James Newman’s Eurovision Song Contest entry is nothing to do with Britain or politics, with the artist just intent on getting onto the left hand side of the leaderboard.
The United Kingdom hasn’t had much luck at Eurovision in recent years, with 2019’s entry Michael Rice coming dead last with his song Bigger Than Us.
Michael blamed the result on Brexit, telling The Sun after the contest: ‘I always knew I was going to come in this position because of Brexit. Do you know what? If it was Gary Barlow or Elton John, they still probably would have come last too.’
However, claims that Newman will make a political statement with his song My Last Breath have been rubbished.
BMG UK president Alistair Norbury said at the launch for the UK entry on Thursday: ‘This song is not jingoistic. This song is not about Britain.
‘This song is not about anything other than a great love song, fantastically well written by James, with Ed Drewett, Adam Argyle and Iain James.
‘We have two aims. The first aim was to work with our partners, the BBC, and deliver something we can all be proud of as a UK music and entertainment industry. That job has been done.
‘The second aim is very simple. We said at the very beginning, in the first meeting, we are going to move from the right hand side of the scoreboard to the left hand side of the scoreboard.’
And Newman – the big brother of Love Me Again singer John Newman – joked that he could even take home the title.
He said: ‘I’m going to get the keys to London and a bus – the hero is coming home.’
The singer-songwriter said he wouldn’t be listening to the critics, and instead was focusing on the positivity surrounding the contest.
James said: ‘You just have to ignore it. There are 200 million people. Not everyone is going to like the song. But all I have seen is so much positivity so I am focusing on that.”
‘I have got a number seven song on iTunes right now and the video is trending worldwide. For a new artist, look at the platform.
‘Europe is such a massive place. The reach, you know. You are singing to 200 million people on the telly, which is pretty good. You can’t turn that down.’
James also praised his popstar brother for his support, but added: ‘I think he’s worried because he knows I am a better singer.’
The UK has come last at Eurovision four times since 2003 – Michael in 2019, Josh Dubovie with That Sounds Good To Me in 2008, Andy Abraham with Even If in 2008 and Jemini’s infamous performance of Cry Baby in 2003.
Blue has given the UK’s best standing in the past decade, coming in 11th place in 2011 with I Can. The last time the UK won was in 1997, when Katrina and The Waves came out on top with Love Shine A Light.
The Eurovision Song Contest takes place this May, with the grand final being held in Rotterdam on 16 May.
Eurovision Song Contest 2020 participants
ALBANIA: Arilena Ara – Shaj
ARMENIA: Athena Manoukian – Chains On You
AUSTRALIA: Montaigne – Don’t Break Me
AUSTRIA: Vincent Bueno – Alive
AZERBAIJAN: Samira Efendi (song TBA)
BELGIUM: Hooverphonic – Release Me
BULGARIA: Victoria (song TBA)
CYPRUS: Sandro – Running
CZECH REPUBLIC: Benny Cristo – Kemama
FRANCE: Tom Leeb – The Best In Me
GEORGIA: Tornike Kipiani (song TBA)
GERMANY: Ben Dolic – Violent Thing
GREECE: Stefania – SUPERG!RL
ISRAEL: Eden Alene (song TBA)
ITALY: Diodato – Fai rumore
LATVIA: Samanta Tina – Still Breathing
LITHUANIA: The Roop – On Fire
MALTA: Destiny Chukunyere
NORTH MACEDONIA: Vasil (song TBA)
NORWAY: Ulrikke – Attention
POLAND: Alicja Szemplińska – Empires
ROMANIA: Roxen (song TBA)
SLOVENIA: Ana Soklič – Voda
SPAIN: Blas Cantó – Universo
THE NETHERLANDS: Jeangu Macrooy (song TBA)
UKRAINE: Go_A – Solovey
UNITED KINGDOM: James Newman – My Last Breath
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE: Peter Andre welcomes back Jeremy Kyle after show was axed over guest suicide
MORE: Gwyneth Paltrow calls Shallow Hal her least favourite role: ‘It was a disaster’
