United Kingdom UNITED KINGDOM 2023 - Mae Muller - I Wrote a Song

[ESC United Mod Team]

 

[Leydan]

I've seen the full performance and I have mixed opinions about it. The staging i think is great, she is great and has good energy. She has some of her sassy charm and looks good - i love the little bit where she sticks her tongue out. However there is some glaring issues for me. Vocals fall kinda flat but I don't think the song demands flawless vocals, that said the backing vocals are now almost mute. She clearly needs them, especially on the final notes. I'm surprised they didn't do more with it. The chorus as well seems to lack some energy which it desperately needs - the Da Da Da Da Di bit is more punchy. People keep saying she was on vocal rest, but I'm not so convinced shes holding back. I think she's a brilliant ambassador for us, been so fun to follow on the journey and I wrote a song is one of my favourites this year and probably my favourite UK entry this century, but my optimism for a good result is diminishing rapidly. Especially after watching her performance.

 

[94ayd]

Giving me Adrenalina vibes, even the starting number is the same.

 

[midnightsun]

Being the host country is always a slight disadvantage to the country. We‘re not in the 90s anymore when you could win three times in a row with average ballads (though some of Ireland‘s ballads were pretty good).

If you don’t send an absolute banger as a host people are not inclined to vote for you.
The same goes vice versa - host countries often don’t want to win again the year after so they mostly send inoffensive songs.

Mae Muller has the perfect party song and is a good representative but other than that, there‘s not much that could save UK from bottom 5 again. Maybe 15-20 if you‘re lucky because some weak Semi 2 finalists will be in the final. But UK is definitely overrated with the bookies because it’s their own country.

 

[mauve]

I also have seen the performance and believe that UK will be back at the bottom. It is not bad, but simply unobtrusive. Also her vocals were flat at times, but that is something she could still do better in two days. But I doubt that she will get many tele- nor Jury votes.

 

[Rocket man]

I disliked this entry the moment it was chosen so these bad reviews from the rehearsal is not a surprise to me. I should have gone with my first instinct which was the BBC do not want to host it two years in a row, they were never going to go with someone like Birdy this year.

I still think the UK can win again but only when it's clear the BBC are financially happy to dedicate themselves to it. Sam Ryder changed the mentality massively, now it's just down to the people at the top of the BBC to give the nod.

 

[Chrisiam]

I am willing to give Muller the benefit of the doubt for now. Whilst I am worried given the leak I will be blunt, there have been many bad rehearsal vocals throughout the contest this year, it was only a couple of days ago people were writing off Sweden due to that clip, and then come the live show doubt was removed. So I can believe she is saving her voice for tomorrow and Saturday when it will actually count. If we get to the jury show tomorrow and she still sounds off, well, at that point, we can expect a lower-than-desired result. I don't think it will be a total washout as I can see the UK getting points as a "Thanks for the show" kind of deal but if this is the level we'll get, well, it was nice being of the left-hand side for at least one year.

 

[Datura]

unfortunately i do think she will end up in the bottom aswell, her live performance was - especially vocally - really weak and i don't think the staging / camera angles do enough to cover that.
such a shame, it's still one of the more interesting uk songs in a long time (sam ryder excluded) but this will not do them any favors. i was really hoping to see the uk succeed

 

[empo21]

I knew this would happen after her first live performance. If you have to come up with an excuse for each live performance, the call is coming from inside the house.

I like Mae Muller, but it is what it is.

 

[ArmpitOfEurope]

I just think the vocals wont be good enough for the juries and the performance looks a bit lifeless for the televoters. Also think her outfit doesnt fit the performance at all.
Hope she at least avoids bottom 5, I love her personality. Shes got a great slot and all the favourites are in the first half, maybe this will help her

 

[Leydan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1656663733668806663

73% of Brits voted Remain on staying in Eurovision a 25% increase from before.

 

[Ianp16]

I also have a bad feeling about Saturday. Dadadadadadahhhhhh.

 

[theditz83]

Jeez, please please pleeeeeeease BBC give Mae some backing vocal support, at least on the chorus. Cyprus sounded like it had about 12 male backing vocalists supporting him, so I don't think anyone would bat an eyelid if you were to give her a bit more support since the whole thing sounds too empty.

 

[Fluke]

That preview did NOT look or sound great, yikes.... with Austria, Israel, Poland and Norway all in the final, i got a feeling this is gonna BOMB, and not in the good way.

 

[Chrisiam]

If the sample is how it is gonna be tomorrow/Saturday then yeah, she needs more backing support. Or at least a bannister on those stairs she walks down. In the clip it looked like she was worried about falling down them. And you can't sing in a confident/sexy way when you're afraid you're gonna go tumbling down.

 

[cegs5]

It's a pity, but I think the UK is sailing to a bottom 3... unless it is boosted by fake jury votes again.

 

[Leydan]

Jeez, please please pleeeeeeease BBC give Mae some backing vocal support, at least on the chorus. Cyprus sounded like it had about 12 male backing vocalists supporting him, so I don't think anyone would bat an eyelid if you were to give her a bit more support since the whole thing sounds too empty.

Definitely. It just lacks so much energy. The backing needs to be ramped up because it just plods along. It's kinda frustrating because the song and staging is good. The end note also not convincing at all. At this point though I doubt they're changing anything.

 

[0scar]

gonna flop so badly lol that's really unfortunate because the song is a bop but that clip

 

[Leydan]

It's a pity, but I think the UK is sailing to a bottom 3... unless it is boosted by fake jury votes again.

I thought we were passed this unfounded claim pedalled by bitter eurofans who desperately wanted a Spanish victory.

 

[Chrisiam]

Well, they left it to the last minute to add in the seagull noises into Bigger Than Us. So if they work their backsides off they could do something. If it would help is another matter. All the UK can hope right now is that she really is saving herself for when it counts and that the UK gets a few points as a "Thanks for the show" kind of deal.

 

[SpiritofKeiino]

My god, the vocals in the clip tonight were shockingly weak. Good staging.