He’s the British TikTok star who has amassed a staggering 12 million followers with his viral covers of Adele, Lady Gaga and Sia. And now Sam Ryder is earning even more fans amid speculation that he’s the UK’s Eurovision 2022 singer with his recently-released song “SPACE MAN”.
Fans have been connecting a series of dots which they’re convinced pin Sam for the contest in Turin.
They’ve pointed out that the Essex-based star recently cancelled a gig in Glasgow on May 15 — that’s the day after the Eurovision grand final in Torino.
Separately, Scott Mills, who presents the BBC’s coverage of the Eurovision semi-finals, recently made “SPACE MAN” Tune of the Week on his Radio 1 show. Fans pointed out that Scott seemed particularly keen…
On radio 1 today @scott_mills was strangely really promoting @SamRyderMusic and then played his 3 min version of space man???#Eurovision #Eurovision2022 #eurovisionuk @bbceurovision pic.twitter.com/q1Nh7itEbJ
— Lewis Howard (@LewisHoward134) March 2, 2022
As y’all already know, TaP Music — the company that previously managed Dua Lipa — has been tasked with finding this year’s song and entry.
Ben Mawson, the co-founder of Tap Music, follows Sam on Instagram. (And so does Spain’s Eurovision 2022 singer Chanel, who apparently wants to watch his official lyric video for “SPACE MAN” on slow mo, mo, mo…)
Ben previously told Music Week that Scott’s input has been vital to choosing this year’s artist for the BBC. He said:
“It’s been fantastic to work so closely with the BBC on this project so far, in particular Radio1 and Scott Mills – who’s offered incredible insight and has been a major part of the team. Radio 1 – the voice of youth culture – is vital to the Eurovision audience which as we know is skewing younger every year. It’s really important to us that this year’s Eurovision has the feel good factor, we want everyone to get behind the act, enjoy the show and hopefully celebrate a great U.K. performance on the night.”
Sam Ryder — “SPACE MAN” lyric video
That’s the rumour. But what if it’s true? Do you think that “SPACE MAN” would do the UK proud? And how would it fare compared to recent British entries? Where would you rank this in your current tops list? Let us know in the comments box down below!
great topic to think about
The more you listen to it, the more you realise how very little there is to the song, other than enabling some rather show offy vocal pyrotechnics. Will be somewhere between 15th and 25th in my opinion. Rather like Lucie Jones and her dreary dirge, I think it will do moderately well with juries who tend to go for this dreary wailing but will fail with the public vote.
The guy can sing and the song is clearly better than last year’s shocker (not difficult) but it’s still way off the mark compared to what we can expect as competition from the other countries. I’m sure there will be worse songs but unfortunately most will be much better than this mediocre offering. It’s bottom 5 material.
Looks like the BBC/TaP haven’t been paying much attention to the type of songs that have being doing well at Eurovision in the past few years.
I think this song is gorgeous. Plus, I think it sounds very British (sounding like the country you are representing is quite appreciated at ESC). I have listened to it this morning for the first time and couldn’t listen to it just once. Really beautiful.
I am very happy that the UK is bringing quality to ESC. Maybe because I am Spanish and we are always together at the bottom, but the thing is I want the UK to do well and I think they can do with this.
all will be revealed today. 10th March.
Scott mills joing Greg James on bbc radio 1 this morning after 9am and Zoe Ball announced she’ll be playing the song on bbc radio 2, at 9:15am
Tbh i kinda like it ??
Claudia Valentina with a song like 4:15 would have been WAY WAY better, she has had a few hits, she can dance like crazy, and has a good vocal.
I just see Sam stood at a microphone stand with some galaxy’s behind him
Galaxy chocolate bars??
I know, a single giant moon. No-one’s thought of that before, have they?
It will be something really original like a cartoon man riding a rocket as it goes up in a starry sky. Then ends with some x factor sparklers behind him. Yawn.
It’s very mediocre, again targeting an older Audience, we need something youthful to switch it up
Probably finish around 18th with help from the jury.
You are aware that both Sam and ‘Space Man’ still haven’t been confirmed yet, right?
