Ireland

🇮🇪 It’s Bambie Thug for Ireland

Bambie Thug will represent Ireland. In an exciting show, part of the Late Late Show, “Doomsday Blue” was chosen out of eight songs. The song is written and composed by Cuntry Ray Robinson, Olivia Cassy Brooking, Sam Matlock, Tyler Ryder. Bambie Thug has a difficult task: together with Sweden, Ireland holds the record of seven wins. Will they be the eighth? Here are the full results: Bambie Thug, “Doomsday Blue”, 32 pts Ailsha, “Go Tobann”, 24 pts Next In Line, “Love like us”, 24 pts Erica-Cody, “Love me like I do”, 22 pts JyellowL, “Judas”, 16 pts Isabelle Kearny, “Let me be the fire”, 8 pts    

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🇮🇪 Ireland decides via Eurosong

Tonight is the night for Ireland. The country of Johnny Logan will select a new song for Eurovision. As a part of the Late Late Show, six songs will be presented. All the participants are newcomers in the field of Eurovision. The show will start at 22.35. You can watch it here. Below you’ll find all the participants. nr Artist Song   * Ailsha Go Tobann * Bambie Thug Doomsday blue * Erica-Cody Love me like I do * Isabelle Kearney Let me be the fire * JyellowL Judas * Next In Line Love like us

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🇮🇪 Blast from the Past: Ireland 1979

We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today: Cathal Dunne, who represented Ireland in 1979 with the song “Happy man”. Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest Ireland’s journey in the Eurovision Song Contest reads like a tale of two eras. Once the undeniable monarchs of Eurovision, their story is a mix of triumph and challenge, a saga of unparalleled success followed by a period of struggle. In the golden age of Irish Eurovision history, the nation didn’t just participate; they dominated. Their legacy began with Dana’s “All Kinds of Everything” in 1970. The 1980s saw Johnny Logan emerge as a Eurovision icon. His “What’s Another Year” in 1980 and “Hold Me Now” in 1987 didn’t just win; they brought him the title Mr. Eurovision. Linda Martin, with “Why Me?” in 1992, written by none other than Logan, added another chapter to this story. The 1990s continued to smile on Ireland, with Niamh Kavanagh’s “In Your Eyes” in 1993 and the duo of Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan with “Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids” in 1994. Eimear Quinn’s “The Voice” in 1996 was perhaps the zenith of this era. In recent years, Ireland struggles and hardly reaches the final. Johnny Logan, 1987 The Irish National Song Contest 1979 On the 4th of February, the Irish National Song Contest was held. Eight songs were performed, and regional juries chose the winner. Some familiar names could be found on the shortlist: Tweed, “No restrictions“, 4 pts, 5th Johnny Logan, “Angie”, 15 pts, 3rd Anderson, “Goodbye”, 3 pts, 6th The Memories, “The main attraction“, 13 pts, 4th Red Hurley and Tina, “Hiding behind our smile”, 0 pts, 8th Cathal Dunne, “Happy man“, 36 pts, 1st Catriona Walsh, “Superstar”, 3 pts, 6th The Miami Show Band, “Too much is going on”, 26 pts, 2nd Both Red Hurley and Tina represented Ireland before, but faced a zero this time. Totally unknown, but soon to become one of the biggest Eurovision stars ever, Johnny Logan, made his debut in this national final. Cathal Dunne Cathal Dunne, born in 1951 in Cork, Ireland, is a renowned Irish singer, widely recognized for his participation in the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest. He represented Ireland with the song “Happy Man,” which became quite popular, reaching No. 3 in the Irish charts. Dunne’s musical journey began early, influenced by his uncle, Jack Lynch, the former Taoiseach (prime minister) of Ireland. After graduating from University College Cork and Montfort College of Performing Arts in 1974, Dunne quickly made his mark in the music industry. He won the Castlebar Song Contest that same year with “Shalom” and participated in the Yamaha Music Festival in 1976 with “Lover, Not a Wife.” His single “Bad Boy” and top ten hit “Danny” further established his presence in the Irish music scene. He was also known for his performances with his backing bands, Stateside and later The Formula, in Irish clubs. In 1981, Dunne’s song “We’ll be there” was featured in Fianna Fáil’s general election campaign. His Eurovision entry “Happy Man” won him the Irish National Song Contest, beating notable competitors like Tina Reynolds, Red Hurley, and future winner Johnny Logan. He finished fifth in the Eurovision final in Jerusalem. Dunne’s move to the United States in the early 1980s marked a new chapter in his career. Settling there permanently after initial concerts in Michigan in 1982, he embraced the role of a traditional Irish balladeer, releasing several albums and diversifying his performances with comedy and show tunes. His continued dedication to music has kept him connected to his Irish roots while entertaining audiences in his adopted home. Happy Man As said, “Happy Man” was Ireland’s entry in the Eurovision Song Contest held in Jerusalem that year. This ballad with its optimistic lyrics stood out as a cheerful and engaging composition. Dunne, not just the performer but also the songwriter, showcased his multifaceted talent through this entry. The song’s essence, encapsulated in its title, reflects a positive and content outlook on life. Its light-hearted and jubilant nature resonated with audiences, leading to a respectable fifth-place finish in the contest. This achievement was significant, considering the competitive nature of Eurovision and the diverse array of musical styles it encompasses. “Happy Man” enjoyed commercial success following the contest, particularly in Ireland where it reached number three on the charts. The song remains a memorable part of Cathal Dunne’s musical career.

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Kasey Smith

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameKasey Smith Born29 March 1990 Nationality🇮🇪 Irish National SelectionEurosong 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongHeartbeat (with Can-Linn, 2014) Biography Kasey Smith is an Irish singer and songwriter best known for her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 as part of the band Can-Linn. Born on March 29, 1990, in Dublin, Ireland, Smith started her musical journey from a young age. Her first major foray into the music industry was as a member of the girl group Wonderland in 2010, which was formed under the guidance of Louis Walsh and Kian Egan of Westlife. The band had some success, releasing a top ten album in Ireland before their disbandment in 2011. After Wonderland disbanded, Smith returned to Ireland and began working on a solo career. She first attempted to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013 with the song “Kiss Me There”, but she didn’t make it past the national finals. In 2014, Smith was chosen to represent Ireland at Eurovision as part of the band Can-Linn. They performed the song “Heartbeat”, which Smith co-wrote. However, they didn’t progress past the semi-finals.  Despite her early exposure in the music industry, Smith has maintained a relatively low profile, continuing to make music and perform around Ireland. In 2019, she started performing in a resort in Dubai every Saturday evening. She did the job until COVID19 came. Entries Heartbeat (& Can-linn) Country🇮🇪 Ireland Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsJonas GladnikoffRasmus PalmgrenPatrizia Helander MusicHazel KaneswaranJonas GladnikoffRasmus PalmgrenPatrizia Helander BackingsSarah May Rogers (Violin) Results Semi Points: 35Position: 12Running order: 9 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/J9zEybTMeEs

