escYOUnited
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United Kingdom UNITED KINGDOM 2020 - James Newman - My Last Breath
- Thread starter escYOUnited
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I imagine it will be another Molly/Lucie-like case, a decent-but-average UK song with a bit of an effort behind it which by May is hyped up by lots of UK fans and media as a potential winner and ends up somewhere around the 16th place. The real question is, will the UK continue trying to improve the following years or fall back to the "Europe doesn't like us/Brexit" narrative.
Chrisiam
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Looking on Twitter a lot of the UK fans are baying for blood wishing we had sent a 'banger' or Frock Destroyers or Steps or someone from the National Finals from a year or five ago. So don't worry about the fans getting behind it, a lot have already resigned us to coming last even before all the other acts are announced.
RainyWoods
Croak-kay
The production is the best part of this and what sets it apart a bit from our most recent tragedies. It's warm and feels very much a serious attempt. James has a nice raspy voice as well that naturally works very well with the style of music. It feels an organic fit. I don't know anything about him but I'd say this was his genre just from listening to him sing.
It all starts super with the promising verse and the pre-chorus is actually great. Putting my own personal taste aside, it does make me think of some of our most beloved exports. It sounds very much like the soul pop we Brits are known for around the world. The chorus of My Last Breath is pleasant but also the part where it loses its power a bit as it takes a soft folk-rock route. It's anthemic but in quite a lowkey kind of way. It's so subdued that I don't mind it. This kind of stuff is often my kryptonite. I feel like this is going to be its problem, the fact It's too laid back. It's nice enough but it could also just be there for some.
I'm kind of happy that just for once I don't actively passionately loathe our entry, and that is quite miraculous considering the genre and the woah oh ohs. I think they needed to offend me though for this to have a proper chance. I have to commend those in charge of this as it's essentially what I've wanted us to do for years now. You know, actually try. This is trying. The song might be a familiar radio friendly sound but it's not typical Eurovision. It's been presented nicely with great single art and a really strong music video (watching it immediately strengthened my positive thoughts). The trouble is I wanted us to go BANG this year. Already this is being compared to our previous entries which is a bit unfair because the quality is on a different level, but it's also understandable as we're sending yet another man doing a mid-tempo ballady thing with an anthemic chorus. We have been here before, but this is the first time we've been here without my face cringing. I hope for a positive outcome... and maybe it can happen.
6 points for the right kind of effort.
It all starts super with the promising verse and the pre-chorus is actually great. Putting my own personal taste aside, it does make me think of some of our most beloved exports. It sounds very much like the soul pop we Brits are known for around the world. The chorus of My Last Breath is pleasant but also the part where it loses its power a bit as it takes a soft folk-rock route. It's anthemic but in quite a lowkey kind of way. It's so subdued that I don't mind it. This kind of stuff is often my kryptonite. I feel like this is going to be its problem, the fact It's too laid back. It's nice enough but it could also just be there for some.
I'm kind of happy that just for once I don't actively passionately loathe our entry, and that is quite miraculous considering the genre and the woah oh ohs. I think they needed to offend me though for this to have a proper chance. I have to commend those in charge of this as it's essentially what I've wanted us to do for years now. You know, actually try. This is trying. The song might be a familiar radio friendly sound but it's not typical Eurovision. It's been presented nicely with great single art and a really strong music video (watching it immediately strengthened my positive thoughts). The trouble is I wanted us to go BANG this year. Already this is being compared to our previous entries which is a bit unfair because the quality is on a different level, but it's also understandable as we're sending yet another man doing a mid-tempo ballady thing with an anthemic chorus. We have been here before, but this is the first time we've been here without my face cringing. I hope for a positive outcome... and maybe it can happen.
6 points for the right kind of effort.
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Wtf is people obsession with acts like the frock destroyers? Nothing would say "we have huge contempt for eurovision and dont care at all" more than something like them being chosen.
We spent the last couple of years demanding we let people write their own songs, they finally do it and people still bitch. The song isn't the winner by a long stretch but its not last place either.
BorisBubbles
Veteran
Send James Newman, they said
It will be fine, they said.
They were right, but nothing more.
points for being adequate.
It will be fine, they said.
They were right, but nothing more.
points for being adequate.
Teaisloveable
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Honestly it's not that bad!!
Like sure it's not a winner, sure it's still typically UK safe but it's a decent song and is definitely a step in the right direction for the UK!
I'm pleasantly surprised and I think that it'll get a bit of a following in the Eurovision community.
Staging has got to be on point though, I hope the BBC don't let that slide because that will really drag us down. But I won't roll my eyes when "United Kingdom' is shown. Woop!
