The five songs will be performed live on The Late Late Show tomorrow night on RTÉ One from 9:35pm. Alex Saint and the MJs will perform She’s So Fine (written by Tony Adams-Rosa); Kat Mahon sings Anybody Got a Shoulder (written by Charlie McGettigan); Erika Selin will sing Break Me Up (written by Gustav Eurén, Niclas Arn & Danne Attlerud); Nikki Kavanagh will sing Memories (written by Lee Anna James, Elena Morosanu, Simon Gribbe, Johnny Sanchez & Dimitri Stassos); and Molly Sterling will perform Playing with Numbers (co-written with Greg French).
The always-lively Eurosong discussion panel will comprise superstar Panty Bliss, Eurovision fan and TV presenter Mairead Farrell, the Godfather of Eurovision Phil Coulter and Eurovision winner Linda Martin.
Roving presenter Marty Whelan will be backstage, giving viewers a taste of the tension and excitement among the acts in the Green Room.
Ryan Tubridy said: ‘Eurovision is treasured by the Irish public. It’s got it all – the glitz, the sparkles, the drama of what’s at stake, which we learned all about at Eurosong last year! I’m looking forward to a night of fun, surprises and great music on the Late Late Show. I wish the five young singers the best of luck in their bid to go to Vienna this May for the opportunity of a lifetime, at Eurovision’s 60th anniversary.’
Voting lines will be announced during the show. As was the case last year, Ireland’s Eurovision entry will be selected by a combination of public and regional jury vote. This year’s Eurovision will be held in Vienna, Austria in May, with Ireland competing in the second semi-final. The Eurovision final takes place on Saturday 23 May.
ENDS
Issued: Thursday 26 February, 2015
Photos from today’s photocall will be sent to national photodesks.
Songs are available here www.rte.ie/eurovision
For more information:
Anne-Louise Foley, RTÉ TV Press & Publicity, (01) 208 3298, 085 1288911, foleya@rte.ie;
Sinead Harrington, RTÉ TV Press & Publicity, (01) 208 2667, 087 6669311, sinead.harrington@rte.ie
-EDITORS NOTES-
About the acts and songwriters
Kat Mahon
From a young age Kat Mahon (28) from Newtownforbes, now living in Drumlish Co Longford, had a keen interest in music. She was one of the singers in the band Lilac Blues which made it to the semi-finals of RTE’s The All Ireland Talent Show and has played support for artists including Delerontos and John Spillane. She was also Longford’s 2014 representative in The Rose of Tralee. Kat sings ‘Anybody Got a Shoulder’, which was written by veteran singer-songwriter and previous Eurovision winner Charlie McGettigan. Kat says: ‘Charlie McGettigan approached me to do vocals and I jumped at the opportunity to work with him. I am over the moon that it’s been selected as one of the final five songs and I’m now eager to get up a perform it!’
Songwriter Charlie McGettigan
Charlie McGettigan started his musical career in the 1960s in various rock bands in Donegal. Charlie has worked with artists like Maura O’Connell and Eleanor Shanley who both recorded many of his songs including ‘Feet of a Dancer’ and ‘A Bed for the Night’. Charlie joined forces with Paul Harrington and Brendan Graham to win the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest for Ireland with ‘Rock n Roll Kids’. He has released many solo albums. Charlie said: ‘I’m delighted to be included in the final five. My song is a quite sad love song inspired by my very first knock back in the world of love and romance. I was 14 at the time but I still recall the pain of it all. I finally got over it last year at the ripe old age of 63!! I’m fine now!’
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Erika Selin (23) is from Sweden. She has participated in the talent shows Idols and Talang. ‘Break me up’ is an up-tempo pop song, composed by Gustav Eurén, Niclas Arn and Danne Attlerud. Erika says: ‘I am very proud to be a part of Eurosong 2015 since Ireland is one of the absolute top nations in the Eurovision Song Contest with a tremendous track record, always producing great songs.’ Erika’s favourite Irish Eurovision winner is Johnny Logan’s Hold me Now and has been known to break into its chorus on command…
Composers Niclas Arn, Gustav Eurén and Danne Attlerud:
‘The reason why we chose to send Break me up to Eurosong 2015 is that we feel that the song has an Irish flavour to it. The ground setup is acoustic with a strong melody, which is the way we look at Irish music and also with some small electrical guitar elements in the direction of U2. We, the songwriters, several times have attended the Swedish National Selection to ESC, Melodifestivalen, with some very good results and also have produced entries to other countries such as Denmark 2014 when Rebekka Thornbech finished 2nd with the song ‘Your lies.’ Ireland is a fantastic country for music so that makes us even more proud of being selected to Eurosong 2015.’
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Nikki Kavanagh has performed at venues including The National Concert Hall and Vicar Street as well as touring extensively in Ireland and Europe. In 2010 she was part of the Irish Eurovision team headed by Niamh Kavanagh and in 2011 she missed out to Jedward to represent Ireland. Nikki’s song ‘Memories’ is written by Lee Anna James, Elena Morosanu, Simon Gribbe, Johnny Sanchez and Dimitri Stassos. Nikki says: ‘I’m a huge Eurovision fan; I’ve been there before and would love more than anything to go back as lead vocalist representing our country. As for our song, it’s current, it’s edgy and I think it will help us stand out against the rest of Europe.’
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Molly Sterling (16) is a self-taught musician from Nenegh in Co Tipperary. She and songwriter Greg French co-wrote ‘Playing with Numbers’ as part of her upcoming album. The song is about the risks people take every day in love and in life, and the experiences of taking the road less travelled. Molly says: ‘As a performing artist it’s rare to get the opportunity to represent your country. To be selected to do so would be an honour and a great responsibility that I would proudly embrace.’
Songwriter Greg French
Greg French is songwriter and producer, as well as composer and musical director for TV and film. His recording studio and digital label are focused on developing young talent and providing opportunities for up and coming artists. Greg has had previous success with Eurosong, coming a close second to Jedward with his self-penned composition “Here I Am” sung by Andrew Mann. Greg says: “When I first heard Molly perform, I was taken on a journey. I felt chills down my spine and I knew I had something magic on my hands. Her passion for her art and her talent will not go unnoticed, and I will be very proud when she represents Ireland in the Eurovision.”
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Alex Saint who was born in Zambia moved to London at the tender age of 15 where he learned his rapping skills. He moved to Belfast where he currently performs in many R&B clubs. The track, ‘She’s So Fine’, is written by Tony Adams-Rosa who has been a Eurosong finalist many times. Alex is accompanied by the MJ’s, a young female vocal group hailing from Co Derry, featuring Clodagh Gribbin, Hannah McCauley, Edel Gribbin and Una McGill. Alex says: ‘This song is a real winner – I feel this is the year of the rap! My song does not follow the Eurovision trend but is in itself groundbreaking, with rap, pop and contemporary ballet elements. It would mean so much to me to represent Ireland, the country where I was raised. I’m a big Eurovision fan – In Your Eyes by Niamh Kavanagh and What’s Another Year by Johnny Logan are my favourite winners.’
Songwriter Tony Adams-Rosa
Tony’s early writing career started with the release of ‘For the First Time’ with Polygram records, he then joined Enniskillen Band Pocket Money, where he wrote the group’s three singles, including ‘Can’t Stop This Love” which was launched by Terry Wogan. Tony has been a Eurosong finalist many times, most recently coming second in the Belgium Euro song 2014. Tony says: ‘I believe passionately in my song and artist, I feel that it’s time to ring the changes with a totally fresh style of music to represent Ireland.’