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Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008

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Eurovision Song Contest 2008
Country Ireland
National selection
Selection processEurosong 2008
Selection date(s)23 February 2008
Selected entrantDustin the Turkey
Selected song"Irelande Douze Pointe"
Selected songwriter(s)Darren Smith
Simon Fine
Dustin the Turkey
Finals performance
Semi-final resultFailed to qualify
(15th, 22 points)
Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2007 • 2008 • 2009►

Ireland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 with the song "Irelande Douze Pointe" written by Darren Smith, Simon Fine and Dustin the Turkey. The song was performed by children's show puppet Dustin the Turkey. The Irish broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) organised the national final Eurosong 2008 in order to select the Irish entry for the 2008 contest in Belgrade, Serbia. Six songs faced a public televote, ultimately resulting in the selection of "Irelande Douze Pointe" performed by Dustin the Turkey as the Irish Eurovision entry.

Ireland was drawn to compete in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 20 May 2008. Performing during the show in position 11, "Irelande Douze Pointe" was not announced among the top 10 entries of the first semi-final and therefore did not qualify to compete in the final. It was later revealed that Ireland placed fifteenth out of the 19 participating countries in the semi-final with 22 points.

Background[]

Main article: Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest

Prior to the 2008 Contest, Ireland had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest forty-one times since its first entry in 1965.[1][2] Ireland has won the contest a record seven times in total. The country's first win came in 1970, with then-18-year-old Dana winning with "All Kinds of Everything". Ireland holds the record for being the only country to win the contest three times in a row (in 1992, 1993 and 1994), as well as having the only three-time winner (Johnny Logan, who won in 1980 as a singer, 1987 as a singer-songwriter, and again in 1992 as a songwriter). The Irish entry in 2007, "They Can't Stop the Spring" performed by Dervish, placed last in the final.

The Irish national broadcaster, Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ), broadcasts the event within Ireland and organises the selection process for the nation's entry.[3] After placing last in 2007, Tara O'Brien, RTÉ spokesperson, stated: "We will definitely be having a sit-down and looking at our geographical position and going through the whole process. Without doubt that's going to happen, it was a long night."[4][5] RTÉ confirmed their intentions to participate at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest on 3 October 2007. The broadcaster had internally selected the artist in 2006 and 2007, while the song was chosen in a televised competition. For the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest, RTÉ announced alongside their confirmation on 3 October 2007 the organisation of Eurosong 2008 as an open selection to choose both the artist and song to represent Ireland.[6][7]

Before Eurovision[]

Eurosong 2008[]

Children's show puppet Dustin the Turkey was selected as the winner of Eurosong 2008

Eurosong 2008 was the national final format developed by RTÉ in order to select Ireland's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. The competition was held on 23 February 2008 at the University Concert Hall in Limerick and hosted by Ray D'Arcy.[8][9] The show was broadcast on RTÉ One as well as online via the broadcaster's official website rte.ie.

Competing entries[]

On 4 November 2007, RTÉ opened a submission period where artists and composers were able to submit their entries for the competition until 23 January 2008. Artists were also required to submit details regarding the performance or staging details of their entries.[7][10] At the closing of the deadline, 150 entries were received. The competing entries were selected based on criteria such as the suitability of the song for Eurovision, quality of the performer, experience of the performer and stage appeal of the entry, by a five-member jury panel with members appointed by RTÉ: producer Bill Hughes, singer and songwriter Eleanor McEvoy, singer and former contest winner Charlie McGettigan, agent and choreographer Julian Benson and Irish Eurovision Head of Delegation Julian Vignoles.[11] The six finalists were announced on 3 February 2008 and the songs to be performed by the finalists were presented on 21 February 2008 during The Derek Mooney Show broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1.[12][13]

Final[]

The national final featured commentary from a panel that consisted of music manager Louis Walsh and former contest winners Dana Rosemary Scallon and Marija Šerifović. Guest performer was Marija Šerifović performing "Molitva".[14] Public televoting held in Ireland and Northern Ireland selected "Irelande Douze Pointe" performed by Dustin the Turkey as the winner.[15][16]

