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| Sam Ryder: TikTok star to sing Space Man for UK at Eurovision 2022 | Sam Ryder: TikTok star to sing Space Man for UK at Eurovision 2022 |
| (4 months later) | |
| Sam Ryder will represent the United Kingdom at this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy. | Sam Ryder will represent the United Kingdom at this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy. |
| He's one of the UK's most followed singers on TikTok, with 12 million fans on the app, and will perform his song Space Man at May's grand final. | He's one of the UK's most followed singers on TikTok, with 12 million fans on the app, and will perform his song Space Man at May's grand final. |
| "I love Eurovision. I think it's such a privilege to be able to do it," he tells Radio 1 Newsbeat. | "I love Eurovision. I think it's such a privilege to be able to do it," he tells Radio 1 Newsbeat. |
| Last year's contest in Rotterdam was won by Italian rock group Måneskin. | Last year's contest in Rotterdam was won by Italian rock group Måneskin. |
| Sam's taking part following two consecutive years where the UK has placed last at Eurovision. | Sam's taking part following two consecutive years where the UK has placed last at Eurovision. |
| "I don't want to let the stigma or fear of coming at a certain place in a table stop me from doing something and being a part of something that I enjoy so much," he says. | "I don't want to let the stigma or fear of coming at a certain place in a table stop me from doing something and being a part of something that I enjoy so much," he says. |
| In 2021, James Newman's entry Embers received the dreaded "nil points" and Michael Rice came bottom in 2019 with ballad Bigger Than Us. | In 2021, James Newman's entry Embers received the dreaded "nil points" and Michael Rice came bottom in 2019 with ballad Bigger Than Us. |
| The 2020 contest was cancelled. | The 2020 contest was cancelled. |
| "As long as I can go to Eurovision and know in my heart of hearts I'm going to do the best job I can then everything else is out of my control." he says. | "As long as I can go to Eurovision and know in my heart of hearts I'm going to do the best job I can then everything else is out of my control." he says. |
| James Newman on coming last at Eurovision | James Newman on coming last at Eurovision |
| James Newman on coming last at Eurovision | James Newman on coming last at Eurovision |
| Italy wins Eurovision Song Contest, UK comes last | Italy wins Eurovision Song Contest, UK comes last |
| Italy wins Eurovision Song Contest, UK comes last | Italy wins Eurovision Song Contest, UK comes last |
| Måneskin: The Eurovision winners storming the UK charts | Måneskin: The Eurovision winners storming the UK charts |
| Måneskin: The Eurovision winners storming the UK charts | Måneskin: The Eurovision winners storming the UK charts |
| The last time the UK made the top ten in a final at Eurovision was in 2009 with the song It's My Time by Jade Ewen. | The last time the UK made the top ten in a final at Eurovision was in 2009 with the song It's My Time by Jade Ewen. |
| After their Eurovision victory, Måneskin were nominated for Best International Act at this year's Brits | After their Eurovision victory, Måneskin were nominated for Best International Act at this year's Brits |
| After their Eurovision victory, Måneskin were nominated for Best International Act at this year's Brits | After their Eurovision victory, Måneskin were nominated for Best International Act at this year's Brits |
| Due to its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been banned from this year's contest by the show's producers, the European Broadcast Union (EBU). | Due to its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been banned from this year's contest by the show's producers, the European Broadcast Union (EBU). |
| Russia banned from 2022 Eurovision Song Contest | Russia banned from 2022 Eurovision Song Contest |
| Russia banned from 2022 Eurovision Song Contest | Russia banned from 2022 Eurovision Song Contest |
| On singing at Eurovision with the backdrop of conflict in Europe, Sam says he tries to come back to the fact that "music is about sharing and connection". | On singing at Eurovision with the backdrop of conflict in Europe, Sam says he tries to come back to the fact that "music is about sharing and connection". |
| "The only thing I have in my power to do is remember kindness, gratitude for the opportunity and empathy." | "The only thing I have in my power to do is remember kindness, gratitude for the opportunity and empathy." |
| After last year's British poor placing, management company Tap Music came on board to find a new act for the UK. | After last year's British poor placing, management company Tap Music came on board to find a new act for the UK. |
