#Eimear Quinn

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

Eimear Quinn - The Voice 1996

This was the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1996, representing Ireland. It was created by Brendan Graham, who had also written and composed "Rock 'n' Roll Kids", the Irish winner from the 1994 contest. The victory was Ireland's seventh contest victory, setting a record for the most contests won by a single country that would only be tied by Sweden in 2023.

Brendan Graham had originally submitted "The Voice" for consideration to represent Ireland in Eurovision via a recording made with another performer. However, after "The Voice" had been advanced to the final for the Irish national round, Graham attended a performance by the Anúna chorale at Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin, where he was struck by the voice of Eimear Quinn. Graham recruited her to perform "The Voice" on the final of the National Song Contest. At Eurovision, "The Voice" was awarded the maximum douze points by seven countries.

Lyrically, "The Voice" is a very Celtic-inspired song, with the singer portraying herself as "the voice" which watches over the world, describing "her" effects on the elements, such as the wind, the seasons, in a similar way to Mother Nature. It is of a folk style and is sung at a very high pitch. Quinn was accompanied by traditional Irish percussion, woodwind and string instruments.

It received a total of 65,2% yes votes!

[eurovision-revisited]

1996 Oslo - Number 10 - Eimear Quinn - "The Voice"

Things were changing in Ireland. There had been the Downing Street Declaration in 1993, the IRA declaring a ceasefire in 1994, followed by the Loyalist side doing the same later the same year. The peace process was well underway resulting in what would become the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. The Troubles were ending and the Celtic Tiger was already roaring.

From the Eurovision perspective, Ireland had had its rest year while Norway looked at Riverdance and thought "Let's do that", borrowed an Irish violinist and won by being more Irish than the Irish in 1995. It was definitely time to get back to doing what they did best. The Voice combined aetherial Irish folk mythology with the new spirit of healing and togetherness. There was the Celtic spirituality and connection to the land and seasons, mystical female voices reassuring and lending a guiding light, and a message for the Ireland of today. Even if it hadn't walked off with the win, Ireland would have been proud.

The writer of Rock and Roll Kids, Brendan Graham clearly wanted to show that whatever Norway could do, Ireland had been doing it better for centuries. To get that authentic Riverdancy-quality, he invited Eimear Quinn, who was a member of Anúna, the choir that had sung Riverdance in 1994 to sing it. And it worked amazingly well. It won Eurosong 1996 at a canter. In the audio-qualifier, The Voice only finished second, but on the night, it roared away with the contest. It was clear well before the end of the voting who'd won, to the point where Morgan Harket and Eimear Quinn were doing an impromptu duet of Norwegian Wood in the green room during a break in the voting sequence.

Eimear has been performing, recording and composing since her win and is still someone who never has to buy a drink in an Irish bar. She married Noel Curran, current director-general of the EBU which I think makes her the reigning queen of Eurovision. Below is her performance of The Voice at Het Groete Songfestivalfeest in 2019, recorded prior to the COVID pandemic.

One last little thing - this was Noel Kelehan's penultimate stint as conductor for Ireland and it was the final song he conducted that won. He conducted five songs that won (every Irish winner barring All Kinds of Everything and Rock and Roll Kids). He also conducted four second places, including To Nie Ja! for Poland in 1994. He conducted for several of the new nations joining Eurovision in the 1990s when Ireland was the semi-permanent host. Probably the most successful conductor in Eurovision history.

[eurovision-facts]

Eurovision Fact #444:

More solo artist women have won the Eurovision Song Contest than any other type of act.

Solo act women have won 37 years out of the 67 years the contest has been running. That's about 55% of the total wins. (This is counting Conchita Wurst, and counting Loreen twice for both 2012 and 2023).

Additionally, all four winners of the 1969 contest were solo act women, and Loreen won twice.

[Sources & List of Winners]

Lugano 1956, Eurovision.tv. Lys Assia 🇨🇭.

Frankfurt 1957, Eurovision.tv. Corry Brokken 🇳🇱.

Cannes 1959, Eurovision.tv. Teddy Scholten 🇳🇱.

London 1960, Eurovision.tv. Jacqueline Boyer 🇫🇷.

Luxembourg 1962, Eurovision.tv. Isabelle Aubret 🇫🇷.

