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Eurovision 2024: Johnny Logan will perform during the First Semi-Final’s interval act!

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The Swedes really promise us a wonderful show. The Eurovision 2024 organizers have prepared an all-star participants’ list, which will include Johnny Logan, a true Eurovision champion.

On his performance in the First Semi-Final of Eurovision 2024, Johnny Logan mentions:

I am extremely honoured and excited to have been asked to perform as a guest on 7 May at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo. Sweden has won 7 times, as has Ireland. To be asked to represent my country one final time is something very special for me and I’m very grateful to all involved with the decision. I’m really looking forward to being back on the Eurovision stage as a guest this time and not a contestant.

What’s the importance behind Johnny Logan’s appearance in Eurovision 2024

One of the most recognizable faces in Eurovision is Johnny Logan. He has won twice as a solo performer in 1980 and 1987. He has also written “Why Me,” Ireland’s winning entry in 1992 for Linda Martin. In 1984, he and Linda Martin again placed second, behind Sweden, on the podium.

Johnny Logan was the only artist to have won Eurovision twice until last year. Logan’s record was shattered when Loreen won in Liverpool last year for the second time. Additionally, Loreen’s win also broke Ireland’s winning record, with Ireland and Sweden both sharing now seven wins.

Who else will be joining Logan during this year’s interval acts?

With Helena Paparizou (Greece 2005), Sertab Erener (Turkey 2003), and Charlotte Perrelli (Sweden 1999, 2008), the all-star lineup continues. Live performances by all three of them are scheduled for the Second Semi-Final.

Moreover, Sweden’s 2018 representative Benjamin Ingrosso will perform in the First Semi-Final.

The 68th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Malmö from 7 to 11 of May.

Source: eurovision.tv

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Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, in Malmö!

Ireland: “Doomsday Blue” is a potential Eurovision winner according to Johnny Logan!

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This Friday all eyes were on Ireland, which selected its Eurovision entry for 2024. On a special edition of “The Late Late Show” and following the combination of the votes from an international and a national jury along with the public vote, Bambie Thug was declared the winner and therefore the Irish representative in Malmö.

Although Ireland was a true Eurovision powerhouse in the past, dominated the 90’s with three consecutive wins and now shares the record for the most victories in the contest along with Sweden, nowadays it really seems to struggle when it comes to qualifying to the Grand Final. The risky choice of Bambie Thug and their song “Doomsday Blue” appears to be nicely welcomed by the Eurovision fandom, setting the bar high for a qualification and a potential return in the top ten for the first time since 2011.

Moreover, “Doomsday Blue” is praised inside Ireland too, with the two-times Eurovision winner Johnny Logan even predicting that:

They could win the Eurovision with this song.

On an interview he gave to Sunday World, Johnny Logan praises this year’s Irish entry, mentioning that:

I think it’s a very good choice and it will definitely get attention. What I saw last night is that it was eye-catching and different. The people who were watching obviously related to it and that’s why it was chosen.

The thing about Bambie Thug is that it works…it’s a very visual thing the way they presented themselves. It’s different enough to be eye-catching.

He also adds that:

If it doesn’t end up doing really well at Eurovision I will be quite surprised. I’ve always hoped that the Irish songs would do well over the last few years, but I never really felt that they would. This one I think has a really good chance. It just depends on the make up of the jury and the other songs that are in the contest.

According to Johnny Logan, the secret of Bambie Thug’s potential success is that they do not fall into the trap of trying to copy last edition’s winning song. Instead, they reserve their authenticity and originality and they remind nothing of Loreen.

I wish Bambie the very, very best at Eurovision and I would say to them to enjoy the experience.

Hence, the originality of Bambie Thug’s act is the key to success according to Johnny Logan. We can all agree that Logan’s opinion matters as all of his Eurovision involvements were successful, has won the contest twice as a singer and once as a composer for Linda Martin in 1992.

Bambie Thug will represent Ireland at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in Malmö, Sweden. The semi-final in which Ireland will be allocated this year will be made public this Tuesday.

