It’s been all quiet from Ireland since they announced Ryan O’Shaughnessy would represent the country at Eurovision 2018. And whilst Ryan has teased and hinted at his song “Together” on social media, we didn’t know much more.
That was until this afternoon, when the song dropped at short notice on RTÉ Radio.
Ryan O’Shaughnessy – “Together”
The song is a bitter-sweet ballad, with Ryan singing about a former lover. He wonders why he’s been left, after the two told each other they’d be “together ‘til we die”.
It might not be the most modern entry of the year – and it’s easy to compare it to similar Irish entries of late – but Ryan’s impressive vocal stands out. There’s vulnerability a plenty as he hits those high notes. This Irish dreamboat is definitely going to be serenading some fans amongst those watching at home!
WHO IS RYAN O’SHAUGHENESSY?
The former child actor turned pop star is no stranger to singing competitions. He competed in both the Voice Of Ireland and Britain’s Got Talent in 2012, causing a whole load of drama when both shows clashed.
(Un)luckily for him he was eliminated during the first live show of the Voice, enabling him to continue on to the final of BGT. Afterwards he released two singles and an EP which cracked the top ten in both Ireland and the UK.
He also appeared on the Irish version of The Hit in 2013. His most recent album Back To Square One came out in 2016.
He’ll be hoping to do better than his Uncle Gary, who came third from bottom at Eurovision 2001 with “Without Your Love”.
But first he would need to make it to the grand final. Ireland last reached that milestone in 2013.
What do you think of the track? Are you excited to hear “Together” in Lisbon? Let us know in the comments below.
Am in Australia have listened to this song a couple of times- find myself singing it at the beach today it really is Catchy
Now I really like it
Clever song indeed
Hope it does well!!
Really wonder why we haven’t seen Ryan performing the song. He is not in the video and there is no studio version of him singing the song – I think it is extraordinary that he is the only singer of the 43 that we have only seen photos of! Any hope of qualifying needs the national broadcaster to get behind the song and promote it – kind of basic I would have thought. Too much to hope for from RTÉ going by the fiasco they made of the last four years!
Interesting –
It’s the sort of song that could become a song in a movie or on ad on tv
Like how “what can I do ‘ was run by lloyd’s bank in uk by the corrs
I think this song has lots potential it’ sticks in your head – good lyrics
Makes a change from the usual rubbish in eurovision.
meh
Problem is the song is too sophisticated for 80% of the those leaving comments here
And probably too good for eurovision
That’s the reality of it.
The depth of the music and the detail of the chords are quite striking
But I don’t expect many to understand the arrangement features here
This is a lovely song, but the song alone won’t qualify. However as a performance, it might. If RTE decides to go with the theme of the video it might touch the emotional side of both jurors and televoters. If I was staging this I would put Ryan in the centre of the stage and have the two guys dancing around the stage with one continuous camera following them. The camera can move from the dancers to Ryan from time to time, especially in the build up to the last chorus, but the only way this is gonna make it… Read more »
It’s soooooo sweeeet, look at them being all into each other!! And I love hearing guys who sing about losing love, it’s so romantic. It’s pretty much even more romantic than guys singing about wanting to be with someone. Serenades have nothing on heartache songs. I hope it goes through.
Ireland still had some of the most beautiful wins in the competition. My Eurovision addiction started in 1994 with rock’n roll kids. Right in the middle of the Irish “golden era”. I think it’s funny how references and tastes can change. I bet the Swedish era is about to end, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing that it changes from time to time. Maybe soon a comeback from the big five ? I bet on a Belgian era soon (I’m from FR and CAN) 🙂 and FR tends to stop sending really crappy songs on purpose those days so… Read more »
Can we have this instead of the dreadful UK effort that sounds like it was written for primary school kids?
The song is dull and the only gimmick to save it is two boys dancing in the music video. Somebody is trying to get easy votes but no one is going to remember the song
a lot of the other songs are much more gimmicky than this one featuring two people doing an interpretative dance.
He can sing but unfortunately the song is as dull, bland and instantly forgettable. I really hope I am wrong but I don’t think this will qualify. Pity.
Any particular reason why I can’t seem to post my comment about the song while others can?
^^You’ve posted this.
It’s no time what I’ve been trying to post since last night though
boring. Repetitive. Cliché
But yet Australia is probably in your top 5…
That’s an uptempo bias on Wiwibloggs – Songs of the similar quality will get about a point or two more on average if they are uptempo! I can already smell a “3.45/10” average for Iceland and “4.33/10” for Ireland, quoting they are typical ballads, while giving “6.93/10” average to Australia and “6.45/10” average to Azerbaijan, also quoting they are typical pop songs. I was quite upset at those ratings in the past, but I just resigned now. I have my opinion and that’s it.