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Can-linn

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts MembersDonna BissettJenny BowdenTarik ShebaniThomas Spratt Active2014 Nationality🇮🇪 Irish National SelectionEurosong 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongHeartbeat (ft. Kasey Smith, 2014) Biography Can-Linn was formed in Ireland in early 2014 with the specific purpose of representing Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. The name of the band, Can-Linn, means ‘to sing together’ in Irish, reflecting the collaborative spirit of the group. The band is notable for including members from a variety of different backgrounds and for blending a range of musical styles. It features Irish singer Kasey Smith, formerly of the girl group Wonderland, and five traditional Irish musicians who play instruments such as the bodhrán, the fiddle, and the Uilleann pipes.  At Eurovision 2014, Can-Linn performed the song “Heartbeat”, featuring Kasey Smith. Despite the group’s spirited performance, “Heartbeat” did not progress past the semi-final stage. Since Can-Linn was formed specifically for the Eurovision contest, the group did not produce further music together. Entries Heartbeat (featuring Kasey Smith) Country🇮🇪 Irish Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsJonas GladnikoffRasmus PalmgrenPatrizia Helander MusicHazel KaneswaranJonas GladnikoffRasmus PalmgrenPatrizia Helander BackingsSarah May Rogers (Violin) Results Semi Points: 35Position: 12Running order: 9 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/J9zEybTMeEs

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Liverpool live: Sweaty sweaters, video games and red feathers

Every participant has it’s second rehearsal today. That means we already know a lot and we can just say whether there are (major) changes or not. Different from other years, no independent journalists or fan media can join the rehearsals. What you read is what Eurovision.tv wants us to know. photo credits: EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett/Corinne Cummings/Chloe Hashemi Norway The Norwegian act is the same as in the first rehearsal. According to the reporters of eurovision.tv she hit the high notes. Alessandra is currently 6th at the bookmakers, which means she might do well for Norway this year. Malta The Maltese act is one were a lot happens. And singer Dav jr. even wears two sweaters. He takes one off during the show. According to him that is quite…. sweaty. Dav already took part in the national final in 2020. However, he says it is now the right time to go to Eurovision. The day after he was eliminated from the X-Factor 2020, his father passed away, so that was not a good moment for Eurovision.Unfortunately the bookmakers are not happy about Malta yet. Hopefully they are wrong this time! Serbia Sometimes it is difficult to know what will happen on tv when you are in the hall. That is why only now a lot of on-screen video game references came up in the reports. It fits in the act: somebody who just wants to sleep as there are so many bad things going on in the world. The song is written during the COVID19 lockdowns. Currently, Serbia is no. 17 in the betting odds. Latvia At least they have their outfits now, so it seems the luggage problem is solved. The band members are all wearing jackets and blouses with long, thin ties over it. Lead singer Andrejs Reinis Zitmanis wears a beige jacket, the others have darker cloths. Currently Latvia does not do well in the betting odds with a 35th place. However, we can not exclude a place in the final. Portugal Enthusiasm for the uptempo song Portugal brings on stage. There have not been many changes at all in the Portuguese entry. Mimicat still wears the feather dress that impressed in the first rehearsal. Portugal is currently 26th in the betting odds, which makes it likely that Mimicat will go through to the final. Ireland About Ireland, the same information is given by eurovision.tv as they did Monday: the members of Wild Youth are having fun on stage. Ireland is currently 24th at the betting odds. However, if you look at the qualifiers of semifinal one, they are 14th. A strange contradiction, and it makes the line on the official website quite cynical: “…and they look like they’re having the best time ever – the Irish delegation should be really happy”. Croatia Croatia’s Let 3 is having their second rehearsal, and their performance looks just as impressive on the big screen as it did in the hall, says eurovision.tv. However, the visual spectacle appears even more impressive and vibrant than before. The colors are now more intense and psychedelic, and the removal of clothing is now even more detailed and noticeable due to the high definition visuals. Judge for yourself if you should be happy with that. The betting ods give Croatia a 15th place. in collaboration with Eurovision Artists                                            

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Liverpool live: rehearsal schedule

The rehearsals continue with the 2nd rehearsal of 15 countries. The countries now have only 20 minutes to rehearse.  11.30 – 11.50 Norway11.55 – 12.15 Malta12.20 – 12.40 Serbia12.45 – 13.05 Latvia13.10 – 13.30 Portugal13.35 – 13.55 Ireland15.00 – 15.20 Croatia15.25 – 15.45 Switzerland15.50 – 16.10 Israel16.15 – 16.35 Moldova16.40 – 17.00 Sweden17.05 – 17.25 Azerbaijan17.30 – 17.50 Czechia17.55 – 18.15 The Netherlands18.20 – 18.40 Finland 

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Liverpool live: about sparks, costumes and a lightbox

We’ve had the second half of today’s rehearsals. Here is what we saw and heard today. photo credits: EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett/Corinne Cummings Ireland Spotlights are on Conor, the singer of Wild Youth. He has a rock gold catsuit with flares. There are stairs on stage. And there will be pyro technics. A lot of sparkles are visible by the end of the performance. Eurovision.tv is enthousiastic about the singalong capacities of the song. “Even on the first rehearsal, it’s easy to imagine the crowd in the Liverpool Arena singing along to this euphoric chorus.” Croatia As expected, the members of Let3 wear the costumes they also had in the national final. At eurovision.tv they speak about ‘high fashion hat/dress combo’s’. However, we do not reccomend you wearing this to a party. At the end of the song, they strip down to their underwear and they wave with huge missiles. On the LED-screen you see the faces of the band members. The missiles emit a shower of sparks over the Let3 members!  Switzerland As in 2021 and 2022 it is Sacha Jean-Baptiste who is responsible for the Swiss staging. Where you would expect Remo Forrer alone on stage with a spotlight on it, nothing less is true. There are dancers with Remo on stage and he also dances himself. There’s also pyro technics: a short interlude of smoke and red fireworks raining down from the roof. Moldova For the second time, Pasha Parfeni enters the Eurovision stage. We saw him for the first time in 2012. He is surrounded by huge drums, a flutist and two backing singers with horned headdresses. A lot to see and a completely different act from what we saw 11 years ago. Sweden Loreen currently tops the bookmakers. She has the same act as in Melodifestivalen, herself sitting under the huge lightbox. The one from Melodifestivalen however was too heavy, so a lighter version can be seen in Liverpool. It is also lifted a little bit off the ground. The catsuit, the long nails and everything else is the same as in Melodifestivalen, including Loreen’s strong vocals.

