On Monday Freya Ridings debunked the rumour that she’s the UK’s Eurovision 2023 singer. But the rumour mill still has plenty of other names to chew on, from Rina Sawayama (whose photo recently went up inside the BBC atrium) to Mae Muller (who recently recorded inside BBC Maida Vale Studios).
But on Monday — with the release of Birdy‘s new song “Raincatchers” — our heads turned abruptly toward the Hampshire-born star. Pass me some aspirin, as I have whiplash from all that back and forth.
Birdy, real name Jasmine Lucilla Elizabeth Jennifer van den Bogaerde, rose to fame back in 2011. Just 14 at the time, she charted all across Europe with her cover of Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love.” That was her debut.
Fans have been whispering her name for weeks. The release of her song “Raincatchers” just a week before the Head of Delegations meeting in Liverpool follows last year’s BBC playbook.
You’ll recall that Sam Ryder released his Eurovision 2022 song “SPACE MAN” before confirming that he was the Eurovision act or “SPACE MAN” the Eurovision song. That allowed the public to become familiar with it without any stigma that may be associated with the song contest here in the U.K. Like Birdy’s four-minute number, Sam’s original release was longer than three minutes. Birdy would obviously need to shorten it ahead of Eurovision.
Eurovision would definitely amp up attention as Birdy prepares to release her fifth studio album Portraits on July 14. She’s also got several built-in promotional opportunities. For instance, she’s headlining at the Eventim Apollo in London in April as part of her European tour. Surely the home crowd would love to see its Eurovision 2023 act live and in person?
“Raincatchers” has a dramatic orchestral opening before going all ’80s alt-pop. Birdy seems to sing about a past love who made her worries disappear. Any angst and upset would flow away like rainwater, down a gutter and into a raincatcher.
“You made me feel like nothing really matters,” she sings. “Here in my dreams we’re raincatchers, come back to me like it was before.”
Do you want Birdy to sing for the U.K. in Liverpool? And do you want her to sing with this song? Let us know down below.
?? Spotted in the BBC atrium: A massive photo of @rinasawayama.
— William Lee Adams (@willyleeadams) February 20, 2023
? The Rina #Eurovision fantasy just won’t quit. pic.twitter.com/d9jg8uuYZQ
The act representing the United Kingdom at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be revealed on BBC Radio 2 on Thursday morning.
The BBC said an announcement will be made on Zoe Ball’s breakfast programme at 08:30 GMT.
Sorely disappointed that it’s not Birdy but I’m glad that she’s not going to have to face Rina’s toxic fans.
The Muller song is a trashy sugar “bop” so it’ll probably do well with tasteless ESC fans.
If Mae Muller is the real choice… welcome back to bottom5 UK!
Don’t be so mean something you auntie British moron
Grft was very rude, it could even finish 6th last.
I’m back in her to win shut your face
Love the optimism. Can’t agree but respect your opinion.
I hear Kate Bush in here but also touches of Enya. This *has* to be the UK entry. They’d save 2023.
Mae Muller sounds like Enya……oh sorry you mean Birdy.
i would not be against it at all but i just don’t feel that’s what they would go for ? idk…
“Mae Muller – I Wrote A Song”
This is the song from the UK! *LEAKED*
This track is a great choice, it will woo the juries, however It depends how its staged to win over the televote If its done using the same points of view as the video in an abstract way but very ‘Strange Things’ in the lighting and cinematography using up to date special effects will get the Televote easily
I’m not saying that it’s not going to be Rina, but I think we should be prepared for the possibility of Rina not being the UK entrant this year. That being said, there’s a possibility that, if not Rina, it’s probably be Birdy or Ellie Goulding.
I like the big homage to (l?velly) Kate Bush and “Cloudbusting” here, both lyrically and instrumentally ?. I actually think the song is for Kate Bush from Birdy, where she sings about how the music of Kate helped her through hard times.
And before people have a go at me about the national final if Sweden select different songs why can’t us do the same
Bring back the national final why can’t we have a proper one no judges like stupid Rylan Clark or carrie Grant awful judges just 9 Songs and that the public have a say no judges let tap music find acts and songs we want our say BBC you got no right Stopping Us
Letting the UK public decide is a disaster. I give you Scooch.