Ireland is one of the most robbed countries in Eurovision recently. Well, if we can say so, on the other hand it is one of the most succesfull in the history of Eurovision. But it was so underatted some recent editions when they truly gave so strong interpretations. However, I can’t understand why they don’t change something. Moreover, they’re coming with a weaker ballad and a more usual interpreter than last years.
This is mid boggling. So Ireland shouldn’t send a ballad because it won’t stand out but last year’s winner was a ballad. One of Ireland’s highest rankings of recent years was Brian Kennedy with a sombre ballad and this was ripped to shreds before the competition night. Belgium is being tipped a favourite so should there be a new genre in Eurovision entitled Bond Rip Offs? (Conchita would be top of this category). I understand the premise of Eurovision being an entertainment show but fundamentally it is a Song Competition and we hypothesis every year (which we rightfully should do… Read more »
I thought I’m going to dislike it-hate it even. But it turns out I actualy like it – no, I love it! I really hope he’ll do well – at least qualify for the final, since he definitely deserves it.
I love the verses but I hate the melody of the chorus, it’s notre bad..
great song, and he can sing unlike Brendan, top 10 and a big hit in europe, well done, we are definitely through,not winner but different and we will qualify
Well, I rear the trillion comments and there are a few things a lot of us first-time listeners agree on: It sounds boy-bandish and it lacks any sort of *wow*. I mean, I love me a simple tune, but certainly one that has something. This sounds -sorry- bland the whole way through. What some commentators missed out on, though, is that, were this a song by Ed Sheeran, it would have the humongous hype that precedes every release of his. (I still don’t understand how, anyway). Sheeran would be nowhere near the big sells wasn’t it for the juncture he… Read more »
Dreadful, and a non-qualifier for sure. Did Ireland not learn anything from last year?
rte, not ireland.
yes you are right, sorry…rte are a disaster
Not bad.
“Playing with Numbers” was a better song but with similar problems. “Together” will probably be liked by a lot of people (it is pretty inoffensive) but will be very few people’s favourite song. I don’t see where the votes are going to come from so am pretty sure it is a non-qualifier.
Ireland better qualify this year. 🙂
Juries will probably like this more than televoters.
I kinda ike it!
Do betting odds matter in the grand scheme of things?
Imo we’re in a quite strong year which makes it even harder for such a mediocre harmless song to proceed to the finals.
Of course, it depends on the live performance, but I’m already close to write Ireland off…
That’s the dumbest comment I’ve read so far. Strong year? Where? This year is ten times weaker than last year, and last year wasn’t that great when compared to years like 2012 and 2016. This year is one of the weakest ESC years of all time, and that’s a fact.
This year is quite strong indeed. Fact. 😛
I agree, this is a very strong year indeed 🙂
@ Margot
It would do this world so good if people were able to recognize their own perspective as personal and not to judge others for theirs. Unfortunately, they aren’t.
Omg last year was a disappointment. This year is really better I think.
I agree Margot – aside from Italy this year is extremely dull with a lot of identikit entries written by drones. This Irish entry is quite sweet and the best from that country for quite a while. Not a winner, but worth a place in what’s looking like a rubbish finel.
Count me in Margot. This year’s entries are really poor. I can’t even squeeze out 5 songs that I really like. Usually I’m quite excited about ESC. But I’m not in the mood after hearing 30 odd entries so far. Maybe it’s just me, it seems like there are more non-English entries this year than last year’s. Not sure if everyone is trying to jump on the bandwagon since Portugal’s win last year.
It’s cute and sweet, but it’s going to get lost in Semi 1. Not a qualifier in my opinion.
Wrong. Ireland will of course qualify! 🙂
If you have listened to the other songs of Semi 1, you should know that the chances are very low.
Me like
It’s sweet.
If I can look past the cringy video, I actually quite like it. It is very sweet and the emotion comes across very well, I definitely feel a connection to it. However, the chorus is very underwhelming and his voice goes a bit too high-pitched. It’s not the best song in their semi but if they go with very simple staging and he can get that emotion across, it might be enough to scrape through.
naws everything about this is sooo cute
Just watched his BGT Audition. It´s really good, and that was years ago. He can deliver emotion live, so I´m quite positive about this:)
Dear Ireland, please note that we’re not in the 90’s anymore, the ballad era is over. Please don’t take into consideration outdated advises from Linda Martin, Johnny Logan or Louis Walsh, put someone new in charge with the process… See France for example, their formula of success in the past 3 years! The problem with this song is that it’s quite forgettable, nothing memorable about it. It will sink in the semifinal between all the up-tempo and mid tempo songs from the likes of Czech Republic, Estonia, Israel, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Belgium, Greece, Belarus, Austria and Finland. There’s no room… Read more »
Last year’s winner was by no means up-tempo or modern though.
The best entry from Ireland since “Playing with Numbers” in 2015. However I think like it promises a lot at the beginning, but after that the chorus is a bit weak. Anyway, I kinda like it. I don’t know if it is enought for Ireland to qualify, but definitely agood addition to the line up.