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Road to Liverpool: Ireland

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Ireland. Wild Youth The national final in Ireland was won by Wild Youth. They sang the song “We are one”, which is written and composed by Conor O’Donohoe, Ed Porter and Jörgen Elofsson.  Wild Youth was formed in Dublin in 2016. The band exists of David Whelan, Conor O’Donohoe, Ed Porter and Callum McAdam. In 2017 they released their first single “All or nothing“. In 2019 they released their first album “The last goodbye”. The band toured through Ireland and the United Kingdom. Last year, they opened for Lewis Capaldi on his concerts. At the same time their song “Live without you” was a hit. In 2023 they won, as said, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. Public Image Ltd. Ireland has chosen the song through a national final called Eurosong 2023. The competition was part of the show the Late Late Show. A total of six artists and songs participated. One of the participants was a very remarkable one: the band PIL. They sang the song “Hawaii“. They became 4th. PIL (Public Image Limited) is not new to the audience. The band already had a big hit in 1983, “This is not a love song“, and “Rise” in 1984. Singer John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, also was the singer of punk band The Sex Pistols. Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest In 1965 Ireland debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest. They only had to wait until 1970 before Dana took the prize for the green island. The 2nd, 3rd ánd 4th victory were for mr. Eurovision himself, Johnny Logan. He sang the songs in 1980 and 1987 himself, while he composed the song for Linda Martin in 1992. That was the start of a long row of Irish victories: Niamh Kavanagh in 1993, Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan in 1994 and Eimear Quinn in 1996. Oh, and let’s not forget 1995: Norway won, but the group Secret Garden was led by the Irish violinist Fionualla Sherry. Anyway, Ireland holds the record of 7 (!!!) victories. The last few years were not so succesful for Ireland. Since 2014, only one contestant (Ryan O’Shaugnessy in 2018) reached the final. Bookmakers Currently, Ireland is number 23 in the betting odds. That would mean a place in the final this year. The Irish will probably be happy with a result like that. The song And of course, here is the song:

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Wild Youth

© EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett About Quick Facts MembersDavid WhelanConor O’DonohoeEd PorterCallum McAdam Founded2016 Nationality🇮🇪 Irish National SelectionEurosong 2023 In Eurovision2023 Liverpool SongWe are one (2023) Biography Wild Youth is an Irish pop rock band formed in Dublin in 2016. The band consists of lead vocalist David Whelan, guitarist Conor O’Donohoe, bassist Ed Porter, and drummer Callum McAdam. They first gained attention with their debut single, “All or Nothing”, which was released 19 June 2017 and quickly became a viral hit. Since their formation, Wild Youth has released several successful singles and EPs. They released a song called “Lose control” in September 2017. On 11 June 2018, another video was released: “Can’t move on”. The song became their first hit in the Irish musical charts. In the summer of 2018, the band was able to open for The Script. They have performed at several major music festivals, including Electric Picnic and Sea Sessions. In January 2019, Wild Youth released their debut album, “The Last Goodbye”. The first single of that album, “Close”, was released in March, followed by “Long time no see” in July. The band returned to Electric Picnic and also performed at the Indiependence Festival. In October, November and December the band had a live tour throughout Ireland and the United Kingdom. After a year, on 11 September 2020, the song “Next to you” was released, followed two months later by “Through the phone”. In February and March 2022 the band toured throughout Ireland again, and they performed in London. On 3 March, they released the single “Seventeen”. In June and July of the same year, the band opened for Lewis Capaldi. Meanwhile, they released a new song, “Live without you”, followed by “Modern colosseum” in October. The song came together with another tour.T On 3 February 2023, the band won Eurosong, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song “We are one”. They went on to represent their country. Unfortunately they didn’t make it to the final. Entries We Are One Country🇮🇪 Ireland Year2023 LanguageEnglish LyricsConor O’DonohoeEd PorterJörgen Elofsson MusicConor O’DonohoeEd PorterJörgen Elofsson Backings– Results Semi Points: 10Position: 12Running order: 6 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/80-4_rjW10U

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🇮🇪 It’s Bambie Thug for Ireland

Bambie Thug will represent Ireland. In an exciting show, part of the Late Late Show, “Doomsday Blue” was chosen out of eight songs. The song is written and composed by Cuntry Ray Robinson, Olivia Cassy Brooking, Sam Matlock, Tyler Ryder. Bambie Thug has a difficult task: together with Sweden, Ireland holds the record of seven wins. Will they be the eighth? Here are the full results: Bambie Thug, “Doomsday Blue”, 32 pts Ailsha, “Go Tobann”, 24 pts Next In Line, “Love like us”, 24 pts Erica-Cody, “Love me like I do”, 22 pts JyellowL, “Judas”, 16 pts Isabelle Kearny, “Let me be the fire”, 8 pts    

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🇮🇪 Ireland decides via Eurosong

Tonight is the night for Ireland. The country of Johnny Logan will select a new song for Eurovision. As a part of the Late Late Show, six songs will be presented. All the participants are newcomers in the field of Eurovision. The show will start at 22.35. You can watch it here. Below you’ll find all the participants. nr Artist Song   * Ailsha Go Tobann * Bambie Thug Doomsday blue * Erica-Cody Love me like I do * Isabelle Kearney Let me be the fire * JyellowL Judas * Next In Line Love like us

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🇮🇪 Blast from the Past: Ireland 1979

We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today: Cathal Dunne, who represented Ireland in 1979 with the song “Happy man”. Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest Ireland’s journey in the Eurovision Song Contest reads like a tale of two eras. Once the undeniable monarchs of Eurovision, their story is a mix of triumph and challenge, a saga of unparalleled success followed by a period of struggle. In the golden age of Irish Eurovision history, the nation didn’t just participate; they dominated. Their legacy began with Dana’s “All Kinds of Everything” in 1970. The 1980s saw Johnny Logan emerge as a Eurovision icon. His “What’s Another Year” in 1980 and “Hold Me Now” in 1987 didn’t just win; they brought him the title Mr. Eurovision. Linda Martin, with “Why Me?” in 1992, written by none other than Logan, added another chapter to this story. The 1990s continued to smile on Ireland, with Niamh Kavanagh’s “In Your Eyes” in 1993 and the duo of Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan with “Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids” in 1994. Eimear Quinn’s “The Voice” in 1996 was perhaps the zenith of this era. In recent years, Ireland struggles and hardly reaches the final. Johnny Logan, 1987 The Irish National Song Contest 1979 On the 4th of February, the Irish National Song Contest was held. Eight songs were performed, and regional juries chose the winner. Some familiar names could be found on the shortlist: Tweed, “No restrictions“, 4 pts, 5th Johnny Logan, “Angie”, 15 pts, 3rd Anderson, “Goodbye”, 3 pts, 6th The Memories, “The main attraction“, 13 pts, 4th Red Hurley and Tina, “Hiding behind our smile”, 0 pts, 8th Cathal Dunne, “Happy man“, 36 pts, 1st Catriona Walsh, “Superstar”, 3 pts, 6th The Miami Show Band, “Too much is going on”, 26 pts, 2nd Both Red Hurley and Tina represented Ireland before, but faced a zero this time. Totally unknown, but soon to become one of the biggest Eurovision stars ever, Johnny Logan, made his debut in this national final. Cathal Dunne Cathal Dunne, born in 1951 in Cork, Ireland, is a renowned Irish singer, widely recognized for his participation in the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest. He represented Ireland with the song “Happy Man,” which became quite popular, reaching No. 3 in the Irish charts. Dunne’s musical journey began early, influenced by his uncle, Jack Lynch, the former Taoiseach (prime minister) of Ireland. After graduating from University College Cork and Montfort College of Performing Arts in 1974, Dunne quickly made his mark in the music industry. He won the Castlebar Song Contest that same year with “Shalom” and participated in the Yamaha Music Festival in 1976 with “Lover, Not a Wife.” His single “Bad Boy” and top ten hit “Danny” further established his presence in the Irish music scene. He was also known for his performances with his backing bands, Stateside and later The Formula, in Irish clubs. In 1981, Dunne’s song “We’ll be there” was featured in Fianna Fáil’s general election campaign. His Eurovision entry “Happy Man” won him the Irish National Song Contest, beating notable competitors like Tina Reynolds, Red Hurley, and future winner Johnny Logan. He finished fifth in the Eurovision final in Jerusalem. Dunne’s move to the United States in the early 1980s marked a new chapter in his career. Settling there permanently after initial concerts in Michigan in 1982, he embraced the role of a traditional Irish balladeer, releasing several albums and diversifying his performances with comedy and show tunes. His continued dedication to music has kept him connected to his Irish roots while entertaining audiences in his adopted home. Happy Man As said, “Happy Man” was Ireland’s entry in the Eurovision Song Contest held in Jerusalem that year. This ballad with its optimistic lyrics stood out as a cheerful and engaging composition. Dunne, not just the performer but also the songwriter, showcased his multifaceted talent through this entry. The song’s essence, encapsulated in its title, reflects a positive and content outlook on life. Its light-hearted and jubilant nature resonated with audiences, leading to a respectable fifth-place finish in the contest. This achievement was significant, considering the competitive nature of Eurovision and the diverse array of musical styles it encompasses. “Happy Man” enjoyed commercial success following the contest, particularly in Ireland where it reached number three on the charts. The song remains a memorable part of Cathal Dunne’s musical career.

