Until today, I was 100% sure that I had my winner for ESC 2022. Sheldon Riley. And then.......... the UK and Greece released their songs today. And my new winner is the UK by far. They teach how a proper song should be written. Solid composition with pure British identity without being generic, a vocal performance out of this world (some countries should take notes.....), perfect production with depth, a singer with confidence, some slightly naughty vibes, a timeless quality. I don't see anything not to be liked. If we don't want to see the UK in the bottom 5.
yea its way better from UK. I think if they do the staging as good as the music video, they should be aiming for left side of the scoreboard. Personally I feel its a little generic, but at least its generic with some interesting flourishes and imagery, as opposed to just dull generic. Id be pretty disappointed if this came bottom 5
@@criccy_mannaro Being "generic" is an issue when the song cannot stand out. But Space Man does stand out. And what exactly do we mean when we say generic? There are songs belonging to a specific genre, but their quality is undeniable. And any cheap experimental rubbish must be considered "better" just because it isn't "generic"? Brividi isn't generic? SloMo isn't generic? Die Together isn't generic? River isn't generic? Not the same isn't generic? Hold me closer isn't generic? Miss you isn't generic? Boys do cry isn't generic? Jezebel isn't generic? Ela isn't generic? Just to name a few examples. But all of them are impeccably executed. And the vocals (it's a SINGING contest, let's not forget) in all these examples are just amazing. Pure talent, pure skill. Just because we have heard millions of songs, we are thirsty for something new in order to feel excited, but that should not make us ignore the true quality and talent. Space Man does have quality, it does have a signature, and the guy is gifted. Yes, he is a possible winner.
@@konstantinospapaioannou2588 I completely agree with you. 'Generic' is such a vague term that it can mean anything. I find Sam's song authentic and engaging and very British, seems like Elton John and Queen are big inspirations. I also find similarities with Love Shine A Light - the latest UK winner...
Well now! Well done the UK.....at long last. An authentically British sounding entry! And it's good too 👏👏👏 This reminds me of the best of British music. There are definitely vibes of The Beatles and Oasis here. Anyone else get Tears For Fears too? Maybe its my age but I'm loving this. This is surely left side of the scoreboard imo The potential for good staging in enormous and the vocals and melody are lovely. All in all, welcome back to the serious ESC, UK 🇬🇧 👏👏👏👏👍 Definitely points from Ireland 🇮🇪👏
For me , this is the strongest UK entry in years. I think this can easily finish top 5 this year. it will come down to the staging as the song and his live vocals are very strong.
I heard this for the first time today & now I can't get the bloody song out of my head. Check out his live performance on The One Show (he can actually hit all those notes) & if they do the same kind of performance/staging as that then I think it will do really well on the night.
Sam will do só well at Eurovision. He's got it all. The charisma, the likability (you want him to do well), the song, the humor, the voice. It's one of my favourite songs this year. Love from the Netherlands!
Probably the best Eurovision entry the UK has ever had, truly amazing! Vocally the best performance of the night! It's true, the more you hear this song, the more it get's into your head. Sam Ryder is a wonderful ambassador for the UK also, talented, charming and engaging, one nice guy!
We need a run like Switzerland and The Netherlands. This could be our Luca Hanni and Common Linnets. An entry that makes Europe but, most importantly the UK think “wait a second we can actually succeed at Eurovision” hopefully in a few years we get our Duncan or Gjons… but I’m so proud and relieved at what we’ve done.
Haha it was so good seeing your anticipation and then relief when it turned out to be decent! Very much how I was feeling. As a UK fan who only recently got into the contest it's been a bit odd never really having the experience of being able to fully get behind my country's song ever. I have to admit this didn't grab me immediately, but I have had the chorus stuck in my head pretty much all day now so that's a good sign. I certainly don't hate it and can see it growing on me a lot. I am a lot happier with the BBC's approach this year. Not trying to create a song specifically for what they think Eurovision audiences would want, and instead just finding a decent, popular artist, and basically taking their next single. This gives me hope for the future if they stick with the approach. Anyway I'm really looking forward to cheering on Sam in May! At this point if we can beat our performance with Lucie Jones I'd be more than happy. Left hand side of the scoreboard is the dream!
I love it! So far it’s my favorite by a mile, it’s right up my alley musically and it’s been stuck in my head all day. If it stays that way I will vote for the UK for the first time :)
This artist - WOW! I just fell in love with him and been playing his music all the time lately. Song is a little bit gimmicky but UK has my .. well one of my votes this year!!
I'm pleasantly surprised by the song, I really like it, and I actually really like Sam Ryder as well. But God, I hope they don't mess up the staging, if they get that right they could actually get a decent result.
Leaving aside his fantastic vocal range which he shows clearly on some live videos on youtube, he is very charistmatic and great performer. The only reason UK not reaching top 10 can be fu@@d up staging. UK is my top 5 right now.
well if his management were smart, thye would have demanded of the BBC that he can have a big say in his staging concept. the BBC have 100% shown that they couldnt stage their way out of a cardboard box.
It is interesting.. the whole idea of it being known before it was confirmed was all because of your point you made - as a country, we don't even like our own songs BECAUSE it is Eurovision.. the stigma follows it around... but this year, people have been tricked into liking the song because it was sent out early and was famed early on... followed by "oh, you know that song you LOVE? Well, that's our entry this year". People are now butt-hurt by this too and it is hilarious to watch unfold... :D
it sounds better with each listen for me, which is why i hope it gets the promotion it deserves. i wasn’t feeling it at first, but now i think it could do pretty well
Yes I’m enjoying it more as I go on too, which is a little bit concerning as it’ll be only heard once by the viewers. They need to make the most of their recap part with the voting details
I was patiently awaiting your reaction Tom! Lol. As always, on the money too. Firstly, when I heard this a few days ago, I liked it but it didn't resonate. The first thing I thought was "oh, this is pleasant and channels a little Bowie, Queen and those major artists that make up the back bone of the great British music of the past, but somehow brings it in to the future. But I didn't really feel it during my first listen. By the 5th or 6th listen, I honestly started to fall for it. Its not my genre of music, but I love the clarity, the quality, the layering of sounds and the peaks and troughs. The fact the song just keeps building and building, Sam keeps you on that Journey with him. The crescendo is pretty epic, and the whole package is rousing (not arousing, like the predictive text on my phone will have you believe 😆), and right up until the very delicate end where Sam's vocals become soft and gentle, it keeps me entertained. This isn't The Prodigy, but it wasn't designed to be leftfield. It celebrates the best of British by embracing the artists of yesterday, the Britpop sounds that made this kinda music relevant again, and Sam's powerhouse vocal brings it in to the current world. I really am enjoying it!
