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Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007

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Eurovision Song Contest 2007
CountryIreland
National selection
Selection processArtist:Internal selection
Song:Eurosong 2007
Selection date(s)Artist:14 November 2006
Song:16 February 2007
Selected entrantDervish
Selected song"They Can't Stop the Spring"
Selected songwriter(s)
Finals performance
Final result24th, 5 points
Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2006• 2007 •2008►

Irelandparticipated in theEurovision Song Contest 2007with the song "They Can't Stop the Spring" written byJohn Watersand Tommy Moran. The song was performed by the bandDervish,which was internally selected in November 2006 by the Irish broadcasterRaidió Teilifís Éireann(RTÉ) to represent the nation at the 2007 contest inHelsinki,Finland. RTÉ organised the national finalEurosong 2007to select the song that Dervish would perform. Four songs faced a public televote, ultimately resulting in the selection of "They Can't Stop the Spring" as the Irish entry.

As one of the ten highest placed finishers in2006,Ireland automatically qualified to compete in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2007. Performing during the show in position 4, Ireland placed 24th (last) out of the 24 participating countries with 5 points.

Background[edit]

Main article:Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest

Prior to the 2007 Contest, Ireland had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 40 times since its first entry in1965.[1]Ireland has won the contest a record seven times in total. The country's first win came in1970,with then-18-year-oldDanawinning with "All Kinds of Everything".Ireland holds the record for being the only country to win the contest three times in a row (in1992,1993and1994), as well as having the only three-time winner (Johnny Logan,who won in1980as a singer,1987as a singer-songwriter, and again in 1992 as a songwriter). The Irish entry in2006,"Every Song Is a Cry for Love" performed byBrian Kennedy,managed to qualify to the final and placed tenth.

The Irish national broadcaster,Raidió Teilifís Éireann(RTÉ), broadcasts the event within Ireland and organises the selection process for the nation's entry.[2]RTÉ confirmed their intentions to participate at the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest on 16 October 2006. From 2003 to 2005, RTÉ had set up the talent contestYou're a Starto choose both the song and performer to compete at Eurovision for Ireland, with the public involved in the selection. The broadcaster had internally selected the artist in2006,while the song was chosen in a televised competition. For the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest, the same procedure was continued.

Before Eurovision[edit]

Artist selection[edit]

On 14 November 2006, the broadcaster announced that they had internally selected the bandDervishto represent Ireland in Helsinki.[3]Prior to Dervish's selection as the Irish contestant, artists that were rumoured in Irish media to be in talks with RTÉ included former contest winnersJohnny LoganandLinda Martin,the winner of the talent contestYou're a StarLucia Evansand singerRonan Keating.[4][5]Along with the announcement that Dervish would represent Ireland on 14 November, RTÉ announced that a national final would be held to select their song.[6]

Eurosong 2007[edit]

On 22 November 2006, RTÉ opened a submission period where composers were able to submit their songs for the competition until 8 January 2007. The broadcaster sought songs that fit the style of both Dervish and the contest.[7]At the closing of the deadline, over 200 songs were received.[8]Four finalist songs were selected by a five-member jury panel appointed by RTÉ: writer and performerShay Healy,Universal Music Irelandmanaging director Dave Pennefather, publisher andIMROboard member Johnny Lappin, broadcasterLarry Goganand singerEleanor Shanley.[9]The songs were announced on 7 February 2007.[10]The national final, Eurosong 2007, was held on 16 February 2007 at the Studio 4 of RTÉ inDublin,hosted byPat Kennyand broadcast onRTÉ Oneas well as online via the broadcaster's official websiterte.ieduring a special edition ofThe Late Late Show.[11]All four competing songs were performed by Dervish and "They Can't Stop the Spring" was selected as the winning song following a public televote.[12]The show also featured guest performances from former contest winnersDana Rosemary Scallon,Eimear QuinnandBrotherhood of Manas well as2007 Belarusian contestantDmitry Koldun.[13]

Final – 16 February 2007
Draw Song Songwriter(s) Place
1 "The Thought of You" Matti Kallio 4
2 "Walk with Me" Stig Lindell 3
3 "Until We Meet Again"
2
4 "They Can't Stop the Spring"
1