Even if I think the line up is weaker than last year’s one, I have a lot of 7/10, so it isn’t a bad year neither.
the lineup is way better this year lol
in your opinion. i don’t agree. a lot of 3/10 songs that are getting overhyed – in my opinion
The two dudes dancing together in the music video could be a good idea for the Eurovision performance as well. Anything to enhance the impact of this dire song.
Hope to hear this only one more time in my life… I mean, I had high hopes that, after the victory of a brilliant song in 2017, thus year would be packed with some more masterpieces… One more plastic song from Ireland. Really? ESC is turning again into a contest of awful music for people with bad taste
I agree with you. Sobral’s words don’t seem to have fallen in much fertile soil. There are several overrated songs: brainworms, diva’s average entries or forgettable songs that sound like thousand others. Welcome back to the 2000’s!
best music video in the contest (<333) but…
the song does sound vaguely like something you'd hear while on hold with customer service
It’s sweet. And that’s all. Not memorable at all.
many men like dicks , many women like pussys , and viceversa , and then come the babys , ALELUJAAAAAAAAAH , in the end we are all , absolutely all , a litle gay , just acepted how is , this life is not other
it’s not great, but I don’t think this is as bad as some people are suggesting in the comments here and on Facebook. Cute guy singing ballad at Eurovision sometimes garners a bit of tele vote support, so I wouldn’t write this off entirely. Although it is in that blood bath of a first semi-final, which makes the task even harder for him.
I actually really like this one. I think it’s sweet and the LGBT representation in the music video makes me really happy.
Unfortuneately though, the first semi is too strong so I don’t think he’ll make it.
If this were in the SECOND semi, however, I bet it would go through.
HA! As if! Even if SF2’s song are weaker than SF1’s there will be mad political voting and most of the countries in that SF are catnip for juries i.e Sweden Russia Malta and The Netherlands.
We really need some transparency from RTÉ on the selection process for Eurovision. This year and the last two years the songs have been internally selected. This year it seemed certain that The Heathers would be participating for Ireland with photos of the two sisters appearing on Eurovision websites. When Ryan was selected there were hints of a disagreement between The Heathers and RTÉ over the choice of song. I think that Irish people such as myself who follow the Eurovision are owed an explanation as to what happened. As for our entry, not sure if it will qualify and… Read more »
Ryan co-wrote the song initially given to the Heathers, if Irish media is to believed, so sonce the guy can sing as well, he was Plan B when things went south with the first artists.
I love this Eurovision jokes…. lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKRUiEUNY1E
well, I don’t like Hungary at all, but at least the song keeps you awake. This is Yawnsville with a capital WHY Ireland? You can do so much better!
And more diversity is on it’s way… lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRQD-ZPs8Pw
Yep! And I’m pretty sure this is going to be a very artsy one…
Beautiful voice but the song is just ok.
The 1st semi is tough and I think Ireland is going to stay out of the finals again. It’s sad.I wish he had a better song because he’s a really good singer.
Ireland better qualify. 🙂
Are you nuts? THIS IS THE BEST MUSIC for the show. Only Estonia can do better. What is going on here? You have write well about the song from Portugal (a copy/paste) and you are saying “nuts” from this?
Do you know anything about music?
Last year song is so much better then this, and last year song did n t go to final.
Ireland doesn’t learn from mistakes. How an earth another God damn ballad after last year’s failure of a ballad? For the love of God!!! And the worst part is: Brandan’s ballad last year was miles better than that and yet it didn’t qualify!!! Stay in the semifinal until you’ll treat this contest seriously!
Because going uptempo didn’t exactly give them a slot in the final in 2014.
I’m Irish and I’m genuinely happy. Ok, it hasn’t got the bells and whistles of Denmark or Finland but given our record in recent years, I’m the most hopeful I’ve been of a qualification. It definitely needs some drama with a stronger beat and perhaps a more soaring chorus but it feels Irish. His tone is beautiful and I have a feeling that this will be fantastic live. If Gavin James or Ed Sheeran released this, people would be all over it!
See, that’s what matters!
Denmark? Finland? Both very average and unappealing to my senses.
do the English speaking Eurovision countries seriously not know any other rhyming apart from together-forever? seriously, again?
we were together in leather,
he tickled my feather
quite an endeavour,
as his name was Trevor
People hated “Dying to Try” last year… but that was miles away better than this… in the big ocean of ballads this year, this is way too “eurovision-esque”, forgettable and non-original… sorry but Ireland’s originality seems to be gone.
Well i didn’t hate Dying to Try…
People don’t understand how much it pains to be a young Irish Eurovision fan , always hearing how great Ireland was in Eurovision . Honestly we’re deteriorating by the year , RTÉ just doesn’t want to win it seems ?
Same. Same. But I actually like this song and think it has a chance of getting through