lol i was totally thinking of you during my little rant at the start 😂 yea i love that its constantly building as well. and he seems really talented. I think you summed it up way better than i did 😂
@@ESCTom I'm just a little happy that we have something good representing us this year, and most of these last minute releases toward the back end of all the reveals are turning out to be pretty much quality entries, and of course I'm incredibly happy about it because I was losing hope! The UK, Cyprus, Switzerland, Netherlands and Georgia have been saving graces and piqued my interest again. Looking forward to the last few now!
Love this song and his voice is amazing , well done 👍🏽 Best Uk entry in many many years 👏👏👏👏 if this doesn’t do well then it’s a fix and the UK are hated by the rest of Europe
....well...a strong look.which is deff a bonus...a super strong interesting voice...and really , a strong effort from uk..4 a change! ...so lets 4once all get behind uk eh....cheers mate.👍
Ok ok........OMFGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG 3 years ive suffered i know others have suffered 15 but fucking hell i can be Patriotic this is such a step forward sam is from essex I'm from Essex so I have more reason to be proud my adrenaline just keeps going i can rest now i can rest
loooool yea i was thinking of you when i did this. Its definitely the best since Lucie Jones, they should be aiming for left side of the scoreboard with good staging
this is still same old Radio 2 inoffensive fodder story song-wise. but Sam Ryder himself is a charismatic performer with a great voice, so in a weaker year top 10 is not out of reach.
Very good vocals and I'm curious for the staging. The song is fine. A step in the right direction. There're going to be a couple of male vocalist battling it out.
Bloody hell, the BBC decided to reveal this on my day off from work so I had a very nervous morning. I was 99 percent sure it was going to be this from as you have mentioned the twitter investigations, so I already heard the song about a week ago. It's very British which I don't have a problem with, I know that gets negative comments. Now the staging, I hope Sam has alot of input and not just the BBC. He's literally just done a live performance on BBC1 and the vocals are spotless. I have a huge sigh of relief 😌
It’s epic. It’s a skip, hop and long jump in the right direction. I’ve waited a long time for this. I’ll take a top 5 finish and believe this will deliver it. BTW, You talk a lot fella 🤣🤣🤣
Hi Tom, I'm glad you like it the song is such a nice surprise it's giving off good vibes, I guess Germany will be alone in the bottom for the final now lol because UK and Spain won't be there. Depending on how well the staging go this will be top 10 or top 15-20.
Actually on the political argument thing, I watched a video discussing who voted for whom throughout the competition and their certainly is an element of political voting, western europe tends to give votes to western Europe, and Eastern Europe does the same. That doesn't mean that countries will vote for the same countries each time it just means they vote for countries in the same area
thats just picking and choosing the political thing when it suits. Why did austria win in 2014 and come last in 2015? same with portugal in 2017/18? their location didnt change. There is the odd neighbourly voting, but theres literally been a PHD done that showed that it only affects mid table results and not by much.
@@ESCTom yeah but im saying that someone looked at the actual data, its not an opinion thing to say countries (im talking about judges not the people vote) tend to pick countries near by. I think in those instances you just mentioned, is just luck, at the end of the day people will still vote for whichever song is best. But if there are two amazing songs, say one by france and one by turkey, the UK will pick France more than likely
Best entry in years. Best of luck to him. If we're all realistic here it's fair to say previous entries have earnt their place in the bottom with nil points - they've been shocking to say the least. Last decent entry was in 2016 by Jade who sang a song written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and she came 5th I believe. Looking at other entries, I believe this guy could be in the top 10
I've been watching Eurovision since 1965 - there has been some highs and lows 😑 I love this, it sounds like Demis Roussos fronting Supertramp and I think the vibe and message is going to resonate with Europe during these awful times. I am expecting at least a top ten finish for this. Euro Jesus is here to save us from nul point.
I like the song a lot, but I'm still afraid the UK will take the wrong notes when this song does well. The reason this could do well is because the happiness and quirkiness matches the image I get from seeing Sam. I'm not British, I hadn't heard about him, but watching this song for the first time and seeing him, it matches and that's why I like it. It's the same reason why Portugal won, Netherlands won, Israel and Ukraine won: it's because the song and message immediately match the image you get from watching the artist. So what I'm trying to say is that, if this song does well, I hope the UK will understand is because the image of Sam and this vibrant, uplifting song match and complement eachother. My only fear is that BBC will think "ooooh it's contemporary pop songs the audience wants! We've got loads of that!". No no, please no, it has to match the artist.
yea it still does feel like a rather formulaic approach to Eurovision. but hopefully if this does better (which it should), they will at least start to see some of the ingredients that went into its success. I dont think the BBC is going to have a Netherlands style turnaround in a quick amount of time
Our entry is starting to grow on me after my initial disappointment (I wanted more of a risky entry for the UK). It does appear to be getting a fair amount of love though which is great. I only hope it's not going to be a Molly moment where it's hyped as a potential winner only for, well we know what happened with Molly! Staging & live vocals need to be a "wow" factor to help the song. Sam seems a lovely guy tho & one that could really sell our entry.
yes thats a very fair point. there is a slight element of the expectations being so low, that when something decent comes out, the exaggerated response makes it seem like its a favourite. this isnt a favourite for me at all, and the 5th in the rankings worries me a little that this could do decent and the joy will be lost because it wasnt top 5. and youre right that thats what happened with Molly. Honestly I think this is stronger. He seems to have more entertainment value and that music video is very strong. So visually it seems like its going to be better than some hanging trumpets.
