Ryan Tubridy has teased Friday night’s Late Late Show Eurosong special to be an ‘enormous’ event - as the nation gears up to select Ireland’s Eurovision representative.
The presenter launched Ireland's bid for Eurovision 2022 glory earlier this month, announcing the return of the Eurosong contest.
The top RTE host then pressed play on the six finalist songs who have been selected to battle it out in a live contest for the chance to represent Ireland at the Eurovision song contest in Italy this summer.
And with just days until the live show, the host said final preparations are currently underway to make it a ‘cracker’ night for viewers at home and abroad.
“It is ‘enormous’,” he said.
“I was in a meeting yesterday about it because it is D day landings precision organisation on this.
“And the excitement from singers and families and the Eurovision international community are thrilled Ireland are doing this and are going to tune in from all around the world.
“So Friday night, you are all going to vote.”
The return of the Eurosong comes following calls from fans and past performers, including Jedward, to introduce the televised selection process again.
And Tubridy said he is excited to bring it back for fans, and for himself, admitting he lost interest in the Eurovision in the past.
“So you know the way a lot of people, including myself, kind of drifted from the Eurovision because we weren’t in it and therefore the voting wasn’t good craic.
“This Friday night, the voting is on. You are in. Get the vino, put the kettle on, it is one of those. It is going to be a cracker. So we will see you on Friday for great great fun.”
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Friday night’s show.
The six Eurosong competing acts, who were selected from over 300 entries, have been announced as Rachel Goode (I'm Loving Me), Brendan Murray (Real Love), Janet Grogan (Ashes of Yesterday), Patrick O'Sullivan (One Night, One Kiss, One Promise), Brooke Scullion (That's Rich), and Miles Graham (Yeah We're Gonna Get Out of It).
All six finalists will perform their songs live for the first time as they battle it out on The Late Late Eurosong Special on Friday in the hopes of impressing viewers and jurors enough to bag the gig.
How will they be selected?
A combination of a National Jury, an International Jury and a public vote will determine the winner on the night, who will go on to progress to Turin in Italy to represent Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest.
What are the songs and who are the performers?
Rachel Goode
Song: I'm Loving Me
Composers: Joakim Övrenius, Thomas Karlsson, Johan Mauritzson, Anna Engh
Rachel is a classically trained soprano from Ballinasloe, Co Galway.
Passionate about her craft, Rachel sings a crossover of genres from classical to pop and country. She is no stranger to the stage and has performed in many of Ireland's major venues including the National Concert Hall and Bord Gais Energy Theatre.
She recently performed on the Ivory Sessions and released her first single.
She is inspired by singers such as Patsy Cline and Mary Black and her love of music has no bounds.
From singing at country social dancing to singing with full orchestra her voice can glide seamlessly through various genres and she is totally at home when on the stage.
She says: “When I am singing, I am in my own world, nothing else seems to matter in that moment and it’s the best feeling ever”
Brendan Murray
Song: Real Love
Composers: Brendan Murray & Darrell Coyle
Brendan is already a familiar face and voice to Eurovision fans, having already represented Ireland in the Song Contest 2017.
Brendan first found fame on the X Factor, where he was described as being in ‘a completely different league’ by judge Simon Cowell, after reaching the semi-final and finishing in 5th place.
A member of Irish boyband Hometown from 2014-2016, he went on to do the X Factor Tour in 2019 performing in 20 different arenas around the UK, including two Wembley shows in London.
Commenting on his second Eurovision bid, Brendan says: "The meaning behind Real Love is not realising what was right in front of you the whole time.
“You’ve ignored and put the thought of it to one side but then you come to that realization that you should have said what you felt a long time ago.
“You’ve convinced and made excuses for yourself when you really should have told that person how you really felt."
Janet Grogan
Song: Ashes of Yesterday
Composers: Aidan O Connor, John Emil, Sandra Wikström
Describing the song, Janet said: "Ashes of Yesterday is all about rebuilding yourself up after disappointment, to not let self-doubt or others bring you down.
“The message is so powerful and encouraging, especially after the tough few years everyone has had.”
No stranger to the huge international stage, this will mark the singer’s third bid for Eurovision glory, after accompanying Westlife’s Nicky Byrne in 2016 and Ryan O’ Shaughnessy in 2018 as a backing vocalist.
