The BBC have kept their cards very close to their chest over the course of this Eurovision season. But finally — after a tense few days of speculation — the broadcaster has revealed who will wave the flag at Eurovision 2020 for the United Kingdom. James Newman will sing “My Last Breath” at the contest in Rotterdam.
Rumours around Newman’s participation reached fever pitch on Wednesday when the audio of “My Last Breath” leaked online from a Czech radio site. Now we know those rumours were indeed correct.
The big reveal was made on the Ken Bruce show on BBC Radio 2 this morning, where James was interviewed. The song was also played on the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast show with Greg James.
Meet @JamesNewmanUk representing the UK at #Eurovision 2020 with ‘My Last Breath’! ?https://t.co/UWKsu6JaQe ?? ? pic.twitter.com/iNIaZ6DPQT
— BBC Eurovision?? (@bbceurovision) February 27, 2020
Newman also used the interview on Radio 2 to confirm his appearance at Eurovision in Concert and the London Eurovision Party.
James Newman to sing “My Last Breath” for the UK at Eurovision 2020
James Newman is a British singer-songwriter. He has an extensive list of songwriting credits on many chart-hitting songs, including “Waiting All Night” by Rudimental (feat. Ella Eyre) and “Brave” by Calvin Harris (feat. John Newman).
His Eurovision 2020 entry, “My Last Breath”, is the first track in which Newman is credited as the lead artist. He has previously only been a featured vocalist on songs, such as “Therapy” by Armin van Buuren.
James Newman – “My Last Breath”
“My Last Breath” is a contemporary pop track with strong percussion instrumentation. The song begins with a strumming guitar before Newman’s vocals and a sturdy drum beat enter the scene. Things pick up further in the chorus, which features syncopated rhythms in the second half.
Lyrically, James sings to his loved one. He tells them that he’ll be there for them no matter what: “If we were deep sea divers / And no one came to find us / If you had nothing left / I’d give you my last breath”.
The track was co-written by Ed Drewett, Adam Argyle and Iain James. Between them, they’ve written numerous hits for established acts, including Little Mix, Dua Lipa, One Direction and Olly Murs. Iain James is also a past Eurovision winner. He co-wrote “Running Scared” by Ell & Nikki, which went on to win Eurovision 2011 for Azerbaijan.
Who is James Newman?
James Newman hails from Settle, Yorkshire, in North England. In 2014, he won a Brit Award for British Single of the Year for his involvement with Rudimental’s “Waiting All Night”. He has also co-written hits such as “Blame” by Calvin Harris (feat. John Newman) and “Love Me Like You” by Little Mix.
Music runs in the family. The Eurovision 2020 act is the older brother of John Newman, who also has an extensive list of songs and songwriting credits under his name.
James is also no stranger to Eurovision. He was a co-writer of “Dying to Try” by Brendan Murray, who represented Ireland at the contest in 2017.
The UK at Eurovision 2020
In September 2019, the BBC confirmed it was ditching its national final Eurovision: You Decide and turning to internal selection instead.
The broadcaster has partnered with the music company BMG. At the time of the announcement, the BBC said that BMG shared the vision of “selecting a song with broad international appeal and securing an artist who embodies the spirit and values of the Eurovision Song Contest.”
The broadcaster is hoping that this internal selection process will improve the UK’s fortunes at Eurovision. Most recently, Michael Rice finished last in the grand final of Eurovision 2019 in Tel Aviv with his song “Bigger Than Us”.
What do you make of the “My Last Breath”? Do you think the UK can reach the left-hand side of the scoreboard in Rotterdam? Let us know in the comments below!
for anyone interested. the man in the video if Wim Hof the iceman. check out his website or youtube
Just awful and I predict will be last place on the scoreboard.
I quite like it but I do feel that they should re work it somehow to give it more of an exciting climax. He has a nice voice though. They better not give us the budget staging we got last year. That was embarrassing.
It’s slightly better than last year but then that’s not saying a lot. Started off promising but lost me at the chorus and then lost interest in the rest of the song. A good attempt but likely to be down the lower end of the scoreboard
People of the UK, we are making progress
Not a bad song. Not sure it’s compelling enough to make people pick up their phone and vote though, so I don’t see this placing higher than 15th (at best).