@@ESCTom Wouldn't it be great though if he proved us wrong and finished in the top 5 because at least then it would, hopefully, put an end to all the usual moans from the UK press & public about us never going to do well whatever we send because no one in Europe likes us.
It's not a masterpiece or anything, but this certainly is a credible entry from the UK. It sounds current and very British, and if he pulls this off vocally this can be quite impressive.
I don't love this song but it is growing on me and I can't deny that it is quality. I don't have a lot of faith in the UK when it comes to staging but I hope they can pull something out this year. I though last years song was okay and it could potentially have done better with a different artist and good staging (wth were those trumpets???), we know this artist has charisma and can sing live but my fear is they'll completely ruin their chances with bad staging
i think it definitely has potential! its a solid song, im sure sam will slay the vocals, and if the staging is done right i can definitely see us at least breaking the top 20 (which is practically winning for us at ths point right?). for the staging i actually think a sweden 2015/ ireland 2021 style could work really well if executed right, but as long as its a step up from those terrible trumpets ill be happy
Ireland 21 staging was too fussy. I think hes on to something with the music video. Carefree, fun, a bit cheeky. it seems like it plays to his actual personality as well so it looks authentic
It's very good and I do think if everything comes together it has a shot at top 10, but im trying to temper my expectations. The last time everyone got as excited as they are this year for the UK was Molly...and we all know how that panned out. :(
im behind in catching up on the comments, but how did you know so much about Moldova btw? Ive never seen someone with no much romania/moldova knowledge 😂
@@ESCTom long story, but 2 major points of dpearture: Ive studied FRE/ITA/SPA formally and POR informally.. That left only Romanian to explore - between that and being a huge geog/hist. nut I was already somwhat aware of the history of ROmania and its subdivisions, and the Soviert ripping off of the Bessarabi portion of histopric greater Moldova (known mroe as Moldavia in other nations). Then along came me finding the ability to actually watch live or on delay ESC in 2013, and the brilliant star of Alion Moon with "O Mie" It completed enchanted me, and I've been glued to Moldova since. Have even made freind over Twit/IG/FB with aliona, her husband, Pasha Parfeny (ESC2012), and Yulian Scutaru7 - the composer/lyricist respectively of O Mie. Even made freind with Anton Ragoza, the ex Epic Violin Guy from Sunstroke Project. He left the group after ERSC 2017. FUN FACT: Pasha was himself part of Sunstroke until right before ESC 2010.
Oh. this is actually a decent song. Solid is a good word for it, I think, and he seems like a very endearing performer so I hope his performance of this song will be enough to lift them out of the bottom five because I actually quite like the song.
Top 5 already in the odds and top 5 for me! It doesn't matter if the staging is bad so long as his vocals are sound live...which we know we can do from his TikTok posts (btw he's already well know from his millions of followers and has more than 10 years of experience of doing live music!).There's also a SECOND music video that's up on Sam Ryder's RUclips channel that's a lot quirkier and more tasteful in my opinion, replicating teletext from the 80s, 90s and early 00s.
It's corny. No denying those lyrics are very corny. But it's not taking itself too seriously or trying *too* hard. It also isn't complete radio schlock. It feels good and more organic. This is good. This is the best.of the UK since since Blue, imo, and I think the UK can at least make top 15 with this. A clear step into the right direction and a pretty good song.
YES, that is the key thing. clearly establishing a link between sending quality and receiving a good result. will be very interested to see how this does in the UK charts
I say this with love but ... considering you yapped virtually all the way through it, how could you really get the feel of the song or even listen to the melody? Personally I don't think it's any better than our previous entries but I'm excited at the hype surrounding It & would love for The UK to be back at the top where It belongs. Fingers Crossed.
if you meant it with love, you wouldnt have used the word "yapped". ive done enough reactions at this point that im capable of reacting whilst still listening
I love the song, it's in my personal top 10 (easily!) and I hope it does well..... BUT it does sound like a UK Eurovision song (but better), so if it doesn't I won't be surprised. The BBC keeps doubling down on improving the same formula rather than trying something new and it's frustrating. I would ban ballads and pop songs for the next 5 years from the UK if I was in charge of the delegation. The UK should aspire to become a musically unpredictable country, not one where you know in advance what you'll be getting. This song was expected but for it's quality. So I'm happy with the song but not the strategic decisions that were made by the BBC and the record label.
i literally agree with everything you just said. becoming unpredictable and ORGANIC/AUTHENTIC is the goal, but itll take several steps. This is the first positive step towards it.
We need a song with Welsh singing, or/and bag pipes, morris dancing... Use our cultures for crying out loud! Eastern Europe in particular are proud of their musical heritage and demonstrate it most years and it's time the UK should too. However, I really love this year's entry and it SHOULD do well.
@@80PercentScottish France's entry this year is in Breizh, the Breton language, so one day when the UK is brave enough, tapping into Welsh, Cornish or Scottish Gaelic for the UK entry would be a good idea.
@@hollyblue5320 it would do wonders for our unity that is for sure, which is at breaking point most of the time. As an English person who is 80% Scottish by DNA, 11% Irish, 3% Welsh and only 3% English, I really feel passionate about celebrating all of the cultures of Great Britain and Northern Ireland!
UK Staging & Styling: they might hang a rocket above him, in jeans and T -shirt with a camera straight on. Put him with a wicked animation in a space suit: win some points. Put him in a Boho Kilt: Top 5.
I think I'm unusual in the UK Fandom in that I am very indifferent to the UK song and performer. All Eurovision songs have no nationality to me, they just happen to represent a particular country in time and place. So I'm never disappointed by our result, unless I absolutely love the song. However, I am a big Bonnie Tyler fan and I loved her song in 2013, but she killed it dead on the night, so in some respects it got what it deserved. I don't mind this year's song, it's currently 15th in my ranking and I would be well pleased if it finished 15th on the night!