But it has been a lifelong dream to represent Ireland in the Eurovision herself.
She said: “I want to uplift people and if I can do it while representing Ireland, that would be a dream come true."
Janet will also be a well known face to many after her recent stint on RTE’s Last Singer Standing, hosted by Nicky Byrne.
She was the longest-running contestant on the show and made it to the final.
Prior to that, she was a contestant on The X Factor in 2016, making it to Sharon Osbourne’s house where she received memorable compliments from Sharon’s guest Robbie Williams - who likened her to Adele.
The singer-songwriter studied popular music in BCFE which also earned her a scholarship to Germany’s prestigious Pop Music University in Mannheim, Germany.
Whilst in Germany, Janet experienced her first commercial success as a songwriter with Xavier Naidoo’s chart-topping single “Alles Kann Besser Werden”.
This led to Janet featuring on the song and joining Naidoo for his 25 date arena tour around Germany, Switzerland & Austria, boasting crowds of 10,000 a night.
Brooke Scullion
Song: That's Rich
Composers: Brooke Scullion, Karl Zine, Izzy Warner
Brooke will perform her song, ‘That's Rich’, which she composed with Karl Zine and Izzy Warner in the televised contest hosted by Ryan Tubridy on Friday, February 4.
Commenting on the news, the Co Derry native said: “I was reading Debbie Harry’s autobiography and wanted to encapsulate the attitude she portrayed in her life.
“It’s surreal to think I could be representing my country in the competition, it would be an honour.
“Given Ireland’s history with a fellow Derry girl like Dana who has done it before, I’m excited to be flying the flag and hope to do everybody proud!
“I also think in recent years I’ve been so impressed with the music Eurovision’ has produced, so am excited to be in the company of the likes of Maneskin and Loreen who are iconic!”
Brooke is no stranger to the stage after rising to fame as a finalist of The Voice UK 2020. Brooke wowed the judges and viewers with her performances on the show, duetting with Ella Eyre and mentored by Grammy award-winning coach and singer Meghan Trainor.
Her music has received acclaim from the likes of BBC Introducing, as well as numerous Spotify editorial playlists including New Music Friday and New Pop UK Playlists, That's Rich, Brooke's entry is Inspired by Blondie meets The Gossip.
Patrick O'Sullivan
Song: One Night, One Kiss, One Promise
Composers: Nicky Byrne, Lar Kaye, Danny O'Reilly
Just weeks after winning RTE show Last Singer Standing, Patrick is hoping there is more success on the way so he can fulfil his Eurovision dream.
The Cork native says:“It's the highest honour you can have, to represent your country. It would be a privilege and a dream come true.”
He went on: "I have always loved Eurovision, I grew up watching it with my family and have fond memories of the whole family sitting down to watch it together.
“I love how it has evolved over the years and has grown to incorporate so many more elements of the performance beyond singing.
“One Night, One Kiss, One Promise is a story about a modern romance, it's a love story set to a fantastic upbeat melody."
Patrick bagged €25,000 when he was crowned the champion of the first ever series of Last Singer Standing, after impressing the show’s panelists, Nadine Coyle, Joey Fatone, and Samantha Mumba.
In December 2021, he went on to release a charity Christmas single, ‘The Hour Before Christmas’ in aid of The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal.
The accomplished singer and performer has achieved a degree in Musical Theatre from The Arts Educational Schools in London on a full scholarship awarded to him by the college principal, Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Graduating in 2015, Patrick immediately went on to star in the European premier of ‘Carrie - The Musical’ in London’s West End.
He has also performed with ‘The Book of Mormon’, ‘The Wind in The Willows’, and ‘Doctor Dolittle’ and worked directly with Meat Loaf on the production of ‘Bat Out of Hell - The Musical’.
Patrick has also performed in the largest theatre in the West End, The Coliseum as well as The Royal Albert Hall and The Palladium and numerous times at West End Live, in Trafalgar Square, performing to upwards of 400,000 people.
Westlife’s Nicky Byrne joined forces with The Coronas’ Danny O’Reilly and All Tvvins musician Lar Kaye for the tune, and his second shot at Eurovision glory.
The singer and presenter of RTE’s Last Singer Standing also revealed how roped in the series winner, Patrick, to sing the track.