Am I the only one who thinks that this could do alright? It’s nothing stellar (ironically) but it’s closer to the kind of stuff that usually comes top 15 or so than what we usually send.
looks like another year in the bottom 3 for the UK, what a surprise. we need to just pull out of the big 5 and let a more deserving song get in to the final each year instead of making a mockery of ourselves as per
You are aware that both Sam and ‘Space Man’ still haven’t been confirmed yet, right?
I guess having 12 million Tick Tock followers helps, and cancelling his concerts in May, as well as making a 3 minute version of the song, as well as having airplay on Radio 1 and 2 (prior to any announcement) is a key this may be very well true. Playing the song before any announcements is a good way to get publicity and to focus on the song and the singer as an artist rather than a focus on it being the UK entry which immediately brings negative criticism. If this is the song, then kudos to Sam , it… Read more »
Every year the UK entry is announced and we get the “credible”, “radio friendly”, “if the staging is right” comments from fans desperate for the UK to do well claiming we will be left hand side of the board. A mediocre song (obvious rip off of Arcade and Gijon Tears) sung by someone who has never made the faintest dent on the UK national charts (or anywhere else.) Juries will like – they go for pretentiousness and all that wailing – but viewers not so much.
20 million now on Tick Tock , this is the new route to success in the 21st Century, It’s no longer about national charts. Most celebrities are famous now due to connection with social media, their blogs, etc. This is where people are making lots and lots of money globally or they have no chance at all. I personally dislike Tick Tock because I am old school, but this is the new norm now and the way things are today and in the future. I respect your opinion , but I disagree and I think this will do very well… Read more »
There are cats with millions of followers on TikTok.
Are any of them available?
The British Isles don’t really try, do they…
If I may correct. It isn’t the British Isles who arent trying. Its the BBC and whoever they are partnering with that year. The public despair as much as everyone else
Once again the BBC has let down the public and tap music should sack. . Sam sound good guy but I am very concerned about the song why can’t the public have say our Entry like Sweden. . we don’t want shows like Eurovision you decide and having rylan as a judge on it come on BBC it’s time to get your act together
Why can’t each U.K. nation send its own song ?! I’m fed up of Londoners choosing what represents us.
he is from Essex , which is outside London. he is not from London.
You do realise the BBC’s Eurovision team has literally just moved to Manchester, all of their team and work it based there lol
“Scott Mills offered incredible insight and has been a major part of the team.”
What insight? He sneers at entries like The Roop, who do well. If Mills is a major part of the UK team, then my confidence is at Electric Velvet levels.
Scott Mills is awful. He really doesn’t get Eurovision at all
Think they mean because he is gay he gets Eurovision. Which sadly he doesn’t
This is radio friendly and whilst it doesn’t have the unique/stand-out/alternative (whatever you want to call it) quality that we often see in winners (Maneskin, Netta, Salvador Sobral, Jamala) UK Eurovision fans should hope the plan is to give this serious radio play and make it known to audiences before Eurovision. I mean history suggests this will not happen, and it’s probably a different act altogether singing a dud song, but there’s potential to do well. He’s a great jury-friendly singer, and this could have very powerful staging (2017 showed the U.K. can nail staging) and if it’s already familiar… Read more »
They said all that radio friendly nonsense about Embers
I guess this all comes down to opinion, and radio hit does not indicate quality (just listen to the radio) but people calling Embers radio friendly weren’t wrong. Embers was radio friendly, they just didn’t play it enough. The BBC/UK makes an active choice every year not to make their song a hit across Europe going into Eurovision (for some acts like Electro Velvet and Joe and Jake that would be an incredibly uphill battle.) but both James Newman songs, Children of the Universe, Storm to an extent could have been radio hits going into the contest if they had… Read more »
I think that is nonsense. Europe and Australia did like ant of those songs so why would the British public be any different? None made a dent on out chart. Embers was dreadful from the get go. Only the UK would take a charismatic number 1 artist like John Newman and decided to send his less attractive, untalented brother instead. And I got nearly as many points sat at home on my sofa as Suri did
London grammar are the UK’s entry, with a song called turn back time will be officially announced Thursday 10th
How do you know?
