The BBC have provided the goods. On Monday evening, UK commentator Graham Norton appeared on BBC One to announce that the UK’s Eurovision 2021 song is coming. The BBC’s official Eurovision account followed up on that on social media, sharing a muted snippet of James Newman’s music video. It looks current and edgy — and fans are loving it.
They also revealed that the song will drop at 09:30 GMT on Thursday. It will premiere during the wildly popular Ken Bruce show on BBC Radio 2, as well as on the more youth-orientated BBC Radio 1.
This simultaneous reveal was done for the first time last year and it shouldn’t be sniffed at. A Eurovision premiere on Radio 1 suggests the team is looking to attract younger listeners to the world of Eurovision, as the station is aimed at 18-30 year olds.
?THURSDAY – 11/03/21?
Get ready for the first play of @JamesNewmanUK’s #Eurovision entry for Rotterdam with @RealKenBruce from 09:30 on @BBCRadio2!?
And with @scott_mills on @BBCR1???
#ESC2021 | @Eurovision pic.twitter.com/ZpEBiguTwf— BBC Eurovision?? (@bbceurovision) March 8, 2021
James Newman’s Eurovision 2021 video tease
The clip released today fits with the promise James gave us that he was bringing “a banger” to the contest in 2021. It includes modern visuals at night with red and purple lighting. James emerges from a tunnel and into a party scene, where people are dancing among cars. There’s even a couple making out, suggesting the song could have a sensual edge.
At the beginning we see a speeding car buzzing down a winding road. The car is a vintage Porsche, which looks stealth and lavish in-situ. Does the car fit with one of the many rumours we’ve heard in recent weeks? You may remember that one rumoured song title was “Fast Car”. Last week a page was uploaded to music site Genius (used by Spotify) with a James Newman song, which was quickly taken down. If there’s any connection, we’ll see on Thursday.
Musical Clues
Despite the silence on the clip, we do get a hint of what is to come musically. We can see a trumpet, trombone and saxophone player all lined up and swaying, which may well fit into the bop James has said he’s bringing. British music icons Rudimental, whose sound is heavily influenced by mixing modern drum and bass beats with brass, have worked with James before.
These elements come together on “Waiting All Night” — one of the best tracks James has written. The song was a huge success, with over 220 million hits on Youtube, and nearly a million ‘likes’ on the platform. If his Eurovision song is anything like this, it would stand out. This is despite the fact we have several up-tempo tracks already this year. Could we see something from James which is more true to the powerhouse British music industry in 2021?
How was James Newman selected?
James Newman was due to represent the UK at Eurovision in 2020 before the event’s cancellation. As we know, the show didn’t go on, but James remained openly hopeful he’d be asked back.
James was initially chosen via a collaboration between the BBC and his record label BMG UK. This was a new partnership after national selection Eurovision: You Decide failed to generate results. Time will tell how successful the new method will be, but fans are already very optimistic.
Listened to the song on YouTube. I’m sticking with my comments from earlier in the week. It won’t make top 10. The whole process needs to change. A competition to select the song. Involve writers and allow artists to enter. Remember the audience!
But the people will say the low scoring is because of Brexit, UK haters etc. The song is very boring. It’s not the singer but the song itself.
GURL…..the only fail here is your poor attempt at balayage….
We have just had an article where it was stated we won’t get any points because of Brexit and the Vaccine row and in comment section people said things such as “if the UK just made some effort they would get points” I know it is just a muted clip for a few seconds but I think it’s fair to say, the BBC have teamed up with a record label, the video looks like it might be high production and James is a successful song writer in his own right. So if the song is good or bad let’s put… Read more »
I used to think the same but then realised that the way the Eurovision voting system works, a mediocre song won’t get any points. You have to get into their top 10 for a jury to vote for you or have something standout to make a viewer vote in their televote.
Hi Paul, In general I agree if you have a mediocre song it can struggle to get votes however, look at 2019 and take Slovenia – Sebi It was a nice song, staging was basic, vocals were okay, but nothing about that song or performance was special in any shape of form…. it received 105 points The UK 11 points. We also had a nice middle of the road song but good vocals (staging was poor to be fair) but comparing those 2 performances is there a 94 point difference? In my previous comment I gave Lucie Jones as an… Read more »
I disagree heavily with sebi. Sebi has absolutely phenomenal production. It was lightyears ahead of the uk in that department and its the main department which the juries consider. The production was modern and magical which could take the viewer to anither world, which is why so many people expected it to do even better than it did. Bigger than us on the other hand had basic mediocre and generic pop production, to go with awful lyrics and a bad structure overall. Not to mention that Micha el Rice was awful live. Which to the poor lads credit i think… Read more »
Hi, Well we can agree to disagree on Sebi but my point was not about Sebi specifically – it is 1 example of how mediocre to bad songs still get points I’m sure you can look at the scoreboard of past years and say “how on earth did that get so many points” My point is if the UK sends mediocre, average, bad song we will be bottom 100% If we send a good song, we might get decent points from judges but bomb televote I don’t believe the same applies to all countries – there are plenty of example… Read more »
Thanks, Paul. I was going to say the same thing. Thomas’s post doesn’t really take into account how the Eurovision scoring works (even though I’m sure he’s aware of it). Having a good but ultimately, uncompetitive song doesn’t really get you anything. The UK never seems to have an accurate view of their own songs and when they do have a song that deserves a slightly higher placing (2011, 2014, 2017 etc.), they complain that they should’ve been much higher! There’s no big conspiracy or ulterior motives. Everyone wants the UK to send something great! We’re music fans and the… Read more »
Hi, If you read my response to Paul’s comment I give you a clear example of the uneven point scoring and mention the televote and judging points – so yes I do know how it works You mention 2017 aka Lucie Jones which I highlight in my comment – we got 12 points from the televote… I have no idea what you personally thought of the song and performance but go back and compre that to other songs/ performances which were much worse and look at the televote they received You also highlight my point about being judges differently when… Read more »
But that’s not what I said. Read more carefully.
