Growing up, in the 70’s and 80’s, the Eurovision held a special place in my heart, it was a major glittering escape into the world of glitz and glamour and a way to soak up the different cultures of Europe and beyond.
Dana won the competition the year I was born and the huge National pride and interest in the competition, seemed to creep into my psyche and bones from there on in.
From Dana’s win in 1970 until 2002, the selection process stayed the same, songwriters and singers would submit original songs. A shortlist would be drawn up and a panel of judges picked from the music business would pick the best song for Eurovision.
This process delivered many success stories and winners, so much so, Ireland hosted the Eurovision 7 times and has best winning record ever, with an amazing record of winning the song contest three years in a row, 1992, 1993 and 1994. With Johnny Logan winning it twice and writing Linda Martin’s winning song in 1992
In 2002, the selection process changed, with a huge production, “You’re a star was more of a talent contest, on the lines of X factor or American idol, with presenters and judges, sharing the stage with the contestants. The public were asked to vote and of course, people voted for the contestant in their area, or if they had a very sad or pitiful story. This lead winners entries down a different route, representatives were being sent to Europe, more on personnel capacity for gaining votes and how judges liked them, rather than a winning performance. But, there great songs and singers, some did well and others didn’t, it seemed that Ireland was losing it’s midas touch.
In 2006, a new format of picking entries, which tried to marry the two previous routes, A short list would be drawn up and complete with a panel of judges, the public would phone-vote the winners.
All seemed wonderful, until it quickly became apparent, the powers that be, would pick a very strong and popular contestant and pit them against unknown amateurs. Unknown amateurs, doesn’t necessary mean untalented, it just means, they had much less a profile than the “favorite”.
It started, with a great Irish singer “Brian Kennedy” and when he didn’t win, there was a backlash and “Dustin the turkey” was sent, in what seems to be a definite insult to Eurovision.
2014, saw the same idea, where a singer with a strong popular public profile, was in competition with singers, who wouldn’t be that well known. Every contestant had a mentor, to help put their act together and give best performance possible. it was one of these mentors, who screamed the words, “the emperor has no clothes” just on the night of the competition, with fire work results!
As the competition progressed, the mentor, Billy McGuinness, wanted to air his views, that the competition was a foregone and everyone knew, how it would end and who would win!
He also had a problem with Louis Walshe being on the panel, as mr Walshe was connected to the favourite. It didn’t help matters, that Linda Martin was at Louis’s side. Linda was a winning act in Eurovision and commands great respect throughout Europe.
But she also works for, with and alongside Louis.
During the evening, Linda Martin attacked Mr McGuinness live on air and made quite a spectacle of herself, audiences were divided; should the Eurovision hierarchy be left alone and as is, or was it right to call reality and enough is enough.
