Once again Ireland will use the “The Late Late Show” to choose its Eurovision song. On Friday 3 February, host Ryan Tubridy will guide viewers through the Eurosong 2023 special, which spans genres from dance-pop to rap.
Before the show kicks off, the Wiwi Jury — our in-house team of music unprofessionals — is reviewing and rating the 6 competing songs. Next up is the band Wild Youth with their song “We Are One”.
Wiwi Jury: Wild Youth – We Are One
Renske: Wild Youth are one of the biggest names in the Irish selection. However, their song, a typical “band in a stadium” track which reminds somewhat of Coldplay, feels a little bit dated. The lyrical trope of unity and inclusion sounds unfortunately cliché. Eurovision has not seen a lot of pop bands do well in recent years. It’s the rock and alternative groups that reign — I just don’t see Wild Youth reclaiming the boyband pop spot in the contest. It’s a pity, because with different material, it could have been a wholly different story.
Score: 5
Rick: It’s not like this song is poorly produced. There’s even a particular sound in it which reminds me of Coldplay — it makes it very hymn-like. But in general this is too “predictable”. We’ve heard it before and the lyrics are way too cliché for me to enjoy.
Score: 5
Ruxy: This is good radio material and, in a live setting, it could definitely create good audience interaction. As other Eurovision fans have already said, this song has that ‘anthem sound’ and a familiar message that encourages unity. If this wins Eurosong, its chances hinge largely on the staging… I would like to see Wild Youth give the vibe of a live concert or a festival, not necessary the vibe of a television show. This song has good potential in the competition. It’s a bit nostalgic and brings back the sound of the late 90s and early 00s.
Score: 7
Tom: Anthemic is the best word to describe “We Are One”. It’s a big, radio-friendly epic that wouldn’t look out of place on the Eurovision stage. My issue is that it feels a little formulaic. Like an X Factor winning song. That obviously has its positives and negatives. The positives: it has a big, powerful and catchy chorus that everyone can join in with. The lyrics in the verses evoke emotion and nostalgia on a massive scale and that is always a winner for Eurovision.
The negatives: The noble lyrics feel a bit overdone and cliché, again just like an X Factor winning song. It’s a predictable song. You know where it’s going to end before it hits the minute mark. I can even imagine firework rain during the last chorus just like… well you get my drift. Now this makes it sound like I don’t like the song. In fact, I really enjoy it. It’s very easy to listen to, join in with and belt out with my hands in the air. I am looking forward to seeing this on stage to see what they do with it. If this goes to Liverpool, I wouldn’t be disappointed. It just lacks a little heart for me to get a better score.
Score: 7
William: Breathing, giving it all you got, getting back up again, life as a long road, the falling sun — it’s like an AI machine was asked to generate an inspirational pop song with an anthemic feel. I like the lead singer’s voice and I think this transmits good feels. But it’s just so predictable and heard-it-all-before that I can’t get behind it. Where is the “wild” in Wild Youth?
Score: 6
Wiwi Jury Score: 6
- Connolly – “Midnight Summer Night” Score: 7.5
- Adgy – “Too Good For Your Love” Score: 7.4
- Leila Jane – “Wild” Score: 6.8
- K Muni & ND – “Down In The Rain” Score 6.2
- Wild Youth – “We Are One” Score: 6
- Public Image Limited – “Hawaii” Score: 4
What do you think of “We Are One” Do you think it should represent Ireland in Liverpool? Let us know in the comments.
They’re gonna win, unfortunately.
Imagine pestering the Irish HoD for over a year to represent Ireland and then entering Eurosong with that mass-produced Swedish song. Insanity!
Another definite NQ for Ireland if they win.
Sounds like going with a “formula” that doesn’t work anymore. The same with the likely “winner” in Malta next week. Throwing in the unfavorable draw, predict NQ for Malta and Ireland again this year.
Very disappointed with Wild Youth, though they say they are Eurovision fans, they are clearly hoping their name is enough to carry them through.
Sure, song is fine, but we’ve heard it 1000000 times before at Eurovision. I’m also not surprised Martin Garrix isn’t filing a lawsuit because it sounds remarkably similar to the song he done with U2 for the 2020 Euros (We are the people).
Wild Youth are capable of much more, their recent “Modern Coliseum” was a banger. But this is too generic.
Good interval act song though or official anthem for some kind of competition.
I won’t beat around the bush and say Ireland’s selection is hopeless. Of all songs though, I think this one is the best among them… or least awful might be a better phrase since it still isn’t anything particularly amazing. I fear it’ll be another year for Ireland without success
I hope they will win the ticket to Liverpool
We’re getting 4 songs in 2 days!! Here are my faves
Ireland – Midnight Summer Night
Norway – Honestly
Spain – Mi Familia
And My Predictions
Ireland – We Are One
Norway – Honestly
Spain – Eaea
i personally like this song, but wild youth really didn’t need to outsource to sweden for their entry
I can definitely see the Irish public going for this, think it will depend on the juries if it goes to Liverpool or not. Although a bit generic and maybe too Eurovision, I think this will elevate live on stage. Wild Youth are well used to the big stage too
Not heard of this group, they seem to be well established but I was really hoping for something like Softengine’s ‘Something Better’, one of my favourites from the 2010s. Unfortunately, this is too bland and generic, surely they have much better songs?
Reminds me of Joe and Jake’s “You’re Not Alone”, an okay song that struggled for being too ordinary. Yet I still prefer that over this!
It also sound like a Nate Ruess song.
Perinita mea ftw!
I thought this sounded more like U2 than anyone else. Anyway, my favorite from Ireland is Wild by Leila Jane
As anthemic as the b-side to a Westlife single that never made the cut. As wild and youthful as a turtle. And a title like “We Are One” was already bad a thousand years ago. The title alone makes me wanna put it last. German Unheilig deservedly lost to an amateur girl group in the 2014 NF singing the unbelievably boring “Wir sind alle wie eins”.