Greatest Eurovision song ever
Waterloo or Hold Me Now? Hard Rock Hallelujah or In Your Eyes? 1992 winner Linda Martin says in the absence of a contest until another year, why not vote on all kinds of everything to decide the…
WHILE Ireland’s Eurovision glory days have faded into musical obscurity, the song contest is still an annual favourite, with the nation lapping up musical highs, lows, and all states of wonderful and wacky in between.
But with this year’s competition scrapped because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Eurovision legend Linda Martin says there is an opportunity to relive Ireland’s glory days.
Martin won Eurovision in 1992 with the song Why Me? and has suggested that RTÉ could mark the song contest by broadcasting a ‘Reeling In The Eurovision Years’.
A competition similar to recent RTÉ hit Ireland’s Favourite Folk Song would get the public involved in a Eurovision event by asking them to vote for their favourite Eurovision song of all time, she told the Irish Mail on Sunday.
‘I think it would mark the event while remaining at a safe distance as polling would be done on the phone and the relevant footage is already there,’ she said. ‘Graham Norton is doing something in the UK but there’s no reason why
RTÉ couldn’t pull something together here.’
While Linda is in no doubt that the Eurovision is the last thing on people’s minds given the global emergency, she believes some light musical entertainment that households all over the country could get involved in at a safe distance may provide some muchneeded diversion. RTÉ has all of the footage in its archive and could use it to produce a Eurovision throwback special. ‘It wouldn’t involve a big budget and there was already a budget there for the actual contest that won’t be needed now,’ she argues. ‘A programme like that could be turned around relatively quickly and it would be a bit of light relief.’
Linda said the idea of holding this year’s Eurovision with each act performing in their own country was mooted but dismissed as not feasible given the requirements of social distancing.
‘You would still need hair and make-up people, camera and studio crew and that’s without supervision and then the short turnaround. It just couldn’t be done,’ the singer said.
‘I know the artists are very disappointed as performing in front of 300 million provides them with a huge platform.
‘Winning is not the be all and end all – there are endless opportunities to get work but there is always next year to look forward to.’
Belfast-born Linda carved out an international career from Eurovision and is still touring in Ireland and around the world.
But, like so many other performers, the coronavirus pandemic has called a temporary halt to her gallop.
The 68-year-old is now spending her time productively working in the garden and caring for her beloved rescue dogs.
‘The main thing is that we come through this together, and we will,’ she insisted.
‘It puts everything else into perspective.’
‘It would mark the event and be a bit of light relief’