When Ireland broadcaster RTÉ revealed last month that Nicky Byrne would be representing Ireland at Eurovision, there was much debate as to whether he’d be a strong enough performer for Eurovision. But Nicky has showcased his talents with the very first live performance of “Sunlight”, which gives many hints of how the song will eventually be staged in Stockholm.
Nicky Byrne has been topping the Wiwi readers’ polls, but this is the first time we’ve had the opportunity to hear him singing “Sunlight” live.
On Saturday night, the former Westlife member took to the stage of The Ray D’Arcy Show. He stood on a raised platform surrounded by two rings of blue lasers, like a cross between Sanna Nielsen’s light cage of “Undo” and David Lindgren‘s Melfest laser lights. When the chorus kicked in, the blue lights were replaced with bold yellow lights, creating their own sunlight effect inside the TV studio.
The lighting wasn’t always successful – the lights often created lens flare in the camera, obscuring too many shots of Nicky. But RTÉ will have plenty of time to fine-tune their plans for staging.
Nicky was accompanied by two female backing singers, as well as a drummer, a guitarist and a keyboard player who were also adding backing vocals. That makes a total of six performers, the Eurovision limit.
So can we expect the staging in Stockholm to be similar? Well, we’re not sure, but that lighting set-up does seem to have had a lot of thought put into it…
And what of Nicky’s vocals? There were no great surprises compared to the studio version. It looks like he’ll be able to deliver a decent performance that, all going well, should put Ireland back in the grand final.
Nicky Byrne performs “Sunlight” live on The Ray D’Arcy Show
What did you think of Nicky’s live performance of “Sunlight”? Will it work at the Globe in May? Share your thoughts below!
check this.. Romanian song qualified for the semifinal ( Florena – Behind the Shadows ) https://youtu.be/98PpbgiW0qQ …..i think its a good song
Love the staging, BIG TIME. But the vocals are fairly weak, but he had time to improve those. Overall pretty good 😀
It was mediocre. I seriously can’t see this getting into the final without having to play the Westlife card.
I’m dissapointed. I thought that it is Mäns from Ireland, but obvieusly no. My top 8:
1. Malta
2. Denmark
3. Switzerland
4. Ireland
5. Austria
6. Spain
7. Belarus
8. Belgium
Sounds like we’re back in 2003. We’ve got the world tonight. Horrible song!
I am sorry but the performance was not good, imo it felt so hollow 🙁
He still will make it to the final, remember this was performed in a small studio so we cannot be certain about things, and that aside Ireland is in the weak semi-final, with UK and Australia, so I think it’s a safe bet to say that Ireland will qualify.
Sometimes it’s entirely fair to blame the backing vocalists, other times it’s an excuse on behalf of the lead…
Or even “To The Sky”. This contest is about strong whole entries, not only about strong songs.
SUNLIGHT = GLORIOUS and everything is clear
How awful is this?
Ireland you need to step up your game and fast!
Not finishing last in their semi should be considered a massive success by the Irish… Generic pop crap like this doesn’t warrant anything more…
No matter the acoustics, if it’s out of tune it’s out of tune. Put Loreen in that studio and see if it still sounds flat 😉
Wow, so much hatred for poor Nicky. But I guess thats because its only Ireland, and not Sweden or Russia. @German, you talk about Wiwibloggs being objective, yet ESC fans clearly have their favorite countries before they even reveal their song. Believe it or not, Eurovision is full of favoritism towards certain countries year in and year out. Russia, Sweden, Malta and San Marino along with Greece and Albania are always over hyped, year after year. I personally like Ireland’s song this year, this is well produced and quite catchy, I will not judge that performance on the Ray D’Arcy… Read more »
Oh, Wiwibloggs is so not objetive, he cannot sing =D, and that poll is fake =D.
Keep in mind that was a very small stage with a bad sound quality. You would need to see him on a proper stage with good acoustics before being able to assess how he will do in ESC. You could put any of this year’s entrants into that studio and they’d probably all sound mediocre.
This was rather painful to listen to…
Top 3 so far:
1. Spain
2. Austria
3. Malta
Those backing singers either should not sing when the word sunlight comes up or they should be replaced with men so they don’t clash with Nicky i think Nicky was nervous but I think the backing singers put him. Off key more than anything
What are you talking about? Nicky Byrne with “Sunlight” is similar level to Molly Sterling. No final for Ireland again.