| It's been responsible for the careers of singers like Ellie Goulding, Lana Del Rey and, until recently, Dua Lipa. | It's been responsible for the careers of singers like Ellie Goulding, Lana Del Rey and, until recently, Dua Lipa. |
| Sam was chosen internally between Tap and the BBC and speaking before Sam was selected, Tap's Ben Mawson said: "We don't want to see Eurovision as a boom or bust night for the artist. We want to see this as a platform for development for a career." | Sam was chosen internally between Tap and the BBC and speaking before Sam was selected, Tap's Ben Mawson said: "We don't want to see Eurovision as a boom or bust night for the artist. We want to see this as a platform for development for a career." |
| This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
| To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. | To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. |
| Sam Ryder says TikTok has helped him launch a solo career | Sam Ryder says TikTok has helped him launch a solo career |
| Sam Ryder says TikTok has helped him launch a solo career | Sam Ryder says TikTok has helped him launch a solo career |
| Who is Sam Ryder? | Who is Sam Ryder? |
| During the first lockdown, Sam picked up a huge social media following after performing snippets of songs on TikTok. | During the first lockdown, Sam picked up a huge social media following after performing snippets of songs on TikTok. |
| His covers were noticed by the likes of Justin Bieber and Alicia Keys, and he became the platform's most viewed UK artist in 2020. | His covers were noticed by the likes of Justin Bieber and Alicia Keys, and he became the platform's most viewed UK artist in 2020. |
| He launched his solo career when he signed with record label Parlophone in 2021. | He launched his solo career when he signed with record label Parlophone in 2021. |
| Sam says his love of 2006 Finnish monster rock winners Lordi helped his decision to compete for the UK at Eurovision. | Sam says his love of 2006 Finnish monster rock winners Lordi helped his decision to compete for the UK at Eurovision. |
| "Lordi winning was a huge moment in my life because I'd loved them before they competed on Eurovision. | "Lordi winning was a huge moment in my life because I'd loved them before they competed on Eurovision. |
| "Seeing them at Eurovision didn't change the way I felt about them and I was just stoked for that band going to represent their country and smashing it." | "Seeing them at Eurovision didn't change the way I felt about them and I was just stoked for that band going to represent their country and smashing it." |
| Sam's Eurovision faves Lordi stormed to victory in 2006 with Hard Rock Hallelujah | Sam's Eurovision faves Lordi stormed to victory in 2006 with Hard Rock Hallelujah |
| Sam's Eurovision faves Lordi stormed to victory in 2006 with Hard Rock Hallelujah | Sam's Eurovision faves Lordi stormed to victory in 2006 with Hard Rock Hallelujah |
| Analysis by Scott Mills, Radio 1 presenter & BBC Three Eurovision semi-final host | Analysis by Scott Mills, Radio 1 presenter & BBC Three Eurovision semi-final host |
| Eurovision has become a whole new ball game in the past five years and contestants need to arrive as the whole package. | Eurovision has become a whole new ball game in the past five years and contestants need to arrive as the whole package. |
| You can't simply have a good song. You need to connect with viewers when you look down the camera lens. | You can't simply have a good song. You need to connect with viewers when you look down the camera lens. |
| Sam Ryder has nailed this already on TikTok. | Sam Ryder has nailed this already on TikTok. |
| A "good" performance is no longer enough either. It needs to blow people's minds. | A "good" performance is no longer enough either. It needs to blow people's minds. |
| Think about Ukraine's Go_A techno rave from 2021 or Norway's fiery Spirit In The Sky from 2019. | Think about Ukraine's Go_A techno rave from 2021 or Norway's fiery Spirit In The Sky from 2019. |
| Even though neither won, they crucially got the public at home to vote from them. | Even though neither won, they crucially got the public at home to vote from them. |
| It's a slick TV event that brings people together and the memories of the competition from the mid-noughties (when it was slightly cheesy) don't exist in the minds of younger viewers who watch the build-up to the contest through social media. | It's a slick TV event that brings people together and the memories of the competition from the mid-noughties (when it was slightly cheesy) don't exist in the minds of younger viewers who watch the build-up to the contest through social media. |
| The Eurovision grand final takes place on 14 May, with 40 countries taking part. | The Eurovision grand final takes place on 14 May, with 40 countries taking part. |