You can check out the interview Bambie Thug exclusively gave to EurovisionFun prior to her win in the national selection:

You can also take a look on EurovisionFun’s team reaction video to “Doomsday Blue“, below:

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: sundayworld

Watch all the eurostars’ performances at Het Grote Songfestivalfeest 2022! (Videos)

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Yesterday, the 17th of November, the concert Het Grote Songfestivalfeest took place three years after the last concert, which was back in 2019, at Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

More than 30 eurostars performed on stage for the massive audience and Eurovisionfun was there to cover the show! You will get the chance to watch exclusive videos of interviews with your favourite artists and their performances!

You can watch some of the performances of the artists below:

Loreen – Euphoria

S10 – De diepte

Edsilia – On Top Of The World

Netta – Toy

Kalush Orchestra – Stefania

Mans Zermerlöw – Heroes

OG3NE – Waterloo

KEiiNO – Spirit In The Sky

Go A – Shum

Duncan Laurence – Arcade

Subwoolfer & Alexander Rybak – Give That Wolf A Banana

Conchita Wurst – Rise like a Phoenix

Johnny Logan – What’s Αnother Υear

Gjon’s Tears – Tout l’univers

Michael Schulte – You Let Me Walk Alone

TIX – Fallen Angel

Efendi – Mata Hari

The Roop – Discoteque

Sandra Kim – J’aime la vie

Sheldon Riley – Not The Same

Stefania – Last Dance

Antique – (I Would) Die For You

Helena Paparizou – My Number One

Stay tuned at Eurovision Fun for all the latest developments regarding Eurovision 2023!

Eurovision 2023: Irish Eurovision winners support Belfast as Host City

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Amidst the increasing interest by cities within UK to host the ESC, Northern Ireland’s local press reports that seven past winners from across the island of Ireland, together with three Belfast City Councillors, are putting forward a strong case for Northern Ireland’s capital city, Belfast.

As we have previously reported, the Eurovision 2023 host city will be decided upon by the BBC and the EBU, with the final decision expected in early Fall ahead of the May 2023 contest.

A number of UK cities have already submitted bids, but to date Belfast City Council has not yet had a formal meeting about a potential proposal.

The aspirant bid

Belfast City Council’s idleness regarding a possible proposal propelled past Eurovision winners to join forces in order to trigger interest about the event’s multiple benefits for the local economy.

In the same context, three Belfast City Councillors are exerting their efforts in preparing for a bid as a matter of urgency.

One of the Councillors, Mr. Seamas de Faoite, commented that Belfast “is the best city to host the Ukrainian victors”, because people in Belfast “understand the promise and importance of peace more than any other host”.

According to the local press, Belfast ticks all of the EBU’s boxes and more:

  • The SSE Arena can seat 11,000 with the iconic Titanic Exhibition Centre next door
  • Belfast has a minimum of 9,600 hotel rooms, twice the number the EBU believes would be needed
  • Belfast International Airport, Belfast City Airport, along with the proximity of Dublin Airport and even City of Derry Airport

The winners

Dana Brown 

Rosemary Dana Brown won Eurovision back in 1970 when she was only 18 years old. She said about the prospect of Belfast hosting the Contest:

People in Northern Ireland have experienced the devastation of years of unrest and have successfully come through it. We understand and empathise with so much of the pain suffered by Ukraine’s people.

And like them, the people of Northern Ireland are steeped in music, culture, the arts, creativity and in particular, Eurovision success. An all-inclusive Northern Ireland bid for Eurovision 2023 should be held in the capital city Belfast, I believe it’s the very best place to represent the people of Ukraine.

Linda Martin is from Belfast, Niamh Cavanagh is now living near Belfast, myself and Johnny Logan’s father are from Derry Londonderry so that adds up to five Eurovision wins. Add Phil Coulter, the composer of UK’s first ever Eurovision win, Puppet on a String.

Belfast also has the full support of Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan who won Eurovision with “Rock and Roll Kids” so that takes us to seven winners.

Is it not fitting that Belfast could be the Eurovision host for Ukraine? We have the huge capacity SSE venue right next door to the globally recognised Titanic centre. We have very talented people at BBC NI and TV production companies as well as excellent logistics to facilitate.