Copenaghen 1964, Eurovision.tv. Gigliola Cinquetti 🇮🇹.

Naples 1965, Eurovision.tv. France Gall 🇱🇺.

Vienna 1967, Eurovision.tv. Sandie Shaw 🇬🇧.

London 1968, Eurovision.tv. Massiel 🇪🇸.

Madrid 1969, Eurovision.tv. Frida Boccara 🇫🇷, Lenny Kuhr 🇳🇱, Lulu 🇬🇧, Salomé 🇪🇸.

Amsterdam 1970, Eurovision.tv. Dana 🇮🇪.

Dublin 1971, Eurovision.tv. Séverine 🇲🇨.

Edinburgh 1972, Eurovision.tv. Vicky Leandros 🇱🇺.

Luxembourg 1973, Eurovision.tv. Anne-Marie David 🇱🇺.

London 1977, Eurovision.tv. Marie Myriam 🇫🇷.

Harrogate 1982, Eurovision.tv. Nicole 🇩🇪.

Munich 1983, Eurovision.tv. Corinne Hermès 🇱🇺.

Bergen 1986, Eurovision.tv. Sandra Kim 🇧🇪.

Dublin 1988, Eurovision.tv. Céline Dion 🇨🇭.

Rome 1991, Eurovision.tv. Carola 🇸🇪.

Malmö 1992, Eurovision.tv. Linda Martin 🇮🇪.

Millstreet 1993, Eurovision.tv. Niamh Kavanagh 🇮🇪.

Oslo 1996, Eurovision.tv. Eimear Quinn 🇮🇪.

Birmingham 1998, Eurovision.tv. Dana International 🇮🇱.

Jerusalem 1999, Eurovision.tv. Charlotte Nilsson 🇸🇪.

Tallinn 2002, Eurovision.tv. Marie N 🇱🇻.

Riga 2003, Eurovision.tv. Sertab Erener 🇹🇷.

Istanbul 2004, Eurovision.tv. Ruslana 🇺🇦.

Kyiv 2005, Eurovision.tv. Helena Paparizou 🇬🇷.

Helsinki 2007, Eurovision.tv. Marija Šerifović 🇷🇸.

Oslo 2010, Eurovision.tv. Lena 🇩🇪.

Baku 2012, Eurovision.tv. Loreen 🇸🇪.

Malmö 2013, Eurovision.tv. Emmelie de Forest 🇩🇰.

Copenaghen 2014, Eurovision.tv. Conchita Wurst 🇦🇹.

Stockholm 2016, Eurovision.tv. Jamala 🇺🇦.

Lisbon 2018, Eurovision.tv. Netta 🇮🇱.

Liverpool 2023 Eurovision.tv. Loreen 🇸🇪.

[vintageurovision]

Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest: The 1990s

1991 - Somewhere in Europe, Liam Reilly

1991 - Could It Be That I'm In Love, Kim Jackson

1992 - Why Me, Linda Martin 🏆

1993 - In Your Eyes, Niamh Kavanagh 🏆

1994 - Rock 'n' Roll Kids, Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan 🏆

1995 - Dreamin', Eddie Friel

1996 - The Voice, Eimear Quinn 🏆

1997 - Mysterious Woman, Marc Roberts

1998 - Is Always Over Now?, Dawn

1999 - When You Need Me, The Mullan's

[goat-esc-winner-showdown]

GOAT Eurovision Winner Showdown - Round 4 Poll 1

[beautiful-story]

🎶🎹🎻🎙️

[unibrowzz]

The Signs and their Eurovision winners

Here we are again, with just one new name this time, but one for a rarely seen sign for once 👀

♈ Aries: Agnetha Fältskog (ABBA, 1974), Ard Weeink (Teach-In, 1975) Lee Sheridan (Brotherhood of Man, 1976), Elisabeth Andreassen (Bobbysocks, 1985), Céline Dion (1988), Nenad Nakić (Riva, 1989), Linda Martin (1992), Rolf Løvland (Secret Garden, 1995) Katrina Leskanich (Katrina and the Waves, 1997), Nils Olsen (Olsen Brothers, 2000), Sergei Morgun (2XL, 2001) Duncan Laurence (2019)

