United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020

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Eurovision Song Contest 2020
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
National selection
Selection processInternal selection
Selection date(s)27 February 2020
Selected entrant James Newman
Selected song"My Last Breath"
Selected songwriter(s)
Finals performance
Final resultContest cancelled
United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2019 •2020• 2021►

The United Kingdom originally planned to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song "My Last Breath" written by James Newman, Ed Drewett, Adam Argyle and Iain James. The song was performed by James Newman, who was internally selected by the British broadcaster BBC to represent the United Kingdom at the 2020 contest in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Newman and "My Last Breath" was announced as the British entry on 27 February 2020.

Contents

As a member of the "Big Five", the United Kingdom automatically qualified to compete in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest. However, the contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background

Prior to the 2020 contest, the United Kingdom has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest sixty-two times. [1] Thus far, the United Kingdom has won the contest five times: in 1967 with the song "Puppet on a String" performed by Sandie Shaw, in 1969 with the song "Boom Bang-a-Bang" performed by Lulu, in 1976 with the song "Save Your Kisses for Me" performed by Brotherhood of Man, in 1981 with the song "Making Your Mind Up" performed by Bucks Fizz and in 1997 with the song "Love Shine a Light" performed by Katrina and the Waves. To this point, the nation is noted for having finished as the runner-up in a record fifteen contests. Up to and including 1998, the UK had only twice finished outside the top 10, in 1978 and 1987. Since 1999, the year in which the rule was abandoned that songs must be performed in one of the official languages of the country participating, the UK has had less success, thus far only finishing within the top ten twice: in 2002 with the song "Come Back" performed by Jessica Garlick and in 2009 with the song "It's My Time" performed by Jade Ewen. For the 2019 contest, the United Kingdom finished in twenty-sixth (last) place out of twenty-six competing entries with the song "Bigger than Us" performed by Michael Rice.

The British national broadcaster, BBC, broadcasts the event within the United Kingdom and organises the selection process for the nation's entry. BBC announced that the United Kingdom would participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 on 16 September 2019. [2] Since 2016, the broadcaster organised a national final featuring a competition among several artists and songs. For their 2020 entry, BBC announced that they would opt to internally select the British entry due to poor results. [3]

Before Eurovision

Internal selection

On 16 September 2019, BBC announced that the British entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 would be selected internally in collaboration with BBC Studios and record label BMG. [2] On 24 September 2019, the President of Repertoire and Marketing at BMG, Alistair Norbury, revealed that while the artist had yet to be selected, several entries had been provided by music industry experts including writers and producers. The song, selected in late January 2020 by the BBC together with a professional panel consisting of Norbury, Lisa Cullington (music publisher at BMG) and Jamie Nelson (Vice President of A&R at BMG), would also be produced and released by the label. [4] [5]

On 27 February 2020, the song "My Last Breath" written by James Newman, Ed Drewett, Adam Argyle and Iain James and performed by James Newman was revealed as the British entry during The Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Greg James and The Ken Bruce Show on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2, respectively. [6] Iain James had previously written the Azerbaijani Eurovision Song Contest 2011 winning song "Running Scared". [7] The song was also presented to the public on the same day through the release of the official music video, which was directed by Charlie Lightening and filmed in early 2020 at the Sněžka mountain on the border between the Czech Republic and Poland, via the official Eurovision Song Contest's YouTube channel. [8]

At Eurovision

According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to compete in one of two semi-finals, and qualify in order to participate in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. As a member of the "Big Five", the United Kingdom automatically qualified to compete in the final on 16 May 2020. In addition to their participation in the final, the United Kingdom is also required to broadcast and vote in one of the two semi-finals. During the semi-final allocation draw on 28 January 2020, the United Kingdom was assigned to broadcast and vote in the second semi-final on 14 May 2020. [9] However, the contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UK national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest</span> BBC TV show

Eurovision: You Decide is the most recent name of a BBC television programme that was broadcast annually to select the United Kingdom's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. The show had previously gone under several other names, including Festival of British Popular Songs (1957), Eurovision Song Contest British Final (1959–1960), The Great British Song Contest (1996–1999), Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up (2004–2007), Eurovision: Your Decision (2008), and Eurovision: Your Country Needs You (2009–2010), but was known, for most of its history, as A Song for Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest</span>

