Can Linn feat. Kasey Smith has proven our readers and in-house jury right. The “Heartbeat” group moved Irish audiences and the professional juries with their song, and will now sing for Ireland at Eurovision 2014!
But before we even get to the results we need to mention the drama. And when I say drama, I mean DRAMA!!!
Past winner, Linda Martin joined music mogul Louis Walsh, Voice of Ireland co-host Eoghan McDermott and tv presenter Maia Dunphy in the on-stage panel who’s job it was to dissect each performance with The Late Late Show front-man Ryan Tubridy. Unlike in previous years the jury didn’t hold their tongues. They’d have made Simon Cowell blush.
And my God, Linda was in full diva mode. The first signs of trouble started to brew when she basically slated the whole of Eastern Europe, effectively saying they’d ruined Eurovision. But that was only the beginning.
Just before the final performer, Laura O’Neill took to the stage, it all kicked off Jerry Springer style. Laura’s mentor, Billy McGuinness, took issue with Louis Walsh’s presence on the panel. He claimed that Louis would be biased towards Eoghan and Kasey, as he’d worked closely with both of them in the past. And with that Mount Martin erupted. Shouting, screaming, name-calling (“odious little man!”) and finger wagging (on all sides) ensued. Unsurprisingly, Twitter exploded. Just look at the trends from during the show.
By the time the interval arrived, everyone was glad for the respite provided by former Eurovision winners Johnny Logan, Charlie McGettigan and Paul Harrington. A perfect remedy to lower the blood pressure.
Thankfully, the tempers resided in time for the most important part of the show – the results. The decision was made half by the Irish public, and half by a number of regional juries. You can see a full breakdown of the result below.
| Song | Regional juries | Televoting | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cork | Limerick | Galway | Sligo | Dublin | Total | |||||
| 1 | “Don’t Hold On” | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 26 | 30 | 56 | |
| 2 | “The Movie Song” | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 52 | 50 | 102 | |
| 3 | “Heartbeat” | 8 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 54 | 60 | 114 | |
| 4 | “Be Mine” | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 20 | 44 | |
| 5 | “You Don’t Remember Me” |
12 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 44 | 40 | 84 | |
So what do y’all think of the result? Are Ireland set to redeem themselves after their 26th place disappointment with Ryan Dolan last year? Is a record 8th victory now a feasible possibility or a distant dream?
You can read the lyrics to “Heartbeat” by clicking here. And click here to read our pre-Eurosong interview with Kasey.
Padraig Jude contributed this report from Ireland. Follow him on Twitter at @PadraigJude. And while you’re at it, like our Facebook page to stay up-to-date with the latest Eurovision news and gossip.
Photo: Screen-grab via RTÉ
Hilarious-
Irish selectors think a show must involve some sort of jig on the stage despite the fact that it does not even tie in with the song-
the dancing was a joke
the singers outfit on the nite does not link the song either and she wore too much makeup.
reasonable song but Ireland will never win eurovision again because the song selection system and shortlisting is suspect,, biased and fixed.
RTE will never learn and neither will those texting votes.. wasting their money.
Very underwhelming – the singer is a weak vocalist to an otherwise good song.
Kind of has all the air of being held at the local social club, with a few blokes getting harangued by a woman who should know better, and some average stage acts, with ‘all our yesterdays’ as the interval act. Best choice from an uninspiring bunch. Not a winner.
Nothing special! No chance to win!
boring, euphoria / only teardrops style, the equivalent of junk food with additives, maybe people will finally wake up from this drug nightmare…. or not
I agree with Charles, at the end of the day, it’s just selecting a song for Eurovision (I was going to say something like Charles, but apparently he did it earlier in this commentary box). The drama was not my main focus at all. I take a different approach to understand what Linda Martin has said. Maybe she was trying to tell us that it’s time to make Eurovision as a song contest again and people should vote for the song, not because of the country (as what Eastern European countries tend to do in recent years) “Heartbeat” is my… Read more »
I think The Movie Song should have won. This song isn’t bad, but it reminds me a lot of their 2013 song. Each song has their traditional Irish elements. Lets hope it does better!
Does it annoy anyone else how when someone isn’t happy with a song they accuse it as plagiarism? I mean, “Heartbeat” and “Only Teardrops” have only one thing in common, a traditional Irish influence, and that’s been in so many songs before. God people grow up.
@Eurofan
I’d agree with getting rid of the panel if this was a real national final. Ireland hosted the NF on a late-night talk show, so it only makes sense for them to have guests to comment and discuss.
The best song won in Ireland tonight. This is the first time in recent years that I’ve heard a song from Western Europe and thought “you know….this might win.” It’s a nice compromise between ethnic folk and dance pop, the perfect combo for Eurovision. I’m thinking it will be on the left side of the board come the Final.
Great choice I actually like it. Decently performed (I am not even looking at the dancers or whatever is going on in her back), this girl made a very professional and decent presentation of a good song that blends modern sounds (that don’t fall into the awful dance crap) and the good old traditional Celtic vibes that makes Irish Celtic music still so respectable. If you want to focus on the drama, Linda Martin, the dancers or backing singers … fine, I am sticking to the song and her singer. On my top 4 together with Malta, Spain and Hungary.
Billy McGuinness had the right point, expressed the wrong way, but Linda Martin was a cowbag anyway.
I think they should do away with the panels. They aren’t useful anyway. Songs should be presented comment free. They could squeeze a few more songs in there without the panels.
The best song won. But they really need to sort out those backing dancers.
What Billy McGuinness did was disgraceful. Attacking the panel brought negative attention onto Laura and her performance, and damaged her, albeit slim, chances of winning the contest. If her really cared about how she did, he wouldn’t have said a word.
How on earth can people still go on about Eastern Europe when the west has been fairly represented over the last few years. Ireland has qualified the last four years in a row and looks like adding a fifth this year. Old dinosaurs that can’t remember last year but go on about what happened in the past.
I’m happy “Heartbeat” won!!!
1.Hungary
2.Ireland
3.Spain
4.Macedonia
5.Switzerland
6.Ukraine
7.Belarus
8.Italy
9.Iceland
10.Finland
11.Albania
12.Poland
13.Latvia
14.Malta
Figured it would been a showdown between Heartbeat & Movie Song. Honestly the Irish national final was overall very weak. Heartbeat to me is just Ireland’s version of Only Teardrops.
I don’t know why so far most of these songs for Eurovision this year doesnt stand out to me that much.
My fav. song. Good choice, good luck Ireland 🙂 http://www.turesc.net/2014/02/irlanda-temsilcisini-secti.html
Even though it was underwhelming, is the best average song for this average group.
They got the song right, now they need to get the show right.
Just like last year, Ireland didn’t have much to offer from the beginning. Heartbeat may be the least worst of the five, and I’m glad it won, but even so is nothing special for me.
For once, I actually get a correct prediction!!!!!!! Poland and Ireland have hit the correct form of “folk meets modern”, with catchy songs that don’t overuse or even use an acoustic guitar, and represent their country’s folk music. While Malta and Latvia are decent, they don’t eclipse these types of folk songs.
The movie song is way better. Heartbeat is just a stage copy of last year. Two dancers, 2 vocalist, a fiddler instead a bombo. And another eurodance (tired).
On the ESC maybe a 20- 25 same last year.
The Movie Song was better (just want to emphasize Dani and Donatas Z) 😉
Best song out of an average bunch
the movie song was better (just want to emphasize Dhani) 😉
the movie song was better 🙁