Introduction

• Participant(s): Sam Ryder
• Song: SPACE MAN
  
• Writer(s): Sam Ryder, Amy Wadge, Max Wolfgang
  
• Composer(s): Sam Ryder, Amy Wadge, Max Wolfgang
  
• Broadcaster: BBC
  
• Social media:        
  
• Team review: 

The UK entry has been chosen internally and the choice felt to one of the most rising singers lately: Sam Ryder. He is being seen as the new hope for the UK to bring the country back to the successful years in Eurovision. Sam Ryder is the singer with the highest streaming figures on TikTok. With his cover song videos Sam has attracted millions of viewers and broke all records.

Sam Ryder was born in Maldon, Essex, United Kingdom in 1989. He used to be guitarist in several bands and also lived in Hawaii, where he was running a coffee shop. Then he cleverly used the time of the pandemic to record his own songs "Whirlwind" , "Tiny Riots" , “July”  and “More” . This rapid career in the music business is truly amazing. Participating in the Eurovision Song Contest is another cherry on the pie for Sam. He emphasized that he has always been a huge fan of the contest and celebrated it always friend his family and friends. For Turin he expects to get some sun and sing his heart out.

The song “SPACE MAN” is an outstanding song, which is could be a composition of singers like Elton John or Queen, it’s also a tribute to those singers, Sam admits. The anthem like song is about being far from all the earthly problems, but out there in space there is nothing:

Up in space, man!
I‘ve searched around the universe
Been down some black holes
There‘s nothing but space, man!, no
Oh, I‘m in the wrong place, man
Nothing but, nothing but, nothing but space, man!
And I wanna go home

This song will set another mark in the UK ESC history. A strong song, with a great voice, a sympathetic and authentic singer can work very well. Additionally, the song is very radio-friendly and memorable. Maybe the Sam Ryder can make the impossible possible.

History

• Debut: 1957
• Participations: 64
• Victories: 5
• Finals: 64
• Top 10: 41

The United Kingdom had its debut in 1957, in 1967 they could win for the very first time, when the Eurovision Song Contest was still called “Grand Prix d’Eurovision de la Chanson”. In 1958 the United Kingdom has withdrawn, so it’s one of the participating countries with the longest stand in the ESC history.

Over the years the United Kingdom has become one of the most successful countries with five victories and 15x second places and 41x Top10 placings. Especially in the 60’s and 70’s the ESC was very important for the UK music market, top charts positions all over Europe and beyond have been possible, but this has changed dramatically. Nevertheless the UK entries have mostly been contemporary and radio friendly and many of them have become great hits or even evergreens. It seems that the general interest in the ESC has decreased over the years, and that such a big music nation like the United Kingdom is not showing the best they could present.

Additionally the general interest has been impacted as well, which is mainly due to the funny, sarcastic and snappy comments of the BBC commentator Terry Wogan, who unfortunately passed away at the end of January 2016. There was less good will and appreciation, unfortunately the music of the ESC has been put in the trash corner with the consequence that this music event is not being taken seriously anymore. With the effect that established singers and composers make a wide berth around the ESC. Even if the BBC has send Blue, Engelbert Humperdinck and Bonnie Tyler as “old weapons” into the battlefield, it did not bring back the old glamourous times. It seems those singers have only been taken part for reactivating their careers. There are so many talented singers and composers in the UK, those should be motivated and encouraged instead.

The English speaking countries always enjoyed the language advantage for a long time. Since the language rule has been eased for every country, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Malta have suffered a lot when it comes to the points, all countries are now able to sing in English or any language of their choice.

The BBC had the honour to organize a special 60th anniversary concert of the ESC with previous winners and participants in 2015. It was a fulminant show with a lot of memories and melodies with an enthusiastic audience in the Apollo Hammersmith Theatre in London. Unfortunately, this concert has not been broadcasted live and the show was not broadcasted in the countries of Eurovision. But the last ESC, which was held in the UK is almost 25 years ago, Birmingham 1998.

Biggest successes

• 5x 1st place
  “Puppet On A String” | Sandie Shaw (Vienna 1967) 
  “Boom Bang-a-bang” | Lulu (Madrid 1969) 
  “Save Your Kisses For Me” | Brotherhood of Man (The Hague 1976) 
  “Making Your Mind Up” | Bucks Fizz (Dublin 1981) 
  “Love Shine A Light” | Katrina and The Waves (Dublin 1997) 

Video Nostalgia

• “Let Me Be The One” | The Shadows
  Rank 2, Stockholm 1975
  
• “Mary Ann” | Black Lace
  Rank 7, Jerusalem 1979
  
• “We Will Be Free (lonely Symphony)” | Frances Ruffelle
  Rank 10, Dublin 1994
  
  

First Rehearsal