James Newman is reigniting the UK’s Eurovision flame with his entry “Embers”. The song is about a long-term relationship having unity and excitement through everything. James, of course, returns for the United Kingdom, having been chosen to represent them in 2020. The BBC selected him again internally, for round two this year.
Scroll down for “Embers” lyrics
United Kingdom in Eurovision 2021: James Newman “Embers”
The song is quite a change from Newman’s 2020 entry “My Last Breath”. James promised us he’d bring a bop in 2021, and a bop he has delivered! The upbeat song gives us summer vibes, and fits in perfectly with The UK’s music industry. The sound and tone of the track takes us to thoughts of Love Island, and fireworks.
We have yet to hear James sing “Embers” live, but after his performances last year we have no worries. He has a soulful tone matched with power and control. When it comes to his turn on stage in Rotterdam, we have no idea what to expect. The song has been well-received by the Eurovision fandom in general, with many remarking the progress the team have made in the last year to get to this entry.
It was rumoured that The UK had some pretty big staging planned for 2020, will they do the same in 2021? Fans of James have been keen to get their opinions out there, with many hoping for the brass elements of the entry to appear in the overall package. Could the party vibes be brought about via saxophones, trumpets and trombones?
What do the “Embers” lyrics mean?
“Embers” is a romantic but energetic tune about the love in James’ life – his wife and fellow songwriter Cleo Tighe. The lyrics show solidarity as a couple come through the hard times. But it give us plenty of the good times too saying nothing can burn them out.
The song describes how all they need is each other, and they’ll be happy. They aren’t just getting by, they’re thriving and lighting up the room! The title refers to the fire in their relationship with various references to heat and flames throughout.
Upon its release, James explained the motivations behind the track: “I wanted to write an upbeat and positive song that people could have a party to. It’s about the spark between people who love each other. Just because you don’t see the people you care about all the time, doesn’t mean that spark isn’t there. Togetherness has been the main word in my mind whilst we were writing these songs. Lyrically I kept them as memorable as possible, especially the choruses. It has to be a song that everyone can sing along to, hopefully when I win!”
“Embers is about those sparks that don’t die out,” he tells the BBC. “When we were writing this, it felt like I wanted to show everyone that we were coming back together. It’s about having that connection and something reigniting. It’s about us emerging from this rubbish time we’ve been having. It fits with the idea that Eurovision is coming back.”
“Embers” lyrics – James Newman (United Kingdom ESC 2021)
Written and composed by: James Newman, Conor Blake Manning, Danny Shah, Samuel Brennan and Tom Hollings
Sometimes I know my fire burns low
But as long as you’re with me I’ll never get cold
‘Til day and night, ’til darkness and light
I never worry when you’re by my side
Oh, feelings change and seasons fade
But nothing will burn us out
Nothing can stop us now
Out of the embers
You and I are gonna light up the room
(Yeah, you and I gonna light up the room)
Out of the embers
There’s a fire burning for you
(Yeah, there’s a fire burning for you)
I feel the heat here
There’s still a chance for us
Down herе in the ashes, yeah, thеre’s something growing
Out of the embers
You and I are gonna light up the room
(Yeah, you and I gonna light)
Light up the room
Light up the room
You and me forever, we’re free
We’re cool under pressure, and that’s all we need
So take my hand, and forget the past
We’re in this together, there’s no looking back
Oh, feelings change and seasons fade
But nothing will burn us out
Nothing can stop us now
Out of the embers
You and I are gonna light up the room
(Yeah, you and I gonna light up the room)
Out of the embers
There’s a fire burning for you
(Yeah, there’s a fire burning for you)
I feel the heat here
There’s still a chance for us
Down here in the ashes, yeah, there’s something growing
Out of the embers
You and I are gonna light up the room
(Yeah, you and I gonna light)
Light up the room
Out of the embers
You and I are gonna light up the room
(Yeah, you and I gonna light up the room)
Out of the embers
You and I are gonna light up the room
(Yeah, you and I gonna light up the room)
Light up the room
Light up the room
What do you think of “Embers”? Is James Newman lighting up the room? Let us know in the comments below.
*Post-result* Wow I don’t understand why the UK keeps picking nothingy songs like this. The first time I heard it was last night in the final. I’m sorry for James and the team and the effort that everyone had clearly put in but what we ended up with was yet another inoffensive and bland Euro-pop entry. It had no point of view and frankly was instantly forgettable. It didn’t deserve any points and that’s what it got. The UK needs to stop picking songs it thinks will appeal to the lowest common denominator and start picking songs with something to… Read more »
Love this! Uplifting, great tune and James is a fab singer. We may not get close to winning but this is a winning song in my eyes. Well done and best of luck James…Enjoy yourself!
Love shine a light – Light up the room
This is not a bad effort and certainly worthy of being played on mainstream radio. If it were Sigala or KSI it would. So I was annoyed today Una when Scott Mills played the Icelandic entry on his Radio 1 show. How are we meant to progress?
He is a nice guy..If you remember last year Roxen song Wonderland ,he co-produced the song with Alexander Rybak.
I hope he has a better choreography in Rotterdam and dances more on the stage. Overall, I love it. It will definitely be in top 15, or even win with a sexy choreography.
The kind of song that no one dislikes but no one brings themselves to vote for it either ( the usual problem of UK in Eurovision ). James is really cute, it will be sad if this ends up in the bottom 6.
Hoping for amazing staging but then again, thats UK…
I will be voting for the UK this year, for the first time ever.
Surely, something is *glowing* in the ashes, right? What could be growing? I mean, the song is called embers….it has to be glowing, yeah?
I think the fire is what’s growing, that’s how they light up the room.