Wow. A lot of negativity in this comments section. I will never get that hating. However. I’m captivated by Nicky’s voice and beauty. Did he miss a couple of notes? Might be the case. But I’m glad it’s a human being singing and not a robot. Definitely a winning package, from my point of view, he’s got everything. For the first time I will be voting for Ireland.
They were popular a lot more recently than 2002, Leaf. They released hit singles and albums right up until 2011.
People don’t get it, he will need a good performance to qualify his boy band days will not help achieve that.
Cos he is that second blonde guy from a band that was popular in back in 2002.
I believe he is good enough singer to qualify.
It wasnt that bad but it could definitely be better, nerves got the better of him. And come on, it is not like Ireland always sent amazing vocalists – you all remember Dustin the turkey and Jedward right? If they could go, then so can Nicky, he is a better singer than them and Jedward even went twice.
Plus, i read a few comments where it says it’s well known that the RTE studios are notoriously bad when it comes to acoustics as even those who have great voices often sound out of tune when they perform.
If you look on Spain and Ireland, Denmark will be favorite of ESC for you.
He’s struggling to hit his own notes. If it gets to the final, it’s purely cos of the Westlife connection – which means that Ireland have chosen well, I guess, given that they haven’t been qualifying recently.
So far:
1 SAY YAY
2 Perralle
3 Help you fly
4 Chameleon (Invincible)
5 What’s the pressure
6 The last of our kind
7 Soldiers of Love
8 Loin D’ici
9 Sunlight
Still needs work but, unfortunately, it’s still at the top of my list (can we please start getting some good songs now?!).
Love the lighting effects, the rest is just soooooooo bad, really dissapointing. The live vocals are so bad, it hurts my ears. My top (since the selection of Switzerland and Denmark and after this live performance)
1. Austria =
2. Spain =
3. Switzerland =New
4. Malta -1
5. Denmark =New
6. Albania -2
7. Belarus -2
8. Belgium -1
9. Ireland -3
I liked the staging, it was soo GOOD, but the vocals and the stage presence? OMG so disappointing, he was one of my favs, I hope it doesn’t flop un eurovision #Please
1. Spain
2. Belgium
3. Denmark
4. Belarus
5. Austria
6. Switzerland
7. Albania
8. Malta
9. Ireland
I loved the studio version, but the live didn’t convince me : his vocals were not perfect…
No final, i think…
He’s got it. What a great performance. With his perfect looks he catches people’s attention. And his voice is the sexiest ever. The song stands out, it’s amazing. A winning entry to me.
It’s catchy, but I can sense that there will be at least 10 other contenders in Stockholm with stronger voices
The song still needs that big vocal moment. The yellow lighting is too much. Nicky needs to move a bit more around the stage.
hm..it’s ok, but he needs to work on her vocals and body language
my top 3 so far: 1. Spain 2. Austria 3. Malta
Ireland’s song is Sunlight not Sunshine lmao…. xD
A dreadfully bland song from a dreadfully bland singer. It’s quite clear Ireland just aren’t trying anymore, and this song needs to go back to 1998 where it – and Nicky Byrne – belongs.
Think it sounds really OK, and the song is good. Go Nicky!!
While it’s understandable that there’s still kinks to be ironed out, I think there is a serious issue with the backing singers – I would be interested to know why they chose female over male singers? To me, their voices clashed a bit with Nicky’s, whose voice I thought improved as the song went on
I understand why he released the studio version first: he can’t sing.
I’m starting to regret Holland isn’t in the second semi, such weak entries so far.
He needs more practice in performing live if he wants to slay Eurovision although his first live performance seems okay. I understand if he seems nervous while performing, after all, this is his first major performance as a solo artist.
He sounds fab, I’ll be glad to see Ireland back in the final!!
His vocals match the song, both are super mediocre.
I watched it live and I was very disappointed. The lights were very flamboyant and annoying and the backing vocalists were really out of tune. My country needs to take ESC more seriously.
1. Spain
2. Belgium
3. Switzerland
4. Malta
5. Ireland
6. Albania
7. Austria
8. Denmark
9. Belarus
I’m loving this- hope he does well- I’m supporting Ireland cos no doubt UK will choose some dross as usual and UK will be bottom of the leader board. Go Ireland, get a top 10!
Why he sounds like me, obviously not a singer, singing in bathroom? :O