. Jessica seems to be more experienced, but SuRie has that “bright on her eye” thing that was quite impressive on the national final. Both seem to be very lovely and down to earth people also.
Agreed. Both are amazing people.
It vaguely reminds me of last years Melfest stage, and that’s quite a good thing.
It should’ve been Asanda!!!!
Yes, with shaky singing and out of breath.
Legends was by far the best studio version from our selection. However, Asanda couldn’t deliver a good solo vocal, live will all that dancing. It also limited itself right away with esc rules of 6 performers max on stage (Singers, pointless rapper and 4 backing dancers) Legends should have been presented as a group song to give it more vocal power. One year, the uk will sort it’s selection process out and Asanda deserves a 2nd chance with a song suitable for her range. ie a modern showgirl power ballad
She’s a great vocalist, but the song.. it’s something I just don’t understand about the UK entries (in the last few years) – a lot of the best pop artists and songs come from the UK, but UK esc entries are so.. underwhelming, to put it mildly. They are chosen by public voting, so I don’t know, did Simon Cowell corrupt musical tastes of the masses with his cheesy takent shows over the years? Or what is it?
They haven’t caught the ESC spark like France, Belgium, Bulgaria, Netherlands did in the last few years. One day they might.
Cool staging. This is the proof the live version of the song is 100x better than the studio version. Surie doesn’t have the best vocals ever but she is very charismatic and she fills the stage by herself.
I like the colours used and the EDM effects.
I think OK somg, OK performance.. With some luck she might end up in like 15th place…
I wish her well.
She won’t break
Awww… that’s the tone I would like to see in the comments section of Wiwibloggs 🙂
Agree. <3
Love, love, peace, peace ; )