Ask Eurovision fans which country has consistently underperformed in recent years and the answer is almost always the UK. The country came five times first and has participated since 1957, but has not managed to live up to its favorite status for years. Now there’s Sam Ryder and winning the Eurovision Song Contest suddenly seems like an option.
With his long blonde hair and friendly face, Ryder stands out on stage, but when he opens his mouth and starts singing, you totally understand why the bookies have put the singer in the top five for weeks.
“I’m in space, man. In space, man. I’ve searched the entire universe, been down some black holes. Nothing but space, man. And I wanna go home”, Ryder sings in Space Man. The 32-year-old singer has an incredible vocal range: he effortlessly sings entire parts in his head voice, and then continues in a sultry, soulful way.
Ryder was already a true celebrity to the younger generation, but most people saw him on the Eurovision stage for the first time. The singer gained fame on the social media platform TikTok with covers of his famous songs, which he started during the first lockdown in 2020. He now has more than 12 million followers on the platform and has managed to amass over 100 million likes. .
Relief after England’s goalless performance in Rotterdam
Domestically, there was a reaction of relief to Ryder’s participation: after James Newman received zero points for his song coal in Rotterdam, England desperately need a winner. Because the previous years also did not go well.
Michael Rice also finished last with his song in 2019 Bigger Than Us and SuRie didn’t get further than 24th place in 2018 with her song Storm. The last time England made it into the top ten was in 2009, when Jade Ewen finished fifth with It’s my time.
And while England have been guaranteed a place in the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest for years: the country belongs to the so-called Top five and therefore do not have to participate in the semi-finals.
Conscious under all positive things
The fact that Ryder is primarily known for singing covers does not mean that he has no writing talent: Space Man he wrote it himself, in collaboration with Amy Wadge (the former Thinking out loud with Ed Sheeran writing).
Ryder remains sober under the positive reaction, if NU.nl asks him about it. “I’ve never heard or read about it like that myself but I keep hearing people here who are really excited. I’m really happy that there’s such support for me in England. It seems like now everyone is coming and standing behind me. . That’s so cool, it makes you so happy.”
The singer doesn’t necessarily want to win, though it’s certainly fun. “If I can be myself and people think that’s fine and good, then I’m happy.”
“Falls down a lot. General tv buff. Incurable zombie fan. Subtly charming problem solver. Amateur explorer.”