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Kasey Smith

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameKasey Smith Born29 March 1990 Nationality🇮🇪 Irish National SelectionEurosong 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongHeartbeat (with Can-Linn, 2014) Biography Kasey Smith is an Irish singer and songwriter best known for her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 as part of the band Can-Linn. Born on March 29, 1990, in Dublin, Ireland, Smith started her musical journey from a young age. Her first major foray into the music industry was as a member of the girl group Wonderland in 2010, which was formed under the guidance of Louis Walsh and Kian Egan of Westlife. The band had some success, releasing a top ten album in Ireland before their disbandment in 2011. After Wonderland disbanded, Smith returned to Ireland and began working on a solo career. She first attempted to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013 with the song “Kiss Me There”, but she didn’t make it past the national finals. In 2014, Smith was chosen to represent Ireland at Eurovision as part of the band Can-Linn. They performed the song “Heartbeat”, which Smith co-wrote. However, they didn’t progress past the semi-finals.  Despite her early exposure in the music industry, Smith has maintained a relatively low profile, continuing to make music and perform around Ireland. In 2019, she started performing in a resort in Dubai every Saturday evening. She did the job until COVID19 came. Entries Heartbeat (& Can-linn) Country🇮🇪 Ireland Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsJonas GladnikoffRasmus PalmgrenPatrizia Helander MusicHazel KaneswaranJonas GladnikoffRasmus PalmgrenPatrizia Helander BackingsSarah May Rogers (Violin) Results Semi Points: 35Position: 12Running order: 9 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/J9zEybTMeEs

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Can-linn

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts MembersDonna BissettJenny BowdenTarik ShebaniThomas Spratt Active2014 Nationality🇮🇪 Irish National SelectionEurosong 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongHeartbeat (ft. Kasey Smith, 2014) Biography Can-Linn was formed in Ireland in early 2014 with the specific purpose of representing Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. The name of the band, Can-Linn, means ‘to sing together’ in Irish, reflecting the collaborative spirit of the group. The band is notable for including members from a variety of different backgrounds and for blending a range of musical styles. It features Irish singer Kasey Smith, formerly of the girl group Wonderland, and five traditional Irish musicians who play instruments such as the bodhrán, the fiddle, and the Uilleann pipes.  At Eurovision 2014, Can-Linn performed the song “Heartbeat”, featuring Kasey Smith. Despite the group’s spirited performance, “Heartbeat” did not progress past the semi-final stage. Since Can-Linn was formed specifically for the Eurovision contest, the group did not produce further music together. Entries Heartbeat (featuring Kasey Smith) Country🇮🇪 Irish Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsJonas GladnikoffRasmus PalmgrenPatrizia Helander MusicHazel KaneswaranJonas GladnikoffRasmus PalmgrenPatrizia Helander BackingsSarah May Rogers (Violin) Results Semi Points: 35Position: 12Running order: 9 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/J9zEybTMeEs

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Liverpool live: Sweaty sweaters, video games and red feathers

Every participant has it’s second rehearsal today. That means we already know a lot and we can just say whether there are (major) changes or not. Different from other years, no independent journalists or fan media can join the rehearsals. What you read is what Eurovision.tv wants us to know. photo credits: EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett/Corinne Cummings/Chloe Hashemi Norway The Norwegian act is the same as in the first rehearsal. According to the reporters of eurovision.tv she hit the high notes. Alessandra is currently 6th at the bookmakers, which means she might do well for Norway this year. Malta The Maltese act is one were a lot happens. And singer Dav jr. even wears two sweaters. He takes one off during the show. According to him that is quite…. sweaty. Dav already took part in the national final in 2020. However, he says it is now the right time to go to Eurovision. The day after he was eliminated from the X-Factor 2020, his father passed away, so that was not a good moment for Eurovision.Unfortunately the bookmakers are not happy about Malta yet. Hopefully they are wrong this time! Serbia Sometimes it is difficult to know what will happen on tv when you are in the hall. That is why only now a lot of on-screen video game references came up in the reports. It fits in the act: somebody who just wants to sleep as there are so many bad things going on in the world. The song is written during the COVID19 lockdowns. Currently, Serbia is no. 17 in the betting odds. Latvia At least they have their outfits now, so it seems the luggage problem is solved. The band members are all wearing jackets and blouses with long, thin ties over it. Lead singer Andrejs Reinis Zitmanis wears a beige jacket, the others have darker cloths. Currently Latvia does not do well in the betting odds with a 35th place. However, we can not exclude a place in the final. Portugal Enthusiasm for the uptempo song Portugal brings on stage. There have not been many changes at all in the Portuguese entry. Mimicat still wears the feather dress that impressed in the first rehearsal. Portugal is currently 26th in the betting odds, which makes it likely that Mimicat will go through to the final. Ireland About Ireland, the same information is given by eurovision.tv as they did Monday: the members of Wild Youth are having fun on stage. Ireland is currently 24th at the betting odds. However, if you look at the qualifiers of semifinal one, they are 14th. A strange contradiction, and it makes the line on the official website quite cynical: “…and they look like they’re having the best time ever – the Irish delegation should be really happy”. Croatia Croatia’s Let 3 is having their second rehearsal, and their performance looks just as impressive on the big screen as it did in the hall, says eurovision.tv. However, the visual spectacle appears even more impressive and vibrant than before. The colors are now more intense and psychedelic, and the removal of clothing is now even more detailed and noticeable due to the high definition visuals. Judge for yourself if you should be happy with that. The betting ods give Croatia a 15th place. in collaboration with Eurovision Artists                                            

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Liverpool live: rehearsal schedule

The rehearsals continue with the 2nd rehearsal of 15 countries. The countries now have only 20 minutes to rehearse.  11.30 – 11.50 Norway11.55 – 12.15 Malta12.20 – 12.40 Serbia12.45 – 13.05 Latvia13.10 – 13.30 Portugal13.35 – 13.55 Ireland15.00 – 15.20 Croatia15.25 – 15.45 Switzerland15.50 – 16.10 Israel16.15 – 16.35 Moldova16.40 – 17.00 Sweden17.05 – 17.25 Azerbaijan17.30 – 17.50 Czechia17.55 – 18.15 The Netherlands18.20 – 18.40 Finland 