♉ Taurus: Teddy Scholten (1959), Jacqueline Boyer (1960), Jørgen Ingmann (1963), Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA, 1974), Marie Myriam (1977), Johnny Logan (1980 and 1987), Jay Aston (Bucks Fizz, 1981), Emilija Kokić, Dalibor Musap AND Zvonimir Zrilić (All Riva, 1989), Paul Harrington (1994), Alexander Rybak (2009), Victoria de Angelis (Måneskin, 2021), Oleh Psiuk and MC KylymMen (both Kalush Orchestra, 2022)

♊ Gemini: Grethe Ingmann (1963), Anne-Marie David (1973), Salomé (Spain, 1969), Koos Versteeg (Teach-In, 1975), Kaido Põldma (2XL, 2001), Ruslana (2004), Lena Meyer-Landrut (2010), Eldar Qasımov (Ell & Nikki, 2011), Måns Zelmerlöw (2015)

♋ Cancer: John Gaasbeek (Teach-In, 1975), Toto Cutugno (1990), Amen and OX (both Lordi, 2006)

♌ Leo: Isabelle Aubret (1962), Massiel (1968), Vicky Leandros (1972), Per and Richard Herrey (Herreys, 1984), Bobby Gee (Bucks Fizz, 1981), Marie N (2002), Nemo (2024)

♍ Virgo: Dana (1970), Boško Colić (Riva, 1989), Carola (1991), Fionnuala Sherry and Hans Frederik-Jacobsen (Secret Garden and Co, 1995), Indrek Soom (2XL, 2001), Nigar Jamal (Ell & Nikki, 2011), Jamala (2016)

♎ Libra: France Gall (1965), Udo Jürgens (1966), Séverine (1971), Chris de Wolde (Teach-In, 1975), Smulik Bilu (Milk and Honey, 1979), Sandra Kim (1986), Åsa Jinder (Secret Garden and Co, 1995) Vince de la Cruz (Katrina and the Waves, 1997), Charlotte Nilsson (1999), Loreen (2012 and 2023), Ethan Torchio (Måneskin, 2021), Sasha Tab and Vitalii Duzhyk (Kalush Orchestra, 2022)

♏ Scorpio: Jean-Claude Pascale (1961), Frida Boccara (France 1969), Lulu (UK, 1969), Anni-Frid Lyngstad (ABBA, 1974), Rudi Nijhuis (Teach-In, 1975), Reuven Erez (Alphabeta, 1978), Nicole (1982), Corinne Hermès (1983), Louis Herrey (Herreys, 1984), Tanel Padar (2001), Marija Šerifović (2007), Conchita Wurst (2014)

♐ Sagittarius: Corry Brokken (1957), André Claveau (1958), Gigliola Cinquetti (1964), Benny Andersson (ABBA, 1974), Martin Lee, Nicky Stevens AND Sandra Stevens (all Brotherhood of Man, 1976), Reuven Gvirtz (Milk and Honey, 1979), Mike Nolan (Bucks Fizz, 1981), Charlie McGettigan (1994), Eimear Quinn (1996), Kimberley Rew (Katrina and the Waves, 1997), Sertab Erener (2003)

♑ Capricorn: Esther Tzuberi (Alphabeta, 1978), Gali Altari (1979), Aleksandra Kalafatović (Riva, 1989) Dima Bilan (2008), Salvador Sobral (2017), Damiano David and Thomas Raggi (both Måneskin, 2021), Ihor Didenchuk (Kalush Orchestra, 2022)

♒ Aquarius: Yehuda Tamir (Milk and Honey, 1979), Hanne Krogh (Bobbysocks, 1985), Niamh Kavanagh (1993), Gunnhild Tvinnereim (Secret Garden and Co, 1995), Dana International (1998), Dave Benton (2001), Helena Paparizou (2005), Mr Lordi and Kita (both Lordi, 2006), Netta Barzilai (2018), Tymofii Muzychuk (Kalush Orchestra, 2022)**

♓ Pisces: Lys Assia (1956), Sandie Shaw (1967), Lenny Kuhr (Netherlands, 1969), Getty Kaspers (Teach-In, 1975), Yizhar Cohen (1978), Cheryl Baker (Bucks Fizz, 1981) Jørgen Olsen (Olsen Brothers, 2000), Lauri Pihlap (2XL, 2001) Awa (Lordi, 2006), Emmelie de Forest (2013)

UNKNOWN: Lisa Gold-Rubin*, Itzhak Okev and Nehama Shutan* (all Alphabeta, 1978), Alex Cooper (Katrina and the Waves, 1997)

*I did uncover some information regarding Lisa Gold-Rubin and Nehama Shutan which would make them Pisces and Leo respectively, however I was unable to confirm whether they were the actual Eurovision performers or whether they just happened to share the same names. The lead for Gold-Rubin is stronger... but still unconfirmed 😅

**Some sites list Tymofii's birthday as being in September, however his actual Ukrainian Wikipedia page shows it as February 6th, so that's what I'm going with

Corrections/additional information welcome!

