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Extra.ie
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Samantha Mumba calls for axe of Late Late eurosong special
Pop star Samantha Mumba said the song contest to choose Ireland's Eurovision entry should not be staged on The Late Late Show. The teen 'Gotta Tell You' singer, now 42, yesterday indicated the RTÉ chat show is not the best venue for the Eurosong competition, saying it 'deserves its own [show]' and 'ideally' should be in a venue that is 'set up, even sound-wise, for musicians'. 'Because I don't think [a television studio] is the set-up,' she told the Brendan O'Connor Show yesterday. Samantha Mumba peforming on The Late Late Eurosong Special. Pic: Andres Poveda Mumba said she stands by her criticism of the Eurosong judging panel and was a 'bit surprised' at the amount of coverage her comments got. Mumba criticised the panel − made up of choreographer and Dancing with the Stars judge Arthur Gourounlian, 2FM broadcaster Laura Fox, cook and TV presenter Donal Skehan, and singer Bambie Thug − following The Late Late Show Eurosong Special on February 7, where she came second with My Way. Norwegian singer Emmy won with Laika Party. In an Instagram post in February, Mumba thanked supporters and expressed pride in her performance. In a later post, she said she felt 'strongly' that the judging panel 'were dismissive of all the contestants'. EMMY performs Laika Party at Trinity College Dublin. Pic: The Late Late Show via YouTube Donal Skehan responded that he stood by his role and the feedback he gave on the night, saying his comments were 'never personal'. RTÉ had also said at the time that it was 'extremely grateful' to the Eurosong judging panel for 'their professionalism, their insight, integrity, and good humour'.
Irish Independent
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘If people can give their opinion on TV, surely I can give my opinion on Instagram' – Samantha Mumba stands by Eurosong comments
She admitted she was a 'bit surprised' that her Instagram post had generated the reaction it did when she hit out at the panel of commentators after the show. Her song My Way was not selected to represent Ireland at the Eurovision in Basel last month. The competition was won by Norwegian singer Emmy (24) and her song Laika Party, which ultimately failed to qualify for the Eurovision grand final last month. The Irish entry ranked in the bottom four contestants in the the semi-final, receiving just 28 points. Mumba generated a social media storm when she criticised the panel – with the exception of previous Eurovision entry Bambie Thug – for not having the 'credentials, experience or professionalism required' to take on the role. She also made some other remarks, including her 'parting gift' to the panel, which was 'a bag of [emoji] to slowly choke on'. The emoji Mumba used was the aubergine icon. Donal Skehan, who was on the panel alongside radio presenter Laura Fox and dancer Arthur Gourounlian, called the comments 'completely unprofessional'. Mumba said in a follow-up post that her comments were 'never about me not winning' and that she felt strongly that the panel were 'dismissive of all the contestants, which was disappointing given the amount of work and passion we all put into our performances'. Speaking to RTÉ Radio One's Brendan O'Connor Show this morning, the singer said it was 'a very, very personal thing' for her to enter the competition and she wanted to step out of her comfort zone. 'So even doing that, and doing a song competition, isn't something that I had on my bingo list at 42 at all." She said it would have been 'ego' to believe she should not have been competing in a contest, adding: 'And it's a song competition, and I wouldn't want to represent Ireland with a song that Ireland didn't want either or do something.' ADVERTISEMENT She said: 'I think fair is fair, and I think if that's the process, then that's what it was. "And honestly, I was just proud of myself for doing it because it definitely wouldn't have been something that I would've been necessarily even thinking I would have the balls to do it, if I'm being totally honest, like, a few years ago. No, I loved the process of all of it." On whether she was surprised about the reaction her post on the process received, she said that 'everybody's entitled to an opinion'. "And I was a bit surprised - that wasn't even the focus. Like, I think I just... What I wrote was just at the end of the post. The focus of the post was actually just thanking everybody on the team who'd worked so hard on it. "I didn't see what the big deal was." She added that she is not on social media very often so was not aware that the post would generate the reaction it did. "But I mean, I certainly stand by what I said. I don't take it back. "I think, you know, fair is fair, if people can give their opinion on national television, surely I'm allowed to give my opinion on my own Instagram page. I think that's fair." The singer also said she believes the Eurosong should be separated from the Late Late Show into a separate programme. "I love the variety of it. I love kind of the process that it's open to everybody," she said. "I think if I had one immediate one, I would think that it should be its own show, and it definitely should be televised in a music venue that is set up for singers."