It starts really really really well... So similar to spaceman by Chris de burgh btw, which I love... Then it falls completely apart at the chorus, the usual shite. But the verse is good and it shouldn't be last
@@ESCTom is it strong enough to win? I haven’t heard the rest of the entries to judge but my gut feeling is definitely will finish on the left hand side of the scoreboard and a top 3 finish. The UK have a knack of being runners up, obviously not in the dark ages of Eurovision but this song has touches of Supertramp & Sam Smith. #UK4Eurovision2022
Thanks for your video. I have become a totally disillusioned Brit but my disillusionment has not been with Europe or Eurovision but with the BBC and how they manage Eurovision. This years song is no exception.It took me a while to work out who it reminded me of and his voice reminds me of James Blunt who to be honest I have always found a bit whiney n but I can see the musicality of this song and see why people like it. But the thing that will break this is the staging. The BBC have complete creative control of that. So a cheap handmade astronaut costume perched on the back of a polystyrene rocket with alien dancers on Rollerskates it is then!
Lol I had pretty much the same idea about staging. Did your aliens on skates have green skin & old-fashioned rectangular TV aerials sticking out of the sides of their head for ears? Mind did! pmsl Personally he reminds me a bit of Elton John &, when he uses vocal fry, Freddie Mercury. He can certainly sing. Bit of an understatement there. It's not the type of music I normally enjoy but I've found myself singing the chorus throughout the day & it's a song I can certainly get behind. I loved last year's entry, it was in my top 5, but the staging was so dire I actually emailed the British delegation to complain after I'd seen the rehearsals. How could you have a song about embers without some pyro? I wonder if there's any way they could have Sam flying around the stage on an armchair, with a wind machine blowing his hair. I just don't want the set designer to let him, & us, down.
@@angelaburrow8114 They we’re in silver tin foil like Verka Serduchka’s backing musicians…with Deely Bopper (you know those things on springs that sit on an ad lice band.
lol yea its james blunt but 50% less whiney 😂 omg dont joke about BBC staging. is they have ANY sense (😑), theyd recognise that he clearly knows what viral is from his millions of followers and give him a lot of creative control. Im sure his management negotiated that in his contract
I have a feeling they’re going to be very careful with the staging to let Sam shine. He really does have charisma which doesn’t tend tinsel (or polystyrene trumpets) They know now we have a good song, so they’ll be careful with it, surely. I actually do think it’s a nailed on Top 10. It’s also stayed in 5th as it’s #1 on ITunes the last two days, and feedback has been good.
Well that would be huge. As you saw in my graph, the uk song hasn’t been in the uk top 25 charts since 2007. So getting into the charts would be a huge progress
@@ESCTom I just wondered are those chart highs after Eurovision? Would be good to find the stats the week after announcement and the week after Eurovision. I think we might find a couple of peaks with Spaceman as its release was so much earlier. I may have to go find those stats now...! :D
I absolutely love this song!!! I loved last year's but was so disappointed with the delivery. The staging will be key for Sam! 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼 Let's hope it does bette than nil points as he doesn't deserve that result!
It is a step in the right direction, if you see his other tiktoks though think we could have picked a better song to show off his true talent and range
Until today, I was 100% sure that I had my winner for ESC 2022. Sheldon Riley. And then.......... the UK and Greece released their songs today. And my new winner is the UK by far. They teach how a proper song should be written. Solid composition with pure British identity without being generic, a vocal performance out of this world (some countries should take notes.....), perfect production with depth, a singer with confidence, some slightly naughty vibes, a timeless quality. I don't see anything not to be liked. If we don't want to see the UK in the bottom 5.
yea its way better from UK. I think if they do the staging as good as the music video, they should be aiming for left side of the scoreboard.
Personally I feel its a little generic, but at least its generic with some interesting flourishes and imagery, as opposed to just dull generic.
Id be pretty disappointed if this came bottom 5
@@ESCTom ohh yh im really looking forward to the staging, hoping they put alot of effort in!!
It's too generic and heard before. He's not gonna win for sure.
@@criccy_mannaro Being "generic" is an issue when the song cannot stand out. But Space Man does stand out. And what exactly do we mean when we say generic? There are songs belonging to a specific genre, but their quality is undeniable. And any cheap experimental rubbish must be considered "better" just because it isn't "generic"? Brividi isn't generic? SloMo isn't generic? Die Together isn't generic? River isn't generic? Not the same isn't generic? Hold me closer isn't generic? Miss you isn't generic? Boys do cry isn't generic? Jezebel isn't generic? Ela isn't generic? Just to name a few examples. But all of them are impeccably executed. And the vocals (it's a SINGING contest, let's not forget) in all these examples are just amazing. Pure talent, pure skill. Just because we have heard millions of songs, we are thirsty for something new in order to feel excited, but that should not make us ignore the true quality and talent. Space Man does have quality, it does have a signature, and the guy is gifted. Yes, he is a possible winner.
@@konstantinospapaioannou2588 I completely agree with you. 'Generic' is such a vague term that it can mean anything. I find Sam's song authentic and engaging and very British, seems like Elton John and Queen are big inspirations. I also find similarities with Love Shine A Light - the latest UK winner...
This has become an exciting year for the UK certainly what we need.
Well now!
Well done the UK.....at long last. An authentically British sounding entry!
And it's good too 👏👏👏
This reminds me of the best of British music. There are definitely vibes of The Beatles and Oasis here. Anyone else get Tears For Fears too?
Maybe its my age but I'm loving this. This is surely left side of the scoreboard imo
The potential for good staging in enormous and the vocals and melody are lovely.
All in all, welcome back to the serious ESC, UK 🇬🇧
👏👏👏👏👍
Definitely points from Ireland 🇮🇪👏
I got Sam Smith in his voice
Absolutely nothing X Factor about this song. Strong vocal, hints of Freddie Mercury, the best song from the United Kingdom in about 24 years.
I'd say moreso Elton John (very "Tiny Dancer"-like).
Sam Ryder went to the same school as me. Really nice guy too.
For me , this is the strongest UK entry in years. I think this can easily finish top 5 this year. it will come down to the staging as the song and his live vocals are very strong.