At Eurovision[edit]

The Eurovision Song Contest 2007 took place atHartwall ArenainHelsinki,Finland, and consisted of asemi-finalon 10 May and thefinalon 12 May 2007.[14]According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country, the "Big Four"(France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom) and the ten highest placed finishers in the2006contest are required to qualify from the semi-final in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from the semi-final progress to the final.[15]As one of the ten highest placed finishers in the 2006 contest, Ireland automatically qualified to compete in the final on 12 May 2007. In addition to their participation in the final, Ireland is also required to broadcast and vote in the semi-final on 10 May 2007.[16]

In Ireland, the semi-final and the final were broadcast onRTÉ Onewith commentary byMarty Whelan.The two shows were also broadcast via radio onRTÉ Radio 1with commentary byLarry Gogan.[17]

Final[edit]

Dervish during a rehearsal before the final

Dervish took part in technical rehearsals on 7 and 8 May,[18]followed by dress rehearsals on 11 and 12 May. The Irish performance featured the lead singer of Dervish,Cathy Jordan,in a red and white dress playing thebodhrán.The remaining members of the group, dressed in plain black shirts with jeans, performed a routine which featured them following Jordan around the stage. The LED screens displayed large flowers in bloom against a starlit background and the stage catwalk displayed a floating Irish flag at the beginning of the performance.[19][20][21]Ireland placed twenty-fourth (last) in the final, scoring 5 points.[22]

Voting[edit]

See also:Voting in the Eurovision Song Contest

Voting during the three shows involved each country awarding points from 1-8, 10 and 12 to the other competing countries; counties were not allowed to register votes for themselves. All countries participating in the contest were required to usetelevotingand/orSMSvoting during both evenings of the contest. In the event of technical difficulties, or if the votes of the country did not meet the EBU threshold, then a back-up jury's results were to be used.[15]Ireland awarded its top 12 points from televoting toLatviain the semi-final and toLithuaniain the final.[23][24]The nation received 5 points in the final—all fromAlbania—placing 24th (last).[24]The Irish spokesperson, who announced the Irish votes during the final, was former contest winnerLinda Martin.[25]The tables below visualise a complete breakdown of points awarded to Ireland in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2007, as well as by the country in the semi-final and final.

Points awarded to Ireland[edit]

Points awarded to Ireland (Final)[24]
Score Country
12 points
10 points
8 points
7 points
6 points
5 points Albania
4 points
3 points
2 points
1 point

Points awarded by Ireland[edit]

After Eurovision[edit]

Despite finishing in last place, the broadcast of the final was watched by 780,000 viewers in Ireland with a market share of 53%, representing an increase from the previous year.[26]Dervish announced that they would continue to play their music, stating that they "play music for music's sake" and that "it's about heart and soul, it's not about votes".[27]Claims of "vote hijacking" were also discussed after the nation awarded its 12 points to Lithuania despite getting little elsewhere.[26]

Criticism was also faced by RTÉ from Irish media, both over their selection of Dervish and the production of a forthcoming television special on the band, with claims that their performance was "disastrous" and that the broadcaster had signed a written contract with the band only after announcing their participation. In response, an RTÉ spokesperson stated that "contracts can be signed after such an announcement" as "you don't have to sign on the dotted line if you have a verbal agreement".[28]The broadcaster later stated that they would be "having a sit-down and looking at our geographical position and going through the whole process", thus indicating a possible withdrawal from the 2008 contest.[29]RTÉ confirmed their intentions to participate at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest on 3 October 2007, announcing an open selection to choose both the artist and song to represent Ireland.[30][31]

References[edit]

