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Eurovision Song Contest 2025 - Mod warning in the OP

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 276 ✭✭BusGuy


    Absolutely agree — if we're serious about Eurovision, then it's time to act like it. Other countries are packing out full concert halls with full production value for their national selections, and we’re still cramming acts onto a studio stage the size of a sitting room.

    It’s not just about picking the best song, it’s about seeing which act can own a big stage. That’s Eurovision. If we’re voting on a potential winner, then we need to see the full picture — concept, stage presence, audience reaction — not just how well someone sings standing 3 feet from Linda Martin under a disco light.

    We’ve got the venues. We’ve got the talent. What’s missing is ambition. Stop wasting the budget on celebrity panel filler and start investing in a real show. Give the artists a stage, give the public a spectacle, and we might just give ourselves a real chance again.


    Fair points, but I think Emmy was always going to face an uphill battle in that semi, regardless of draw. That said, saying the entry was just "underwhelming" sells short what she did bring — especially vocally, where she held her own in a tough slot.

    Yes, she was up against a stacked field of powerhouse vocalists, but that’s all the more reason the staging and song structure needed to do more heavy lifting. It wasn’t Emmy that failed — it was the creative vision around her. The performance lacked a standout moment or visual hook, and in a year where entries are designed for 30-second social media bites, that’s critical.

    As for the draw — agreed, #3 didn’t help, but it’s not a death sentence if the act leaves a lasting impression (think Serbia 2022 from #3). Ultimately, the song didn’t cut through — but with stronger direction, Emmy could’ve.

    No harm catching up late — Eurovision lives on forever anyway! But you're right to question it: Michelle’s inclusion in the grand final lineup honestly felt more like a box-ticking exercise than a meaningful contribution. Hazel and Sandra had natural chemistry, confidence, and charisma — they didn’t need a third wheel who looked visibly out of sync with the energy of the show.

    Sure, Michelle’s a big name in Italy and brings that international flair on paper, but on stage she came across as stiff and underutilised. If you're going to bring in a high-profile third host, they need to either elevate the show with humour, language versatility, or some spark — and unfortunately, none of that really came through.

    It’s not about being harsh — it’s just that the final didn’t need her, and it showed.



  • Hosted Moderators Posts: 9,088 ✭✭✭fitz


    Thought it was pretty clear that she was added so they had two people covering the green room because it was split across multiple levels, while the two others were at the podium during the voting.

    I think what Bambi showed last year is that the artist needs to drive the stage production. They need to have a strong visual aesthetic or identity, and be able to communicate that and collaborate with their director to bring it to life on stage. Expecting someone else to come up with the ideas for how you present yourself as an act on stage isn't going to work. It starts with a great song and a great performer who can nail it on stage every time, but taking those form granted, ideally what we want is artists with a strong visual background too, or who have a DIY mentality and have been creative with videos or staging/visuals in the past, or who have an established team that cover that off for them.

    Generic, poorly or lazily put together visuals can tank an act, imo.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,018 ✭✭✭supereurope


    You're right - if you're going to parachute a big name into the presenting lineup for the grand final, then they really need to bring something…and Michelle didn't. Graham Norton two years ago was also added just for the final, but he didn't feel as out of place as Michelle. We might not see this done again - and I'd be happy with that. By adding a presenter only for the final night, they have no chance to build chemistry with the other presenters or a connection with the audience.

    I often mention the Love Love Peace Peace fan blog on here, and here is Anna's take on the presenter lineup this year:

    Screenshot 2025-06-25 at 17.26.26.png

    I understand your point about needing someone in the green room, but Petra and Måns/Malin coped fine as just a twosome in 2016/24. Sandra could have handled the jury voting alone, with Hazel in the green room. Another possibility for the final would have been to have had someone just as the green room presenter, like Eric Saade was in 2013 or Conchita in 2015.

    As I said, if you're going to add a big name to the presenter lineup, they have to bring something to the show, and Michelle certainly didn't.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,018 ✭✭✭supereurope


    The Eurovision Non-Stop Hits stream shut down at midday today. The final song was Lights Off by We Are Domi (Czech Republic 2022.) I guess this means the official end of Eurovision 2025 season.

    Enjoy the rest of the summer, and see you all in January when we prepare to do it all again in either Innsbruck or Vienna!

    Post edited by supereurope on


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,357 ✭✭✭✭Welsh Megaman


    What better post to close the thread with…because I says so. 😎 😁

    (Here’s hoping that boards.ie is still around next May 😔).

    IMG_0917.jpeg


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,274 ✭✭✭✭freshpopcorn




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 527 ✭✭✭LordBasil


    Kealy is gone!!! Finally. I understand that he was hamstrung by the limited resources given to him by RTE he was also the man who -

    Internally selected Nicky Byrne with 'Sunlight' in 2016

    Allowed Louis Walsh to pick our entry in 2017

    Thought '22' was a competitive Eurovision entry in 2019

    Selected Lesley Roy twice without checking if she could actually perform the songs well live

    Let Wild Youth bring 'We are One' to the national final in 2023, knowing that they'd probably win it due to their existing fanbase, despite the song being generic thrash.

