Ask Eurovision fans which country has consistently underperformed in recent years and the answer is almost always the UK. The country is coming five times first and has been participating since 1957, but hasn’t 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 ManThe 32-year-old singer has an extraordinary vocal range: he effortlessly sings entire parts in his head voice, and then continues in a sultry and soulful manner.
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 hits, 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 took the last place with his song of 2019 Bigger Than Us and SuRie didn’t get more than 24 places in 2018 with her song StormThe last time England reached the top ten was in 2009, when Jade Ewen finished fifth with It’s my timeright
And while England have been guaranteed a place in the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest for years: the country is included in the Top Five and therefore does not have to participate in the semifinals.
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 of or read about it like that myself but I keep hearing people here who are really excited. I’m really happy there’s such support for me in England. It seems like now everyone is coming together and standing at the table. 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.”
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