  1. ^"History by Country: Ireland".European Broadcasting Union.Retrieved28 January2009.
  2. ^Staff."RTÉ Television - Eurovision Song Contest 2010".RTÉ.Retrieved13 February2010.
  3. ^Egan, John (14 November 2006)."Dervish for Ireland 2007!".ESCToday.Retrieved28 September2008.
  4. ^Murray, Gavin (7 October 2006)."Johnny Logan 'would' represent Ireland again".ESCToday. Archived fromthe originalon 16 November 2006.Retrieved28 September2008.
  5. ^West-Soley, Richard (14 October 2006)."Bookie's choice: Logan for Ireland".ESCToday. Archived fromthe originalon 16 November 2006.Retrieved28 September2008.
  6. ^Floras, Stella (22 November 2006)."Ireland: Public competition for songs".ESCToday.Retrieved28 September2008.
  7. ^"Dervish are Ireland's Eurovision entry".RTÉ.14 November 2006.Retrieved19 August2021.
  8. ^Viniker, Barry (14 November 2006)."200+ songs for Ireland".ESCToday.Retrieved28 September2008.
  9. ^"RTÉ announces Eurosong Finalists".RTÉ. 7 February 2007.
  10. ^van Gorp, Edwin (7 February 2007)."Ireland: Songtitles known".ESCToday. Archived fromthe originalon 3 April 2007.Retrieved1 February2009.
  11. ^Murray, Gavin (16 February 2007)."Tonight: Irish national final".ESCToday.Retrieved28 September2008.
  12. ^Klier, Marcus (17 June 2007)."Ireland has decided:" They Can't Stop The Spring "in Helsinki!".ESCToday.Retrieved2 October2008.
  13. ^Klier, Marcus (16 February 2007)."Live: Irish national final (transcript)".ESCToday.Retrieved28 September2008.
  14. ^"Eurovision Song Contest–Helsinki 2007".European Broadcasting Union(EBU). Archived fromthe originalon 30 April 2020.Retrieved18 January2021.
  15. ^ab"Extracts from the Rules for the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest"(PDF).European Broadcasting Union(EBU). 2007. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 7 May 2007.Retrieved29 August2022.
  16. ^Bakker, Sietse (20 May 2006)."Results of the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest".ESCToday.Retrieved2 October2008.
  17. ^"RTE - Eurovision 2007".Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ).Retrieved20 November2008.
  18. ^Floras, Stella (27 April 2007)."Rehearsals and Press Conferences schedule".ESCToday.Retrieved29 August2022.
  19. ^West-Soley, Richard (7 May 2007)."04. Folk fest: Ireland on stage".Esctoday.Retrieved19 August2021.
  20. ^West-Soley, Richard (8 May 2007)."04. Dervish daisy: Dramatic change of Irish staging".Esctoday.Retrieved19 August2021.
  21. ^West-Soley, Richard (11 May 2007)."Second final rehearsal: Live coverage".Esctoday.Retrieved19 August2021.
  22. ^"Grand Final of Helsinki 2007".European Broadcasting Union.Archivedfrom the original on 22 April 2021.Retrieved22 April2021.
  23. ^ab"Results of the Semi-Final of Helsinki 2007".European Broadcasting Union.Archivedfrom the original on 23 April 2021.Retrieved23 April2021.
  24. ^abcd"Results of the Grand Final of Helsinki 2007".European Broadcasting Union.Archivedfrom the original on 23 April 2021.Retrieved23 April2021.
  25. ^Granger, Anthony (7 May 2022)."Ireland: Linda Martin Spokesperson For Eurovision 2022".Eurovoix.Retrieved5 May2023.
  26. ^abWest-Soley, Richard (18 May 2007)."Irish viewing figures still strong".ESCToday.Retrieved28 September2008.
  27. ^Floras, Stella (16 May 2007)."Ireland: Heads up for Dervish".ESCToday.Retrieved28 September2008.
  28. ^Floras, Stella (11 June 2007)."RTE faces criticism from local media".ESCToday. Archived fromthe originalon 3 November 2007.Retrieved2 October2008.
  29. ^Viniker, Barry (14 May 2007)."Ireland to follow Monaco out?".ESCToday.Retrieved28 September2008.
  30. ^McEvoy, Denis (3 October 2007)."RTE to return to the National Song Contest".Oikotimes. Archived fromthe originalon 22 October 2007.Retrieved24 September2008.
  31. ^Krasilnikova, Anna (11 April 2007)."Ireland calls for Eurovision 2008 entries".ESCToday.Retrieved24 September2008.
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