In today’s preview, we are going back to my home country; the land of green, craic (not the drug kind) and the best presidential doggos (RIP Bród and Síoda). It’s Ireland!
History
Ireland first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1965. This year marks their 56th appearance in the contest. Along with Sweden, they have won the contest more than any other country, with seven victories. Their first victory came in 1970, with Dana singing “All Kinds of Everything”. Ireland also holds the record the most wins by a single person, (Johnny Logan as an artist in 1980 with “What’s Another Year?” and in 1987 with “Hold Me Now” and as a songwriter with “Why Me?” in 1992) and is the only country to achieve three consecutive wins (Linda Martin with “Why Me?” in 1992, Niamh Kavannagh with “In Your Eyes” in 1993 and Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan with “Rock’n’Roll Kids” in 1994). Their last victory was in 1996 when Eimear Quinn sang “The Voice”.
Since the turn of the century, things have not fared as well. Ireland has only reached the top 10 three times since 2000, the last of which was in 2011 when Jedward finished eighth with “Lipstick” and have not reached the final since 2018. At the 2023 contest, Wild Youth finished 12th in the first semi-final with “We Are One”, leaving Ireland out of the final for the fourth year in a row.
Selection
The Irish national broadcaster, Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) organised Eurosong 2024 to select their 2024 entry. The show was broadcast during a special edition of RTÉ’s flagship talk show The Late Late Show and six artists took part. The result was decided by a combination of an international jury (33%), an Irish jury (33%) and public voting (33%). After winning the Irish jury and public votes, Bambie Thug was awarded the Irish ticket to Malmö.
Artist
Cuntry Ray Robinson, better known as Bambie Thug, was born to a Swedish father and an Irish mother in Maigh Chromtha/Macroom in Cork in the south of Ireland. They later moved to London to study ballet on a dance scholarship. However, after they broke their arm, they switched to studying musical theatre.
Bambie was first credited in music as a featured artist on the Fike and Fabich song “Mean” in 2020. They released their debut single “Birthday” in March 2021. In May that year, they released their debut EP “Psilocyber”. A second EP “High Romancy” followed later that year.
After releasing several non-album singles in 2022, Bambie released their third EP “Cathexis” in 2023. Their Eurovision entry is featured on this EP.
The song that Bambie Thug will perform in Malmö is called “Doomsday Blue”. It was written and composed by Olivia Cassy Brooking, Sam Matlock, Tyler Ryder and Bambie themself. Bambie will be the first openly non-binary artist to perform on the Eurovision stage.
Song Review
If you told me a year ago that this song would be my country’s Eurovision entry, I would have called you crazy.
I can’t begin to describe how surreal it is to see Ireland take a risk and make an effort for once. This song intrigues me so much. The contrast between the lighter and dark parts is blended perfectly together. It’s scary and confusing but you just can’t look away. It is like nothing I have ever heard before. Now that Bambie is out of the confines of the Late Late studio and its less than stellar acoustics, they can let their imagination run wild on stage in Malmö. If this is staged correctly, this could do some serious damage.
I think this can qualify for the final. As long as it gets there, I don’t really care where we come (but the higher the better). Regardless of the result, I hope Bambie inspires Irish artists to see that anything is possible at Eurovision and that it’s the place to show off your best work for the world to see. Something is finally changing in Ireland when it comes to Eurovision and I can’t wait to see where it leads. Look out Europe, the witch is coming!
The One That Got Away
Watching Eurosong this year was wild because from the choice of songs and the general tone of the show, something was different and an effort was being made (we need to get out of the Late Late studio though). While Bambie is very different to any other Irish entry, another turned heads for being quite different too.
Ailsha was born into a musical family. Her father is Shaun Davey, composer of “The Granauile Suite” and her mother is Rita Connolly, the vocalist on “The Granuaile Suite”. Ailsha’s style is quite different from the rest of her family as she went Celtic pop-punk in her song “Go Tobann” (Suddenly).
“Go Tobann” is a critique of most people in Ireland’s experience with the Irish language. We learn it for 14 years in school (it’s mandatory) and then we forget it all except for a few words and phrases. Fortunately, that is not my experience but I recently appreciate the message of this song. It finished second overall.
I think two things are happening in Ireland right now.
(1) We’re starting to realise that a Eurovision entry can be anything and that it doesn’t have to follow a specific formula.
(2) Instead of asking “Why?” when it comes to Irish, we are now asking “Why not?”.
I think Ailsha would have also been a great choice for Eurovision. It would have also been the first entry with lyrics in Irish since 1972. Plus, how iconic would it have been to have the lyrics “An bhfuil cead agam dul an leithreas?” (Can I go to the toilet?) in a Eurovision entry. Ceapaim go mbeidh amhrán i nGaeilge againn i gceann tamaill. Tá súil agam ar aon nós….
Ádh mór Éire!
Are you happy with Bambie Thug or feeling some doomsday blues? Leave your comments below. Stay tuned tomorrow for another Eurovision preview!
(Sources: eurovision.tv, RTÉ, YouTube)
Thinking About It 