He’s a 22-year-old singer-songwriter who is ready to greet Eurovision fans on the big stage at Australia Decides. And now Toowoomba’s finest Jude York has made his introduction, releasing his competing entry “I Won’t Need To Dream”.
The song, which is the second to be released from the competition, is a dreamy, almost weightless ballad. Jude imagines better times and happier days, where his dreams become real: “Soaring through the make believe, chasing something out of reach, and maybe if I wish it so, life could be the way I hope, one day I won’t need to dream.”
The contemplative lyrics married to his glorious vocals make this West End ready!
Jude York releases “I Won’t Need to Dream”
Jude co-wrote the song alongside Atlanta-based songwriter and artist Billy Stonecipher. It is, in many ways, a response to the pandemic and our shared sense of isolation and confusion.
“During this time when the future seems so precarious and it’s impossible to make plans, I couldn’t help but feel a little hopeless – about my life, relationships and career,” Jude says. “Billy and I toyed around with a few different ways of translating that emotion into music but it all fell together when I played that first line on piano.”
“The song practically wrote itself from there. We were really inspired by songs of the 30’s and 40’s like ‘Dream’ by the Pied Pipers and ‘Over The Rainbow’ by Judy Garland. The lyrics are simple and optimistic and writing it felt like I was consoling myself, singing a lullaby to help me get through this difficult patch.”
“We’ve all had an incredibly tough two years and it’s so easy to feel hopeless. I want this song to be like a warm hug to anyone who listens to it, a gentle reminder that things can get better and that dreams eventually become reality. For me, this song has already taken me further than I thought possible.”
What do you think of Jude’s song? Are you feeling inspired? Are you ready to slay your wildest dreams? Let us know down below!
Perhaps this takes too long to really take off. I was about to skip it after the first minute. But yeah, it’s beautiful.
This is my winner. Boy did I cry like a baby. This is simply Grammy material music.
Beautiful song, strong start
It reminds me of Xfactor finals type of song. Nice but not a winner.
Maybe you like different styles of music. Maybe the rest of us appreciate the beauty of a retro inspired emotional song. Don’t undermine other people’s taste because you can’t appreciate it.
Perhaps, and hear me out here, other people might have different opinions about this song to yours?
I like it, but I don’t think it sounds like a winner, I mean at least for now. Very nordic song, in a good way since it’s produced well and it has really deep lyrics. Enjoyable, but I’d like to give it a shot, if the live performance is good.
A bit too much musical theatre.
I love thuis beautiful song very much
This
The autocorrect function of phones sucks even though it can be useful sometimes.
I think the word “nice” describes this song perfectly. It’s nice. Not mindblowing, not dull – just nice.
This song gives me Didirri “Raw Stuff” vibes. With that I mean that this song will most likely be underhyped (being in the bottom of polls), won’t win, but ends up getting a deserved top 5 result in the national final.
This is just a speculation btw, don’t take it seriously. I’ll probably be wrong and Jude York will end up being one of the favorites or something, which I Won’t Need to Dream surely would deserve.
I want this to win the NF and I haven’t heard the rest. This really hit me so hard his voice is incredible and the composition is just magnificent. The lyrics are so relatable to anyone who is or has went through hard times or depression. This will impact a lot more people than people think.
Certain countries: We didn’t qualify, Europe hates me.
Australia: Hold my beer.
its so pretty. it made me cry when I first heard it. guess I was overwhelmed at how angelic jude sounds . plus he’s adorable!! ausdecides2022 already has 2 songs better than the entire ausdecides2020 lmao.
This is one of the nicest songs from the year. It might not win but it really should as it’s so gorgeous dreamy and melancholic.
After going NQ last year, it looks like Australia wants to go back to the final so hard, and I love their commitment!
Btw, this song fits the contest’s slogan perfectly. Australia Decides is shaping up as one of the best selections of the year.
Comments like this are quite funny, because who doesn’t want to qualify? It all depends on what songs get submitted for the national selection (or internal selection where they pick from multiple songs), not that one country wants it more than the other.
Different countries 100% have different levels of commitment to make the effort.
Oh, Australia definitely does not wanna stay behind in the final again.
this is really fit with the slogan this year.. the sound of beauty.. because this song is indeed so beautiful..
This is dreamy and beautiful.
And just heard Charley’s song snippet. All I can say is Australia Decides has been really strong so far.
Incredible. A song truly warming my heart, especially the first minute of the song, which is taking me to my dream.
I heard Jude is the only contestant who doesn’t have a team to compete the show (if I’m correct). Wishing him great luck, we definitely need a song like this In Eurovision.
Awww this truly is very cute and comforting! Can’t wait to see the performance in Gold Coast! Best of luck to Jude 🙂
Love this, it could be really magical with intimate staging and a celestial or starry sky LED that’s swirling around him, like Duncan’s interval performance. Giving me almost a John Lewis Christmas ad vibe at times in the best possible way.
That’s exactly what I got from this. John Lewis wouldn’t pass this up. So sweet a song. I like this better than voyager.
This selection will be so strong