Song title: Hubris Nemesis
Music by: Ray Holt, Martin Faulkner, Andrew Donaldson
Lyrics by: Ray Holt
Performed by: Vulnerable
The public will have the opportunity to contribute towards the final vote between 7-14 November. In the meantime you can listen to the song here ⬇️ (and all the other entries on their own individual pages ⬆️ )
We’re Vulnerable, a band originally formed in Newcastle upon Tyne by schoolfriends Ray Holt, Martin Faulkner and Andrew Donaldson. Despite now living in different corners of the United Kingdom (Leeds, Peterborough and Edinburgh respectively), we create music together online and meet in person for recording sessions whenever we can.
We’ve been a three-piece for years (OK, decades!), but it’s all change this year as we welcome Bex Masters – another Edinburgh resident – to the band. Bex has been contributing her vocals to our songs for such a long time now, and with her creative role continuously increasing, we thought we should make things official and ask her to become part of the Vulnerable team. That’s why our band photo is a composite image – we’ll try to get together in real life and take a proper picture before next year’s HCSC!
Martin on “Hubris Nemesis”:
For our first HCSC entry as a foursome, we thought it would be appropriate to submit a song where we all feature on vocals. Musically, our aim was to create a “crowd singalong” vibe and a sound that’s big, loud and wild but still catchy. That’s why we’ve tried to cram lots of hooks in there – and (for the first time in our long HCSC history, I think) there’s even a Eurovision-style key change into the final chorus.
Andrew on “Hubris Nemesis”:
Lyrically, “you’ve made your choice – now pay for it” is pretty self-explanatory. I think today there is a complete lack of accountability: from politics to celebrities, from Fortune 500 companies to unions. The song says that if you make yourself – or the world – worse due to your own actions then you should suffer for it. Of course, Ray will probably try and tell you it’s about Donald Crowhurst…
Ray on “Hubris Nemesis”:
It’s about Donald Crowhurst.
Lyrics – Hubris Nemesis
Well, can you lie
your way out of a lie
that swells with
every wave beneath?
You meant the best
Now navigate yourself
out of this mess
that grinds you in its teeth
You don’t get to walk away from this
You made your choice – now pay for it
You don’t get to walk away from this
After hubris, nemesis
After hubris, nemesis
You know the game
There is no end to the shame
that nears
with every breath you take
It is finished
It is finished, a mercy
Embrace your place
as cautionary tale
You don’t get to walk away from this
You made your choice – now pay for it
You don’t get to walk away from this
After hubris, nemesis
After hubris, nemesis
You don’t get to walk away from this
You made your choice – now pay for it
You don’t get to walk away from this
After hubris, nemesis
After hubris, nemesis
After hubris, nemesis
After hubris, nemesis
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