Out on Thursday, first play on BBC 2 at 9.30am

Night shoot video with trumpets, sexy scenes and dancers surely is something to get a little excited about?

I'm expecting something quite "first of half 2010s" Rudimental for some reason.

The BBC have teased the title as being six letters long and beginning with 'E' - it's looking likely to be "Embers" if Genius Lyrics is to be trusted.

'Embers' it is, as far as one-word titles go that's pretty good, imagery of burning embers from the fire, that sort of thing - Owl City had a good album track a while back with that name.

Just heard a snippet and its a very current chart dance track with brass instruments

Song here.

 

https://www.youradio.cz/artists/james-newman

 

Really like it

Love how this sounds like it could be an actual chart hit and doesn't sound like a song written 'for Eurovision' at all! It's so instant and catchy, he didn't lie when he said it was a banger. Really impressed, bravo James!

Omg :cheeseblock:

 

How long have we waited for something that sounds current and relevant to the UK music scene today to be sent?? It’s very Sigala and that’s a great thing for us at Eurovision as it’ll sound pretty modern in comparison to most. Also great that I feel the UK public will back this for this first time in a long time and hopefully will go a long way to help change attitudes towards Eurovision. I’m just glad we’ve gone uptempo and used James Newman to his full potential rather than forcing him to fit into the cliche ballad territory the UK likes to send.

 

Also hoping it might get some radio support. It actually sounds perfect for Capital, Kiss, Heart, R1 & R2. And it’s catchy!! Omg I’m so happy with our entry for once :heart:

It's not a bad song, but I absolutely detest the vocal production on it. His vocal take is so dry and pushed so far forward, it's so separated from the backing track. And in the chorus, the double tracking of his vocal is messy and you can hear the other track clipping off the end of words before the lead vocal does. It's really annoying. Suspect it's more noticeable with headphones and hopefully something a live performance will sort out. Though I have other concerns about James being able to give this the energy it will need on stage.

On first listen it's OK. Started off well but then I kind of lost interest. Do definitely think it's something that's very much in the charts and on radio at the moment which I guess is a good thing and I like that it's upbeat and positive but I do think it's very generic. Think it'll be a grower but would have liked something more instant. Still I think it's a big step up on last year's.

It's really decent, has a good chorus and a nice instrumental hook and it does sound like a current chart hit. I'm impressed but not entirely sure how it will do at Eurovision as we haven't really had many modern dance tracks like this in the contest, plus it depends on the performance too.

 

Surely it won't be our usual bottom five though? It doesn't sound like a bottom five at all. I think it will stand out as the only current chart dance song, so should do something at least. Certainly our best since Lucie, and for sure our most contemporary since Blue.

I like that!

I woudn't say I'm HUGE on the song but I'm impressed as it's been a while since we've had something that actually sounded contemporary in this way, like an actual chart song. As said, I'm unsure what to expect in terms of how it will, we don't get this sort of song at Eurovision which could be both good and bad, plus I think it's a quite British sound which also could be good or bad. To be honest it's just nice to have an entry that, whilst generic, actually represents our music industry!

It's not a bad song, but I absolutely detest the vocal production on it. His vocal take is so dry and pushed so far forward, it's so separated from the backing track. And in the chorus, the double tracking of his vocal is messy and you can hear the other track clipping off the end of words before the lead vocal does. It's really annoying. Suspect it's more noticeable with headphones and hopefully something a live performance will sort out. Though I have other concerns about James being able to give this the energy it will need on stage.

 

 

this! i thought it was just me being picky but the vocal + the instrumental are miles apart. it sounds like someone’s made a mash-up. that can be easily solved though so i’m not too worried about it. the vocals are so dry, he really needs some backing vocals or some layers because it makes it sound hollow.

 

it’s a good attempt though, better than last years + i liked that! sounds like what british producers are putting out so it’s a great representation.

Yeah, I would say that we should do decently. Other songs that were "on trend" at the time (e.g. Armenia and Hungary in 2014 with Dubstep/Drum and Bass) faired well in their contest so I don't see why that would suddenly not be the case now.

 

Having said that, there is something about the production in the chorus that just seems so light compared to the verses. :unsure: I think I agree with Paul, definitely something not right with the mixing of his vocals and the separation from the instrumental behind it.

 

I still like it though. :lol:

Sort of sonically (not necessarily melodically) reminds me of Came Here For Love actually, you can really imagine that instrumental hook as a soundbed to every reality show going.

 

He just lacks charisma tbh, even if he sings it well on the night I can't imagine there being any stage presence...

He might be ok, as the current trend for dance hits is deep voiced males like James, and it’s the sort of song that can probably get away without having someone with charisma and star power singing it. I expect it will just feel like a Top of the Pops Christmas type performance on a grander scale.

 

The real question is are Eurovision voters and juries the type of audience to vote for this type of pretty much untested in Eurovision terms commercial modern dance track when there will be so much else on offer.

It’s still on the basic side of things but at least we’re finally sending something with some energy (that isn’t novelty!) and that wouldn’t sound too out of place on Radio 1. It’s an improvement on My Last Breath and I’m always here for some brass! A nice party atmosphere to it as well.

 

My favourite since Molly.