Eurovision is serious business, with over 180 million people tuning in to watch Europe’s largest televised entertainment event. And yet every year some contestants tune out all the pressure and just show up and do their thing. This year, for his tremendous spirit, we take our hats off and salute the United Kingdom’s James Newman.
We’re pleased to announce James Newman as the winner of wiwibloggs’ Vision Music Award 2021 for Least Bothered by the Results.
This award was voted for by members of the Wiwi Jury.
James Newman wins Least Bothered by the Results at the Vision Music Awards 2021
James Newman is a name Eurovision fans will likely never forget.
At the Eurovision 2021 grand final in Rotterdam, James sang “Embers” starting from ninth position, following Serbia’s Hurricane with “Loco Loco” and preceding Greece’s Stefania with “Last Dance”. There, he hoped to bring the United Kingdom back to Eurovision glory.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be.
After the first portion of voting, “Embers” stood in 26th place with zero points from the professional juries. And when the televote points rolled in, James remained at the bottom of the scoreboard. This made the Settle-born star the first act ever to receive nil points from both the jury vote and televote since the introduction of the split result scoreboard.
But James Newman, being the good sport he is, didn’t let the results get to him. After the initial shock, the British representative rose to his feet, beer in hand, and jumped around with his delegation. The crowd inside the Rotterdam Ahoy arena matched his response with an uproar of applause.
And he was in good company. In the moments following, hosts Jan Smit and Chantal Janzen announced Germany’s Jendrik, Spain’s Blas Cantó and the Netherlands’ Jeangu Macrooy also received zero points from the public.
In the days following the contest, James cleared the air with a statement on social media:
“The thing about writing songs is that there is no guarantee that a song you think will connect with people will connect with an audience.
Thank you to all the amazing dedicated fans who have supported me through the whole thing made it all worth it. Because at the end of the day they are the people who you do this all for.
I just want to say a huge massive thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has been on this journey with me, supported me, listened to my music and filled my life with positivity and love.
The times when it doesn’t play out how you hoped it might, teach you how to pick yourself up and be stronger.”
The results might not have gone in James Newman’s favour, but the United Kingdom should be proud of James’ good sportsmanship and song contest etiquette. He’s a class act!
Vision Music Awards 2021
This award is just one of 14 awards we have launched as part of the Vision Music Awards 2021 (VMAs).
Our 14 categories — from Best Dressed to Best Use of Social Media — identify the contestants who left the biggest impression on Eurovision fans, regardless of whether they won the contest or not.
Click here to see the remaining categories, and stay tuned to find out the remaining Vision Music Award winners!
Do you agree that James Newman was the act least bothered by the Eurovision results? Who else deserves an honourable mention? Let us know in the comments down below.
Oh yeah, because you were physically there and he told you.
Stop being a troll. It was visible for all to see that he got up and responded with the response that was televised. One that came naturally to him. No dissapointment but a truly heartfelt and celebratory roar. Good for him.
Don’t kick someone when they’re already down. Its classless
its true. he complained quite a bit during the esc week. the trumpets, the covergae he got, even local coverage was very “we will see im trying though”
The award belongs to bbc, for almost 20 years they ridicule a country and destroy careers using tax payers money. What an achievement.
James had great energy and passion when the results were announced. Loved his reaction. A true good sport. Shame that he came across flat, out of breath and lackluster energy in his stage performance.
Deserved to come last.
His twitter account has been very very quiet since his ev statement.
What do you know
Should be the BBC getting the award, Because they are NEVER bothered!
Perhaps my favourite reaction to 0/low points is Wilke Abertie, from 1994 (Netherlands). According to an interview with her conductor, when the points rolled in and they had nothing for so long, they rolled around “In uncontrollable laughter!”
That’s the way to do it!
I think you’re confusing James for Destiny.