No stranger to the Eurovision stage, Nicky, who represented Ireland himself at the 2016 song contest, said he’s hoping the tune can go ‘all the way’ at the competition in Italy this summer.
The Dancing With The Stars host said: ““I’m really proud of this song, hopefully you like it and who knows.. maybe it’ll go all the way to that Eurovision stage in Italy in May and bring the title back where it belongs! C’mon Ireland!”
Miles Graham
Song: Yeah We're Gonna Get Out of It
Composers: Miles Graham Miley, Justin Broad, Paul Herman
Singer-songwriter Miles Graham is originally from Clondalkin in Dublin and is now based in Co. Sligo.
Miles was a guest on Weekend Wogan on BBC Radio 2 in 2015 with the legendary broadcaster Terry Wogan.
He made his TV debut on The Late Late Show in 2018, with his song Let it Shine.
He has since released several dance collaborations (Don Diabo, L'Tric, Tom Budin) as well as an EP All the Right Things in 2020.
Miles currently has a dance collaboration, She is Gold, with Australian DJ outfit, L'tric. His songs have also been playlisted on BBC Radio 2.
Of his song, Miles says: "I wrote the song around April/May 2020 while on the first lockdown at home with my kids.
“I'm so proud of this song and the way it organically came about. It's got a real sense of hope and community about it.
“It would be amazing if it ends up representing Ireland at the Eurovision. As a songwriter, to have my own children singing on the track is really so special.
“I try to create music that I want to listen to and focus on trying to create unique melodies and lyrics.
“The piano and all vocals were recorded in my living room, and the rest in London.
“A nice addition was the brass and trumpet solo, which was played by members from Amy Winehouse's original touring brass ensemble."
Why is Eurosong coming back?
Michael Kealy, Executive Producer of Eurosong said: “It is a bit like football coming home isn’t it? It is coming back to the Late Late Show. It has been awhile."
He told The Ryan Tubridy Show on RTE Radio 1:“Every year we look at what we can do better and differently and we took a different attack. So we decided this year to go back to it.
"And after an exhaustive process we got 330 songs and whittled it down to these six you are going to hear this week."
On choosing the final six, he said: “It can be difficult because you can’t listen to them straight after each other. You have to get a sense of what they are and if they do well."
However, the EP, who has been the head of the Irish delegation for years, said he's confident in their choices.
“We have six very, very good songs and I would be happy nearly with any of them, whichever one the public and jury pick I would be happy with.”
Where have we been going wrong?
The Eurovision enthusiast also shed light on where Ireland have been going wrong in recent years, after decades of failed bids since the glory days in the 90s.
“To set the record straight, we haven’t done great in the past few years, that is true," he said.
"But if you look at say the past 10 or 11 years we have qualified about five times in the 11 years which is pretty much representative of an average country."
Noting qualification rule changes as a major factor, he added: “The rules changed at the end of the 90s and that sort of mitigated against us really.
"They introduced semi finals where previously there was an automatic qualification for the final and everyone can sing in english beforehand only two or three could.
"So the rules have changes and in a way it is an entirely different competition to the one we were winning in the late 90s, not to detract from any of our great winners.
“So there are 43 countries involved. So if you take the law of averages it would be every 43 years that we would win.
“It has become tougher.. There is no doubt about it…But I think every year we go with what we hope will be the best shot.”
But he feels the introduction of an international jury to the selection process could enhance the chances of success before heading to the contest in Turin, Italy in May.
"Because it is an international competition it is worthwhile thinking what other European countries think of our entry. It is something that a lot of countries abroad do, so it is something I thought we would just try to enhance out chances.”
What are they looking for in a winning song?
Michael said a winning song must have an 'X Factor' quality internationally, but said he wouldn't rule out a traditional Irish song if it had potential to win.
He said: “If a song comes in the door that has that X Factor and is that typical trad arrangement or an Irish song or even if it is Irish we are more than happy to consider it.
“It has to have a universal appeal of sorts too. Something that would do well on radio and that you think would be a hit.”
Where and when will the Eurovision Song Contest take place?
The Eurovision Song Contest 2022 is set to take place in Turin, Italy, following the country's victory at the 2021 contest with the song "Zitti e buoni" by Måneskin.
Ireland will perform in the second half of the second semi-final at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, alongside Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania and Sweden on May 12.