Irish Daily Mirror
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Donal Skehan calls for current Eurosong format to be scrapped
Celebrity chef Donal Skehan has called on the Eurosong format to be scrapped, as he praised RTE for asking song contest bosses for a breakdown of our vote. Drama unfolded earlier this month after Ireland's hopeful, Norwegian singer Emmy, failed to qualify in this year's song contest with Laika Party, as Austrian entry JJ eventually won performing Wasted Love. The results prompted calls by RTE to investigate the voting breakdown by the EBU. Speaking on the first day of Bord Bia Bloom yesterday, Donal – who took part in the 2008 Eurosong contest to find Ireland's entry – described Emmy not making it to the final as "tough", saying RTE are right to ask for the voting breakdown. Donal said: "Oh, it was tough. And I feel for Emmy, because I think she represented us really well. "But you know, when we were judging on the night, I always kind of thought it was one of those songs, it was going to go either way, and we were just unlucky." The telly chef added: "Look, Ireland needs to do something different. Ireland needs to do something special. "And it needs to be something that comes from the artists themselves, a real creative look at what it's going to be. "And you have to remember that it's not just the Eurosong stage in Ireland, it's a stage in front of 250 million people that they have to perform on. "So it really has to be thought the whole way through. "I said it on the night [of Eurosong]. I mean, I think you look around Europe and you see Sweden has Melody Festival, and Finland has this huge stadium show with four nights across, you know, a couple of months and they create really strong entries because of that. "And also the entry, the competitors get the opportunity to perform on that level and that stage that is similar to Eurovision. So I think we do need to step it up." Donal hit the headlines earlier this year when Eurosong hopeful Samantha Mumba questioned his credentials to judge other artists. He revealed there has been "no communication at all" with the Gotta Tell You singer. He said: "I don't know if I'd be asked [back to Eurosong]. But, as I said, in some way the format itself just needs to change, you know. "And I think it is hard for people to be judged on the night. "And I think, in essence, what we want to see as a format is something that you put people forward and the entry stands alone." He praised RTE for looking for the voting breakdown of Eurovision last week, saying: "Everyone who was watching was a bit confused about what was going on, particularly with the mood and the feeling of what most Irish people feel." President Michael D Higgins opened the first rain-soaked day of the five-day event in Dublin's Phoenix Park, and called on more support for local producers. During his 20-minute speech, he received a round of applause after passionately telling people that "harmful retail practices" are damaging local producers. The President said: "May I also take a moment to add my voice in support of those commercial producers who have stayed with the production of vegetables, those who labour diligently and all too often without due recognition or remuneration. "Their numbers, sadly, have dwindled to fewer than 100. "These men and women are facing untenable pressures, not least the harmful retail practices that result in produce being sold as 'loss leaders' below the cost of production. "This is a disgrace. This cannot continue. If we are serious about food security, about fairness, sincere in our commitment to sustainability, we must support our shrinking community of producers who play a vital role in sustainable food production." Mr Higgins also spoke about the impact of climate change and biodiversity, saying: "Bloom's ongoing success is undoubtedly a reflection too of our welcome, albeit late, collective acknowledgment across society that we live on a fragile planet, one that is facing catastrophic climate change and ecological breakdown. "We are living, as we all know, in an era of profound environmental challenges, one that is defined by shared interacting crises. "The world's leading climate scientists have told us, with increasing urgency, that the planet we share is in peril. Biodiversity loss and the accelerating and devastating consequences of a warming world are no longer projections, they are now our lived experience." He added: "The impacts of climate change in Ireland are impacts with which we are all familiar. They are reflected by not only the threat but the experience of the consequences