    Now I hope RTE gives the new team extra resources and most importantly a standalone national final. Hopefully the new HOD Alan Tyler can have more leverage.

    2026 will be the 30th anniversary of our 7th and last win, so maybe it's time we got win number 8. We are also the only western nation not to finish in the top 5 at least once in the 21st century (Bambie Thug was robbed!!) Hopefully that changes soon.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,995 ✭✭✭RoTelly


    Your being too fair to Kealy. Largely he defended RTÉ due to money constraints. An argument that was continually put forward by RTÉ in general. On the occasions where we got to the final was he hamstrung, or just great at his job!

    Alan Tyler has over seen Entertainment at RTÉ for the last 3 and A Half years, what has he done during those years that would make anyone think he has any more power than the person he supposedly hamstrung, after all he's appointed one of the creators of Toy Show The Musical as one of his deputies.

    The last stand alone final Dustin the Turkey won!

    Post edited by RoTelly on


    ______

    Just one more thing .... when did they return that car

    Yesterday



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,260 ✭✭✭Baybay


    Bambie Thug was the best entry we had in years. It had everything. Great musicality, stage awareness, slightly retro a la Kate Bush, fantastic costume, highly entertaining, shock factor.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 527 ✭✭✭LordBasil


    I think the years (2018 & 2024) Kealy did well was just dumb luck. He managed to have established acts with artistic vision who were able to deliver strong performances on stage.

    I'm not familiar of the internal dynamics within RTE Entertainment Department but the whole of RTE has been in disarray for years. We will have to wait and see what (if anything) Alan Tyler and his team do differently. Our first indication will be in the coming weeks when RTE issue a call for submissions for ESC 2026. There may be information of selection methods included. We have to give the new team a chance and see what happens.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,995 ✭✭✭RoTelly


    Neither am I TBH, but I have little faith in RTÉ. As Alan has been very hands on with TLLS, I suspect it will be TLLS special, you have to remember even with Tubs those specials were key to showing audiences.

    It would be nice if on one of the weeks that TLLS is no on that a stand alone National Song Contest is aired. But between you and me I don't think RTÉ even have these types of conversations.


    ______

    Just one more thing .... when did they return that car

    Yesterday



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,018 ✭✭✭supereurope


    I never thought I'd see this sub come back to life!

    I know the appointment of a new Irish HoD is the big news here, but there's been another piece of Eurovision news in the last day or so, and while it concerns a small participating country, I think there's a real chance things could snowball over the coming months.

    RTV Slovenia has announced that it will not participate in Eurovision 2026 if a certain other country is allowed to take part. It's a shame it's taken this long but good to see one broadcaster finally grow a pair of balls and make a stand. I'm reminded of 2022, when the EBU said it was fine and dandy with Russia taking part, even in the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine. It was only when other countries stood up and said they would withdraw if Russia was allowed to participate that the EBU was forced to take action. It's not impossible that now Slovenia has spoken that other countries might be comfortable with taking action too.

    Source is directly from RTVSLO, just run the page through a translator:

    https://www.rtvslo.si/zabava-in-slog/glasba/ema/nastop-slovenije-na-evroviziji-2026-pod-vprasajem-odlocitev-odvisna-od-potez-ebu-ja/756560



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,613 ✭✭✭✭Strazdas


    I'd say it's far from a given that we will see Israel at next year's Contest. There's increasing talk of boycotts, sanctions, protests etc across the board in different sectors, including sport - momentum could well force them out of Eurovision.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,201 ✭✭✭✭Quantum Erasure


    What if a fair few countries pull out, but none of the big 5, would they ditch the semi-finals and go ahead anyway? How many had threatened to pull out before Russia were removed I wonder

    Edit:

    Before Russia was cut from participating, many participating broadcasters called on the EBU to take action. According to Gustav Lützhøft, editor-in-chief of Dansk Melodi Grand Prix for Danish broadcaster DR, "we find it incompatible with Eurovision's values that Russia is participating." Sweden's SVT, Iceland's RÚV, Lithuania's LRT and Norway's NRK also called on the EBU to exclude Russia from the contest, while the Netherlands' AVROTROS, Poland's TVP and Ukraine's UA:PBC additionally called on the EBU to suspend Russia's membership in the union. Estonia's ERR and Finland's Yle stated that they would not participate if Russia were invited.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia%E2%80%93Ukraine_relations_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,018 ✭✭✭supereurope


    To take the Russia example again, in addition to pressure from broadcasters, what also forced the EBU to do something was that other international bodies were taking action. When the EBU were saying that Russia could still compete in 2022, bodies like the FIA were doing things like cancelling the Russian Grand Prix, which made the EBU look even worse. So, if we see an organisation like UEFA ban Israel, then that would likely push the EBU to do something too.

