Jedward, the former X Factor stars that represented Ireland at the 2011 and 2012 Eurovision Song Contest are back at the competition and will make a special appearance in the first Eurovision semi final in Copenhagen this evening.
As part of tonight’s show, the Danish broadcaster is introducing the Eurovision Book of Records. It’s a fun part of the show and Jedward make two appearances in the record books.
Jedward’s Eurovision appearances have become legendary in Ireland and with Eurovision fans across the world.
Their song Lipstick was initially written off as a no-hoper of an entry.
Jedward not only surprised music critics by breaking through their semi final, they took Ireland to a rare top half finish at the Eurovision song Contest, finishing 8th and beating the United Kingdom’s much fancied entry by reunited boyband, Blue, who finished 11th.
The euphoria across Ireland at regaining a place on the top half of the Eurovision scoreboard led to calls for Jedward to represent the Emerald Isle again the following year. Jedward, working with former X Factor judge, Louis Walsh, promptly agreed to return and won the Irish Eurosong final again in 2012.
This time, however, they could only reach 19th place out of 26 finalists with Waterline. There were no calls for them to try three years in a row.
There is a match between Jedward and the Eurovision Song Contest that seems to have tied them into Eurovision folklore.
Their over-the-top staging and performances captured much of the essence of the fun side of the Eurovision Song Contest. The tall hair, crazy shoulder pads, backflips, somersaults and Europop style entries have put Ireland back into memory for a new generation of Eurovision fans that forget Ireland’s incredible record at the competition in the 1990s.
Ireland holds the record for the most Eurovision Song Contest wins. They’ve taken the title seven times, including three in a row from 1992 until 1994. The only time a country has won in three successive years. They won again in 1996 before disappearing from the top of the scoreboard for the best part of two decades.
Their first win came back in 1970 when a young Dana upstaged the hot favourite Mary Hopkins from the United Kingdom. At the time, Mary was a star across Europe and expected to win at a canter.
The two other wins came in 1980 and 1987 and were both sung by Johnny Logan, now known as Mr Eurovision because he’s the only entrant to win the competition twice.
What of Ireland’s chances in 2014? They’re represented this year by Can-Linn featuring Kasey Smith.
Kasey has been popular with fans at the competition and hosted the Irish delegation party at The Shamrock in Copenhagen last night. It was well attended by the delegations from Norway, Finland, Malta and FYR Macedonia.
The problem the Irish have this year is that they have selected a soft rock-pop entry with Gaelic undertones. It’s a bit reminiscent of former Irish super-group The Corrs. Like The Corrs, however, this song might belong to the last decade and could struggle to make an impact against some of the bigger numbers in this year’s show.
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Ireland qualified for the final again last year, only to come last in Sweden. It could be a similar story this year but qualifying for the final in itself will be seen as a victory on the other side of the Irish Sea.
The United Kingdom will be able to vote in the second semi final on Thursday night from 8pm on BBC3.
Ireland will be hoping that some neighbourly voting helps them bag qualification to the final on Saturday night.
Source: Metro