of rising sea levels, and also, of course, by an increased frequency and severity of weather events such as high-impact storms, droughts and floods. "Too many of us will have experienced the dreadful consequences of Storm Eowyn at the end of January. "May I take this opportunity to thank again all those who worked to address the severe consequences, including all of the first-responders, for their valiant efforts. "We have to make ourselves aware of the imbalance between those who are carrying the consequences of a warming Earth and those who contributed to where we find ourselves in terms of the climate change which has been provoked." He then visited the show gardens and stopped by at Nature's Symphony: Celebrating Organic Growth. The garden highlights Ireland's commitment to advancing its organic agriculture sector and is also closely guarded by Macnas Con Mor, the artwork which the President referenced in his speech earlier that day. He said: "I am deeply honoured that the garden includes a reference to my own long-standing support for organic food production, sustainability, and the arts. "The presence of Con Mor, the gentle eco-conscious giant from the West of Ireland, is a particular delight. Con Mor, a protector of birds, lover of trees, symbol of ancestral wisdom, reminds us of the myths and stories that connect us to our landscapes, and that continue to inspire new generations of guardians of the Earth." Taoiseach Micheal Martin visited a number of gardens and met with food producers at Bloom. Elsewhere, Repak's Most Sorted Garden, designed by James Purdy, won Gold and Best in Category in the prestigious Large Garden category. Created to engage the public in the future of recycling, the Most Sorted Garden serves as an example that waste is not an inevitability, but a challenge that can be solved through smart design and sustainable thinking. James said: "This garden is about showing that sustainability doesn't mean compromise, it can be beautiful, functional, and thought-provoking. I'm grateful to Repak for the opportunity to tell this story and for supporting a vision where every element is intentional, regenerative, and truly circular." Speaking about the win, Repak chief Zoe Kavanagh said: "We are incredibly proud of this achievement. James Purdy has brought Repak's vision to life with creativity and conviction. "The Most Sorted Garden embodies the circular economy by proving that with considered design, we can eliminate waste and give materials a second life." She added: "This award is a testament to the importance of sustainability and innovation in shaping a greener future for Ireland."
Sunday World
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Linda Martin lays out why Cliona Hagan must be Ireland's choice for Eurovision 2026
'She has it all - she sings, looks gorgeous, can move and is very friendly. All she needs is a great song.' Linda Martin came out on top in 1992 with the song Why Me? Eurovision queen Linda Martin is tipping Irish country star Cliona Hagan as a top contender to win the 2026 event if she puts her hat in the ring. And Linda, who won the mammoth song contest in 1992 with Why Me?, told the Sunday World that Ireland deserved to be in last Saturday's final with EMMY singing our entry, Laika Party. 'Ah God love her, I'm so disappointed that EMMY didn't get through on Thursday night. I genuinely thought she was much better than some of those other acts that got into the final,' Linda says. 'Next year I think we should send Cliona Hagan to the Eurovision with a mid-tempo song and a country feel to it. I really think Cliona is a winner. She has it all — she sings, looks gorgeous, can move and is very friendly. All she needs is a great song.' Linda Martin came out on top in 1992 with the song Why Me? However, Linda says she couldn't fault EMMY's performance in the second semi-final on Thursday night. 'The staging of the Irish entry was well thought out, the dancers were superb and her vocals were great,' she reflects. 'I thought EMMY was a little nervous having met her a couple of times, but nevertheless she was really, really good, so I'm disappointed for her, God help her. And she's only a young one, so I'd say she was upset.' Would any of the other songs in Ireland's Eurosong contest on The Late Late Show this year have had a bigger impact? 'No,' Linda responds emphatically. 'Samantha Mumba, if she'd had a good song, a really brilliant song, would have wiped the board with the lot of them at the Eurovision this year as a performer. She would have fitted in perfectly. She has the look, the stage presence and I think the Europeans would have loved her. But her song let her down.' Linda Martin at the 1984 Eurovision So what do we have to do to even qualify these days? 