| "There's something comforting about knowing that so many other people are watching the exact same thing as you are," says Sam. | "There's something comforting about knowing that so many other people are watching the exact same thing as you are," says Sam. |
| "It's like the Super Bowl or the World Cup." | "It's like the Super Bowl or the World Cup." |
| So who will be Sam's main competition? | So who will be Sam's main competition? |
| Ukraine: Kalush Orchestra | Ukraine: Kalush Orchestra |
| Kalush are seen here performing in Lviv in 2021 | Kalush are seen here performing in Lviv in 2021 |
| Kalush are seen here performing in Lviv in 2021 | Kalush are seen here performing in Lviv in 2021 |
| Folk rap group Kalush Orchestra are currently due to represent Ukraine with their track Stefania. | Folk rap group Kalush Orchestra are currently due to represent Ukraine with their track Stefania. |
| They originally came second in their national final, but were upgraded to compete when singer Alina Pash had to withdraw. | They originally came second in their national final, but were upgraded to compete when singer Alina Pash had to withdraw. |
| Considering the conflict, it will be an achievement in itself if the group make it to Turin, as several members have reportedly been helping in Ukraine's war effort, external. | Considering the conflict, it will be an achievement in itself if the group make it to Turin, as several members have reportedly been helping in Ukraine's war effort, external. |
| Norway: Subwoolfer | Norway: Subwoolfer |
| 'Before that wolf eats my grandma... give that wolf a banana' | 'Before that wolf eats my grandma... give that wolf a banana' |
| 'Before that wolf eats my grandma... give that wolf a banana' | 'Before that wolf eats my grandma... give that wolf a banana' |
| On the surface, Norwegian's electronic wolf duo (yes, really) Subwoolfer might seem like your stereotypical joke entry but it's a lot cleverer than you might think. | On the surface, Norwegian's electronic wolf duo (yes, really) Subwoolfer might seem like your stereotypical joke entry but it's a lot cleverer than you might think. |
| Simply credited as Jim and Keith, their identity remains a mystery but the lyrics and vocals all seem to point towards comedy duo Ylvis, who went viral in 2013 with their song, What Does The Fox say. | Simply credited as Jim and Keith, their identity remains a mystery but the lyrics and vocals all seem to point towards comedy duo Ylvis, who went viral in 2013 with their song, What Does The Fox say. |
| Italy: Mahmood and Blanco | Italy: Mahmood and Blanco |
| Mahmood (right) lost out to the Netherlands' Duncan Laurence in the 2019 contest | Mahmood (right) lost out to the Netherlands' Duncan Laurence in the 2019 contest |
| Mahmood (right) lost out to the Netherlands' Duncan Laurence in the 2019 contest | Mahmood (right) lost out to the Netherlands' Duncan Laurence in the 2019 contest |
| Mahmood's no stranger to Eurovision, having previously placed second in 2019 with Soldi. | Mahmood's no stranger to Eurovision, having previously placed second in 2019 with Soldi. |
| This time he's representing his home nation alongside 19-year-old singer Blanco. The pair won Italy's legendary Sanremo Music Festival. It's a week long TV spectacular featuring dozens of songs and artists. | This time he's representing his home nation alongside 19-year-old singer Blanco. The pair won Italy's legendary Sanremo Music Festival. It's a week long TV spectacular featuring dozens of songs and artists. |
| Finland: The Rasmus | Finland: The Rasmus |
| The Rasmus won Finland's national selection competition | The Rasmus won Finland's national selection competition |
| The Rasmus won Finland's national selection competition | The Rasmus won Finland's national selection competition |
| Best known for their 2003 hit In The Shadows, Finnish rock group The Rasmus are representing their country with Jezebel. | Best known for their 2003 hit In The Shadows, Finnish rock group The Rasmus are representing their country with Jezebel. |
| The song was co-written by Desmond Child, who was also responsible for Ricky Martin's Livin' La Vida Loca and Bonnie Tyler's 2013 Eurovision entry Believe In Me. | The song was co-written by Desmond Child, who was also responsible for Ricky Martin's Livin' La Vida Loca and Bonnie Tyler's 2013 Eurovision entry Believe In Me. |
| Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, external, Facebook, external, Twitter, external and YouTube, external. | Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, external, Facebook, external, Twitter, external and YouTube, external. |
| Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. | Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. |
| Related topics | |
| War in Ukraine | War in Ukraine |
| Coronavirus lockdown measures | Coronavirus lockdown measures |
| Eurovision Song Contest | Eurovision Song Contest |
| Singing | Singing |
| Turin | Turin |
| Italy | Italy |
| Ukraine | Ukraine |
| Coronavirus | Coronavirus |
| Music | Music |