Like sure it's not a winner, sure it's still typically UK safe but it's a decent song and is definitely a step in the right direction for the UK!
I'm pleasantly surprised and I think that it'll get a bit of a following in the Eurovision community.
Staging has got to be on point though, I hope the BBC don't let that slide because that will really drag us down. But I won't roll my eyes when "United Kingdom' is shown. Woop!
Chrisiam
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Honestly I was thinking the same thing, this track as chance to lend itself to some really interesting staging and performing if the effort is really put into it; have the speech bit at the beginning and end, have some people in tanks of water doing some underwater dancing, give it all a frosty look like we get in the video. Might not help it win it but it would be interesting to see none the less!
I've been refreshing and waiting for your thesis on our entry, you're a lot more complimentary than i thought you would be. I agree with you pretty much word for word, except this music isn't my kryptonite usually. You can see the effort is there with it, and that music video is an improvement no doubt.
ESC94
Well-known member
Now lets move on to the !!
I´m sorry to say this but I can´t see it doing much better than "Storm" and "Bigger Than Us". The verses are ok and I really like his voice, but the chorus is just soooo flat and boring that even after just two minutes I can´t remember it anymore!! Generally I have a feeling that I´ve already heart this song in a similar form on the radio. I don´t mind it when it plays, but soon afterwards it´s already forgotten.
I can see the juries giving it some points, but in the national televotings this could often end up on place 13-16, not terrible but still too inconspicous to receive points.
All in all I give this song, it´s better than their recent ESC songs but still pretty average.
!!I´m sorry to say this but I can´t see it doing much better than "Storm" and "Bigger Than Us". The verses are ok and I really like his voice, but the chorus is just soooo flat and boring that even after just two minutes I can´t remember it anymore!! Generally I have a feeling that I´ve already heart this song in a similar form on the radio. I don´t mind it when it plays, but soon afterwards it´s already forgotten.
I can see the juries giving it some points, but in the national televotings this could often end up on place 13-16, not terrible but still too inconspicous to receive points.
All in all I give this song
, it´s better than their recent ESC songs but still pretty average.
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Surprisingly, it's a good entry. I feel this song is defintely meant for a stage setting, and weirdly, I can tell that this is a British entry from its specific folk-pop sound (I always feel there's just something different with British folk sound). Might not hurt to see many juries coming towards it, and televotes from could be expected as well. With this kind of sound, I can still expect them to finish lower left side (11th-13th) at most.
for now. It's a very good British entry.
could be expected as well. With this kind of sound, I can still expect them to finish lower left side (11th-13th) at most. for now. It's a very good British entry.
LastDreamer
Banned
She is my least favourite singer.
yay another song i dont care at all!!!
i guess its not bloody awful but just... call gina g again
i guess its not bloody awful but just... call gina g again
This year’s contest should be called: ‘who, from the big 5, is sending the most random and forgettable song this year?’ Without Germany being announced yet, the last place will be disputed, once again, between The Uk, Spain, and France. I can’t decide which one is worse tbh.
MyHeartIsYours
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I quite like it! It's a nice tune, sounds right for Eurovision and my favourite of our entries since Joe & Jake.
I give us 10 points!
I give us 10 points!
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I like the song, not excited about it tho.
Still better then most songs chosen so far with quality as background
Can't predict result on esc but tbh only 1st place matters there (if you are prequalified) and its not going to win, so just wait a good performance
I don't like video at all
Still better then most songs chosen so far with quality as background
Can't predict result on esc but tbh only 1st place matters there (if you are prequalified) and its not going to win, so just wait a good performance
I don't like video at all
RainyWoods
Croak-kay
I think I've gone a bit soft probably as this is so far from the disaster we're used to. For years I've wanted us to do something like this. Not necessarily the genre but just sending a song without that "LOL we're going to Eurovision" mindset. They took a guy and got him to write a song himself. Something that's solid, well produced and doesn't sound like it exactly was made for Eurovision, whilst still being accessible. Of course, I like most fans wanted something really explosive. I was dreaming of Jorja Smith, a Sugababes comeback.. something like that. We've done mid tempo songs and ballads for years now. The biggest danger is that we've switched up the quality here, but then not much else. This new mindset though we're entering with was all that was required from me to get a thumbs up for this big first step taken to hopefully a continued positive new outlook. Just next year get us to be the phone in callers on the radio after the premiere.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the song and how people react. It might not be to everyone's taste, might be bland to some and that's all understandable, but one thing that's undeniable here I think is that an effort has been made, and a big step in the right direction has been taken.
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