I really like it. It’s a more solid effort than anything we’ve sent for a while, and I think it’s got quite a bit of potential for staging to help elevate it. Expecting the UK to win with it is perhaps a bit too much, though it’s a step in the right direction. I still think a mid-table finish (so around where Lucie Jones ended up in 2017) would be a sensible level to aim for this year, and it can then be built on over the next few years. I do genuinely think this could be a turning point… Read more »
To further clarify my previous remarks, I was just saying that I would love to see UK going for something more out of the box. Something raw, deeply emotional or absolutely bonkers. This is a very solid song. It really is. UK should be able to stand tall in front of Europe. This is something I can imagine playing on MTV. I’m just not sure whether this will scream ”first choice” in ESC. In any case, good luck to the UK and James!
The usual
I really like this …. not a winner but a credible effort and could represent the start of a return to some good form for the UK
I mean it is a song, which is just about the minimal requirement for the ESC. But it’s just another bland standard. Why can’t we get a welsh language rock band one year, or bit Gaelic folk infused EDM? That would show a bit of imagination and an appreciation for the diverse cultures of the UK, as well as an understanding of what the contemporary ESC is all about.
Gaelic? From the UK? Are you mad?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic
Not a contender to win but very decent, I bet juries in Western countries will eat this up! It’s not going to come last, that’s for sure.
23th or 24th place…..disappointing
Hate the start.. So offputting. Too much “American Christian Rock” feel for my liking… 16th to 20th would be good result.
Personal prediction: This will place somewhere between 15th and 19th in the final.
It’s their best song since 2017, but…it still has that “American Christian Rock” vibe to it…and if you’ve never heard American Christian rock/pop music before….most of the time it’s not that good.
The UK is at least kind of trying though and this is still better than some other countries so far. I think the UK is lucky this is kind of a weak year so far though.
Agree on the AC rock.. See my comment above.
Listened to this a few times and think it’s a pretty good entry. Have not got a clue how it’s going to fare in the contest. Think it could surprise a few people and do well but there is always the danger with these type of entries that it just gets lost in the mix. Think this could sneak into the top ten if performed well but also wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up 21st.
Disappointed.
Oooooh, I do like this! Will need a powerful staging but the song and singing is rock solid! Well done, UK!
The UK really doesn’t put much effort into their Eurovision decisions. I swear it’s like they just pull an entry out of a hat and go “ok fine, whatever”
In what way is there no effort? Partnering Up with a record label, actually creating a credible music video, being announced on Radio 1 not 2 (if you live in the UK you would understand the difference/significance) using credible song writers and producers – the singer being someone who has written for the likes of Ed Sheeren!
in your opinion that = “fine whatever”
Yes it’s a “fine, whatever” entry. There’s nothing new or exciting here. Just safe and boring like they do 90%of the time.
The difference between Radio 1 and 2 is that Radio 1 gets a lot fewer listeners….
Generic pop song. UK bringing the same as usual. He sings ok but the song is boring and forgettable.
Why are they even participating? They send boring songs, they don’t like anything that contains Euro.. No one is noticing their presence at ESC anyhow.. unless someone jumps on the stage and steals the mic.. wink wink..
It’s basically the same guy and song for UK for two years in a row. LOL
Nothing crazy hypeworthy, right but I like it more than anything UK send since Lucie Jones.
But this talking part is cringeworthy. I hope it’s exclusive to music video.
I believe it is, Dawid. In the audio leaked in the Czech site there’s no talking.
<3
This is honestly the best UK entry in a while.
I think since at least 2013.
I mean, at least it’s bigger than Bigger Than Us.
I read the comments before listening to the song and wasn’t expecting much, but this is actually a pretty decent entry from the UK! Not going to win, but far better than recent efforts.
This will do well with the juries, it feels very current. Think we won’t embarrass ourselves this year 🙂
The best UK entry for a Long period.
6/10
Similar vibe and sound to last year’s song. I think it’s very forgettable.
5/10 not really that good poor effort u.k BMG clean your ears out if you think this is gonna do anything poor quality song
It’s ok luv, I get why you have a dislike of ‘chubsters’ and have an avator of a dog. You must be a chubster too and hiding it…
Its nice I guess but doesnt have anything to make you vote for it
Wow! I think they actually succeeded this time. Has it ever been this much reactions on wiwibloggs for an entry from the UK? I don’t think so. They really nailed this one. I don’t even care what I think about the song myself. The real golden here is the major reactions. Normally, UK gives quite a few reactions. So I think they did it now!
Good song, but not very much else to say about it. Hopefully translates to some points.
Arriving late to this party, so I don’t have anything fresh to say. Nice song, good voice, not something people will love passionately, but a decent enough entry to keep the UK away from the last place and maybe get a solid midtable position if they play all the right cards. Of course I still think BBC could aim higher, but at least this time they went for something that you can imagine existing beyond Eurovision.