[vikachizh]

[artemisblackwing]

Thanks for the tag, @bestbeeking

I tried to link everything because inline links are sexy.

Here's one of my all-time favorite songs as a freebie: Fear Not this Night (sung by Asja Kadric for Guild Wars 2, pretty and inspirational)

W -- Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (by Gordon Lightfoot, beautiful and sad)

I -- I'm Gonna Kill the Dog Next Door (by Arrogant Worms, funny)

L -- Last Saskatchewan Pirate (by Arrogant Worms, funny - apparently the Saskatchewan is a small inconsequential river like the countless little rivers meandering through Washington.)

D -- Defying Gravity (sung by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, Wicked Broadway Musical)

R -- Raido (by Wardruna, mythical elements - darkly dramatic)

A -- Annachie Gordon (sung by Loreena McKennitt, folk song where once again "they love each other and both die.")

V -- The Voice (sung by Celtic Woman, written by Eimear Quinn)

E -- Elfman (Danny Elfman - modern film composer, you've all heard him)

N -- New World Symphony (4th movement - I admit a little part of me was expecting the Pope to be shot with an arrow at the end, but this isn't the Hunger Games.)

A -- 1812 Overture (I let A=1 in the alphabet, therefore this counts. THEY USED CANONS AS MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. What other song combines church bells and canons??? Here's one with actual cannons on video - the canons are at the end, and here's the finale with better acoustics)

N -- Niccolo Paganini (A classical violinist and composer so good some people legitimately thought he'd sold his soul to the devil. Here's a random example of Paganini coolness.)

D -- Dope Peddlar (by Tom Lehrer, funny)

C -- Carrot Juice is Murder (by Arrogant Worms, funny)

R -- Rachmaninoff (classical composer, everything by this guy, here's a cello piano thing - I like Yuja Wang's playing)

O -- Old Black Joe (folk song, lyrics on Wikipedia and here's Paul Robeson singing it in the style my parents used to sing it to me. I came across a bouncier modern version and was confused. Dude, it's a song about death and friendship.)

W -- Welcome to the Internet (by Bo Burnham, funny)

Again, not sure who to tag... but if you recommend music I'd love to hear it. I'm halfway through listening to a bunch of really awesome "The Dear Hunter" stuff someone recommended. Still trying to come up with music words to describe the coolness of the vocals on this album of theirs.

URL song tag game

thank youuu @yesireadbooks

RULES: spell your url with song titles and then tag as many people as there are letters.

*dramatically removes the cloth from the board*

AHEM

F- family line by conan gray

I- idontwannabeyouanymore by billie eilish

R-run and hide by sabrina carpenter

E-exile by Taylor swift

-

B-boys will be bugs by cavetown

U-until i found you by stephen sanchez and em beihold

T-tennis court by lorde

-

A-almost is never enough by ariana grande

S- strawberry blond by mitski

H-habits by tove lo

E-easier than lying by halsey

S- seventeen by ryan mccartan and barrett wilbert weed (from heathers the musical) -

T-this december by ricky montgomery

O-o my heart by mother mother

O-overwhelmed by royal and the serpent

oh my god 15 letters that was long.

@holdmyteaplease @spicymochi @guessillcallitart @escapetheinevitable @cabbojage @maewrites13 @macabremoons @briannaswords @tea-and-mercury @ashwithapen @blackcrxwking @lycaens @iannicellis @anonymousfoz @fioreshere

(did i choose specifically people with relatively long urls? yes.)