The United Kingdom has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 65 times. It first took part in the second contest in 1957 and has entered every year since 1959. Along with Sweden and the Netherlands, the UK is one of only three countries with Eurovision victories in four different decades. It is one of the "Big Five" countries, along with France, Germany, Italy and Spain, that are automatically prequalified for the final each year as they are the biggest financial contributors to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The British national broadcaster, the BBC, broadcasts the event and has, on multiple occasions, organised different national selection processes to choose the British entry. The United Kingdom has won the Eurovision Song Contest five times, and has finished as runner-up on a record sixteen occasions. The UK has hosted the contest a record nine times, four times in London and once each in Edinburgh (1972), Brighton (1974), Harrogate (1982), Birmingham (1998), and Liverpool (2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest</span> Australia at Eurovision

Australia has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest nine times since its debut in 2015, the second country outside of the Eurasia region to take part in the contest after Morocco in 1980. The country has been in the top ten five times, with their best result being a second-place finish for Dami Im in 2016, followed by Guy Sebastian finishing fifth in 2015 and Isaiah, Kate Miller-Heidke and Voyager finishing ninth in 2017, 2019 and 2023 respectively.

James Richard Newman is an English singer and songwriter. During the 2014 Brit Awards, he won the Brit Award for British Single of the Year as a co-writer of "Waiting All Night", a song by English band Rudimental. Newman was selected to represent the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song, "My Last Breath" before its cancellation. He instead represented the country in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "Embers”, which came in last place with nul points.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eurovision Song Contest 2020</span> Cancelled Eurovision Song Contest edition

The Eurovision Song Contest 2020 was planned to be the 65th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It would have taken place in Rotterdam, Netherlands, following the country's victory at the 2019 contest with the song "Arcade" by Duncan Laurence. This edition was the first and only one in the contest's history to be cancelled, with it being called off on 18 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Belgium originally planned to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song "Release Me" written by Alex Callier and Luca Chiaravalli. The song was performed by the band Hooverphonic, which was internally selected by the Flemish broadcaster Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie (VRT) in October 2019 to represent the nation at the 2020 contest in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The song, "Release Me", was presented to the public on 17 February 2020.

North Macedonia originally planned to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song "You" written by Nevena Neskoska, Kalina Neskoska and Alice Schroeder. The song was performed by Vasil, who was internally selected by North Macedonia's public broadcaster Macedonian Radio Television (MRT) to compete for North Macedonia at the 2020 contest in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Vasil's appointment as the Macedonian representative was announced on 15 January 2020, while his song, "You", was presented to the public on 8 March 2020.

Switzerland originally planned to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song "Répondez-moi" written by Gjon Muharremaj, Xavier Michel, Alizé Oswald and Jeroen Swinnen. The song was performed by Gjon's Tears, which is the artistic name of singer Gjon Muharremaj who was internally selected by the Swiss broadcaster Swiss Broadcasting Corporation to represent the nation at the 2020 contest in Rotterdam, Netherlands. "Répondez-moi" was presented to the public as the Swiss entry on 4 March 2020.

Croatia originally planned to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song "Divlji vjetre" written by Ante Pecotić. The song was performed by Damir Kedžo. The Croatian broadcaster Croatian Radiotelevision (HRT) organised the national final Dora 2020 to select the Croatian entry for the 2020 contest in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Fourteen entries competed in the national final on 29 February 2020 and "Divlji vjetre" performed by Damir Kedžo was selected as the winner following the combination of votes from five regional juries and a public televote.

Azerbaijan originally planned to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song "Cleopatra" written by Luuk van Beers, Alan Roy Scott and Sarah Lake. The song was performed by Efendi, who was internally selected by the Azerbaijani broadcaster İctimai Television (İTV) to represent the nation at the 2020 contest in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Efendi's selection as the Azerbaijani Eurovision entrant was announced on 28 February 2020, while the song "Cleopatra" was presented to the public on 10 March.

Italy originally planned to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. The winner of the "Campioni" section of the 70th Sanremo Festival, Diodato with "Fai rumore", would have represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020, which was planned to be held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. However, the contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bulgaria originally planned to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song "Tears Getting Sober" written by Victoria Georgieva, Borislav Milanov, Lukas Oscar Janisch and Cornelia Wiebols. The song was performed by Victoria, which is the artistic name of singer Victoria Georgieva. In October 2019, the Bulgarian broadcaster Bulgarian National Television (BNT) announced that they would be returning to the Eurovision Song Contest after a one-year absence following their withdrawal in 2019 due to financial difficulties. On 25 November 2019, the broadcaster announced that Victoria had been selected to compete at the 2019 contest in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The song that Victoria competed with, "Tears Getting Sober", was also internally selected and was presented to the public on 7 March 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eurovision Song Contest 2021</span> International song competition

