After fans saw the first rehearsals of the Big Five, one question was on everybody’s lips. Will James Newman light up the room? Well now, the man himself has confirmed. The United Kingdom’s Eurovision 2021 entry “Embers” will now feature pyrotechnics during the grand final stage show.
This comes after he previously said there were no plans to include pyro in the “Embers” staging.
James Newman will use pyro in “Embers” stage show
The Settle-born star confirmed the use of pyros in his “Embers” stage show during an interview with wiwibloggs on the Eurovision 2021 Moroccanoil Turquoise Carpet.
James Newman’s current “Embers” stage show features two giant white trumpets hanging from the ceiling and four dancers equipped with white brass instruments. “We love those trumpets on stage, tell us about it,” our William said while speaking to James at the opening ceremony.
“I’m glad they’re made of polystyrene ‘cause I was like, are they gonna fall on my head and kill me?” the Yorkshire singer-songwriter laughed.
“I just love the staging”, he continued. “The best thing about rehearsals is we’ve had the chance to look at it. And we’ve decided that we’re gonna put pyros into the set as well now.”
This change comes after James’ second rehearsal had no pyrotechnics. When no fire was seen in any of the United Kingdom’s run-throughs, some viewers were left wondering if pyro would make an appearance in the final stage show.
During Saturday’s press conference, wiwibloggs’ Oliver Adams asked James and the British panel:
“The phrases ‘light up the room’ and ‘embers’ suggest fire. Will there be pyro in the final performance?”
“I’m a bit worried that if there’s fire, that my jacket might set on fire which would not be fun”, James responded. “So no, we’re not doing the pyro unfortunately. But we’re still bringing the party. We’re still bringing the heat.”
This left “Embers” fans somewhat disappointed. Many described the lack of fire and sparklers as a missed opportunity given the song’s lyrics.
I asked James in the press conference: Will there be pyro in the final run?
"If there's fire, my jacket might set on fire. No, we're not doing pyro. But we're still bringing the pyro, still bringing the heat."#Eurovision #unitedkingdom
— Oliver Adams (@AlphaOliver_) May 15, 2021
But this new change suggests the British delegation are listening to criticism and responding by implementing changes.
We are yet to see a pyrotechnic rehearsal from the United Kingdom. The Big Five and host country the Netherlands will each next perform during the jury show of the semi-final they have been allocated to vote in. The United Kingdom will vote in the second semi-final on Thursday 20 May, thus James will get the chance to perform “Embers” during the evening jury show on Wednesday 19. We will have to wait and see what James’ updated performance has in store for us.
What do you think? Will the pyrotechnics add to James Newman’s stage performance? Let us know in the comments below.
No where else to putting this. We were so close to having one point. Poland jury had the UK in 11th placing aka nil poi. Sadly their televote ranked us last. A further 17 other juries placed us within their top 20. Thanks to Czech republic (13th) Bulgaira, Norway Serbia (14th) Latvia, Malta (15th) North Macedonia Spain (16th) Russia, Sweden (17th) Italy, Ukraine (18th) Australia, Austria, Finland, Germany, Lithuania (20th) Our best chance at a televote came from Malta who ranked us 14th. then nothing until North Macedonia, Lithuania, Albania & Iceland televoters ranked us 20th 3 countries, Israel, Iceland… Read more »
Historically, the BBC rarely use pyro in rehearsals anyway. Saves money.
sorry but an upbeat song like this which has lyrics alluding to fire not having pyro is very weird.. the uk are usually good at staging their previously not so good entries, why has this changed now with a better song? im happy they are thinking about using pyro now and they definitely should use some, along with lighting effects for the light up the room refrain.. people need something to remember about the peformance.
For a country that excels in everything it does, and has brilliant minds, wonderful artists and a prolific music industry I am really sorry to see the UK trying so hard but not really trying at the same time. If only they took after Italy who year after year sends their top artists, they will pretty much be the new Sweden.
I absolutely love his positivity and kindness! And I think that coat/jacket really suits him.