He will become a global superstar whether he wins it or not. He's just so talented. Eurovision is a great outlet for him to reach so many ears.
i hope so. Eurovision is definitely an opportunity for talented artists to show off. He's definitely something a bit special
First year in literally decades that the song from my own country is my favourite! 🇬🇧 Hooray!
This song is actually quite nice, for sure the best entry the UK had in last years
I heard this for the first time today & now I can't get the bloody song out of my head. Check out his live performance on The One Show (he can actually hit all those notes) & if they do the same kind of performance/staging as that then I think it will do really well on the night.
And when all was said and done it was the best song by a mile on the night
Sam will do só well at Eurovision. He's got it all. The charisma, the likability (you want him to do well), the song, the humor, the voice. It's one of my favourite songs this year. Love from the Netherlands!
I have really really really goooooood feelings for this! It's fantastic and so british.
Probably the best Eurovision entry the UK has ever had, truly amazing!
Vocally the best performance of the night!
It's true, the more you hear this song, the more it get's into your head.
Sam Ryder is a wonderful ambassador for the UK also, talented, charming and engaging, one nice guy!
Thanks Tom. As a Brit, you summed up my own feelings completely. What we need now is creativity and investment in the staging...
10 or nearly 12 pts from me in Norway, FINALLY UK! It is so damn worthy
(subscribed also, I like your presentation)
Chills from that chorus! Such a great song!
We need a run like Switzerland and The Netherlands. This could be our Luca Hanni and Common Linnets. An entry that makes Europe but, most importantly the UK think “wait a second we can actually succeed at Eurovision” hopefully in a few years we get our Duncan or Gjons… but I’m so proud and relieved at what we’ve done.
My favourite and potential winner
Haha it was so good seeing your anticipation and then relief when it turned out to be decent! Very much how I was feeling. As a UK fan who only recently got into the contest it's been a bit odd never really having the experience of being able to fully get behind my country's song ever.
I have to admit this didn't grab me immediately, but I have had the chorus stuck in my head pretty much all day now so that's a good sign. I certainly don't hate it and can see it growing on me a lot. I am a lot happier with the BBC's approach this year. Not trying to create a song specifically for what they think Eurovision audiences would want, and instead just finding a decent, popular artist, and basically taking their next single. This gives me hope for the future if they stick with the approach.
Anyway I'm really looking forward to cheering on Sam in May! At this point if we can beat our performance with Lucie Jones I'd be more than happy. Left hand side of the scoreboard is the dream!
if they nail the staging, left side is totally possible
I love it! So far it’s my favorite by a mile, it’s right up my alley musically and it’s been stuck in my head all day. If it stays that way I will vote for the UK for the first time :)
This artist - WOW! I just fell in love with him and been playing his music all the time lately. Song is a little bit gimmicky but UK has my .. well one of my votes this year!!
FINALLY the UK has awakened!!!!
You’re so good at summing up everything I feel about this song and UK in Eurovision - 👏👏👏
I definitely agree that it's a step in the right direction. Could get left hand side of the scoreboard with good staging
This is the point. It's more about the stage management and sound engineering, rather than the quality of the song these days.
I'm pleasantly surprised by the song, I really like it, and I actually really like Sam Ryder as well.
But God, I hope they don't mess up the staging, if they get that right they could actually get a decent result.
His live singing will elevate this even higher!
I'm hoping for a top 5, should be top 10!
Every year i’ve never LOVED an entry until the actual event. Seeing the staging brings it to life. I think this is really important now!! 👍🏼💗
Check out the live piano version to hear his live vocals
Leaving aside his fantastic vocal range which he shows clearly on some live videos on youtube, he is very charistmatic and great performer. The only reason UK not reaching top 10 can be fu@@d up staging. UK is my top 5 right now.
Same
the song itself is very meh, I can imagine the likes of Michael Rice singing something like this
Just let him stand there with a Carola windmachine and you’ve got the winner this year
well if his management were smart, thye would have demanded of the BBC that he can have a big say in his staging concept. the BBC have 100% shown that they couldnt stage their way out of a cardboard box.
Beautiful interpretation ❤️
It is interesting.. the whole idea of it being known before it was confirmed was all because of your point you made - as a country, we don't even like our own songs BECAUSE it is Eurovision.. the stigma follows it around... but this year, people have been tricked into liking the song because it was sent out early and was famed early on... followed by "oh, you know that song you LOVE? Well, that's our entry this year". People are now butt-hurt by this too and it is hilarious to watch unfold... :D
His voice reminds me of Freddie Mercury.
it sounds better with each listen for me, which is why i hope it gets the promotion it deserves. i wasn’t feeling it at first, but now i think it could do pretty well
Yes I’m enjoying it more as I go on too, which is a little bit concerning as it’ll be only heard once by the viewers. They need to make the most of their recap part with the voting details
Love Sam Ryder. His IG was my go to comfort during the pandemic. Amazing voice.
Didn’t like the video though.
It's sounds as if it was written by Elton John. Se vibes. I really like it 😊 and I wish GB lot's of luck 🤞. It's much much better this year ❣️🇬🇧
I love his voice
Love Sam ❤
I was patiently awaiting your reaction Tom! Lol. As always, on the money too.
Firstly, when I heard this a few days ago, I liked it but it didn't resonate. The first thing I thought was "oh, this is pleasant and channels a little Bowie, Queen and those major artists that make up the back bone of the great British music of the past, but somehow brings it in to the future. But I didn't really feel it during my first listen.
By the 5th or 6th listen, I honestly started to fall for it. Its not my genre of music, but I love the clarity, the quality, the layering of sounds and the peaks and troughs.
The fact the song just keeps building and building, Sam keeps you on that Journey with him. The crescendo is pretty epic, and the whole package is rousing (not arousing, like the predictive text on my phone will have you believe 😆), and right up until the very delicate end where Sam's vocals become soft and gentle, it keeps me entertained. This isn't The Prodigy, but it wasn't designed to be leftfield. It celebrates the best of British by embracing the artists of yesterday, the Britpop sounds that made this kinda music relevant again, and Sam's powerhouse vocal brings it in to the current world. I really am enjoying it!
lol i was totally thinking of you during my little rant at the start 😂
yea i love that its constantly building as well. and he seems really talented.
