The BBC continue to keep their lips tightly sealed about who will follow Sam Ryder and represent the United Kingdom on home soil at Eurovision 2023 – but that hasn’t stopped the rumour mill from turning.
What we do know is that the BBC will once again be working with TaP music – the company that’s worked with the likes of Dua Lipa, Lana Del Rey and Ellie Goulding. Whilst the artist does not necessarily need to be signed to TaP (as was the case with Sam Ryder), they will be working closely with the music group to come up with the perfect act, in an effort to give the UK its first Eurovision win in over 20 years.
In recent weeks, the hottest rumour to surface is that BRIT-nominated pop songstress Rina Sawayama may have a go. Fans have noticed that she has a gaping hole in her busy schedule between February and June… exactly the period when she would be needed for Eurovision promo, rehearsal and competition duties. And then there’s her song “Frankenstein” – released conveniently just after the September cut off date – which rolls in at just over 3 minutes.
In this article we are going to highlight 5 reasons why this rumour makes us wet our knickers with excitement, and why Miss Sawayama would be an incredible representative of the United Kingdom at Eurovision 2023.
The Radio Times has reported that Rina is NOT headed to Eurovision. But we can still dream…
1. Rina Sawayama is a big deal
One reason it would be a revelation sending Ms Sawayama to Eurovision is that the UK would be sending someone that’s actually relevant in the music industry today. Her 2022 album ‘Hold The Girl’ reached #3 in the UK charts, and she enjoys over 4 million monthly listeners on Spotify. She has embarked on 3 headline tours, and this year she has been nominated for a BRIT award for ‘Best New Artist’ – defying the rampant ageism in the pop industry. Our girl is 32 years young.
2. She’s a Japanese-British trailblazer
Rina Sawayama represents the UK’s multicultural make up, being born in Niigata, Japan, and moving to London at the age of five. She is not only an inspiration for immigrants to the UK – reaching such success after arriving with no knowledge of the English language – but someone who fights against systemic racism, singing about her identity as a Japanese Brit. All of the UK’s representatives in the past decade have been white. That’s unsettling given how culturally rich and diverse the U.K. is.
3. She’s an authentic queen
Rina writes and produces her own music. She’s a hands-on creator who pours herself into her art. Authenticity is something that has become more and more valued at Eurovision in recent years, with the majority of top placing songs being written or co-written by the performers themselves. And let’s make it clear that it’s not just any old songs she writes… her music is really, really good.
4. She’s an LGBT icon
After coming out in 2017, Rina has solidified her status as a fully bonafide LGBT icon. She identifies as both bisexual and pansexual, and makes a point of openly writing about girls in her music. Continually fighting for LGBT rights, she signed an open letter to the British government to ban LGBT conversion therapy in 2020. We stan diversity, we stan freedom, and we stan a gay icon. Enough said.
5. She’s Eurovision-ready
And her music isn’t just great – it’s also made for Eurovision. Albanian veterans would be envious of the sassy post-chorus guitar solos in “This Hell,” and the epic key change in her 2022 hit “Hold the Girl” gives Sanna Nielsen a run for her money. What’s more is that her costuming and staging are breath-taking. From Renaissance peasant to futuristic space girl, she knows how to make a spectacle – and she certainly would not go unnoticed at Eurovision. And we haven’t even mentioned those vocals yet!
In recent days the Co-founder of Tap music, Ben Mawson, has in fact responded to these rumours in an Instagram post, confirming that the UK’s Eurovision 2023 entry will indeed not be Rina’s “Frankenstein”. That said, he confirmed that the song is yet to be chosen – meaning that we cannot rule out the chance of Miss Sawayama representing the UK with a new song. There is still hope!
We still have no news as to when the BBC will be revealing their act for Eurovision 2023, although if it’s anything like last year, the song may be lingering around radio airplay before it gets confirmed – so keep your eyes and ears peeled. We’re waiting… and we hope to see Rina step out of the rumour mill and onto the Eurovision stage very soon.
