The Wiwi Jury — our in-house team of music unprofessionals — is reviewing and rating the 37 competing songs in Eurovision 2025. Next we review Ireland, who have chosen EMMY with “Laika Party”.
Are we ready to join the space party? Read on to find out!
EMMY – “Laika Party” (Ireland Eurovision 2025)
Review: EMMY – “Laika Party”
Tom: A pop song about a dog in space. I am sold! This is your classic Eurovision pop fare. A great beat, a fun chorus and something easy to sing along to. There is not much to dislike about “Laika Party”. It is so utterly harmless and lovely. A positive, happy song that absolutely has a place in this year’s contest. It’s not needle moving or original, but I would love EMMY to qualify and do well.
Score: 7.5
Scarlett: I was waiting for “Laika Party” to take me on a journey, and yet it went nowhere besides the key change towards the end. EMMY’s voice, as sweet and Ellie Goulding-sounding as it is, could have been more dynamic throughout the song. And of course, the lyrics: what can I say, except that I appreciate EMMY’s whole-hearted commitment to making the pun of “Laika party/like a party” work (once you hear it, you can’t unhear it). At least I learned a sad piece of history while 90s-style synths sound off in the background?
Score: 2.5
Simon: How fitting to have a Norwegian represent Ireland 30 years after an Irish person won Eurovision with Secret Garden for Norway. Emmy brings a fun and light bop to the contest, and although not ground-breaking, it does get to your brain straight away. A chorus that you can sing along to from the get-go and a cutesy little dance to go along with it will surely appeal to the TikTok generation, but us oldies can appreciate it too. Nice and fun from the Emerald Isle.
Score: 7
Lucy: Another fun upbeat song in this year’s line-up! It sounds sweet to the point of near-saccharine with EMMY’s recognisable vocals aiding that. However, the subject matter outright isn’t pleasant. Sure this is another take on it where we imagine a happier outcome, but factually, no…it’s a horrible story. I can’t get past the borderline-yet-intentional tacky visuals when paired with Laika’s story. I’ll chuck some positives in too: I do love EMMY’s vocal, and the hook is catchy as heck. But it’s so morbid that I just can’t enjoy it.
Score: 3.5
Ireland Eurovision 2025 ranking
In the Eurovision 2025 Wiwi Jury, we have 17 jurors but only have room for four reviews. The remaining scores are below:
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Andreas: 2.5 Antranig: 7 Bernardo: 5.5 Burak: 6.5 Cinan: 6 Deban: 4.5 Jonathan: 7 |
Jordi: 6 Pablo: 7 Ruxandra: 6 Suzanne: 8 Tomas: 5 William: 5 |
We have removed the highest and lowest scores prior to calculating the average. This is to remove outliers and potential bias. We have removed a high of 8 and a low of 2.5.
Wiwi Jury verdict: 5.73/10
What do you think of Ireland’s Eurovision 2025 entry? Share your own score and review for EMMY’s “Laika Party” below!
No 1/10
I really enjoyed this song. I don’t think it will win, nor is it my favorite, but it’s a beautiful ode to the naivite, hope, and joy of children (the music video is great), as well as a fitting tribute to Laika herself.
Why did Ireland bother to go to Norway to hire this singer ?
They have someone with an identical voice who is also Irish……Janet Devlin……was she busy ????
Ah yes, I remember Janet. She released an album at the end of last year, so the timing was probably wrong.
I think Janet also has a quirky break in her voice as well, so because of that, I’d imagine that “Laika Party” would sound quite different with Janet singing it.
HMMMM…..not sure about that, but thanks for remembering her. Check out her song “Creatures of the Night”….it’s excellent !!
Of course Antraning will grade this high and Latvia low, of course… ugh
I never understand this grown woman playing child thing. It’s to much JESC and naive. But that’s maybe the point…
The song is a guilty pleasure though and will reach final
Last year Ireland was one of my favorites, this year not so much..
