August | 2018 | Star Spangled Eurovision

Ireland has won Eurovision seven times, more than any other country, and won four times in five years from 1992-1996. They’re also the only country that has won three times in a row and the only country to have won twice with the same artist (Johnny Logan, 1980 and 1987). Even Riverdance first premiered at Eurovision as the interval act at the 1994 contest in Dublin! Yet, Ireland’s luck seems to have dried out. They haven’t reached the Top 5 since 1997, and have failed to qualify for the final seven times since the semifinals were introduced 14 years ago. Join Max, Alix, and our special guest, Liam Mullins, as they dissect why Ireland stopped being good at Eurovision, whether or not things might be looking up for the emerald isle after 2018, and why the hell they decided to send a turkey that one time.

Songs featured:
Donna and Joe – “Love?” (2005) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9CHcqe7xro
Dustin the Turkey – “Irlande Douze Pointe” (2008) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps3kxGo_gro
Ryan O’Shaughnessy – “Together” (2018) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYBtf4ZMfjw
Mickey Joe Harte – “We’ve Got the World” (2003) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ9jfwOcmro

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Ever wonder what former Eurovision winners are up to? Well we wanted to find out too, but our research left us underwhelmed. So instead of catching up on what past victors have been doing since their big wins, Alix and Max discuss why winning the Eurovision Song Contest doesn’t necessarily lead to widespread international fame, why ABBA is the exception and not the rule, and why Netta might be the one to break the mold.*

*As of posting, “Toy” is #6 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and #29 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart. If you didn’t get a chance to see Netta perform on the Today show, you can watch it here: https://bit.ly/2MUyyBm

And as promised, here are some of our favorite new tracks from past Eurovision winners:

Dima Bilan (Russia, 2008) – “Derzhi” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_LrXZbOAWQ
Måns Zelmerlöw (Sweden 2015) – “Happyland” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SWYCBhj7sE
Jamala (Ukraine, 2016) – “Krila” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W3zXLpf09A
Alexander Rybak (Norway, 2009) – “Kotik” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxxEcOWdZsg
Loreen (Sweden 2012) – “Statements” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdil9UO80Yo
Salvador Sobral (Portugal 2017) – “Mano a Mano” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTyaEaFzL9U