'Well, we have to go back to the ballads,' Linda says. 'I keep saying that. We cannot compete with the Europeans and their backing tracks. They have that sound down to a fine art. I suppose you could call it a disco sound. We cannot do it. The only time we ever won was because of a ballad.' Do you think a ballad will still work? 'Yes I do,' Linda insists. 'In an ideal world I'd have a brilliant ballad very simply staged. I think it would stand out so much. Sometimes less is more. 'There was too much performance in some of the songs in this year's semi-finals. It was like three-minute cabaret shows. You can say, 'she's too old' or 'too old-fashioned', maybe so, but genuinely I think it should be song first and then everything else afterwards. 'I'll tell you the God's honest truth, if I had been epileptic I'd be in hospital because the flashing lights never stopped in this week's shows. I do appreciate you have to have some sort of staging and lights, but at times I couldn't see the artists because of the lights. Sometimes it was too much.' Irish entry EMMY on stage in Switzerland Do we need to change what we're doing in terms of choosing a song and a singer? 'I absolutely love Michael Kealy [head of the RTÉ Eurovision delegation]. I think he does an amazing job with the restrictions he has, but gone are the days when we had Red Hurley, Johnny [Logan] and myself, all of those people that doesn't exist anymore, so RTÉ should get out, send scouts around the country where events are happening and find people who look well, have a good attitude and a good voice. 'RTE should then audition them like they did in the old days to see what they're made of before they're given a song. I had to audition myself back then. We've got the talent here it's just a matter of finding and perfecting that talent.' Linda adds that Eurovision should be given serious consideration by Irish singers as it's the perfect launching pad for a career outside Ireland. As a former Eurovision winner, Linda is treated like royalty on the continent. 'It's the best platform ever,' she says. 'I'm still working in Europe at a very high level because of that song.'
The Irish Sun
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Ireland's Eurovision voting breakdown & Emmy's final place in competition revealed in official stats
IRELAND'S Eurovision voters gave Israel 12 points in the second semi-final and ten points in the Grand Final on Saturday. Details of 5 Emmy and her song Laika Party failed to make the cut for Saturday's final Credit: Andres Poveda LTD 5 A Palestinian flag is held up in the audience during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final Credit: AP 5 Three Youth Demand supporters have been detained during Israel's performance at the live Eurovision final Credit: Youth Demand And they also showed Ireland got just 28 points and finished in 13th place — in the bottom four — in Our entrant Today it was revealed Ireland got just 28 points on Thursday, drawing with read more on eurovision Israel topped the voting that night with 203 points after getting the maximum 12 points from several countries — including Ireland's televoters. Irish viewers were unable to vote for our own act and had to choose other countries to award our points. We then gave ten points to On Saturday, we again gave Israel a high ten points, though Most read in News TV After that, Ireland's viewers gave The Irish jury of five industry professionals — Dermot McEvoy, Edward Porter, Kofi Appiah, Helen Jordan Guthrie and Tara Murray — awarded Israel seven points in Saturday's final. Remember Monday star Lauren Byrne is last Eurovision contestant standing as she parties until 6am after defeat The panel gave eventual winners Austria the full 12 points, with the On Thursday, Ireland got seven points from the We also got one point from the rest of the world. PRO-PALESTINE PROTEST On Saturday, protests over Israel's participation due the country's ongoing bombardment of Gaza rocked central Basel, as hundreds of pro- Basel police said that during identity checks, a group 'threw firecrackers, injuring three officers who were taken to hospital with suspected blast trauma'. Israeli singer Raphael was left 'shaken and upset' after protesters rushed towards a barrier when she was performing on stage, her team said. 5 Austria's JJ performed the song 'Wasted Love' during the Eurovision grand final Credit: EPA 5 Yuval Raphael represented Israel on the grand final
