Linda Martin & co has selected the six songs for the Irish final out of about 300 sent in from Ireland and abroad. One of the abroad ones is I wish I could pretend written by Lauris Reiniks, already an Eurovision veteran as he sung in F.L.Y. in 2003 for Latvia. Actually this song was also selected to the Latvian selection but he withdraw it from there once it made also the Irish final. The winner will be chosen by 50/50 jury/televote. The Irish final will be next Friday, February 20.
M.N.A - Flying
Laura-Jayne Hunter - Out of control
Lee Bradshaw - So what
Johnny Brady - Amazing
Kristina Zaharova - I Wish I Could Pretend
Sinead Mulvey & Black Daisy - Et cetera
Comments
Looking over these entrants I'm more happy, but I still get the feeling that RTE just don't care anymore. Its going to be several "hey diddle dee" songs and a couple of fat "wans" doing karaoke. I have great expectations from the Latvian entry :)
RTE's lack of interest goes back to when we won it 5 times in 4 years, it almost bankrupted them, back ten there was a lot less corporate sponsorship floating about. Ironic the 3 of the top 10 watched shows on the station last year were the Irish qualifiers, the first Semi-final with that horrible turkey in it, that got so much advertising in Ireland it wasn't even funny, and then of course the Finale.
At this stage most Irish people are happy if we qualify to the Final, and I really hope we do.
Anyway rant over, phew! :D