Zaranski we know that was fix remember we all won fair but bbc at time what uss come last
But also Puppet on a String, Boom Bang A Bang, Kisses for Me, Mind Up and Shine A Light?
Please use punctuation…your comments make no sense.
Because (in the uk) it dilutes down the quality of songs that get entered. We would have six rubbish songs to chose the best from. It’s hard enough getting a decent song and decent singer to go to Eurovision, if they are made to go through a national final and the humiliation of potentially not getting through then no self respecting artist would do that and we’d end up with X factor rejects.
It should t be that way but sadly it is
I don’t think her songs would have the wow factor currently, specially following Sam Ryder last year. I really want Rina to represent. I feel that she would make it a party!
Sing, little Birdy, sing your song
I see what you did there!
I would be very happy!!?
I love Birdy so much and I would love to see her in Eurovision, but even tho I like this song (it would be my top 10 for sure), I don’t think its memorable enough to be noticed in the contest other than UK being the hosts. If they chose Birdy, I hope she’ll choose a pop song, because she does make great pop songs that would stand out.
I went to see her live a few years ago because someone in our circle of friends was too ill to go. I have to say that I was thoroughly underwhelmed. Her singing wasn’t the problem. Her songs just lacked any drive and force. If I could have walked out I would. She’s not for me personally but I don’t see her appealing to enough people to get them to vote. An okay song means poor results.
I love this song it’s enchanting, and Birdy would bring it so good I hope she goes! It is only a too long song at 4 minutes and have to be shortened to 3
I love Birdy, but this song just isn’t Eurovision material. She has much poppier and appropriate songs like Keeping Your Head Up from 2016. That would have been a good choice back then, that would’ve won. So if it really is Birdy, I hope she has a song like that.
Not her
It would be a disaster of a choice
I LOVE THIS SONG! It sets and maintains a great precedent for the UK. I just wish the Beeb would tell us already.
Please UK, her or Rina Sawayama!???
Maybe it’s Simply Red. They released a new song last Friday
At this point anyone but PinkPantheress will be fine imo
I wouldnt be upset if it was this artist with this song.
So uhh, what in this article actually even remotely indicates she’d represent the UK other than that she released the song around when Sam did last year…?
I’ll try to be nice but I really hope this isn’t the song at all.
As with most other people, if it’s not Rina at this point, I’ll feel a little (James, not John) disappointed.
? I hate everything about this song. Nothing good came from the 80s and especially the music. But Eurovision winners haven’t always been something I would choose to listen to. Portugal ? all 3 Ukraine wins ? Azerbaijan ?. I’m good at predicting winners though so I would have to wait for the 3min version before predicting a position – if this is the song. ?for Frankenstein
Oh. Emojis don’t for on here? 1st one monkey covering ears. The ? After countries was thumbs down. The ? For Frankenstein was fingers crossed
GIVE ME RINAAAAA
Is Kate Bush her idol? This song reminds me a lot of “cloudbusting”
This song would be a contender to win. Very Kate Bush, very Florence Welch, very British. And Birdy is good live. But too good to be true…
I hope its Florence Welch. She a perfect match for Blanco Paloma as they both hit those notes as though someone has stood on their foot
Dead
Too good to be true, I’m afraid. Would be a close battle between Birdy and Loreen.
The singer can represent UK at ESC. But this 4:00 song, not.
Georgia should withdraw because Iru is not supporting the anti-russian protests.
She wants Georgia to turn into dictatorship apparently.
Where’s the evidence?
People on twitter have been saying this crap, I feel like it’s because she hasn’t given a reaction yet so they may feel like she is supporting them or whatever.
She shared a pro-EU post on her Instagram story a few hours ago. I would say the complete opposite is the truth
Stop using this as a platform for political affiliation and stick to the music. If this is all about politics and political correctness ban Croatia from the competition because he looks like Hitler . Best remedy to stand against Russia is to ignore them and celebrate the competition for Ukraine .