Final – 23 February 2008
Draw Artist Song Composer(s) Points Place
1 Donal Skehan "Double Cross My Heart" Joel Humlen, Oscar Görres, Charlie Mason — —
2 Dustin the Turkey "Irelande Douze Pointe" Darren Smith, Simon Fine, Dustin the Turkey 23 1
3 Maja "Time to Rise" Maja Slatinšek, Žiga Pirnat — —
4 Leona Daly "Not Crazy After All" Leona Daly, Steve Booker 15 2
5 Liam Geddes "Sometimes" Susan Hewitt — —
6 Marc Roberts "Chances" Marc Roberts — —

Controversy[]

The announcement of Dustin the Turkey as the winner of Eurosong 2008 caused mixed reactions from the hall audience, including audible boos and panellist Dana Rosemary Scallon describing the win as a "mockery of the competition", as well as that Ireland would be better withdrawing from the competition than sending Dustin.[17][18] Former contest winning composers Frank McNamara and Shay Healy questioned the legitimacy of the jury panel that selected the six finalists for the competition, with the former stating that RTÉ was "giving two fingers" to Irish songwriters. Jury chairman Bill Hughes later defended the decision of including Dustin as a finalist, citing his song, which included a "strong female vocal", was "very funny" and had a "great melody". Dustin also responded by issuing a statement, offering McNamara to extend the "wing of friendship" by being his backing vocalist at Eurovision "just for the sex appeal".[19]

The controversial nature of his entry "Irelande Douze Pointe" was also said to have been in breach of the contest rules that could "bring the Shows or the ESC as such into disrepute". The song was ultimately not disqualified, however the lyrics were edited by EBU demand after the Greek broadcaster ERT complained over the use of "Macedonia" in the lyrics in light of the Macedonia naming dispute.[20][21] Dustin's participation and win at Eurosong 2008 also garnered international media exposure, which he was mentioned in Spanish media and appeared in the United Kingdom on ITV morning programme This Morning during Saint Patrick's Day celebrations.[22][23]

At Eurovision[]

It was announced in September 2007 that the competition's format would be expanded to two semi-finals in 2008. According to the rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big 4" (France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top nine songs from each semi-final as determined by televoting progress to the final, and a tenth was determined by back-up juries.[24] The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. On 28 January 2008, a special allocation draw was held which placed each country into one of the two semi-finals. Ireland was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 20 May 2008.[25] The running order for the semi-finals was decided through another draw on 17 March 2008 and Ireland was set to perform in position 11, following the entry from Poland and before the entry from Andorra.

In Ireland, the semi-finals and the final were broadcast on RTÉ Two and RTÉ One with commentary by Marty Whelan. The three shows were also broadcast via radio on RTÉ Radio 1 with commentary by Larry Gogan.[26] The Irish spokesperson, who announced the Irish votes during the final, was former contest winner Niamh Kavanagh.

Semi-final[]

Dustin the Turkey during a rehearsal before the first semi-final

Dustin the Turkey took part in technical rehearsals on 12 and 15 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 19 and 20 May. The Irish performance featured Dustin the Turkey in a green, white and gold trolley which included a record deck with a display underneath and dressed in a silver suit, performing together with three male and two female backing dancers, the latter which also performed backing vocals: Kitty B and Ann Harrington. The dancers were dressed in black cloaks at the beginning, which were removed to reveal large green, white and gold wings on two of the male dancers, a gold jumpsuit on the remaining male dancer, and gold dresses, green gloves and green headdresses on the female dancers. The LED screens displayed rippling effects of black and white as well as waves of orange, white and green.[27][28]

At the end of the show, Ireland was not announced among the top 10 entries in the first semi-final and therefore failed to qualify to compete in the final. It was later revealed that Ireland placed fifteenth in the semi-final, receiving a total of 22 points.[29]

Voting[]

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Ireland and awarded by Ireland in the first semi-final and grand final of the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to Poland in the semi-final and to Latvia in the final of the contest.