Northern Ireland and Belfast can do justice to the people of Ukraine in hosting Eurovision 2023, not only because of our logistical abilities but because of our big-hearted and community-driven people.

Johnny Logan

Johnny Logan is the only performer to win the Eurovision Song Contest twice, first in 1980 with ‘What’s Another Year’, written by Shay Healy and then in 1987 with ‘Hold Me Now’ which he composed and performed himself. Johnny said:

Belfast should host Ukraine for Eurovision 2023 – and why not Belfast? Northern Ireland has produced so many great musicians and singers, my father Patrick O’Hagan among them, and hosting Eurovision 2023 would be a wonderful opportunity to highlight the positive side of the north of Ireland and its people.

So yes, I fully support the Belfast bid, it’s a great musical city with great people and I believe it can deliver.

Linda Martin 

Linda performed at the Eurovision Song Contest contest twice and won in 1992 with “Why Me?”. She said:

Belfast is perfect for Eurovision 2023. It’s a beautiful city with an 11,000 seater arena, thousands of hotel rooms and two airports, one of them right beside the world renowned Titanic experience.

Niamh Kavanagh 

Niamh won the competition in 1993 with the song “In your Eyes”. Niamh said:

Belfast would be an amazing choice to host the Eurovision on behalf of the Ukraine, it’s a thriving city with a great heart that understands surviving conflict.

Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan

They won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994, with “Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids”. Paul said:

I think it’s a brilliant idea. I lived and worked in Belfast for some years and it’s a sparkling place and the people are creative and talented. Music can unite and triumph. So yes, I fully support Belfast for Eurovision 2023.

Brendan Graham

Brendan is the writer of “Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids” in 1994, and Eimear Quinn’s winning song, “The Voice”, in 1996. Brendan said:

Belfast would be a super city to host Eurovision 2023, in partnership with Ukraine. The amenities are all there, not to mention the history and the surrounding beauty of Northern Ireland.

In some elemental and visceral way Belfast and its people might have a more natural empatico with the cities and people of Ukraine than perhaps other cities might have. Belfast is a city of hope and belief in the future…and would be a city of huge welcome and embrace for Ukraine.

What do you think? Is Belfast a suitable host city for Eurovision 2023? 

Ireland: Linda Martin wants to return to Eurovision in a duet with Johnny Logan!

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Irish singer Linda Martin, who holds two places in the top 2 of Eurovision, said in a recent interview that she wants to return to the stage of the Contest for the third time.

In fact, she revealed that she does not want to do it alone, but as a duet with the gold winner of the Competition, Johnny Logan.

Specifically stated:

I think we could pull it off but it needs the right song and I know that Johnny has the ability to write it. I often say it to him and he says: “Oh please, don’t start!” But I’m going to keep at him because I know there is that ballad still in there!

In fact, Linda Martin wants to bring back the strong ballads at Eurovision, in a contest that now has a lot of tricks but also declares her preference for an exclusive way of voting:

It’s been taken too far. It’s distracting when you have someone dressed as a banana,’ she said.

There are half a dozen amazing acts every year but I’m not happy with the voting system and wonder if the right acts are getting through.’ The singer also said she does not agree with the public phone-in vote system and that the Eurovision should return to a jury voting in every country.

I think it’s obvious that the phone-in votes are a money-making system for the Eurovision but I don’t think it gets the right result…

Finally, she added that many entries are now trying to catch the eye only to get votes, while she revealed that she turned off the television when Italy won last year with Måneskin, criticizing the singer’s half-naked appearance.

Linda Martin who participated twice in Eurovision, once in 1984, with the song Terminal 3 (2nd place) and once in 1992, with Why Me? (1st place), declares ready to win Eurovision again.

Despite her criticism, Linda Martin will definitely be watching the Eurovision when it is broadcast from Turin in May.

I don’t think the music industry will be opened up by May but if it goes live, I will watch it.

 

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Sipa/REX/Shutterstock (200083c)
LINDA MARTIN AND JOHNNY LOGAN
EUROVISION SONG CONTEST – 1992

Would you like to see Johnny Logan and Linda Martin competing again with the Irish colors in the Eurovision Song Contest?

Source: extra.ie