    Thing is, Israel is a pretty weak country sports-wise, they've only qualified for the World Cup once, have never made the Euros and have only won a total of four Olympics gold medals since 1952, so I don't worry about Israel taking part in sporting events, they're a minnow. Eurovision is different, it's something they have a real chance of winning, and of course, unlike the Euros, if you win, you host, so the opportunity for propaganda is massive.

    If the number of participants were to fall below 30, then they couldn't hold two semis, because you might have 13 countries, with 10 going through, in each one and that would be a ridiculous look. We might see a return of the 2004-2007 format, with just one semi.



  • Moderators, Sports Moderators, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,021 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Would love to see Israel kicked out, but in reality I think the EBU would accept five or six countries withdrawing rather than remove them.

    It's also hard to expect the EBU to act on their own. Israel are still members of FIFA and UEFA for example, the EBU are hardly going to do anything if they haven't.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,613 ✭✭✭✭Strazdas


    Their presence is becoming really toxic though. Netanyahu has moved them into being a far right military dictatorship committing genocide and war crimes galore - a state as vile and disgusting as that has no place on the Eurovision stage, a contest that was supposed to be about peace and harmony and respect for other cultures etc. Their presence here is even more jarring than in football.



  • Moderators, Sports Moderators, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,021 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Agree with all that, but when the world at large has been turning a blind eye for as long as it has then I don't think the EBU will be any different unfortunately 🤷



  • Moderators, Sports Moderators, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,021 Mod ✭✭✭✭yerwanthere123


    Usually wait until the end of December but think I might go ahead and start the new thread. There's always little tidbits of news between now and National Final season starting, plus this year there'll probably be even more with Israel related drama.



  • Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 11,384 Mod ✭✭✭✭squonk


    Sadly I can still see Israel taking part in 2026. Israel are a special case where their US support influences many other countries to support them and within Europe as a result of WW2 there are countries who feel compelled to support them and all turning a blind eye to genocide the lowestcavd darkest levels of human behaviour possible.

    Tge EBU absolutely won’t grow a pair in the next 8 months despite Israel’s involvement being absolutely toxic for eurivision as it currently stands. What’s very hard to understand is that the ESC is the EBUs big ticket and they’re letting this situation damage it maybe irreparably.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,109 ✭✭✭✭AndyBoBandy


    Our first indication will be in the coming weeks when RTE issue a call for submissions for ESC 2026. There may be information of selection methods included. We have to give the new team a chance and see what happens.

    I'm gonna go ahead and say that seeing as how the new team only have a few weeksabsolutely nothing will change as they'll say they simply haven't had long enough to 'bring their ideas to life', and we'll have to wait til 2027 to see the fruits of their 'hard work'



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,018 ✭✭✭supereurope


    What's really sad is how the EBU is comfortable with turning the contest toxic. But hey, who cares so long as that lovely money from main sponsor Moroccan Oil (an Israeli company) keeps flowing in, right?

    I wonder how many withdrawals would be necessary before the EBU would be forced to re-jig the format. Two semi-finals with 13 countries each would be ridiculous and having to go back to one semi might be a bit of a wake-up call for the EBU that the show is dying.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,109 ✭✭✭✭AndyBoBandy


    at the very least, the voting system is dead given how easily Israel were allowed to manipulate it and almost win…..



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,018 ✭✭✭supereurope


    And now they know how to manipulate the televote, all they need to do in 2026 is approach some jury members.

    In the words of Krusty the Clown: "Let's just say it moved me...TO A BIGGER HOUSE!"



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,357 ✭✭✭✭Welsh Megaman


    You should start the thread every year on September 1st., as it marks the beginning of competing countries allowing song submissions.

    Let the mayhem begin (again!)!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,109 ✭✭✭✭AndyBoBandy


    Linda is already dusting off her “They’re young, they’re good looking, and they can sing” trope…..



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,109 ✭✭✭✭AndyBoBandy


    Ireland will not take part in 2026 if Israel are allowed to take part..

    https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2025/0911/1532957-rte-eurovision/

    RTÉ has announced this lunchtime that it will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song contest "if the participation of Israel goes ahead."

    In a statement released today, RTÉ says that "it is RTÉ's position that Ireland will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, if the participation of Israel goes ahead, and the final decision regarding Ireland's participation will be made once the EBU's decision is made. "

    Here We Go!!!!!!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,292 ✭✭✭✭gmisk




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,109 ✭✭✭✭AndyBoBandy




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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 115 ✭✭CylonXIII


    Good! Couldn't be happier with this news



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