I’m going to be generous and forgive James his first run of this one, because he sounded out of breath from the start – almost as though he had been rushed onto stage – that being said, you’re gonna be rushed onto stage a week tonight so get used to it!
An esteemed colleague of mine messaged: “What has happened to the mix? The bass kick in seems to have gone”, and I agree with him, something has changed and it’s not for the better.
When the second run came on screen, there was a bit better vocal and yes, before anyone jumps down my throat, I know this is what rehearsals are for, and yes he only has to perform it right twice and all that guff, but even on the camera record for the back up tape (just in case a malady befalls him) it was just…all… very…. BBC … and it doesn’t need to be.
You put this against France and Spain and Malta and Switzerland, and if he performs it like that again, there is no way the televoter at home is going to actively say “one of my 20 votes is going to that cuddly James Newman and his trumpets”. It’s not a criticism of the song. The song is all ok. It’s how the set has been dressed that’s the problem. It has no “Light up the room” or any pyro, it has lights. It doesn’t have energy, it has restraint and it doesn’t need that. It’s a television show for God’s sake, not Seaside Special from Brighton circa 1976, because that’s how it feels.
I’d say I’m surprised, but I’m really not anymore. Real people ask why we get no votes. The simple answer is because we’re producing light entertainment and not a three-minute music production, and until that changes we’re going to be down in the mire.
Phil’s Prediction : Based on this. 16-26th