What do you think? Could Rina Sawayama bring the trophy home for the UK? Is there anyone else you suspect the BBC may choose? Let us know in the comments below!
Saw her in concert in stockholm last week and SHE GAVE ME CHILLS OF HOW EFFING GOOD SHE’S LIVE. If she’s going I’d have to replace Loreen for her.
This Hell would be good for Eurovision. A real banger!!
She doesn’t need ESC. She is doing great already. Taking part in the contest would be a step backwards for her career. She already has BRIT and VMA noms and maybe a Grammy nom in the near future.
She is but her fans think she’s Harry Styles when she’s relatively unknown in the mainstream pop world.
Another Japanese for Eurovision 2023.Tokimeki(from Estonia),Umami Tsunami(from Norway),Sayonara(from Spain)
Rumouring Rina Sawayama might still be a bit of a stretch, but I’d be over the moon if it turns out to be true
“Frankenstein ” is boring.
This ain’t gonna happen, her career hasn’t even peaked yet.
Remember the Jessie J participation speculation last year? Well, this is just version 2.0.
I don’t know if she is going to be the one but if you watch the Frankenstein live version from Brixton Academy is amazing. The crowd would go wild and she can be a definitely top 5 at least
Speaking of speculation, I am pretty sure Delta Goodrem is representing Australia this year!!! She is on a European tour in the first half of this year and it ends in Manchester on May 2, so surely Eurovision will follow??? They would have definitely cancelled Australia Decides for her ?
I hope it’s something like “Wings”, and not a heartfelt slow song with impressive vocals.
I don’t know if she’ll actually be the UK representative, but she could attend as an interval act.
I like her, but she only released her first album in 2020. Interval acts usually have done more to earn that spot.
I’d like to point out that nobody is too big to be UK eurovision entrant considering Sam got to host the London NYE party which is usually reserved for total legends. Most artists should jump at the chance. The only embarrassment can come from having a weak entry, bad voice and no budget for things such as staging. Put the effort in with a real talent and there should be only positive outcomes.
And by positive outcomes I mean impact on future career.
Why must you do this to us wiwibloggs??!
After hearing Frankenstein and knowing her abilities she would be perfect for Eurovision and the UK.. here’s hoping
I would love it to be Rina. Tap music have sent 2 of the UKs best Eurovision songs so far (spaceman and Lose my Head) so whoever they choose I am sure it will be good. I am hoping though that as this Eurovision will be extra high profile in the UK this year that the will send someone extra special. For me Rina would fit the bill
TaP weren’t involved with Junior. Lose My Head was chosen by HoD Lee Smithurst and the CBBC JESC team. Freya was chosen by the songwriters, Dan Shipton (creative director) and Annabelle Williams (vocal coach).
The gap in her tour is most likely related to the release of John Wick: Chapter 4, where she has a role in.
She doesn’t have a gap in her tour. Her tour ends in February. Then she had a single festival appearance planned.
Just quoting this article, have not checked the tour dates myself.
rina sawayama is aiming for an international career as a critical darling. no one who has that ambition would ever consider esc lmao.
She said in an interview that she ‘stans’ Eurovision. It may well be something she ends up participating in bc she’s interested in it and wants to enjoy the experience.
Or she could be an interval act for Eurovision. With the UK hosting Eurovision, it would be perfect timing.
No, she won’t be an interval act.
Everybody’s a ‘stan’ in this article. The doors that Eminem has opened.
Anyone with that aim is a pretentious fake, which doesn’t sound like her.
And why exactly is it a good reason to do ESC if someone is LGBT? I’m tired of expecting someone to participate just because they are gay, I don’t think someone’s sexuality adds anything to a song or a performance, unless it’s overly sexualized which doesn’t seem to be the case here. And they can be just as uninterested in ESC as anyone else.
