Eurovision’s a waste of time, I washed my hands of it..
»»Singer Brian on turning down roles »»Advice to go for ‘more Irish’ ballad
BRIAN Kennedy has announced he has “washed his hands” of the Eurovision Song Contest.
The Belfast star represented Ireland in the 2006 contest in Athens, where he performed Every Song Is A Cry For Love.
His act in the semi-finals marked the 1,000th song to feature in the event’s history and he was placed 10th overall.
But now Brian says he is done with Eurovision and will never be involved ever again – saying it is a “waste of time”.
He added: “I washed my hands with the Eurovision.
“I get asked every year to do something. I was one of the last people before Ryan O’shaughnessy to get into the final.
“Somebody gets in touch every year asking will you come and sing at a party, or they ask me to judge songs… I don’t really get involved.
“It’s a waste of time because you know the way that it’s structured now, God love us, we don’t seem to have a chance.”
But he said that Ireland should still continue to be part of the Eurovision, despite failing to qualify since 2018.
Brian added: “No, I think we’re a country that never gives up for anything so I think we should restructure ourselves. It is possible.”
But despite his disappointment for Brooke Scullion this year, who failed to make the final, the 55-year-old believes we need to go back to singing ballads.
He also claimed Brooke’s song, That’s Rich, “wasn’t Irish enough”.
Brian added: “She was so much better than most of the other people.
“The only thing I thought is that wasn’t Irish enough.
“I think culturally, everything has become very watered down.
“Everything has become very homogenised.
“Years ago, we knew it was Ireland representing us.
“You could hear the accent, there was something Irish about the song. I think it’s dangerous to just sound like everybody else and clearly it didn’t work.
“There has to be some sort of return to what we do, which is a great ballad and a great vocal performance.
“I think we should come back with a completely structured idea but stick with the ballad.”
The star was also asked if we should submit an entry in our native language. He said: “I love it [singing in
Irish]. That’s what I used to love about Eurovision. I mean, maybe a mix of the two would be clever.
“A bit of Irish and English would be the way to go but I think culturally we need to make a stamp and say this is Ireland because I don’t think we had this for a while.”
The performer was speaking at the launch of celebrity fitness trainer Paul Byrne’s new gym at the Powerscourt Townhouse in Dublin.
Brian also said radio stations not playing the song to help with the artist’s Eurovision campaign is a problem.
He said: “It is a real issue. I didn’t get support either.
“When my song came out, I think there were literally people phoning the radio stations saying, ‘Why aren’t you playing this?’ We didn’t get an answer.
“There seems to be a very weird embarrassment about our own culture.
“I think it’s a hangover from a long time ago.”
God love us, we don’t seem to have a chance
BRIAN KENNEDY ON IRISH EUROVISION HOPES