[hits1000]

All Winners of the Eurovision Song Contest (1956-2023)

All Winners of the Eurovision Song Contest (1956-2023) Here is a recap of all winners of the Eurovision Song Contest, from the start in 1956 to the latest contest in 2023. In 1969, four countries shared the 1st place by getting the same amount of points. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. 🇨🇭 Lys Assia - Refrain (1956) 🇳🇱 Corry Brokken - Net Als Toen (1957) 🇫🇷 André Claveau - Dors, Mon Amour (1958) 🇳🇱 Teddy Scholten - Een Beetje (1959) 🇫🇷 Jacqueline Boyer - Tom Pillibi (1960) 🇱🇺 Jean-Claude Pascal - Nous, Les Amoureux (1961) 🇫🇷 Isabelle Aubret - Un Premier Amour (1962) 🇩🇰 Grethe & Jørgen Ingmann - Dansevise (1963) 🇮🇹 Gigliola Cinquetti - Non Ho L'Età (1964) 🇱🇺 France Gall - Poupée De Cire, Poupée De Son (1965) 🇦🇹 Udo Jürgens - Merci, Chérie (1966) 🇬🇧 Sandie Shaw - Puppet On A String (1967) 🇪🇸 Massiel - La, La, La (1968) 🇫🇷 Frida Boccara - Un Jour, Un Enfant (1969) 🇳🇱 Lenny Kuhn - De Troubadour (1969) 🇬🇧 Lulu - Boom Bang-A-Bang (1969) 🇪🇸 Salomé - Vivo Cantando (1969) 🇮🇪 Dana - All Kinds Of Everything (1970) 🇲🇨 Séverine - Un Banc, Un Arbre, Une Rue (1971) 🇱🇺 Vicky Leandros - Après Toi (1972) 🇱🇺 Anne-Marie David - Tu Te Reconnaîtras (1973) 🇸🇪 ABBA - Waterloo (1974) 🇳🇱 Teach-In - Ding-A-Dong (1975) 🇬🇧 Brotherhood of Man - Save Your Kisses For Me (1976) 🇫🇷 Marie Myriam - L'Oiseau Et L'Enfant (1977) 🇮🇱 Izhar Cohen & the Alpha-Beta - A-Ba-Ni-Bi (1978) 🇮🇱 Gali Atari & Milk & Honey - Hallelujah (1979) 🇮🇪 Johnny Logan - What's Another Year (1980) 🇬🇧 Bucks Fizz - Making Your Mind Up (1981) 🇩🇪 Nicole - Ein Bißchen Frieden (1982) 🇱🇺 Corinne Hermès - Si La Vie Est Cadeau (1983) 🇸🇪 Herreys - Diggi-Loo, Diggi-Ley (1984) 🇳🇴 Bobbysocks - La Det Swinge (1985) 🇧🇪 Sandra Kim - J'Aime La Vie (1986) 🇮🇪 Johnny Logan - Hold Me Now (1987) 🇨🇭 Céline Dion - Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi (1988) 🇭🇷 Riva - Rock Me (1989)* 🇮🇹 Toto Cutugno - Insieme: 1992 (1990) 🇸🇪 Carola - Fångad Av En Stormvind (1991) 🇮🇪 Linda Martin - Why Me? (1992) 🇮🇪 Niamh Kavanagh - In Your Eyes (1993) 🇮🇪 Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan (1994) 🇳🇴 Secret Garden - Nocturne (1995) 🇮🇪 Eimear Quinn - The Voice (1996) 🇬🇧 Katrina and the Waves - Love Shine A Light (1997) 🇮🇱 Dana International - Diva (1998) 🇸🇪 Charlotte Nilsson - Take Me To Your Heaven (1999) 🇩🇰 Olsen Brothers - Fly On The Wings Of Love (2000) 🇪🇪 Tanel Padar & Dave Benton & 2XL - Everybody (2001) 🇱🇻 Marie N - I Wanna (2002) 🇹🇷 Sertab Erener - Every Way That I Can (2003) 🇺🇦 Ruslana - Wild Dances (2004) 🇬🇷 Helena Paparizou - My Number One (2005) 🇫🇮 Lordi - Hard Rock Hallelujah (2006) 🇷🇸 Marija Šerifović - Molitva (2007) 🇷🇺 Dima Bilan - Believe (2008) 🇳🇴 Alexander Rybak - Fairytale (2009) 🇩🇪 Lena - Satellite (2010) 🇦🇿 Ell & Nikki - Running Scared (2011) 🇸🇪 Loreen - Euphoria (2012) 🇩🇰 Emmelie de Forest - Only Teardrops (2013) 🇦🇹 Conchita Wurst - Rise Like A Phoenix (2014) 🇸🇪 Måns Zelmerlöw - Heroes (2015) 🇺🇦 Jamala - 1944 (2016) 🇵🇹 Salvador Sobral - Amor Pelos Dois (2017) 🇮🇱 Netta - Toy (2018) 🇳🇱 Duncan Laurence - Arcade (2019) 🇮🇹 Måneskin - Zitti E Buoni (2021) 🇺🇦 Kalush Orchestra - Stefania (2022) 🇸🇪 Loreen - Tattoo (2023) #allwinnerseurovision #allwinnersesc #allwinners #allesc #alleurovision #winnersesc #esc1956-2023 #winners1956-2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KPUrKWenhs

