BROOKE RAISING SPIRITS TO TAKE ON EUROVISION
Singer wants to repeat her whiskey ritual to bring luck
EUROVISION hopeful Brooke Scullion says she’ll be having two glasses of whiskey before taking to the stage next week – admitting nothing could have prepared her for the “beast” of a competition.
Ireland’s hopes of victory in the song contest this year fall on the Co Derry girl and her upbeat tune That’s Rich.
Before that, Brooke, 23, will have to put on a winning performance in the second semi-final in Italy on Thursday.
She said she may carry out the same rituals she did on the day she qualified to represent Ireland in the Eurosong earlier this year.
Brooke added: “We went to a burger bar and I had a Jameson, a whiskey.
“So this Thursday I am going to have two burgers and two whiskeys, maybe three.”
At a press conference in Italy yesterday, the singer said she is feeling more confident in her performance than before.
Brooke revealed: “My first rehearsal, I felt the most pressure.
“I felt like I didn’t know where the cameras were but once I went into the viewing room and focused on where they were I felt more at ease for the second rehearsal.
“It is about being prepared and having fun, fun is the main aspect of my song.
“It is one of those really funny, enjoyable songs that just takes you away for three minutes.”
Brooke is no stranger to the stage after rising to fame on The Voice UK 2020. But she admitted nothing could have prepared her for the challenge ahead.
Brooke revealed: “Yes, in a way it helped with my confidence as a singer and realising this dream might be achievable for me.
“But nothing can prepare you for Eurovision, it is a beast. It is a different animal.”
Fresh off the stage from the second rehearsal, she said she is taking advice from past winners, including Dana.
The Derry performer clinched Ireland’s first win at the contest with All Kinds of Everything in 1970.
Brooke said: “Dana called me before I actually got picked and then she called me again and wished me luck.
“And to have that backing of a legend in my country, to have that support feels really good.
“She told me, ‘Brooke, you are going up against countries so the level is going to be so high.
“‘And you just have to focus on yourself because once you start looking at other people you lose focus and lose sight of what this really is, a singing competition’ so that has been really helpful.”
Brooke said she isn’t allowing herself to feel any pressure to be the one to bring us back to the glory days again.
She added: “I don’t know about the pressure from Ireland because it has been a while since we won, so maybe I am a dark horse.”
We went to a burger bar and I had a Jameson BROOKE SCULLION ON RITUAL BEFORE CONTEST