I think you summed it up way better than i did 😂
@@ESCTom I'm just a little happy that we have something good representing us this year, and most of these last minute releases toward the back end of all the reveals are turning out to be pretty much quality entries, and of course I'm incredibly happy about it because I was losing hope! The UK, Cyprus, Switzerland, Netherlands and Georgia have been saving graces and piqued my interest again. Looking forward to the last few now!
Love this song and his voice is amazing , well done 👍🏽 Best Uk entry in many many years 👏👏👏👏 if this doesn’t do well then it’s a fix and the UK are hated by the rest of Europe
This has to be top 5 at this point so elevated staging could win this mother. This will be a moment for an absolute fact.
might actually vote for my own country this time lmao
From the UK here I kind of like the song, as long as we are at least on the top ish of the right hand side if the board I will be happy.
Better result then with Lucie Jones potentially
....well...a strong look.which is deff a bonus...a super strong interesting voice...and really , a strong effort from uk..4 a change! ...so lets 4once all get behind uk eh....cheers mate.👍
I have a gut feeling that Sam, the UK is going to win this year! :)
I'm hoping I can change my RUclips name in May 🤣. I curse the BBC every year. They are so out of touch. This year, I'm really proud of our entry.
😂😂😂
you can change it from depressed to "cautiously optimistic for the future"
I'm realy pleased with this...taking it seriously at last.
Ok ok........OMFGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG 3 years ive suffered i know others have suffered 15 but fucking hell i can be Patriotic this is such a step forward sam is from essex I'm from Essex so I have more reason to be proud my adrenaline just keeps going i can rest now i can rest
loooool yea i was thinking of you when i did this. Its definitely the best since Lucie Jones, they should be aiming for left side of the scoreboard with good staging
I am so proud of UK this entry is the best .. I will be so happy if on the left hand side of the board at the result
this is still same old Radio 2 inoffensive fodder story song-wise.
but Sam Ryder himself is a charismatic performer with a great voice, so in a weaker year top 10 is not out of reach.
Very good vocals and I'm curious for the staging. The song is fine. A step in the right direction. There're going to be a couple of male vocalist battling it out.
Tiny riot by Sam Ryder would have been a great entry too
It's got my 12 points! Love from Spain
decent song, and his live vocal plus staging will land this top 6, maybe top 3
Great entry. Top 5 for me
Bloody hell, the BBC decided to reveal this on my day off from work so I had a very nervous morning. I was 99 percent sure it was going to be this from as you have mentioned the twitter investigations, so I already heard the song about a week ago.
It's very British which I don't have a problem with, I know that gets negative comments.
Now the staging, I hope Sam has alot of input and not just the BBC.
He's literally just done a live performance on BBC1 and the vocals are spotless.
I have a huge sigh of relief 😌
yea i going to review the live performance once ive finished all 40 countries
It’s epic. It’s a skip, hop and long jump in the right direction. I’ve waited a long time for this. I’ll take a top 5 finish and believe this will deliver it. BTW, You talk a lot fella 🤣🤣🤣
i dont think me sitting in silence would work as content 😂
True. But sure you’re great craic!
Hi Tom, I'm glad you like it the song is such a nice surprise it's giving off good vibes, I guess Germany will be alone in the bottom for the final now lol because UK and Spain won't be there. Depending on how well the staging go this will be top 10 or top 15-20.
I'm going to say it's top 5 right now for me
Actually on the political argument thing, I watched a video discussing who voted for whom throughout the competition and their certainly is an element of political voting, western europe tends to give votes to western Europe, and Eastern Europe does the same. That doesn't mean that countries will vote for the same countries each time it just means they vote for countries in the same area
thats just picking and choosing the political thing when it suits. Why did austria win in 2014 and come last in 2015? same with portugal in 2017/18? their location didnt change. There is the odd neighbourly voting, but theres literally been a PHD done that showed that it only affects mid table results and not by much.
@@ESCTom yeah but im saying that someone looked at the actual data, its not an opinion thing to say countries (im talking about judges not the people vote) tend to pick countries near by. I think in those instances you just mentioned, is just luck, at the end of the day people will still vote for whichever song is best. But if there are two amazing songs, say one by france and one by turkey, the UK will pick France more than likely
I Don't expect us to do well but I just watch it for the different cultures performing
Best entry in years. Best of luck to him. If we're all realistic here it's fair to say previous entries have earnt their place in the bottom with nil points - they've been shocking to say the least. Last decent entry was in 2016 by Jade who sang a song written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and she came 5th I believe. Looking at other entries, I believe this guy could be in the top 10
that was 2009 😊
2017 was a really great song, but her televote performance was quite poor, she over-egged it
I've been watching Eurovision since 1965 - there has been some highs and lows 😑 I love this, it sounds like Demis Roussos fronting Supertramp and I think the vibe and message is going to resonate with Europe during these awful times. I am expecting at least a top ten finish for this. Euro Jesus is here to save us from nul point.
I like the song a lot, but I'm still afraid the UK will take the wrong notes when this song does well. The reason this could do well is because the happiness and quirkiness matches the image I get from seeing Sam. I'm not British, I hadn't heard about him, but watching this song for the first time and seeing him, it matches and that's why I like it. It's the same reason why Portugal won, Netherlands won, Israel and Ukraine won: it's because the song and message immediately match the image you get from watching the artist.