Was posted on Hannah Reid’s Twitter account a few weeks ago that the band had a exciting announcement on march 10th regarding their new single turn back time. It was deleted about 20 mins after being posted. They’ve always said they were open to Eurovision if they had a he right material and the free time. They recently officially signed to Tap music who will be promoting their new single. They had two concerts scheduled Wednesday and Thursday of eurovison week which have just been rescheduled. Spaceman couldn’t be used at the UK’s entry anyway as it would be disqualified,… Read more »
Thank you for the infos! Yeah, hopefully tomorrow we will find out!
It’s going to be announced tomorrow morning!
Incorrect and it was fake rumour with fake Twitter accounts and links set up.
I would be happy with that ngl. I love London grammar…I don’t know that you believe anymore they need to just announce something… But I think the rumours would have been confirmed by now if the Sam Ryder thing was true
Really wanted a banger, but get why UK would opt for a slower song due to last years ‘iconic’ reaction. He has the vocal, if this is what BBC choose over London Grammar, I hope they’ve saved some of the budget for staging.
want a banger? what, like embers? That turned out well.
this song is way too bland for eurovison. he sounds nice, the song is just a tad trite unfortunately.
this song has so many layers. Wait till you hear him perform it live. It will blow your socks off.
I think this could be a great entry for the UK
I was very against this song (mid temp male balad) but I’ve randomly done a u-turn and think it’s a great entry, it actually sounds British, has a slight Elton John quality to it.
And he has a big fan base. If the bottom of the barrel was last year with null point embers, this will defo atleast place higher than that.
Does it sound British? He’s got one of those cod-American accents so favoured by singers from the UK
Like Adele. And Elton John.
He has a great voice but sadly the song doesn’t do anything for me. I can’t quite understand the hype around it because it sounds like something that would go to You Decide. I guess our entry has been hyped up so much I’m slightly underwhelmed with this. I was expecting a more impactful song which I don’t feel Space Man is sadly.
We used to think these verses come from some kind of Osmosis, but No. They come from a Nazi Manual.
It wouldn’t make sense for this song to represent the UK. It was around last year which I thought was against the song writing rules.
Also Radio 2 normally do an unveiling of the official song… which they didn’t.
I hope it isn’t our song this year anyway.
A “grower” is no use as a Eurovision song… it needs to have instant impact. This doesn’t.
The song is good, his voice is great and I like it, not to win, but can be 10 to 15 place
Ken Bruce is literally playing “Space Man” on BBC Radio 2 right now! 😀
The UK commentator for radio, don’t forget…
I love.
May not the favour of all people but I want listen more.
Bravo Uk
RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCORE BOARD
As if this is our entry this year. He’s been singing it since last October!
Thursday is going to be a shocker for you
And songs can be entered in Eurovision as long as they are released after 1st September 2021.
Been listening to this a few times since the news first broke out and I can safely say this is the best entry UK has produced in a looonnnggg time. The hook is just *chef’s kiss* and the guy can sing! I’m excited for the UK this year!
I think if it was this the BBC would not have allowed Scott Mills to make it his record of the week. I think it’s going to Cheryl Baker guest starring with Jemini this year. BBC just give up and let another broadcaster put some real effort into this. Look how FR2 have revitalised Frances’ selection of songs in the past few years.
Radio 2 A-list the entry every year though
They didn’t with Blue
Which was 11 years ago! I didn’t mean every year since 1956…
I don’t think another broadcaster would show interest in taking part, I know S4C has historically been interested but the adult contest is surely beyond their scope compared to the times they took part in JESC.
Great song but this is wishful thinking. Too good to be true lol
I’m not sure why people are so against this. If you were expecting a megastar to come represent the UK this year, don’t hold your breaths. As someone who hasn’t been a fan of the UK at all in Eurovision, I actually like this. It may not be a winner or be particularly out-of-the-box, but it’s not a soulless Melfest entry either. Based off a first listen, I think it’s catchy, it’s contemporary, there’s feeling in it; I love the rasp in the lower parts of his voice, and we know he can sing live. I think this is a… Read more »
Agreed!
I heard the UK act is a collab between The Chemical Brother’s featuring Engelbert Humperdinck. A massive EDM house banger!