I think his reaction was dignified and classy. He didn’t pull a face, just got up and cheered. And that’s the spirit of someone who, despite not getting any points, was going to make the most of the spectacular event where almost all artists only get to experience one (if lucky, twice).
Poor Destiny was hyped up for months only to have a disappointment. I am sure James knew deep down he wasn’t going to get a fantastic result. I mean the BBC goal seems to be getting on the bottom of the left hand side of the scoreboard. Gotta aim for the stars, then you reach the tree tops!
theres no bigger embarrassment than being from the UK tho
While we’re (kinda) on the topic of nul points, can I suggest an idea I have for an alternate scoring system? In my ideal system, countries award 1 to 30 points to their top 20 songs, instead of 1 to 12 for their top 10. Basically, you give 30 points to your favourite, 28 points to your 2nd favourite, 26 to your 3rd, and so on until you get to 12 points for your 10th favourite. And then, 10 points for your 11th favourite, 9 points to your 12th favourite, and so on until 1 point for your 20th favourite.… Read more »
I think the Kid’s ESC system would be better even though: A) it could be a logistical nightmare, particularly given I’d like non-European viewers and fans, like Americans and Argentines, to vote . B) although James would have got points (unless he got 0.05% of televotes worldwide and I don’t think him and Jeangu were that low, probably 0.7-1%) he would still have been pinned to the bottom, with Jeangu – my fave of the 4 – faring similarly badly in this section (Jendrick would have fared better though) C) after a few decent campaigns, we could still have a… Read more »
Wow, that is so interesting! I’m not sure if I prefer this format but I see some interesting changes in the 2021 results, like Moldova dropping 7 places (what) and things that stayed the same like the whole top7 and obviously the uk in last place lol
Thanks for crunching those numbers. That would of been ages of work and it is good to see ideas thought out.
However the United Kingdom came last anyway you sliced it and the British media would of continued with its “Europe hates us” schtick as it does.
The last few years have seen many changes to make the voting fairer and/or more interesting but the UK aren’t going to benefit till they take a dare and send out there songs, not pleasant radio songs. And a singer who performs their heart out for the jury final and the big night.
I think the BBC was bothered (as it should), not James
I think he had a great song. Modern and well produced. Very catchy. And I like his spirit. ESC is SO much more than results. To show what you stand for musically is actually more important I think. And the singers / band display their music for millions anyway. There are always some people who will like it. There are many good songs which have come last during the ESC-history. But the results don’t make them inferior
The UK like Ireland had a good quality song this year, let down by a shabby performance and stageshow. However, nil points was totally undeserved (despite the UK sending atrocious songs and still managing to score).
Wasn’t helped by an incredibly strong final this year
This year’s semis were as strong as 2016 and 2018! Not so sure about the final…
Which is fair enough. He seems a decent guy and it must have been horrible for him
How do you know?
It’s been an unusual year results wise, just where songs at the lower end received little to no points, and voters just preferring what came in the top ten. Whilst the current voting anncoment system is exciting, it is also very harsh, with each delagation having to hear how little points they received, one by one with a camera crew in their face. That’s just the way it is for better or worse, must feel like a real gut punch. In Tel Aviv many acts looked shocked or gutted (like Lake Malawi), but after a year like 2020 it feels… Read more »
lol i would’ve expected flo rida to win this
Has he said anything about the experience? Did it dent his ego?
he doesn’t give a sh*t he barely mentioned anything about it on instagram during the whole build up and nothing afterwards. it didn’t dent his ego because barely any of his fans knew about it
Flo Rida’s whole career is adding rap bits to other peoples songs. Or getting other singers to perform chorus on his song. So I can’t see this as any skin off his nose.
was there anybody else nominated? or is this award especially created for him so that at least he gets something? the latter I suppose….
They do this award every year.
Ayyy, at least the UK won at something! Absolutely agree with wiwi’s choice and actually I think Jendrik is a close second. Bravo to James anyway!
P.S. Senhit and Flo Rida deserved it. #Not