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

What song did you personally like the best out of this round? Did a song make an impact right away or did it require the full version? Did the artist reveal change your opinion of the song itself for better or for worse?

(note: this is not a popularity contest or to vote for a favourite artist out of loyalty 💖 it’s still about the song.)

[eurovision-revisited]

Eurovision 1996: The actual result

Even the scoreboard changed in 1996 - it went all virtual, lowered into place by virtual cranes on virtual chains. Poor Ingvild Bryn was sealed into a Chroma keyed room and told she wasn't going to be let out until all the scores were delivered and verified.

Here's the result and your spoiler warning for the result of the 1996 Eurovision song contest...

Yes they did it again. Ireland won for the fourth time in five years. Somehow this statistic often gets left out in the rush to say they won three times in a row, but four in five is even better. They did it by repeating their trick. Having seen Norway steal their clothes in 1995, RTÉ and the jury of Eurosong 1996 (the Irish one) weren't going to let that pass. They sent a very mystical, even more Celtic paean to peace and momentous times in history.

The host performed well in second with Sweden continuing to challenge in third. Croatia (4th), Estonia (5th) and Portugal (6th) got their best results in Eurovision, but really Ireland and Eimear Quinn ran away with this one. It wasn't even close.

Here's the result in full.

Ireland - Eimear Quinn - "The Voice"

Norway - Elisabeth Andreassen - "I evighet"

Sweden - One More Time - "Den vilda"

Croatia - Maja Blagdan - "Sveta ljubav"

Estonia - Maarja-Liis Ilus and Ivo Linna - "Kaelakee hääl"

Portugal - Lúcia Moniz - "O meu coração não tem cor"

Netherlands - Maxine and Franklin Brown - "De eerste keer"

United Kingdom - Gina G - "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit"

Cyprus - Constantinos - "Mono gia mas"

Malta - Miriam Christine - "In a Woman's Heart"

Austria - George Nussbaumer - "Weil's dr guat got"

Turkey - Şebnem Paker - "Beşinci Mevsim"

Iceland - Anna Mjöll - "Sjúbídú"

Greece - Marianna Efstratiou - "Emis forame to himona anixiatika"

Poland - Kasia Kowalska - "Chcę znać swój grzech..."

Switzerland - Kathy Leander - "Mon cœur l'aime"

Belgium - Lisa del Bo - "Liefde is een kaartspel"

Slovakia - Marcel Palonder - "Kým nás máš"

France - Dan Ar Braz and l'Héritage des Celtes - "Diwanit bugale"

Spain - Antonio Carbonell - "¡Ay, qué deseo!"

Slovenia - Regina - "Dan najlepših sanj"

Bosnia & Herzegovina - Amila Glamočak - "Za našu ljubav"

Finland - Jasmine - "Niin kaunis on taivas"

[betweenthetimeandsound]

Three Minutes to Eternity: My ESC 250 (#42)

#42: Eimear Quinn -- The Voice (Ireland 1996)

“Bring me your peace and my wounds, they will heal”

Ireland’s last winner was unexpected, as the country probably tried to not win again! It also showed in how a number of fans left the arena when it the result was clear, because it clearly misaligned with the music trends of the time.

Compared with most 1990s music, featuring dance music (later this year, we are introduced to the Spice Girls), alternative rock, and hip hop, The Voice is a Celtic-influenced ballad, with a low-key atmosphere and somewhat repetitive lyrics. While Enya found fame across the world through this style, it still mulls onto the Eurovision mold, which at that point is its own musical universe.