The UK gets judged compared to the other songs in the competition.Whether people hope for more from your country based on the resources you have at your disposal is irrelevant to your country’s actual placing each year.
For what it’s worth, I had your song in my top 20 last year and thought it was really good. Compared to other songs in the competition. Hopefully you send more entries like that and then the results will come.
I have re read and it is what you said …even if it’s not what you meant it’s obviously affecting how you and most people subconsciously judge the UK as there is no need to mention our music industry
I also notice you have not responded to any of my points or factually disagreed with anything I’ve said.
I am a Eurofan from the UK. Since 2000, with a few exceptions like 2002 and 2009 the song must really stand out for the public to vote for it. The public are voting for a winner and not an average song. I hope this year is a turning point for the UK. We have 5 wins and 15 second places the last second being in 1998. I cannot believe Brexit or vaccine rows will have anything to persuade the public not to vote for the UK if they have a potential winner and an excellent song
Couldn’t of put it better Thomas .
Good luck UK! Love from Ukraine.
Aww thank you! Good luck to Ukraine, Shum is one of my favourites this year!
I became a fan last year. I hope the new song meets my expectations
U.K. need to seriously get their act together. There should be a writer/singer contest on national television with knock-out stages, prizes and pride. End this lacklustre approach and involve the public. Sweden’s success is what we should try and emulate. That said let’s hope it’s a great song and on the night people vote for it if it’s deserving and end the political bias voting behaviour.
James is one of my favorite artists from this year, he seems so genuinely happy to be going to eurovision and he just seems like a really nice guy! I feel like he can do so much better than he did last year (for example the song Therapy with Armin van Buuren is really good) and I really think he can surprise everybody
So how can you call it a fail then? What a pathetic comment, judging something that even YOU admit hasn’t even been heard.
But your pre judging something you haven’t heard it’s nonsensical ffs
Come on man, you’re just throwing hate around is what you’re doing..
So little..? My Spotify playlist is filled with songs of this year’s Eurovision..
I do hope it’s a banger.. At least something that puts the UK back on the map like Birds for the Netherlands or Satellite for Germany.. Wish them the best, I truly mean that..
I totally agree, I’m cautiously optimistic and Birds was one of my favourite ever entries in Eurovision! It really was the start of the Netherlands turn around.
Let’s hope it’s more Birds than Birdie Song!
It looks like it will be an upbeat song based on that teaser. Here’s to hoping it’s good.
you dont add songs from the nf season? my eurovision 2021 playlist has 49 songs lol
It could be great. It could blow us all away. It could change the UK’s relationship with Eurovision forever.
Or it could be another middle of the road dirge that elicits only the most basic level of interest with the kind of settling-for-less dads that don’t watch or vote for Eurovision.
Place your bets.
Expecting the latter, but would be pleasantly surprised if it’s the former. We’ve got some twists this season–Denmark and Russia sending songs in their native language, Portugal sends something in English, and San Marino actually has a good song for once? What a twist!
How? There isn’t even a song in the teaser.
Looks promising. James is a credible artist. All it will come down to is how BBC will present the song on the live stage.
Do your research! God your constant negative posts on here are insufferable ?
He has written many songs that have charted in the top 10
He literally wrote songs for his brother, Rudimental, Kesha, Daya, Matoma, Jess Glynne, Olly Murs, Zayn and has collaborated with Don Diablo and Armin van Buuren. Girl, get real.
Oh boy I’m ready for it, please give us something catchy af. I’m starting to find James attractive more and more as the time goes by
He’s adorable! A proper cuddle bear
showing pessimism already..smh
What’s a fail is that Tumblr 2013 aesthetic you got going on.
LED lighting is not your color
I am trying to remain cautious but this looks so promising! The clip looks sleek and vibrant, the fact it will be released on BBC 1 to attract a younger audience shows confidence, James’ music typically seems to be uplifting and anthemic. I am so looking forward to Thursday I really hope it’s not a let down from the UK again
From the teaser it looks like it will be kinda like Guy Sebastian’s song from 2015? Looking forward to it though.
That’s good news to me. Until “Zero Gravity” that was hands-down my favorite Australian entry.
Australia 2015 showed how to make an entrance into Eurovision. Spectacular song, vocals were out of this world, dancing was amazing.
I wouldn’t say that now lol