Eurosong 2015 – the Irish national selection for Eurovision – takes place tomorrow, 27 February. Five hopefuls will battle it out for a place in Ireland’s pantheon of Eurovision greats (and not-so-greats). Meanwhile, the country’s most successful Eurovision act has confirmed that he will never compete in the contest again.
Johnny Logan On A Eurovision Return
Speaking to Goss.ie, the “What’s Another Year” singer said:
I’ve done the Eurovision. I’ve won it three times, what do I have to gain by doing it again?
Not only does this rule him out of an Irish comeback, it also means that he won’t be trying out for Romania either, despite his comments to the contrary last summer.
http://youtu.be/vccwzuttIQY
Johnny Logan On Eurosong
In the same interview, the “Hold Me Now” singer also hit out at Eurosong, calling for it to be binned and replaced with a model similar to Denmark’s Dansk Melodi Grand Prix.
The thing is what we need to do is firstly of all go back to the way Denmark are doing it. Don’t do it in the Late Late, do it in the studio they do the Voice in -get in an audience that’s just interested in that and make it bigger.
The bulk of his ire is aimed towards Eurosong organisers.
The people who have been running the national song contest in Ireland and doing the selection, over the years completely screwed it up. They cheapened it and made a complete haims of it. I feel no personal need to soothe their guilty conscious by taking part in it and then if it doesn’t do well letting them blame me – look we gave you Johnny but what else can we do?
Now, the man may have thrown a fair lot of shade Jedward‘s way, but as for his most recent comments we have just one thing to say – AMEN! But just a caveat – he has expressed similar feelings many times in the past, only to show up at Eurosong regardless. Will he be there tomorrow?
Billy McGuiness on Erika Selin – “It’s Outrageous”
J-Lo isn’t the only one slamming Eurosong. Linda Martin’s sparring partner from 2014, Billy McGuiness, known by some as “an odious little man”, has taken issue with Erika Selin’s inclusion in the final five.
Surely a Swedish singer singing a Swedish song with Swedish backing singers should be competing to be Sweden’s Eurovision entry, not Ireland’s? I think given the talent in the Irish music industry among songwriters, singers, it’s outrageous that RTE has seen fit to go outside Ireland to find someone who can sing Ireland’s Eurovision entry this year.
RTÉ have previously released a statement defending the “Break Me Up” singer’s participation in Friday’s final.
What do y’all think? Is all this criticism valid? Or should the two men just zip it and enjoy the show? Comment below.
Johnny Logan’s right and if Ireland complained so much over a Swedish singer, then they should send better singer/-songwriters of Irish decent. Don’t get mad, get better.
wow wow wow Johnny back the fuck up. Firstly only “Why Me” was an outstanding performance, the rest of your Eurovision collaborations are purely overrated. Secondly the fact that a Swedish composer is doing the work of what an Irish should be doing, just proves how Ireland have give the back to the possibility of sending something good to ESC, You can’t blame it on a national selection. We’ve seen already how unsuccessful are the national selections, since long ago this format hasn’t added any more victories to ESC. This millenium, dear Johnny is full of potential and betting on… Read more »
I second Mar, I don’t think is wrong to give the opportunity to foreign performers to go and represent a country they’re not from, but at least have some connection with it. Take Armenia this year for example, love or hate the idea behind Genealogy, all artists are supposed to have a connection with Armenia which gives sense to the group, otherwise it would be just a bunch of singers from all over the world, singing for a country they have no connection with whatsoever. With Erika having everything swedish, if she wins and goes to Eurovision it would be… Read more »
Yeah. I agree with Robyn when it comes to Tubbers as the host of Eurosong. It’s high time to bring Eurosong to the level it should be at. Put it in a venue with a proper set and allow the general public to see the show. Ireland has a lot of interest in Eurovision so its time to show that. Bring the no. of songs up to 8 or 12 and EVEN hire amateurs to host Eurosong. If they want to do it. It’s all about taking leaps of faith and trying New and daring ideas. I’ll happily host Eurosong… Read more »
I agree with both of them. Eurosong is my least favourite NF, Ireland has the potential to have a way better and bigger selection that will give them good results. As for Erika, I don’t think foreigners should be banned from any countries’ NF or anything like that, but it’s this case in particular that’s very jarring to me. Swedish songwiters, swedish singer, swedish backing vocalists who all live and work in Sweden and have no connection to Ireland. I don’t think the country that has won the most times deserves Sweden’s sloppy seconds, because this is what “Break me… Read more »
Let’s wait and see JJE, maybe Erika will do better in the televote than people are expecting (unless the panel make a big issue about her nationality).
Hi, Eugene! Thank you! You’re right. The public are not stupid. 🙂
The only people that care about a Swedish person singing for Ireland are the Irish. But the Irish wont be voting for Ireland at Eurovision, they should choose the best song regardless of her nationality. Erika obsviously wants to sing for Ireland, or she would of tried the Moldovan or Swiss or another national selection. I know that if Erika is selected, ill be voting for her 🙂
Agree with him completely. The last 15 years has been by far Ireland’s worst ever period in Eurovision (not one top 5 placing shockingly) and most of the blame has to lie with the Eurosong organisers. They need to move the event to a much bigger venue and get more established and professional names competing.
National Finals could be rigged, by the way.
Send Shane Filan, Ireland! (That’s just an example.) Is he too big for Eurovision? I think he is. The same as Robbie Williams or Adele for The UK. Nothing more to add.
I dont trust in judges taste ….If the public would be the only one to decide it would make a change,but unfortunately even if we like someting ,the judges have the last choice and always a very bad one.
All countrys should organise National Final and let the public to decide which song should represent their country at Eurovision.Why such a big fuss about it.As much as i disagreed with the UK choice but not letting the public to choose their artist for Eurovision,i still hope in one day we will come 1st place and organise Eurovision here.
He is right. They need to stop doing that mess of a show for Eurovision. ireland is the freaking queen of Eurovision (although they didn’t deserve all of the 7 victories..) and they need to take it seriously and host a decent national final like other countries.
Thanks Robyn.
Johnny must be a fan of Eirevision before anyone even knows about it. #JustJoking
I’ve no objections to the name Eurosong. But it shouldn’t be in the dead end of a talk show set. It should be given it’s own identity. It attracts an average of about 650,000 viewers a year (Up to 1.3 million reach) so the public interest is there. Put it in the RDS Simmonscourt or Bord Gais Energy Theatre as planned for 2015. With either Nicky Byrne Marty Whelan (Irish commentator) Amanda Byram Kathryn Thomas Grainne Seoige or Craig Doyle as the host(s). It wouldn’t do RTE any harm to bring the number of songs up to 8 or 10.… Read more »
yep the irish selection process is the worst of all .. cheap tacky crap ….
johnny logan should be involved in selecting or write a song
i hope Linda will be in the panel again like last year
I thought Johnny Logan only won twice. Anyway I agree with him but take a f****** chill pill Billy Mcguiness! Just shut up and let Erika do what she wants because this contest is about making Europe happy. And right now, Ireland unfortunately is not off to a real good start. Erika Selin should be aloud to participate if the broadcaster is fine with that, WHICH THEY ARE!! If they didn’t want her they would have said no. So people, those of you that are hating are making Ireland unhappy.
Well, they are not happy 😀