I honestly don’t think they’ll place last this year. But I also thought Michael wouldn’t, so… I really can’t understand when Big 5 countries decide to play so safe. They’re already in the final, we know that their song will have a backlash anyway (even when they don’t deserve), so why not dare to pick something that may be niche, but can build a passionate fanbase?
Yeah, also thought comparing to Anouk was a very long strecht. I would say it’s more like Spain’s situation. Both countries took a step on the right side, but a timid one.
Wow, looks like the BBC know how to select a good track!
Didn’t listen to it yet, I thought I might stay clean until May, or am I missing something if I won’t listen to it?
Wow, UK, this is a not too shabby track! Although “Last Breath” didn’t blow my socks off, it’s still much more memorable than their previous entries. It’s not an entirely different direction, as a matter of fact it’s quite similar to “Bigger Than Us”, “Storm” or “You’re Not Alone” in its radio-friendliness and motivational tone (and it’s does feel a bit like a safe choice as well), but this is a feel-good song done right. It hits all the right notes, you can hum it after the first listen, James’ voice matches the style perfectly, I see no reason why… Read more »
Not bad, I like the start of the song, chorus not so much, he has good voice. Looking at the comments I’m surprised, like we don’t want to say this is so much worse than others, right?
Germany is presented by Ben Dolic with the song violent things and the song is sooo good!
We even have the video https://youtu.be/cX3tHlCt3sw
Just heard Israel’s songs and wow they are coming to win this year!
It’s decent enough, but who will remember it after Ulrikke, The Roop and Go_A has been on stage on the big night? My guess is probably not enough to save it from last place – unless Germany sends something equally as uninteresting.
I think France has made reservations to be this year’s last place finisher, but I think this could get a relatively decent result of the UK If it is stage right and James performs it well.
I like it. Probably not enough to vote for it, but it’s my favorite UK entry since at least 2014.
In the chorus, it sounds like he is singing “yus” instead of you/us, but maybe that’s just me?
If they actually were deep sea divers trapped underwater, and he did give her/him his last breath, wouldn’t she/he just drown a moment later anyway? Breaths don’t last very long. It’s a nice gesture, I guess.
Owh yes, I hear that now. It is a Yorkshire vowel he uses on the word “us”. That’s all. 🙂
Thanks – I actually love when people sing in their own accents, rather than adopting some fake American voice completely different from how they actually speak. It’s rare enough.
I guess they’d “hold their breath till their face turned blue” and “swim under water until their lungs exploded”, just like Frans in 2016.
A good song from UK (the last year was also very good)! I think that literally everyone underrate UK.
Out of 15 song this is my 4th.
“Fans” may be idiots, but why call them out on it? What do you want us “fans” to say, beyond if the song is “nice” or not. Seriously, the whole point of Wiwibloggs comments section is that we are all invited to express our opinions on the songs. If we can’t even do that without being called “idiots” then what is the point?
Please, tone yourself down. Thank you.
EvEryThiNg GeNeRic
Generic generic generic
everybody just spam the word generic, linus/rasmus would probably explode
I do find the chorus is an ear worm – when it’s listened to on it’s own, doesnt mean it will be when surrounded by 25 other songs. The weakest thing is that there isnt any build up, it just ends.
Eurovision fans have the memory span of a goldfish and these comments provide all the proof you need. ‘Nice’, ‘decent’, ‘ok’, ‘a relatively big step forward’, are all comments made about each UK entry since Engelbert Humperdinck, but everyone forgets what these comments mean in the reality of the scoring system Fans have also forgotten that to score any points you have to be memorable enough to be ranked in the Top 10 and not the Bottom 16 songs. This song is bland enough to not be ranked 26th but it’s not getting into the top 10 of more than… Read more »
Your description is actually what happened to Michael Rice
1. Not all fans care about the scoring system.
2. If you are getting bored of having this conversation every year, then you can either petition to the BBC to drop Eurovision or perhaps complain to Ofcom.
Generally-speaking, it is not a good idea to call out “the fans,” who are really only trying to be honest about their feelings towards the song. None of the circumstances you mention about the UK are the fault of the fans – I would like to make that clear. Thank you.
No one, absolutely not a soul has ever described Electro Velvet as “nice”, “OK” or “decent”
It’s fine. It will do fine I think. If they’ve got what seems like such a good team of songwriters I’m surprised they came up with 2 and half minutes of okay. I think the UK will able to elevate the standing enough however and make something of it
I like the song and lyrics! I don’t think it is a winner, but it is a major step up from the past years’ UK entries. I think for sure this could bring UK a respectable position this year. Top 15?
I’m tired of all the people calling a slightly slower tempo song a “ballad”.