The Eurovision Song Contest 2021 was the 65th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Rotterdam, Netherlands, following the country's win at the 2019 contest with the song "Arcade" by Duncan Laurence. The Netherlands was set to host the 2020 contest, before it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcasters Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (NPO), Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) and AVROTROS, the contest was held at Rotterdam Ahoy, and consisted of two semi-finals on 18 and 20 May, and a final on 22 May 2021. The three live shows were presented by Dutch television presenters and singers Chantal Janzen, Edsilia Rombley and Jan Smit, and Dutch YouTuber and make-up artist Nikkie de Jager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Last Breath</span> Song by James Newman

"My Last Breath" is a song by James Newman that would have represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam. It serves as the lead single from Newman's debut EP The Things We Do. The song was released as a digital download on 27 February 2020. The song was written by Newman, Ed Drewett, Adam Argyle and Iain James.

<i>Eurovision: Come Together</i> 2020 BBC television programme

Eurovision: Come Together was a one-off television programme, organised and broadcast by the BBC, to determine the most popular song in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest, as voted for by the British public. Hosted by Graham Norton, the show was broadcast from Television Centre, London on 16 May 2020, and served as an alternative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nineteen past Eurovision entries, chosen by an assembled jury, took part in the event, with the winner determined by online voting. It was won by the winning song of the 1974 contest, "Waterloo", originally performed by Swedish group ABBA.

Cyprus participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The Cypriot broadcaster Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) internally selected Elena Tsagrinou as its representative with the song "El Diablo". "El Diablo" was written and composed by Thomas Stengaard, Laurell Barker, Oxa, and Jimmy Thörnfeldt. Cyprus performed 8th in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, held on 18 May 2021, and placed 6th, receiving 170 points. The entry qualified for the final held four days later, where the nation placed 16th with 94 points.

The United Kingdom participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "Embers" written by James Newman, Conor Blake, Danny Shah, Tom Hollings and Samuel Brennan. The song was performed by James Newman, who was internally selected by the British broadcaster BBC to represent the United Kingdom at the 2021 contest in Rotterdam, Netherlands after he was due to compete in the 2020 contest with "My Last Breath" before the event's cancellation. Newman was announced as the British entrant on 19 February 2021, while the song "Embers" was presented to the public on 11 March 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voy a quedarme</span> 2021 song by Blas Cantó

"Voy a quedarme" is a song by Spanish singer Blas Cantó, written by Dan Hammond, Leroy Sanchez, Dangelo Ortega, and Cantó himself. It was released as a digital download and for streaming on 10 February 2021. It represented Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, held in Rotterdam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embers (James Newman song)</span> 2021 song by James Newman

"Embers" is a song released by British singer James Newman, on 11 March 2021. It represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, where it came in last place with no points. Described as a dance pop single, the song is about enduring passion, which Newman feels has resonance with the approaching end point of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The United Kingdom participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy. British singer-songwriter Sam Ryder represented the country with his song "Space Man", which he co-wrote with Max Wolfgang and Amy Wadge. He was selected as the 2022 UK entrant by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in collaboration with record label TaP Music and their management company.

References

  1. ↑ "United Kingdom | Country profile | Eurovision Song Contest". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  2. 1 2 Gallagher, Robyn (16 September 2019). "UK: BBC cancels 'Eurovision: You Decide' as it announces new partnership with BMG to internally select act for Rotterdam". Wiwibloggs.
  3. ↑ "United Kingdom: 2019 Result Prompted BBC To Scrap National Final". Eurovoix. 30 December 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  4. ↑ "UK: Eurovision 2020 - Alistair Norbury". BMG. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  5. ↑ Granger, Anthony (24 September 2019). "United Kingdom: Artist Selection is Blank Canvas". Eurovoix. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  6. ↑ Darvill, Josh (22 February 2020). "UK Eurovision 2020 entry to be revealed Thursday, February 27". TellyMix.
  7. ↑ "Singer-songwriter James Newman to Rotterdam for the UK". eurovision.tv. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  8. ↑ "James Newman Unveils Breathtaking Video For 'My Last Breath' This Year's UK Representative For Eurovision 2020". Out Now. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  9. ↑ "Which country performs in which Eurovision 2020 Semi-Final?". eurovision.tv. EBU. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  10. ↑ "Official EBU statement & FAQ on Eurovision 2020 cancellation". eurovision.tv. EBU. 18 March 2020. Archived from the original on 18 March 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
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