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Liverpool live: about sparks, costumes and a lightbox

We’ve had the second half of today’s rehearsals. Here is what we saw and heard today. photo credits: EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett/Corinne Cummings Ireland Spotlights are on Conor, the singer of Wild Youth. He has a rock gold catsuit with flares. There are stairs on stage. And there will be pyro technics. A lot of sparkles are visible by the end of the performance. Eurovision.tv is enthousiastic about the singalong capacities of the song. “Even on the first rehearsal, it’s easy to imagine the crowd in the Liverpool Arena singing along to this euphoric chorus.” Croatia As expected, the members of Let3 wear the costumes they also had in the national final. At eurovision.tv they speak about ‘high fashion hat/dress combo’s’. However, we do not reccomend you wearing this to a party. At the end of the song, they strip down to their underwear and they wave with huge missiles. On the LED-screen you see the faces of the band members. The missiles emit a shower of sparks over the Let3 members!  Switzerland As in 2021 and 2022 it is Sacha Jean-Baptiste who is responsible for the Swiss staging. Where you would expect Remo Forrer alone on stage with a spotlight on it, nothing less is true. There are dancers with Remo on stage and he also dances himself. There’s also pyro technics: a short interlude of smoke and red fireworks raining down from the roof. Moldova For the second time, Pasha Parfeni enters the Eurovision stage. We saw him for the first time in 2012. He is surrounded by huge drums, a flutist and two backing singers with horned headdresses. A lot to see and a completely different act from what we saw 11 years ago. Sweden Loreen currently tops the bookmakers. She has the same act as in Melodifestivalen, herself sitting under the huge lightbox. The one from Melodifestivalen however was too heavy, so a lighter version can be seen in Liverpool. It is also lifted a little bit off the ground. The catsuit, the long nails and everything else is the same as in Melodifestivalen, including Loreen’s strong vocals.

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Road to Liverpool: Ireland

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Ireland. Wild Youth The national final in Ireland was won by Wild Youth. They sang the song “We are one”, which is written and composed by Conor O’Donohoe, Ed Porter and Jörgen Elofsson.  Wild Youth was formed in Dublin in 2016. The band exists of David Whelan, Conor O’Donohoe, Ed Porter and Callum McAdam. In 2017 they released their first single “All or nothing“. In 2019 they released their first album “The last goodbye”. The band toured through Ireland and the United Kingdom. Last year, they opened for Lewis Capaldi on his concerts. At the same time their song “Live without you” was a hit. In 2023 they won, as said, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. Public Image Ltd. Ireland has chosen the song through a national final called Eurosong 2023. The competition was part of the show the Late Late Show. A total of six artists and songs participated. One of the participants was a very remarkable one: the band PIL. They sang the song “Hawaii“. They became 4th. PIL (Public Image Limited) is not new to the audience. The band already had a big hit in 1983, “This is not a love song“, and “Rise” in 1984. Singer John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, also was the singer of punk band The Sex Pistols. Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest In 1965 Ireland debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest. They only had to wait until 1970 before Dana took the prize for the green island. The 2nd, 3rd ánd 4th victory were for mr. Eurovision himself, Johnny Logan. He sang the songs in 1980 and 1987 himself, while he composed the song for Linda Martin in 1992. That was the start of a long row of Irish victories: Niamh Kavanagh in 1993, Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan in 1994 and Eimear Quinn in 1996. Oh, and let’s not forget 1995: Norway won, but the group Secret Garden was led by the Irish violinist Fionualla Sherry. Anyway, Ireland holds the record of 7 (!!!) victories. The last few years were not so succesful for Ireland. Since 2014, only one contestant (Ryan O’Shaugnessy in 2018) reached the final. Bookmakers Currently, Ireland is number 23 in the betting odds. That would mean a place in the final this year. The Irish will probably be happy with a result like that. The song And of course, here is the song:

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Wild Youth

© EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett About Quick Facts MembersDavid WhelanConor O’DonohoeEd PorterCallum McAdam Founded2016 Nationality🇮🇪 Irish National SelectionEurosong 2023 In Eurovision2023 Liverpool SongWe are one (2023) Biography Wild Youth is an Irish pop rock band formed in Dublin in 2016. The band consists of lead vocalist David Whelan, guitarist Conor O’Donohoe, bassist Ed Porter, and drummer Callum McAdam. They first gained attention with their debut single, “All or Nothing”, which was released 19 June 2017 and quickly became a viral hit. Since their formation, Wild Youth has released several successful singles and EPs. They released a song called “Lose control” in September 2017. On 11 June 2018, another video was released: “Can’t move on”. The song became their first hit in the Irish musical charts. In the summer of 2018, the band was able to open for The Script. They have performed at several major music festivals, including Electric Picnic and Sea Sessions. In January 2019, Wild Youth released their debut album, “The Last Goodbye”. The first single of that album, “Close”, was released in March, followed by “Long time no see” in July. The band returned to Electric Picnic and also performed at the Indiependence Festival. In October, November and December the band had a live tour throughout Ireland and the United Kingdom. After a year, on 11 September 2020, the song “Next to you” was released, followed two months later by “Through the phone”. In February and March 2022 the band toured throughout Ireland again, and they performed in London. On 3 March, they released the single “Seventeen”. In June and July of the same year, the band opened for Lewis Capaldi. Meanwhile, they released a new song, “Live without you”, followed by “Modern colosseum” in October. The song came together with another tour.T On 3 February 2023, the band won Eurosong, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song “We are one”. They went on to represent their country. Unfortunately they didn’t make it to the final. Entries We Are One Country🇮🇪 Ireland Year2023 LanguageEnglish LyricsConor O’DonohoeEd PorterJörgen Elofsson MusicConor O’DonohoeEd PorterJörgen Elofsson Backings– Results Semi Points: 10Position: 12Running order: 6 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/80-4_rjW10U

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🇮🇪 It’s Bambie Thug for Ireland

Bambie Thug will represent Ireland. In an exciting show, part of the Late Late Show, “Doomsday Blue” was chosen out of eight songs. The song is written and composed by Cuntry Ray Robinson, Olivia Cassy Brooking, Sam Matlock, Tyler Ryder. Bambie Thug has a difficult task: together with Sweden, Ireland holds the record of seven wins. Will they be the eighth? Here are the full results: Bambie Thug, “Doomsday Blue”, 32 pts Ailsha, “Go Tobann”, 24 pts Next In Line, “Love like us”, 24 pts Erica-Cody, “Love me like I do”, 22 pts JyellowL, “Judas”, 16 pts Isabelle Kearny, “Let me be the fire”, 8 pts    

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🇮🇪 Ireland decides via Eurosong

Tonight is the night for Ireland. The country of Johnny Logan will select a new song for Eurovision. As a part of the Late Late Show, six songs will be presented. All the participants are newcomers in the field of Eurovision. The show will start at 22.35. You can watch it here. Below you’ll find all the participants. nr Artist Song   * Ailsha Go Tobann * Bambie Thug Doomsday blue * Erica-Cody Love me like I do * Isabelle Kearney Let me be the fire * JyellowL Judas * Next In Line Love like us

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🇮🇪 Blast from the Past: Ireland 1979