Points awarded to Ireland[]

Points awarded to Ireland (Semi-final 1)[30]
Score Country
12 points
10 points
8 points
7 points  Estonia
6 points
5 points
4 points  Belgium
3 points  Israel
2 points
1 point

Points awarded by Ireland[]

After Eurovision[]

After his Eurovision experience, Dustin returned to Ireland where he launched a campaign against the Lisbon Treaty in the European Union, calling for a 'No' vote by the Irish on the referendum for the amendment of the Irish constitution to allow the adoption of the treaty. Dustin's campaign included the slogan "They didn't vote for us. Get them back. Vote 'No' to Lisbon", referring to his failure at Eurovision.[32]

References[]

  1. ^ Staff. "Eurovision Song Contest 1975 – Year page – Eurovision Song Contest - Oslo 2010". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  2. ^ Staff. "History by Country: Ireland". EBU. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  3. ^ Staff. "RTÉ Television - Eurovision Song Contest 2010". RTÉ. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  4. ^ Viniker, Barry (14 May 2007). "Ireland to follow Monaco out?". ESCToday. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
  5. ^ Rendall, Alasdair (14 May 2007). "RTE look at the future participation". Oikotimes. Archived from the original on 10 February 2010. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
  6. ^ McEvoy, Denis (3 October 2007). "RTE to return to the National Song Contest". Oikotimes. Archived from the original on 22 October 2007. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
  7. ^ a b Krasilnikova, Anna (11 April 2007). "Ireland calls for Eurovision 2008 entries". ESCToday. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
  8. ^ Konstantopoulos, Fotis (17 January 2008). "RTE to air national final from Limerick". Oikotimes. Archived from the original on 11 February 2010. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
  9. ^ Murray, Gavin (22 January 2008). "Ireland selects on Saturday February 23rd". ESCToday. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
  10. ^ "RTE kicks off song quest; changes in NF format". Oikotimes. 2 November 2007. Archived from the original on 11 February 2010. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
  11. ^ "RTÉ's participation in The Eurovision Song Contest 2008". RTÉ. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  12. ^ Viniker, Barry (3 February 2008). "Ireland: songs and running order confirmed". ESCToday. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  13. ^ Royston, Benny (22 February 2008). "Ireland: Can anyone stop the Turkey?". Esctoday.
  14. ^ Murray, Gavin (23 February 2008). "Live: Ireland National Final (transcript)". ESCToday. Retrieved 27 September 2008.
  15. ^ "IRISH NATIONAL FINAL 2008".
  16. ^ "Dustin the Turkey". Knock Knock Eurosongs. 27 January 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  17. ^ Murray, Gavin (24 February 2008). "Ireland sends the Turkey to Eurovision". Esctoday. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  18. ^ Murray, Gavin (25 February 2008). "Exclusive: Dana speaks out to esctoday.com about Dustin". ESCToday. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  19. ^ "Ireland 2008".
  20. ^ Viniker, Barry (24 February 2008). "Does Dustin's song break the Eurovision rules?". ESCToday. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  21. ^ Murray, Gavin (25 March 2008). "Ireland: Dustin to change Eurovision performance lyrics". ESCToday. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  22. ^ Jiandani, Sanjay (12 February 2008). "Dustin The Turkey invades Spanish press!". ESCToday. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  23. ^ Murray, Gavin (17 March 2008). "Ireland: Dustin the Turkey on UK television". ESCToday. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  24. ^ Viniker, Barry (28 September 2007). "Eurovision: 2 semi finals confirmed!". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  25. ^ Viniker, Barry (28 January 2008). "The Eurovision Song Contest semi final draw". ESCToday. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  26. ^ Murray, Gavin. "Ireland: Eurovision week schedule of events on RTÉ". ESCToday. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
  27. ^ Eurovision Song Contest Semi-final 1 (20 May 2008). Radio Telefís Éireann. Retrieved on 2008-09-24.
  28. ^ "From Dublin to Sarajevo!". eurovision.tv. 15 May 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  29. ^ "First Semi-Final of Belgrade 2008". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  30. ^ a b "Results of the First Semi-Final of Belgrade 2008". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  31. ^ "Results of the Grand Final of Belgrade 2008". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  32. ^ Murray, Gavin (12 June 2008). "Ireland: Dustin says 'No' to EU treaty". ESCToday. Retrieved 26 September 2008.

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