Linda: Eurovision has lost its spark
EUROVISION winner Linda Martin reckons the song contest has lost its spark and needs to go back to basics.
The 69-year-old singer said organisers need to concentrate on the songs rather than elaborate dance routines and costumes.
Belfast native Linda told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “It’s just gone too far for my liking.
“Getting rid of the orchestra was the first thing that went wrong in my book, I thought that took class away from it.
“Then they extended it to 43 countries and I just thought ‘Jesus Christ’, every time voting comes around I go away and come back towards the end. “For me it’s just too much.” She added: “It should all be focused on the song, not the costumes, not the dancing but the songs.
“I think they have to move away from all that and come right back.
“I just wish they would bring it back to the song, especially here in Ireland.
I can’t remember who won last year, never mind anything else.
“We have to get our established songwriters to come out again and not give them complete amateurs.
“There’s such an amazing amount of talent out there but nowhere to be seen.”
Former Chips singer Linda, who won Eurovision in 1992 with ‘Why Me?’, said she wishes her mam Kathleen had been around to see her momentous win.
She said: “I just adored her, I really did.
I’m sure a lot of people say that about their mam but she was my world.
“She died of cancer and it was just all so cruel. She was in her early fifties. And it was only when I was starting to do bits and pieces.
“I wish she was still here and for the Eurovision too, she would have loved that. “She was my biggest fan.” The animal rights activist admitted she is enjoying her new-found fame as a club hit in Europe.
She added: “We did dance tracks of ‘Why Me?’ and ‘Get Lucky’ and they loved them. They have been very successful so far.
“The first album I did like that was about seven years ago and it was very successful so the record company kept recording them and putting them out.
“I go off to the festivals around Europe and we do these dance tracks and they are super.”
Linda, who features on RTE’S Keys To My Life, said she can’t wait to see her family who she hasn’t seen since last summer.
She said: “I like my own company and I’m lucky to live in the country where I can get out and about for a walk.
“But I haven’t seen my family since last August as they are in the North and nobody can travel.
“I’m not moaning though because everybody is in the same boat. We will all come out healthy hopefully from it.” ■ Keys To My Life airs tonight at 7.30pm on RTE One.