We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today: Cathal Dunne, who represented Ireland in 1979 with the song “Happy man”. Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest Ireland’s journey in the Eurovision Song Contest reads like a tale of two eras. Once the undeniable monarchs of Eurovision, their story is a mix of triumph and challenge, a saga of unparalleled success followed by a period of struggle. In the golden age of Irish Eurovision history, the nation didn’t just participate; they dominated. Their legacy began with Dana’s “All Kinds of Everything” in 1970. The 1980s saw Johnny Logan emerge as a Eurovision icon. His “What’s Another Year” in 1980 and “Hold Me Now” in 1987 didn’t just win; they brought him the title Mr. Eurovision. Linda Martin, with “Why Me?” in 1992, written by none other than Logan, added another chapter to this story. The 1990s continued to smile on Ireland, with Niamh Kavanagh’s “In Your Eyes” in 1993 and the duo of Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan with “Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids” in 1994. Eimear Quinn’s “The Voice” in 1996 was perhaps the zenith of this era. In recent years, Ireland struggles and hardly reaches the final. Johnny Logan, 1987 The Irish National Song Contest 1979 On the 4th of February, the Irish National Song Contest was held. Eight songs were performed, and regional juries chose the winner. Some familiar names could be found on the shortlist: Tweed, “No restrictions“, 4 pts, 5th Johnny Logan, “Angie”, 15 pts, 3rd Anderson, “Goodbye”, 3 pts, 6th The Memories, “The main attraction“, 13 pts, 4th Red Hurley and Tina, “Hiding behind our smile”, 0 pts, 8th Cathal Dunne, “Happy man“, 36 pts, 1st Catriona Walsh, “Superstar”, 3 pts, 6th The Miami Show Band, “Too much is going on”, 26 pts, 2nd Both Red Hurley and Tina represented Ireland before, but faced a zero this time. Totally unknown, but soon to become one of the biggest Eurovision stars ever, Johnny Logan, made his debut in this national final. Cathal Dunne Cathal Dunne, born in 1951 in Cork, Ireland, is a renowned Irish singer, widely recognized for his participation in the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest. He represented Ireland with the song “Happy Man,” which became quite popular, reaching No. 3 in the Irish charts. Dunne’s musical journey began early, influenced by his uncle, Jack Lynch, the former Taoiseach (prime minister) of Ireland. After graduating from University College Cork and Montfort College of Performing Arts in 1974, Dunne quickly made his mark in the music industry. He won the Castlebar Song Contest that same year with “Shalom” and participated in the Yamaha Music Festival in 1976 with “Lover, Not a Wife.” His single “Bad Boy” and top ten hit “Danny” further established his presence in the Irish music scene. He was also known for his performances with his backing bands, Stateside and later The Formula, in Irish clubs. In 1981, Dunne’s song “We’ll be there” was featured in Fianna Fáil’s general election campaign. His Eurovision entry “Happy Man” won him the Irish National Song Contest, beating notable competitors like Tina Reynolds, Red Hurley, and future winner Johnny Logan. He finished fifth in the Eurovision final in Jerusalem. Dunne’s move to the United States in the early 1980s marked a new chapter in his career. Settling there permanently after initial concerts in Michigan in 1982, he embraced the role of a traditional Irish balladeer, releasing several albums and diversifying his performances with comedy and show tunes. His continued dedication to music has kept him connected to his Irish roots while entertaining audiences in his adopted home. Happy Man As said, “Happy Man” was Ireland’s entry in the Eurovision Song Contest held in Jerusalem that year. This ballad with its optimistic lyrics stood out as a cheerful and engaging composition. Dunne, not just the performer but also the songwriter, showcased his multifaceted talent through this entry. The song’s essence, encapsulated in its title, reflects a positive and content outlook on life. Its light-hearted and jubilant nature resonated with audiences, leading to a respectable fifth-place finish in the contest. This achievement was significant, considering the competitive nature of Eurovision and the diverse array of musical styles it encompasses. “Happy Man” enjoyed commercial success following the contest, particularly in Ireland where it reached number three on the charts. The song remains a memorable part of Cathal Dunne’s musical career.

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Kasey Smith

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameKasey Smith Born29 March 1990 Nationality🇮🇪 Irish National SelectionEurosong 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongHeartbeat (with Can-Linn, 2014) Biography Kasey Smith is an Irish singer and songwriter best known for her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 as part of the band Can-Linn. Born on March 29, 1990, in Dublin, Ireland, Smith started her musical journey from a young age. Her first major foray into the music industry was as a member of the girl group Wonderland in 2010, which was formed under the guidance of Louis Walsh and Kian Egan of Westlife. The band had some success, releasing a top ten album in Ireland before their disbandment in 2011. After Wonderland disbanded, Smith returned to Ireland and began working on a solo career. She first attempted to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013 with the song “Kiss Me There”, but she didn’t make it past the national finals. In 2014, Smith was chosen to represent Ireland at Eurovision as part of the band Can-Linn. They performed the song “Heartbeat”, which Smith co-wrote. However, they didn’t progress past the semi-finals.  Despite her early exposure in the music industry, Smith has maintained a relatively low profile, continuing to make music and perform around Ireland. In 2019, she started performing in a resort in Dubai every Saturday evening. She did the job until COVID19 came. Entries Heartbeat (& Can-linn) Country🇮🇪 Ireland Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsJonas GladnikoffRasmus PalmgrenPatrizia Helander MusicHazel KaneswaranJonas GladnikoffRasmus PalmgrenPatrizia Helander BackingsSarah May Rogers (Violin) Results Semi Points: 35Position: 12Running order: 9 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/J9zEybTMeEs

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Can-linn

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts MembersDonna BissettJenny BowdenTarik ShebaniThomas Spratt Active2014 Nationality🇮🇪 Irish National SelectionEurosong 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongHeartbeat (ft. Kasey Smith, 2014) Biography Can-Linn was formed in Ireland in early 2014 with the specific purpose of representing Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. The name of the band, Can-Linn, means ‘to sing together’ in Irish, reflecting the collaborative spirit of the group. The band is notable for including members from a variety of different backgrounds and for blending a range of musical styles. It features Irish singer Kasey Smith, formerly of the girl group Wonderland, and five traditional Irish musicians who play instruments such as the bodhrán, the fiddle, and the Uilleann pipes.  At Eurovision 2014, Can-Linn performed the song “Heartbeat”, featuring Kasey Smith. Despite the group’s spirited performance, “Heartbeat” did not progress past the semi-final stage. Since Can-Linn was formed specifically for the Eurovision contest, the group did not produce further music together. Entries Heartbeat (featuring Kasey Smith) Country🇮🇪 Irish Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsJonas GladnikoffRasmus PalmgrenPatrizia Helander MusicHazel KaneswaranJonas GladnikoffRasmus PalmgrenPatrizia Helander BackingsSarah May Rogers (Violin) Results Semi Points: 35Position: 12Running order: 9 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/J9zEybTMeEs

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Liverpool live: Sweaty sweaters, video games and red feathers