I really hope its Rina Sawayama. That girl can SING! Her song ‘Hold The Girl’ is super unique too and would be in its own lane at Eurovision. As for Birdy, I’m not massively sold on the song, although I don’t dislike it. For me it lacks that immediacy, that moment where it grabs you by the balls and delivers that punch to the face. It sounds great on the UK chart as a studio cut but for Eurovision, they’d need to inject more drama in to the production. Make the drums heavier and more pronounced, and then stage it… Read more »
Agreed! Just was at her concert in Berlin 2 weeks ago and oh lord, that girl has it all! Vocals, choreography just everything
It’s a lovely song and so is Weekends by Freya BUT Frankenstein by Rina has that extra something.. fingers crossed! It’s time for the full resurrection of the UK at Eurovision.. with everything they achieved and reached in the past, they, with their music background, NEED to be in the top of any Eurovision year!
The Netherlands got back in shape with Anouk and Birds in 2013, let Space Man be their Birds and please let Frankenstein be their Calm after the storm.. maybe more.. Good luck UK!
But I really really really really really really really really want Rina Sawayama to be our entry this year.
Of all the rumoured names, Rina is still top of my wish list.
I really really really really really really really really agree, and I hope BBC is reading wiwibloggs right now haha. Rina has amazing energy on stage and she will come to slay 😉
Breaking news it’s not going to be mini Weber she has just ruled herself out of the race my money on Rina for sure shes will won eurovision or top 3 for sure
If this was cut down to 3.00 it could be the best thing for it . It’s needs a peak moment .
I like Rain catchers, not sure it has a strong enough hook for eurovision though. I still have everything crossed it will be Rina, I think she is insanely good!
I love Birdy and “Raincatchers” is wonderful, but I’m unsure how well it will translate on the Eurovision stage. Juries will definitely love it, but I can’t see it doing equally well with televoting.
I’m team Rina here all the way and I’d love to see her representing UK, although I am well aware that this might be too good to be true.
It depends how its staged Ifits done using the same points of view as the video in an abstract way but very Strange Things It will get the Televote too, and its way less dated than Loreen
It’s not bad but still hopeing rina sawayama to repasent us for the UK it makes sense to me she is amazing
Katie Melua also just released a 3-track single just a week ago… Could also be a good option for Eurovision for sure!
Featuring a promotion form the LATE Terry Wogan!
Would definitely get 12 points from Georgia
That song is 4 minutes, so she’d need to make some changes
That said, I do like it. It reminds me of “Cloudbusting” by Kate Bush
Yeah, a bit too much like Cloudbusting. Kate Bush is always herself, in mood and lyrics. This is not Birdy being Birdy, it’s Birdy being Kate Bush.
That’s not to say I don’t like it. I do.
Hopefully change it to another song.
Sam Ryder was over the three minutes too. They just edited it down slightly. It’s not uncommon.
I haven’t timed it or anything, but there does seem to be a good amount of trimmable space there.
I think this song can be shortened to 3 minutes without much problem – however for me it lacks some impactful finale.
It doesn’t make any sense. Sam took part last year in the Spanish pre party and Birdy has a concert in the same exact venue 10 days after the said pre party.
I hope it is not Birdy as i just cannot hear any catch with the song at all!!!
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but Sophie Ellis Bextor has just released a new single and the BBC are playing it on a regular basis. It’s not bad but she has very little stage presence.
She recently said she was asked to do Eurovision previously but turned it down
And its radio edit is even 3 minutes long! However as much as I love Sophie Ellis Bextor – I hope she isn’t representing with this song.
Too much autotune and repeatative in my opnion. I don’t know.. if it’s the song.
This is the one I want. Fantastic song, fantastic statement of serious intent for the UK. I’d probably be a little embarrassed to look at my play count for the the last four days– this is a song I can really get lost in. I’ve been alternating plays with “Frankenstein” for a little while, I guess to remind myself that there are other possible positive outcomes here. But yes, I’ll be disappointed if this isn’t picked.
If «Raincatchers» is UK’s entry I think the ESC is staying in UK for another year 😉 Maybe Glasgow will get to hold the ESC after all?
I’m not getting my hopes up, as I’ve been disappointed in the past. However, I’d be more than happy with this as our entry. The staging would practically write itself. Rain effect, perhaps with Birdy soaked through (like Spain 2014), drums on stage…