Jeeez everyone, give this guy a break. he has stuck his neck on the line not only writing but performing for the UK at a time no other credible artist from the UK would go anywhere near Eurovision, or if they did they would want a hefty salary. yes it isn’t going to win, yes it may not be an amazing staging, yes he may not be a great dancer, yes they have not linked the staging to every singly literal line of the song, but come on he’s having a go and it really isn’t the worst this year.… Read more »
Very well said, thank you!
Ok he would be fourth from the bottom
Glad there will be pyro. But fire and polystyrene trumpets. What could go wrong? Light up the room could bring new meaning on Saturday. Its a good song let down by bad staging and a performer that looks half asleep on stage. The genre of embers is more suited to a younger singer. Please let him trim that beard down too. It adds 10 years to his face as it is. and lose the coat. It’s so unflattering. Pre rehearsal, I had this song in my top 10. It’s now near the lower regions of my rankings and predict that… Read more »
It is all a bit desperate isn’t it? A few sparklers won’t save this dud. The outsize trumpets and that hideous coat make him look like a badly dressed borrower. The dancers are awful but most of all the song is a meh (at best.) Bottom 5 for sure and possibly last. The sad thing will be the usual “Brexit cost us, nobody likes us, let’s withdraw” nonsense that will follow.
Since we’ve been drawn for the first half of the show, I’m thinking this will be chosent o open the final on Saturday. I sense they will want a big uptemo number to get the party started’, especially since for the casual viewer, the contest had to take a year out. I prefer uptempo songs to start with, like NOX in 2005 or Cyprus’s One in 2002, and hopefully voters will remember it more, compared to Engelbert opening in 201# (and being forgotten about). I’m not a fan of the trumpets, at first I thought they were animated on the… Read more »
Overdone but good strategy, especially if your song is LITERALLY CALLED “EMBERS”
Pyrotechnics wont save this. It wouldn’t qualify from a semi final.
LOL this has got to be PR stunt. I personally wouldn’t mind if they didn’t add ‘fireworks’ because its been overdone by the last couple of UK entries’ staging but at least some pyrotechnic flares would be nice or even a lighting/backdrop display of the fire.
The song’s title is a freakin’ ember, why would you bring no real fire eh?
What do we should expect? Mud flood?
““The best thing about rehearsals is we’ve had the chance to look at it.”
Indeed.
Instead of the trumpets, Joey would have put a giant hand. 🙂
😛
unbelievable that it took them so long to figure it out when everyone was expecting pyros when they first heard the song… like what a mess!! very slow team, no wonder UK gets disappointing results. Look at Italy, France… working their asses off for effective stagings.
Considering the music video for Embers had fireworks timed to go off with the tune of the song, something James was really happy about, it is surprising that no thought to consider using and rehearsing with pyro until now.
(It’s why I said before that it’s almost like the staging was organised by Joey from Friends…”omg guys, what about pyro??”). Or maybe they just looked at Italy and thought “that’s not bad actually”.
It just shows you how the UK team is completely clueless which is shocking..
I can’t believe they never thought of bringing pyros on stage, like WTF? it’s a banger and needs pyros every time we hear the light up the room line! Seriously BBC who was the stage director??
James answer was disappointing:
“I’m a bit worried that if there’s fire, that my jacket might set on fire which would not be fun”,
Like really, can;t you find a different jacket?
Totally. It sounds like their stage director doesn’t want to take any risk at all. This is Eurovision and its about the artistic direction used to convey the message/meaning/mood of the song.
Thank goodness XD. It would have been like calling a song “Four back- up dancers and a starry background” and then featuring 0 dancers and a black LED. All jokes aside, it’s good news that the delegation is listening to criticism.
Use the pyros to burn the awful coat
It’s definitely a candidate for Barbara Dex 2021
well im glad. this song has an energy to it and without pyro this energy would be completely stripped away
(sorry if i seem strange, i just listened to arabic nokia ringtone 1 hour)