Every participant has it’s second rehearsal today. That means we already know a lot and we can just say whether there are (major) changes or not. Different from other years, no independent journalists or fan media can join the rehearsals. What you read is what Eurovision.tv wants us to know. photo credits: EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett/Corinne Cummings/Chloe Hashemi Norway The Norwegian act is the same as in the first rehearsal. According to the reporters of eurovision.tv she hit the high notes. Alessandra is currently 6th at the bookmakers, which means she might do well for Norway this year. Malta The Maltese act is one were a lot happens. And singer Dav jr. even wears two sweaters. He takes one off during the show. According to him that is quite…. sweaty. Dav already took part in the national final in 2020. However, he says it is now the right time to go to Eurovision. The day after he was eliminated from the X-Factor 2020, his father passed away, so that was not a good moment for Eurovision.Unfortunately the bookmakers are not happy about Malta yet. Hopefully they are wrong this time! Serbia Sometimes it is difficult to know what will happen on tv when you are in the hall. That is why only now a lot of on-screen video game references came up in the reports. It fits in the act: somebody who just wants to sleep as there are so many bad things going on in the world. The song is written during the COVID19 lockdowns. Currently, Serbia is no. 17 in the betting odds. Latvia At least they have their outfits now, so it seems the luggage problem is solved. The band members are all wearing jackets and blouses with long, thin ties over it. Lead singer Andrejs Reinis Zitmanis wears a beige jacket, the others have darker cloths. Currently Latvia does not do well in the betting odds with a 35th place. However, we can not exclude a place in the final. Portugal Enthusiasm for the uptempo song Portugal brings on stage. There have not been many changes at all in the Portuguese entry. Mimicat still wears the feather dress that impressed in the first rehearsal. Portugal is currently 26th in the betting odds, which makes it likely that Mimicat will go through to the final. Ireland About Ireland, the same information is given by eurovision.tv as they did Monday: the members of Wild Youth are having fun on stage. Ireland is currently 24th at the betting odds. However, if you look at the qualifiers of semifinal one, they are 14th. A strange contradiction, and it makes the line on the official website quite cynical: “…and they look like they’re having the best time ever – the Irish delegation should be really happy”. Croatia Croatia’s Let 3 is having their second rehearsal, and their performance looks just as impressive on the big screen as it did in the hall, says eurovision.tv. However, the visual spectacle appears even more impressive and vibrant than before. The colors are now more intense and psychedelic, and the removal of clothing is now even more detailed and noticeable due to the high definition visuals. Judge for yourself if you should be happy with that. The betting ods give Croatia a 15th place. in collaboration with Eurovision Artists                                            

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Liverpool live: rehearsal schedule

The rehearsals continue with the 2nd rehearsal of 15 countries. The countries now have only 20 minutes to rehearse.  11.30 – 11.50 Norway11.55 – 12.15 Malta12.20 – 12.40 Serbia12.45 – 13.05 Latvia13.10 – 13.30 Portugal13.35 – 13.55 Ireland15.00 – 15.20 Croatia15.25 – 15.45 Switzerland15.50 – 16.10 Israel16.15 – 16.35 Moldova16.40 – 17.00 Sweden17.05 – 17.25 Azerbaijan17.30 – 17.50 Czechia17.55 – 18.15 The Netherlands18.20 – 18.40 Finland 

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Liverpool live: about sparks, costumes and a lightbox

We’ve had the second half of today’s rehearsals. Here is what we saw and heard today. photo credits: EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett/Corinne Cummings Ireland Spotlights are on Conor, the singer of Wild Youth. He has a rock gold catsuit with flares. There are stairs on stage. And there will be pyro technics. A lot of sparkles are visible by the end of the performance. Eurovision.tv is enthousiastic about the singalong capacities of the song. “Even on the first rehearsal, it’s easy to imagine the crowd in the Liverpool Arena singing along to this euphoric chorus.” Croatia As expected, the members of Let3 wear the costumes they also had in the national final. At eurovision.tv they speak about ‘high fashion hat/dress combo’s’. However, we do not reccomend you wearing this to a party. At the end of the song, they strip down to their underwear and they wave with huge missiles. On the LED-screen you see the faces of the band members. The missiles emit a shower of sparks over the Let3 members!  Switzerland As in 2021 and 2022 it is Sacha Jean-Baptiste who is responsible for the Swiss staging. Where you would expect Remo Forrer alone on stage with a spotlight on it, nothing less is true. There are dancers with Remo on stage and he also dances himself. There’s also pyro technics: a short interlude of smoke and red fireworks raining down from the roof. Moldova For the second time, Pasha Parfeni enters the Eurovision stage. We saw him for the first time in 2012. He is surrounded by huge drums, a flutist and two backing singers with horned headdresses. A lot to see and a completely different act from what we saw 11 years ago. Sweden Loreen currently tops the bookmakers. She has the same act as in Melodifestivalen, herself sitting under the huge lightbox. The one from Melodifestivalen however was too heavy, so a lighter version can be seen in Liverpool. It is also lifted a little bit off the ground. The catsuit, the long nails and everything else is the same as in Melodifestivalen, including Loreen’s strong vocals.

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Road to Liverpool: Ireland

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Ireland. Wild Youth The national final in Ireland was won by Wild Youth. They sang the song “We are one”, which is written and composed by Conor O’Donohoe, Ed Porter and Jörgen Elofsson.  Wild Youth was formed in Dublin in 2016. The band exists of David Whelan, Conor O’Donohoe, Ed Porter and Callum McAdam. In 2017 they released their first single “All or nothing“. In 2019 they released their first album “The last goodbye”. The band toured through Ireland and the United Kingdom. Last year, they opened for Lewis Capaldi on his concerts. At the same time their song “Live without you” was a hit. In 2023 they won, as said, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. Public Image Ltd. Ireland has chosen the song through a national final called Eurosong 2023. The competition was part of the show the Late Late Show. A total of six artists and songs participated. One of the participants was a very remarkable one: the band PIL. They sang the song “Hawaii“. They became 4th. PIL (Public Image Limited) is not new to the audience. The band already had a big hit in 1983, “This is not a love song“, and “Rise” in 1984. Singer John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, also was the singer of punk band The Sex Pistols. Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest In 1965 Ireland debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest. They only had to wait until 1970 before Dana took the prize for the green island. The 2nd, 3rd ánd 4th victory were for mr. Eurovision himself, Johnny Logan. He sang the songs in 1980 and 1987 himself, while he composed the song for Linda Martin in 1992. That was the start of a long row of Irish victories: Niamh Kavanagh in 1993, Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan in 1994 and Eimear Quinn in 1996. Oh, and let’s not forget 1995: Norway won, but the group Secret Garden was led by the Irish violinist Fionualla Sherry. Anyway, Ireland holds the record of 7 (!!!) victories. The last few years were not so succesful for Ireland. Since 2014, only one contestant (Ryan O’Shaugnessy in 2018) reached the final. Bookmakers Currently, Ireland is number 23 in the betting odds. That would mean a place in the final this year. The Irish will probably be happy with a result like that. The song And of course, here is the song:

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Wild Youth

© EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett About Quick Facts MembersDavid WhelanConor O’DonohoeEd PorterCallum McAdam Founded2016 Nationality🇮🇪 Irish National SelectionEurosong 2023 In Eurovision2023 Liverpool SongWe are one (2023) Biography Wild Youth is an Irish pop rock band formed in Dublin in 2016. The band consists of lead vocalist David Whelan, guitarist Conor O’Donohoe, bassist Ed Porter, and drummer Callum McAdam. They first gained attention with their debut single, “All or Nothing”, which was released 19 June 2017 and quickly became a viral hit. Since their formation, Wild Youth has released several successful singles and EPs. They released a song called “Lose control” in September 2017. On 11 June 2018, another video was released: “Can’t move on”. The song became their first hit in the Irish musical charts. In the summer of 2018, the band was able to open for The Script. They have performed at several major music festivals, including Electric Picnic and Sea Sessions. In January 2019, Wild Youth released their debut album, “The Last Goodbye”. The first single of that album, “Close”, was released in March, followed by “Long time no see” in July. The band returned to Electric Picnic and also performed at the Indiependence Festival. In October, November and December the band had a live tour throughout Ireland and the United Kingdom. After a year, on 11 September 2020, the song “Next to you” was released, followed two months later by “Through the phone”. In February and March 2022 the band toured throughout Ireland again, and they performed in London. On 3 March, they released the single “Seventeen”. In June and July of the same year, the band opened for Lewis Capaldi. Meanwhile, they released a new song, “Live without you”, followed by “Modern colosseum” in October. The song came together with another tour.T On 3 February 2023, the band won Eurosong, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song “We are one”. They went on to represent their country. Unfortunately they didn’t make it to the final. Entries We Are One Country🇮🇪 Ireland Year2023 LanguageEnglish LyricsConor O’DonohoeEd PorterJörgen Elofsson MusicConor O’DonohoeEd PorterJörgen Elofsson Backings– Results Semi Points: 10Position: 12Running order: 6 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/80-4_rjW10U

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🇮🇪 It’s Bambie Thug for Ireland

Bambie Thug will represent Ireland. In an exciting show, part of the Late Late Show, “Doomsday Blue” was chosen out of eight songs. The song is written and composed by Cuntry Ray Robinson, Olivia Cassy Brooking, Sam Matlock, Tyler Ryder. Bambie Thug has a difficult task: together with Sweden, Ireland holds the record of seven wins. Will they be the eighth? Here are the full results: Bambie Thug, “Doomsday Blue”, 32 pts Ailsha, “Go Tobann”, 24 pts Next In Line, “Love like us”, 24 pts Erica-Cody, “Love me like I do”, 22 pts JyellowL, “Judas”, 16 pts Isabelle Kearny, “Let me

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🇮🇪 Ireland decides via Eurosong

Tonight is the night for Ireland. The country of Johnny Logan will select a new song for Eurovision. As a part of the Late Late Show, six songs will be presented. All the participants are newcomers in the field of Eurovision. The show will start at 22.35. You can watch it here. Below you’ll find all the participants. nr Artist Song   * Ailsha Go Tobann * Bambie Thug Doomsday blue * Erica-Cody Love me like I do * Isabelle Kearney Let me be the fire * JyellowL Judas * Next In Line Love like us

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🇮🇪 Blast from the Past: Ireland 1979

We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today: Cathal Dunne, who represented Ireland in 1979 with the song “Happy man”. Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest Ireland’s journey in the Eurovision Song Contest reads like a tale of two eras. Once the undeniable monarchs of Eurovision, their story is a mix of triumph and challenge, a saga of unparalleled success followed by a period of struggle. In the golden age of Irish Eurovision history, the nation didn’t just participate; they dominated. Their

Read More »

Kasey Smith

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameKasey Smith Born29 March 1990 Nationality🇮🇪 Irish National SelectionEurosong 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongHeartbeat (with Can-Linn, 2014) Biography Kasey Smith is an Irish singer and songwriter best known for her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 as part of the band Can-Linn. Born on March 29, 1990, in Dublin, Ireland, Smith started her musical journey from a young age. Her first major foray into the music industry was as a member of the girl group Wonderland in 2010, which was formed under the guidance of Louis Walsh and Kian Egan of Westlife. The band

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Can-linn

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts MembersDonna BissettJenny BowdenTarik ShebaniThomas Spratt Active2014 Nationality🇮🇪 Irish National SelectionEurosong 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongHeartbeat (ft. Kasey Smith, 2014) Biography Can-Linn was formed in Ireland in early 2014 with the specific purpose of representing Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. The name of the band, Can-Linn, means ‘to sing together’ in Irish, reflecting the collaborative spirit of the group. The band is notable for including members from a variety of different backgrounds and for blending a range of musical styles. It features Irish singer Kasey Smith, formerly of the girl group Wonderland, and five traditional

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Liverpool live: Sweaty sweaters, video games and red feathers

Every participant has it’s second rehearsal today. That means we already know a lot and we can just say whether there are (major) changes or not. Different from other years, no independent journalists or fan media can join the rehearsals. What you read is what Eurovision.tv wants us to know. photo credits: EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett/Corinne Cummings/Chloe Hashemi Norway The Norwegian act is the same as in the first rehearsal. According to the reporters of eurovision.tv she hit the high notes. Alessandra is currently 6th at the bookmakers, which means she might do well for Norway this year. Malta The Maltese act

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Liverpool live: rehearsal schedule

The rehearsals continue with the 2nd rehearsal of 15 countries. The countries now have only 20 minutes to rehearse.  11.30 – 11.50 Norway11.55 – 12.15 Malta12.20 – 12.40 Serbia12.45 – 13.05 Latvia13.10 – 13.30 Portugal13.35 – 13.55 Ireland15.00 – 15.20 Croatia15.25 – 15.45 Switzerland15.50 – 16.10 Israel16.15 – 16.35 Moldova16.40 – 17.00 Sweden17.05 – 17.25 Azerbaijan17.30 – 17.50 Czechia17.55 – 18.15 The Netherlands18.20 – 18.40 Finland 

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Liverpool live: about sparks, costumes and a lightbox

We’ve had the second half of today’s rehearsals. Here is what we saw and heard today. photo credits: EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett/Corinne Cummings Ireland Spotlights are on Conor, the singer of Wild Youth. He has a rock gold catsuit with flares. There are stairs on stage. And there will be pyro technics. A lot of sparkles are visible by the end of the performance. Eurovision.tv is enthousiastic about the singalong capacities of the song. “Even on the first rehearsal, it’s easy to imagine the crowd in the Liverpool Arena singing along to this euphoric chorus.” Croatia As expected, the members of Let3

Read More »

Road to Liverpool: Ireland

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Ireland. Wild Youth The national final in Ireland was won by Wild Youth. They sang the song “We are one”, which is written and composed by Conor O’Donohoe, Ed Porter and Jörgen Elofsson.  Wild Youth was formed in Dublin in 2016. The band exists of David Whelan, Conor O’Donohoe, Ed Porter and Callum McAdam. In 2017 they released their first single “All or nothing“. In 2019 they released their first album “The last goodbye”. The band

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Wild Youth

© EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett About Quick Facts MembersDavid WhelanConor O’DonohoeEd PorterCallum McAdam Founded2016 Nationality🇮🇪 Irish National SelectionEurosong 2023 In Eurovision2023 Liverpool SongWe are one (2023) Biography Wild Youth is an Irish pop rock band formed in Dublin in 2016. The band consists of lead vocalist David Whelan, guitarist Conor O’Donohoe, bassist Ed Porter, and drummer Callum McAdam. They first gained attention with their debut single, “All or Nothing”, which was released 19 June 2017 and quickly became a viral hit. Since their formation, Wild Youth has released several successful singles and EPs. They released a song called “Lose control” in September

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