IRELAND – For a second year in a row, Ireland managed to bring a song that provokes polarizing reactions. Contrasting Bambie Thug’s dark chant, we have Emmy’s bright and naive take on the Laika the Space Dog story. The reason why it’s so polarizing is that it’s a thin line between cute and irritating, and it is not playing it safe. Emmy’s high-pitched voice is well matched with the bouncy early 2000s trance melody and heartwarming, but very naive lyrics. (I understand that you want for Laika to have survived the landing, but is she supposed to be 71 years… Read more »
Year in year out in comments and videos of people’s opinion on Irelands songs I hear “I like it it’s so fun but unfortunately I don’t think this will qualify”. And yes this is including bambis song last year. Ireland has such a strange position in this contest where the fandom don’t really know what they’re looking for with Ireland. Ireland have sent quite literally every genre of song but either it’s been the wrong year to send it or another country with more credibility in the contest has an equally good song. Another thing I’ve noticed also is that… Read more »
I’ve grown into it. I never skip it and I sing along. However I don’t need it in my final. Staging also lacks
6/10
35th place: Ireland: I am sorry but I really can’t like anything about this song. The music itself is formulaic, the whole theme of the song is childish and the entire package screams Junior Eurovision to me. It also bears a striking correlation to a certain type of Norwegian MGP entries like Super Rob and the like, which I always couldn’t endure. After a really experimental and edgy performance last year from Bambie that reinvigorated Ireland at ESC, I find it disappointing that they follow it up like this. I believe that an NQ is more than likely here.
just giving junior eurovision to me…. :/
2.5/10
I love the lusty Erika track and empowered performance on one end of the spectrum and like(a) EMMY’s on the other.
If you decouple the ‘Laika’ name from the track and replace it with anyone who’s ever passed on (if you believe in that kinda thing), then the song has a beautiful ‘life everlasting’ theme. We all come from stardust… ‘I hope [it] floats above us still’, and do hope she qualifies… Family friendly laika-bility.
Happy Easter
Fine song, won’t stand out at all in the semi. NQ for me even though I think it’s not any better or worse than some songs that will qualify.
The Eurovision songs that really capture my imagination are the ones that address heavy themes from unexpected angles and provide huge amounts of space for interpretation and speculation. Laika Party is that kind of song for me this year; it leaves an impression that lingers in my mind after it plays. It has some of the Trojan-horse sensibility of “My AI” from last years MGP, hiding serious ideas under a Scandipop candy shell. The broad outline of the song’s narrative also unexpectedly reminds me of one of my very favorite albums, the psychedelic folk landmark In the Aeroplane Over the… Read more »
I’m definitely on a different planet to the WiWI jury. The songs they think are brilliant and will qualify i dont. Ireland have sent a pop song in the vocal style of Ellie Goulding and Aqua both of which have sold millions. This is a good pop song catchy and memorable. Will it win Eurovision no. Will it qualify for the final yes.
You seem a bit biased tbh
Ireland – I like Emmy. I think her style is very fun, but I don’t see this doing particularly well. The story behind the song is really sweet and it is enjoyable. It may squeak through to the final but in the end I can’t see it going anywhere past the top 20. 4.5/10
Not qualifying, I fear
Epic song
Go Ireland
One of my guilty pleasures. I don’t want to like it but I do. The song is bizzare but also sweet. It got stuck in my head and I find myself humming to it. 8/10
Why do you not want to like it? Honestly not an attack I’m just curious because I’ve heard this from a few comments.
This along with Estonia is the dumbest s*** this year. Laika, whaa? Girlllll…who put you uo to this?
I’m so glad we got the same opinion once again
Ireland sends a catchy Scandi pop song about a stray dog that was launched into space by the Soviets in 1957. The concept of this song is bizarre, though the Hungry Hearts actually attempted this concept before at Norway’s MGP back in 2016. Both are very different songs though. “Laika Party” is a very simple catchy pop tune, but it’s set to the dramatic key of D minor. Emmy’s sweet child-like voice is perfect for a song about foolishly hoping Laika the space dog is somehow still alive and having a party, yet the key of D minor makes even… Read more »
Ireland 1/12 – very cheap and trashy
When I first heard this I really liked it, I’ve got a bit bored of it since but I don’t skip it.
It is a good song, I’m just worried that it won’t qualify. I hope it does.
Good luck to Ireland ??
Emmy deserves a slot in the final. I love this song and pay no heed to the dried up, crusty comments from some of these reviewers. It’s a charming song.
3 Ireland – Emmy – Laika Party – 9.5/10 – oh my, what a tearjerker! The story of Laika is incredibly sad and this track takes me on an emotional journey which drives deep into the soul. I am drawn in by the unique aesthetic of the performance, production and presentation. The childlike innocence perfectly complements the central message. I’m a sucker for bops with deep meaning and this one fits the bill very well for me.
It’s cute but you get over that pretty fast. Which is why it might work for voters hearing it for the first time. I give it an A for effort in trying to be original but ultimately, I don’t need to hear it again. Also, and I’m sure there is absolutely no malice here, the image of something Russian in the sky will never be funny or pleasant again, if it ever was.