With just days to go before the Eurovision Song Contest kicks off, UK hopefuls are pinning their hopes on Sam Ryder, with support growing as the odds of him winning continue to climb. fall.
Millions tuned into the BBC and across the world in May last year to see UK 2021 entrant James Newman score zero points both with the juries and in the public vote. But, despite this dismal spectacle in Rotterdam, there is a lot more optimism from the UK side this year after famed music management company Tap, who Dua Lipa was signed to until recently, got involved. in the selection process.
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After names like London Grammar and Years & Years were lumped together, it was Sam who returned time and time again to social media as Eurovision fans grew increasingly impatient waiting to find out who was representing the United Kingdom. Sam himself hinted it might be him when he posted a clip of someone walking along a sidewalk adorned with the Italian flag.
Eagle-eyed followers took this as confirmation that Sam was making Eurovision and in early March the cat was finally let out of the bag by Scott Mills and Greg James on Radio 1, when it was revealed that Sam would take his track Space Man to Turin for Eurovision 2022.
Who is Sam Ryder?
(Picture: ITV)
While he may not be a regular on the charts (well not yet anyway!), Sam is a massive name on social media, both on TikTok and Instagram, where he has 12 million and 3 million respectively. .5 million subscribers.
As well as Space Man, which has already been widely played on Radio 1, Sam’s other tracks include More and Tiny Riot.
Representing the UK in Turin on Saturday 14 May, Sam said: “Having been a Eurovision fan since I was a child, I am so honored to have had the opportunity to perform at an event alongside some of Europe’s most talented creatives, performers and songwriters.
“I hope to sing my head off in a way the UK can be proud of, and featuring a song I wrote with my friends last summer makes the experience even more special. See you in legends from Torino!”
The main reason Sam has become a true fan favorite and contender for Saturday night victory is the hard work he has put in since being confirmed as a UK entrant a few months ago. In addition to performing at large-scale events like Eurovision parties in London and Amsterdam, he also did a series of flash concerts on the streets of the Dutch city, as well as in Madrid and Berlin.
The Eurovision ratings make very enjoyable reading for Sam, as, at the time of writing on Thursday afternoon, he was second favorite to win behind Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra. And predictions that he will push Ukraine all the way in the 2022 final were further fueled by his incredible performance at the end of Wednesday’s jury semi-final with a video of his act widely shared on the social networks.
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