So what I'm trying to say is that, if this song does well, I hope the UK will understand is because the image of Sam and this vibrant, uplifting song match and complement eachother. My only fear is that BBC will think "ooooh it's contemporary pop songs the audience wants! We've got loads of that!". No no, please no, it has to match the artist.
yea it still does feel like a rather formulaic approach to Eurovision. but hopefully if this does better (which it should), they will at least start to see some of the ingredients that went into its success. I dont think the BBC is going to have a Netherlands style turnaround in a quick amount of time
Our entry is starting to grow on me after my initial disappointment (I wanted more of a risky entry for the UK). It does appear to be getting a fair amount of love though which is great. I only hope it's not going to be a Molly moment where it's hyped as a potential winner only for, well we know what happened with Molly! Staging & live vocals need to be a "wow" factor to help the song. Sam seems a lovely guy tho & one that could really sell our entry.
yes thats a very fair point. there is a slight element of the expectations being so low, that when something decent comes out, the exaggerated response makes it seem like its a favourite. this isnt a favourite for me at all, and the 5th in the rankings worries me a little that this could do decent and the joy will be lost because it wasnt top 5. and youre right that thats what happened with Molly. Honestly I think this is stronger. He seems to have more entertainment value and that music video is very strong. So visually it seems like its going to be better than some hanging trumpets.
@@ESCTom Wouldn't it be great though if he proved us wrong and finished in the top 5 because at least then it would, hopefully, put an end to all the usual moans from the UK press & public about us never going to do well whatever we send because no one in Europe likes us.
One of the best song in this year
It's not a masterpiece or anything, but this certainly is a credible entry from the UK. It sounds current and very British, and if he pulls this off vocally this can be quite impressive.
I love his hair.
omg yes its mesmerising - shampoo commercial please
beautiful voice
I don't love this song but it is growing on me and I can't deny that it is quality. I don't have a lot of faith in the UK when it comes to staging but I hope they can pull something out this year. I though last years song was okay and it could potentially have done better with a different artist and good staging (wth were those trumpets???), we know this artist has charisma and can sing live but my fear is they'll completely ruin their chances with bad staging
i think it definitely has potential! its a solid song, im sure sam will slay the vocals, and if the staging is done right i can definitely see us at least breaking the top 20 (which is practically winning for us at ths point right?). for the staging i actually think a sweden 2015/ ireland 2021 style could work really well if executed right, but as long as its a step up from those terrible trumpets ill be happy
Ireland 21 staging was too fussy. I think hes on to something with the music video. Carefree, fun, a bit cheeky. it seems like it plays to his actual personality as well so it looks authentic
It's very good and I do think if everything comes together it has a shot at top 10, but im trying to temper my expectations. The last time everyone got as excited as they are this year for the UK was Molly...and we all know how that panned out. :(
I'm obviously yourr #1 'Murican fan, given my dedication since like waht, 2019 or something? :D
im behind in catching up on the comments, but how did you know so much about Moldova btw? Ive never seen someone with no much romania/moldova knowledge 😂
@@ESCTom long story, but 2 major points of dpearture: Ive studied FRE/ITA/SPA formally and POR informally.. That left only Romanian to explore - between that and being a huge geog/hist. nut I was already somwhat aware of the history of ROmania and its subdivisions, and the Soviert ripping off of the Bessarabi portion of histopric greater Moldova (known mroe as Moldavia in other nations). Then along came me finding the ability to actually watch live or on delay ESC in 2013, and the brilliant star of Alion Moon with "O Mie" It completed enchanted me, and I've been glued to Moldova since. Have even made freind over Twit/IG/FB with aliona, her husband, Pasha Parfeny (ESC2012), and Yulian Scutaru7 - the composer/lyricist respectively of O Mie. Even made freind with Anton Ragoza, the ex Epic Violin Guy from Sunstroke Project. He left the group after ERSC 2017. FUN FACT: Pasha was himself part of Sunstroke until right before ESC 2010.
It reminds me of Katrina and The Waves a little❤️❤️❤️very anthemic
Oh. this is actually a decent song. Solid is a good word for it, I think, and he seems like a very endearing performer so I hope his performance of this song will be enough to lift them out of the bottom five because I actually quite like the song.
yep solid is the perfect good. and its progress from the last 4 years. hopefully they can continue that trajectory. I think this can come 12-19th
You've just had the sound cut from this video you might want to look into that.
I had to cut some of the sound out cos it was quite agressively copyrighted
There was a bit in there that sounded like Love shine a light.
Please have decent staging. Please have decent staging. Please have decent staging.🤞🏻🤞🏻
Lol. Well usually the uk staging is awful but that music video has some really great ideas so fingers crossed they’ve turned a corner
Top 5 already in the odds and top 5 for me! It doesn't matter if the staging is bad so long as his vocals are sound live...which we know we can do from his TikTok posts (btw he's already well know from his millions of followers and has more than 10 years of experience of doing live music!).There's also a SECOND music video that's up on Sam Ryder's RUclips channel that's a lot quirkier and more tasteful in my opinion, replicating teletext from the 80s, 90s and early 00s.
omg yes i saw tht. I remember checking football results on teletext as a kid. id totally forgotten about it!!
It's corny. No denying those lyrics are very corny. But it's not taking itself too seriously or trying *too* hard. It also isn't complete radio schlock. It feels good and more organic. This is good. This is the best.of the UK since since Blue, imo, and I think the UK can at least make top 15 with this. A clear step into the right direction and a pretty good song.
Am I the only one who found this reaction slightly odd? It seems quite reserved and cautious in retrospect and I can't work out why
This song feels like a bit of a Beatles/Elton John throwback in a good way.
I like the song this year but I don't think it's a winning song but it's on the right step to bringing UK back to their glory days.
Yep, step 1 is getting out of the bottom 5
I really hope this does well just to show the negative nancys that if we do actually make a good effort if pays off
YES, that is the key thing. clearly establishing a link between sending quality and receiving a good result.
will be very interested to see how this does in the UK charts
I say this with love but ... considering you yapped virtually all the way through it, how could you really get the feel of the song or even listen to the melody?
Personally I don't think it's any better than our previous entries but I'm excited at the hype surrounding It & would love for The UK to be back at the top where It belongs. Fingers Crossed.
if you meant it with love, you wouldnt have used the word "yapped".
ive done enough reactions at this point that im capable of reacting whilst still listening
I love the song, it's in my personal top 10 (easily!) and I hope it does well..... BUT it does sound like a UK Eurovision song (but better), so if it doesn't I won't be surprised. The BBC keeps doubling down on improving the same formula rather than trying something new and it's frustrating. I would ban ballads and pop songs for the next 5 years from the UK if I was in charge of the delegation. The UK should aspire to become a musically unpredictable country, not one where you know in advance what you'll be getting. This song was expected but for it's quality. So I'm happy with the song but not the strategic decisions that were made by the BBC and the record label.
i literally agree with everything you just said. becoming unpredictable and ORGANIC/AUTHENTIC is the goal, but itll take several steps. This is the first positive step towards it.