Love the usual comments, UK are not being risky, too middle of the road etc etc. They say It’s not UK bashing but if this was France, Italys or Swedens song the negative Nancys would be foaming at the mouth declaring it the outright winner. Just shows the negative bias towards the UK. But our music scene doesn’t need Eurovision I suppose..
Anyway I digress, if he is our entry this year he is one of our best since 1997 and even has the potential to win.
Looking through the comments some people love this song and some don’t. Maybe this is the divisive entry that the UK need to send but we just don’t know it. My personal opinion is that when I first listened to this song, I instantly wanted to play it again (and again) and I have no doubt that Sam will nail the vocal performance. This song has great potential for staging and while I think the song has a quality feel about it with great vocals, I still do think it is in the “safe zone” and has a generic feel… Read more »
Look at the commentary, good and bad. Everyone has a strong opinion. Case closed, it’s a lock for the UK and potential top 5 finisher. The staging will either kill or lift this to the top. BBC, no more BS, get a creative director for staging who is successful at ESC (meaning no one at the BBC)!
I was skeptical at first but upon seeing the piano version am convinced of the great potential. How can someone save the BBC from messing this up?
His voice is really interesting and I like his song ‘More’ and Tiny riot. A defined stage presence. But watching some of his live performances I just noticed he strained his voice unnecessarily and he needs a voice coach.
In my opinion if his song for Eurovision would be Space man, it won’t be the right one.
Once again the negativity on this site reaches new levels. He hasn’t been confirmed. For all we know it could be someone completely unknown or someone like Sam who is fairly known but not world famous. The song hasn’t been confirmed. Even if it is Sam, Tap may have a new song for him. As others have said, he has been singing this song since at least October 2021. This song is the best since Molly in 2014. With good staging it could really elevate it. Look at Lucie in 2017. I hated the studio version of the song, but… Read more »
That would be Molly who finished 17th and scored 40 out of a possible 274 points. Hardly a high bar
to be fair they ruined Molly with the lifeless staging
They did. And that hideous dress. But it was never a winner
One of the best voices in the competition but I think he has some better songs. E.g. Tiny Riot.
It’s a shame that Tap music obviously haven’t done any research and this song choice is a missed opportunity.
I think the song is fine. However, Sam seems very charismatic and with that voice and decent staging, I think it could be mid table.
Good luck UK.
Great voice, predictable song.
They can’t afford predictable anymore.
You cant be serious, UK made a contract with tap music to send a commercial act that can dominate charts to end up with someone from tiktok with a song that can be max in the top 200? I refuse to believe this
Well Dua Lipa and Lana were busy that day, you see. They said maybe next year.
atleast it ain’t an Xfactor reject and its someone with a following, who can sing with song that’s the best we’ve seen in years.
That was hilarious but I don’t think it’s meant to be- is it?
Then again I took someone’s advice and looked up the acoustic version – and wow – I love it
The acoustic version is so much better I agree.
Why is the UK obsessed with mid-tempo soft rock for Eurovision?
They said that this year they were seeking an artist who had proved they could command the stage, with a proven track record of singing and performing to a large live audience. So how did we seemingly get a tik tok karaoke singer doing a second rate rip off of Arcade. I despair if this is our entry. I will probably be attacked for saying that – as I have been each of the last few years for calling out the UK entry. Wont be a nil pointer if it is our entry as juries seem to love this pretentious… Read more »
You said it my friend. It has potential though – potential to be yet another nul pointer.
Sam has masses of stage experience, touring america as frontman for a couple of bands.
Just watched the piano version on YouTube and I take back all my hideous comments. It’s brilliant!! I’m such an awful judge 🙁 However I still don’t think this is our entry. He’s been singing it for months
i think we should just send opera
Worked for Estonia xD
Oh God have you checked his Instagram? He’s a shouty hipster 🙁 Also he’s got way too many followers for the UK to send him. Bet it’s not him!
I’m sure I’d read somewhere that London Grammar were locked in for the UK
That’ll be just a rumour!
Next year I’m withdrawing from all online Eurovision-related platforms just to avoid annoying leaks that destroy all the hype that I have.