Now, I’ve been doing this since about the end of the Crimean Wars, and I know what rubbish UK Rehearsals sound like. There’s a roll of shame as long as my arm (you’ll do Jemini, let’s start with you). This isn’t one of them.
As predicted, the on-tape backing singers HELP the UK, because we have been notoriously rubbish at getting supporting voices who can, well, sing live and compliment the main singer. Probably because the BBC doesn’t know what they are doing either, sometimes … but I digress.
This is perfectly passable. James stands on an Amazon Dot with two trumpets either side, which drop from the ceiling following the PARP motif of the actual track. James does some dancing and some singing and we even have four backing dancers (not singers), who do a bit of stuff in front of Mr Newman with assorted brass instruments. It all looks very Saturday night safe … and that isn’t a criticism. After the last few years, it’s a bonus!
The only lighting up of the room comes from the stage spots and, for once, I think we’ve missed a trick by not ordering from the pyro menu – or, perhaps that’s to come later in the week? I do think it needs something at the end though.
Overall, not bad at all. Certainly not a disaster like we’ve had in previous years, and that can only be applauded!
‘Demons dance like the British group in the Eurovision Song Contest,’ said Neil Gaiman thirty years ago. Nothing changed