We need a song with Welsh singing, or/and bag pipes, morris dancing... Use our cultures for crying out loud! Eastern Europe in particular are proud of their musical heritage and demonstrate it most years and it's time the UK should too. However, I really love this year's entry and it SHOULD do well.
@@80PercentScottish France's entry this year is in Breizh, the Breton language, so one day when the UK is brave enough, tapping into Welsh, Cornish or Scottish Gaelic for the UK entry would be a good idea.
@@hollyblue5320 it would do wonders for our unity that is for sure, which is at breaking point most of the time. As an English person who is 80% Scottish by DNA, 11% Irish, 3% Welsh and only 3% English, I really feel passionate about celebrating all of the cultures of Great Britain and Northern Ireland!
UK Staging & Styling: they might hang a rocket above him, in jeans and T -shirt with a camera straight on. Put him with a wicked animation in a space suit: win some points. Put him in a Boho Kilt: Top 5.
I think I'm unusual in the UK Fandom in that I am very indifferent to the UK song and performer. All Eurovision songs have no nationality to me, they just happen to represent a particular country in time and place. So I'm never disappointed by our result, unless I absolutely love the song. However, I am a big Bonnie Tyler fan and I loved her song in 2013, but she killed it dead on the night, so in some respects it got what it deserved. I don't mind this year's song, it's currently 15th in my ranking and I would be well pleased if it finished 15th on the night!
yea i actually really liked Bonnie as well, and also Engelbert. But i wasnt surprised by their results.
I think 15th is a very realistic result.
Michael Rice’s Bigger Than Us didn’t actually make the UK top 40. Someone’s made a mistake.
Oh lol I might just let that one slide though. Better not to kick them when they’re down 😂
It starts really really really well... So similar to spaceman by Chris de burgh btw, which I love... Then it falls completely apart at the chorus, the usual shite.
But the verse is good and it shouldn't be last
The music video is really great as well. Best of the season so far maybe
Great song, too good for nil points
This will 100% definitely not get 0 points
@@ESCTom is it strong enough to win? I haven’t heard the rest of the entries to judge but my gut feeling is definitely will finish on the left hand side of the scoreboard and a top 3 finish. The UK have a knack of being runners up, obviously not in the dark ages of Eurovision but this song has touches of Supertramp & Sam Smith. #UK4Eurovision2022
Thanks for your video. I have become a totally disillusioned Brit but my disillusionment has not been with Europe or Eurovision but with the BBC and how they manage Eurovision. This years song is no exception.It took me a while to work out who it reminded me of and his voice reminds me of James Blunt who to be honest I have always found a bit whiney n but I can see the musicality of this song and see why people like it. But the thing that will break this is the staging. The BBC have complete creative control of that. So a cheap handmade astronaut costume perched on the back of a polystyrene rocket with alien dancers on Rollerskates it is then!
Lol I had pretty much the same idea about staging. Did your aliens on skates have green skin & old-fashioned rectangular TV aerials sticking out of the sides of their head for ears? Mind did! pmsl
Personally he reminds me a bit of Elton John &, when he uses vocal fry, Freddie Mercury. He can certainly sing. Bit of an understatement there. It's not the type of music I normally enjoy but I've found myself singing the chorus throughout the day & it's a song I can certainly get behind. I loved last year's entry, it was in my top 5, but the staging was so dire I actually emailed the British delegation to complain after I'd seen the rehearsals. How could you have a song about embers without some pyro? I wonder if there's any way they could have Sam flying around the stage on an armchair, with a wind machine blowing his hair. I just don't want the set designer to let him, & us, down.
Some people like James Blunt…just not me.
@@angelaburrow8114 They we’re in silver tin foil like Verka Serduchka’s backing musicians…with Deely Bopper (you know those things on springs that sit on an ad lice band.
lol yea its james blunt but 50% less whiney 😂
omg dont joke about BBC staging. is they have ANY sense (😑), theyd recognise that he clearly knows what viral is from his millions of followers and give him a lot of creative control. Im sure his management negotiated that in his contract
omg Angela, i actually love that you emailed them to complain. thats pretty epic 😂
I have a feeling they’re going to be very careful with the staging to let Sam shine. He really does have charisma which doesn’t tend tinsel (or polystyrene trumpets) They know now we have a good song, so they’ll be careful with it, surely. I actually do think it’s a nailed on Top 10. It’s also stayed in 5th as it’s #1 on ITunes the last two days, and feedback has been good.
Well that would be huge. As you saw in my graph, the uk song hasn’t been in the uk top 25 charts since 2007. So getting into the charts would be a huge progress
@@ESCTom I just wondered are those chart highs after Eurovision? Would be good to find the stats the week after announcement and the week after Eurovision. I think we might find a couple of peaks with Spaceman as its release was so much earlier. I may have to go find those stats now...! :D
They have to be very careful with the staging. Sam ís a staging already all by himself. Let him shine.
@@Miiiiranda exactly that.
#20 new entry in the charts…..
reminds me of bowie
I absolutely love this song!!! I loved last year's but was so disappointed with the delivery. The staging will be key for Sam! 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼 Let's hope it does bette than nil points as he doesn't deserve that result!
It is a step in the right direction, if you see his other tiktoks though think we could have picked a better song to show off his true talent and range
"I want the UK to not be last" ... ?
Such as losing to a nursery rhyme on a sympathy vote?
if this gets 0 points or still comes last I'm never watching eurovision again and I've watched since the 80s. It's my 2nd fav after Poland right now
this is absolutely definitely not getting 0 points or coming last. This is clearly miles better than Embers
Theres a live piano version on you tube...even better
yep will def check it out after ive finished every country's review