Mooney’s Eurovision Melodies
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
David Brophy, conductor
Derek Mooney, presenter
Thursday 9 May, 8pm
National Concert Hall

In advance of the 58th Eurovision Song Contest (14– 18May, Malmö, Sweden), indulge your Eurovision fever with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and RTÉ Radio 1’s Derek Mooney.

A nostalgic celebration of the heady days of Ireland’s past success in Eurovision and in anticipation of future glory! The programme will include What’s Another Year?, In Your Eyes, Volare, Rock ’n’ Roll Kids – and there may be a few surprises!

Artists include Niamh Kavanagh, Paul Harrington, Charlie McGettigan and more to be announced

Tickets: €15–€39.50 (conc. €13.50–€35.50)

According to the Independent today Jedward have the second most downloaded song from this years Eurovision, second only to the glorious Loreen from Sweden – Yay!!!

JEDWARD’s Eurovision hopes have received a major boost after song Waterline charted in several European countries’ charts – well over a month before the competition.

It is highly unusual for a Eurovision entry to achieve international chart success before the competition, yet the Lucan twins have managed to achieve the feat.

 

The song has made it into the download charts in Sweden at 17, Latvia at 5 and even gone to number 1 in the Estonian download charts.

 

The achievement comes as a huge boost to the twin’s Eurovision efforts, proving the European fan base they gained last year has remained loyal since the competition.

 

There is only one other competing song to achieve more international chart success than the boys – Sweden’s entry ‘Euphoria’ by singer Loreen.

 

The Swedish entry has topped the charts in Norway and Finland, and has even charted as far away as Spain and Greece. The Swedish dance track is currently bookies favourite to take the prize in Baku.

 

As well as proving the bookies’ favourite, Sweden has proved the favourite with the public across Europe – over a quarter of this year’s Eurovision songs are Swedish penned, including Jedward’s.

For those of ye that know what Skyrim is then this is a simple analogy, there was a fan video brought out a few days ago that is freakishly similar to the Icelandic video for this year, enjoy

Azerbaijan’s Eurovision Warmup – The Graham Norton Show – BBC Two

Jedward ran the LA marathon today, wel done to them We all know that they have a lot of energy lol

I mean really? Ronan Keating?

Tragic news about Noel Kelehen who lost his life today after a long illness.

Noel Kelehen with 1998 Irish entrant Dawn Martin.

As well as being an accomplished jazz pianist, he is most famous for being the conductor of many Irish entries to the Eurovision Song Contest, beginning in 1966 and ending in 1998.

He conducted five winning Irish entries, in 1980, 1987, 1992, 1993, and 1996. The winning Irish entry of 1970 was conducted by the Dutch host conductor Dolf van der Linden.

In 1994, the winning song was performed without orchestral accompaniment. Still, an entry rated 2nd that year, To nie ja! performed by Edyta Górniakfrom Poland was conducted by him.

In total, Kelehan conducted 29 Eurovision entries, 24 of them Irish. Incidentally in 1999, after Kelehan retired, the use of an orchestra was discontinued at the Contest.

A tribute from former winner Niamh Kavanagh

I have just heard about the passing of Noel Keelahan, I cannot say enough about a talented and beautiful man, who I had the honour to know. He will be sadly missed. We shared a love of the wonderful standards…….and as we once played together I say, everytime we say goodbye I die a little, everytime we say goodbye I wonder why a little……….I know you are playing the music still Noel. RIP x

 

In memory of a great man.

Performed in the Danish national final this year, here is a list fo the songs that he did.

“Fly on the Wings of Love” Olsen Brothers, Denmark 2000
“Hold Me Now” Johnny Logan, Ireland 1987
“Fångad av en Stormvind” Carola, Sweden 1991
“Satellite” Lena Meyer-Landrut, Germany 2010
“A-Ba-Ni-Bi” – Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta, Israel 1978
“Hard Rock Hallelujah” Lordi , Finland 2006
“Fairytale” Alexander Rybak, Norway 2009