Not to mention that your song can be horrible, no matter if you are straight or not.
Well it’s a box ticked and would save her making a “shock announcement” in the run- up to the contest, which has been done sooooo many times before.
Why is that the reason you dispute? The other reasons are just as thin. This is just fun, relax, we know gay people frighten some people. This will not be going to government for cabinet deliberation.
To answer your question further, the article says that Rina “makes a point of openly writing about girls in her music”… which we’ve never had before. Boy/boy or girl/girl. After 67 years, it’s about time.
I agree that Rita would be a great choice for Eurovision. I always thought her song ‘Hold The Girl’ would have been a great Euro song. Unfortunately, that one is too old now.
Off topic. Have you noticed Tuesdays handover ceremony on BBC2 has only allocated 30mins! Previous ceremonies shown on Eurovision.tv have lasted approximately 1 hour. If live with ceremonial visit from Turn and the draw can all this be accommodated in 30 minutes therefore is it really live or edited.
30 minutes of no fluff sounds so good!
I saw that, and checked previous years on YT, and actually they were around 40 mins, not an hour. When you take into account that Rylan and AJ have English as a first language, and therefore will speak it ever so slightly faster than presenters from other countries, coupled with a likely overrun of a few minutes, this 30 min slot does make more sense. More likely to be 35-37 mins in reality.
We are lucky to be getting it at all
LMAO it wont be her. And i know i cant tryst the article as Ben Mawson confirmed Rina’s Frankenstien won’t be the entry
Who?
Really?
Umm if you asked 99% of people in the UK they would not know her.
Yeah, but after reading a whole article about her they probably would.
That’s the difference between knowing of someone and knowing them.
Neither being a reflection of their worth, of course.
People sound so stupid when they say Who?
But even its her which are going to be very exciting news. I don’t think she would go with a song that release as a single 2 months ago. By that time I’m sure they would had start negotiations
And Tkay Maidza for Australia
She already declined that she will go so not sure why you have put this article out.
When did she decide? The Radio Times just said “it understands that…” she isn’t going. But there is no source or anything. I feel like she’s still on the table.
Well even Ulrikke said she wouldnt come back to MGP this year, the evening BEFORE she was announced! They have to oblige to host broadcasters rule so until BBC says something anything is possible, even with Rina.
She has never talked about going to Eurovision recently.
Never recently, but not never ever.
It’s time for the UK to send a song in a language other than English; so a song in Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Irish, or Cornish — your pick.
Only if they can find a song that has something going on for itself beside the language. Language should not be the main criteria. I’d love for the Netherlands to send a good song in Frisian but artists that make good songs in frisian that would not be considered a joke act do not exist.
There are serious artists who make good music in British languages other than English, and in Irish too, of course.
Why Irish? That’s unlikely. Yes, Northern Ireland is part of the UK, but unionist hate the Irish language and for years refused to even recognize it. Anybody who speaks Irish there would likely much rather represent Ireland.
Hûnekop would be funny.
I agree I don’t think the rest of the country could appreciate it though xD
Let’s not forget Manx
The Isle of Man is not a part of the UK.
But why would the UK send a song in Irish?
Because Northern Ireland is a constituent country of the UK.
Makes the Jack In The Box saga back in 1971 sound like the Teddy Bears’ Picnic (not that sort of bears).
Yes, where the Irish language has been stamped out as hard as possible. Obliterated by law.
I feel like this article was written before RadioTimes debunked the rumour and they decided to publish it anyway.
I mean the radiotimes article doesn’t rule out anything . It just says the gap is not specifically intended for eurovision and last time TAP made a statement they said they were still looking for their act.
Exactly! And all Ben Mawson said was that “it’s not Frankenstein” — not that it’s not Rina.
Rina would not benefit from Eurovision at this point in her career she can already sell out venues around the world. She certainly does not need idiots criticising her music or needing votes to tell her she is good enough.