But I think it’s Ireland’s greatest winner, as it’s grounded in the traditions of the country and has a beautiful melody. It begins quite somberly, before a single drum and a lute come along, and a violin chimes in. While it does change from major to minor, it's done so cleanly I didn't really notice it. The whole song itself is great, though my favorite part was when the drumming increases and the strings darken. The climax after that is just so liberating and bright.

It tells a compelling story, one which sounds like it could fit in a fantasy novel. However, take a closer look, and it's about the nation of Ireland, which is tied to what’s going on at the time. (Hence making it surprisingly political) The Troubles still festered on, in terms of what Ireland could become (united as a Catholic nation, or divided with Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom). There was a ceasefire three months before this song took to the stage in Eurovision, only for the Manchester bombing to take place a month later. Yet hope comes along through peace (the Good Friday Agreement coming two years later), which led to Ireland strengthening what it could be--like joining the EU. Hence the lyric "bring me your peace" carries so much power in this context.

Eimear sounded breathy at times on stage, but she has the voice of an angel. (Twenty-five years later, her voice matured nicely, and the song remains as eternal as ever). She carries the song with poise yet a sense of innocence in it, because of the lightness of her voice. And while the song is seen as outdated in 1996, it has only aged as a fine wine since. With a sense of strength and grace also, The Voice is beautiful winner, and it deserved it too. (That being said, the televote would've probably knocked this a few notches--the battle between the top three would be quite tough because they are all new-agey songs, and may cancel each other out.)

Personal and actual ranking: 1st/23 in Oslo

Final Impressions on:

--1996: The one without Germany, but with a lot of filters. Despite having a solid production which is thanks to NRK's oil money (Ingvild also was a fantastic host!), the last year of the 100% jury era gets a mixed reception. There are people who like it lots because of the quality, and others less so because the slow songs do start blurring together. I'm in the middle of it--this was the first vintage year which I watched in its entirety (the first years I only focused on the songs, rather than sit through the entire 2-3 hours), and thought it was quite good, though I could understand why it might not be to everybody's taste. (Though it would make a good #Eurovisionagain) for that alone)

--Ireland: Somehow, they're still the country with the most wins, haha. That said, most of them were deserved, except for "Why Me?" (you'll find out who's my favorite of 1992 soon enough!), as the song felt a bit dull. They had a penchant for ballads which worked, but with the televote era, they withered just like the United Kingdom. But they sent some solid songs over the years, even with their non-winners.

I also have to give credit to the RTE--with the exception of 1971, which was quite anonymous--it has managed to host strong contests since then. Which is another reason why Ireland should get themselves together and aim for the win; the first is that Sweden is quickly nipping at its heels!

[eurovisionder]

Eurovision Home Concerts - Episode 7 - Season Finale

1:33 - Dami Im (Australia 2016) - Sound of Silence 5:35 - Imri (Israel 2017) - I Feel Alive 10:05 - Secret Garden (Norway 1995) - Secret Garden 14:15 - Go_A (Ukraine 2020) - Solovey 18:05 - Yohanna (Iceland 2009) - Is It True? 22:28 - Eimear Quinn (Ireland 1996) - The Voice 26:44 - Diodato (Italt 2020) - Fai rumore 31:03 - Dana (Ireland 1970) - All Kinds of Everything 34:54 - Mélovin (Ukraine 2018) - Under the Ladder

Covers: 40:02 - Rise Like a Phoenix (Conchita Wurst, Austria 2014) by Dami Im 44:11 - Répondez-moi (Gjon's Tears, Switzerland 2020) by Eimear Quinn 47:34 - Grande amore (Il Volo, Italy 2015) by Imri 51:51 - Dancing Lasha Tumbai (Verka Serduchka, Ukraine 2007) by Go_A 55:10 - Piove / Ciao, ciao bambina (Domenico Modugno, Italy 1959) by Diodato 58:09 - Rise Like a Phoenix (Conchita Wurst, Austria 2014) by Mélovin 1:01:48 - Euphoria (Loreen, Sweden 2012) by Yohanna

[goat-esc-winner-showdown]

GOAT Eurovision Winner Showdown - Round 3 Poll 1