Latest news with #BambieThug
Dublin Live
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Dublin Live
Israeli commentators warned to 'remain neutral' and not comment on Bambie Thug
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The European Broadcasting Union warned Israel's commentators to "remain neutral" and not make comments about last year's Irish hopeful Bambie Thug. In May last year, a row erupted after Bambie – who qualified for the final – called on Israel to be removed from the song contest after comments made about them by an Israeli Eurovision commentator on Kan, Israel's public service broadcaster. The commentator warned viewers that their song Doomsday Blue would be "the most scary" of the night. He also noted that Bambie Thug liked to "speak negatively about Israel". "But we can talk about that later. Prepare your curses," he said. After last year's Eurovision, it emerged that at least 16 delegations had filed complaints about the Israeli delegation's attitude. It also emerged that as many as six countries threatened to withdraw half an hour before the start of the final, which included Norway, Greece, Portugal, Ireland, the UK and Switzerland. Now in a leaked document to Spanish website, verTele, the letter from the EBU to KAN shows Israel's slap on the wrist from last year. The site was given access to the 'warning notice' letter that the EBU sent to the Israeli channel KAN for its attitude at Eurovision 2024, as well as the report resulting from the independent investigation that was carried out after the festival, and the document with which the EBU transferred these 'recommendations' to its 'roadmap'. The document dated May 11, 2024-the day of the Eurovision 2024 final - is the letter that the European Broadcasting Union sent to the Israeli broadcaster. Emailed to Sharon Drikes, KAN Head of Delegation, it states: "We are writing to you further to the reporting of certain breaches of applicable EBU rules for this year ESC by the members of KAN's delegation. "These concerns namely the Israeli media team and commentators. In particular, we have received official complaints that the Israeli media team has behaved over the past days in a rather intrusive, offensive and provocative manner towards other delegations. "In that respect, we would kindly remind you that Participating Broadcasters are all required to respect the filming rules applicable for delegations and the ESC Rules2 which set principles to be respected when filming backstage or in the Event premises. "In particular, it is expected from Participating Broadcasters to respect privacy, provide fair coverage, avoid harmful or offensive content and does not bring disrepute to the ESC." The letter also addresses the derogatory comments made by KAN hosts towards other performances. "In addition, it has come to our attention that KAN's commentators have made discriminatory comments towards performances of certain countries, and namely towards the Irish performance. "In that respect, we would like to remind you that Section 2.2.16 of Part 2 of the ESC Rules3 states that 'commentators shall remain neutral and should not make unduly discriminatory comments about the contestants or the songs'. "In view of this, we hereby give KAN formal notice to respect the rules applicable to the ESC which are there to protect the smooth operation of the ESC and its integrity." The letter went on to state that the delegation was moved from the delegation area "in order to avoid further incidents and complaints and we hereby urge you to ensure that all members of your delegation abide by all applicable rules and adopt at all times a behaviour in line with the ESC values." The Union insisted that in order to punish "any behaviour that damages the reputation and/or integrity of the shows" they could apply financial sanctions , outlining in the same letter the rules of the festival that the Israeli KAN allegedly ignored. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Irish Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Israeli commentators warned to 'remain neutral' and not comment on Bambie Thug
The European Broadcasting Union warned Israel's commentators to "remain neutral" and not make comments about last year's Irish hopeful Bambie Thug. In May last year, a row erupted after Bambie – who qualified for the final – called on Israel to be removed from the song contest after comments made about them by an Israeli Eurovision commentator on Kan, Israel's public service broadcaster. The commentator warned viewers that their song Doomsday Blue would be "the most scary" of the night. He also noted that Bambie Thug liked to "speak negatively about Israel". "But we can talk about that later. Prepare your curses," he said. After last year's Eurovision, it emerged that at least 16 delegations had filed complaints about the Israeli delegation's attitude. It also emerged that as many as six countries threatened to withdraw half an hour before the start of the final, which included Norway, Greece, Portugal, Ireland, the UK and Switzerland. Now in a leaked document to Spanish website, verTele, the letter from the EBU to KAN shows Israel's slap on the wrist from last year. The site was given access to the 'warning notice' letter that the EBU sent to the Israeli channel KAN for its attitude at Eurovision 2024, as well as the report resulting from the independent investigation that was carried out after the festival, and the document with which the EBU transferred these 'recommendations' to its 'roadmap'. The document dated May 11, 2024—the day of the Eurovision 2024 final — is the letter that the European Broadcasting Union sent to the Israeli broadcaster. Emailed to Sharon Drikes, KAN Head of Delegation, it states: "We are writing to you further to the reporting of certain breaches of applicable EBU rules for this year ESC by the members of KAN's delegation. "These concerns namely the Israeli media team and commentators. "In particular, we have received official complaints that the Israeli media team has behaved over the past days in a rather intrusive, offensive and provocative manner towards other delegations. "In that respect, we would kindly remind you that Participating Broadcasters are all required to respect the filming rules applicable for delegations and the ESC Rules2 which set principles to be respected when filming backstage or in the Event premises. "In particular, it is expected from Participating Broadcasters to respect privacy, provide fair coverage, avoid harmful or offensive content and does not bring disrepute to the ESC." The letter also addresses the derogatory comments made by KAN hosts towards other performances. "In addition, it has come to our attention that KAN's commentators have made discriminatory comments towards performances of certain countries, and namely towards the Irish performance. "In that respect, we would like to remind you that Section 2.2.16 of Part 2 of the ESC Rules3 states that 'commentators shall remain neutral and should not make unduly discriminatory comments about the contestants or the songs'. "In view of this, we hereby give KAN formal notice to respect the rules applicable to the ESC which are there to protect the smooth operation of the ESC and its integrity." The letter went on to state that the delegation was moved from the delegation area "in order to avoid further incidents and complaints and we hereby urge you to ensure that all members of your delegation abide by all applicable rules and adopt at all times a behaviour in line with the ESC values." The Union insisted that in order to punish "any behaviour that damages the reputation and/or integrity of the shows" they could apply financial sanctions , outlining in the same letter the rules of the festival that the Israeli KAN allegedly ignored.
RTÉ News
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Eurovision - what's next for Ireland?
Last night, Emmy's Eurovision party came to a sudden end at the St Jacobshalle in Basel, Switzerland. After a busy week of rehearsals, promotions and build-up, the Norwegian singer's entry Laika Party failed to qualify for Saturday's Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final. Ten of the sixteen countries in the second semi-final got the votes to see them safely through to the final, and the stage is now set for the 26 finalists to compete to win the 69th edition of the competition on Saturday night. It has been a difficult pill for Irish fans to swallow after the celebrations last year when Bambie Thug sailed into the final, so are there steps to be taken to ensure our success in the future? Eurovision Song contest Tom - ESC Tom - is the host of a YouTube channel which celebrates all things Eurovision. All week in Basel, he was crunching the numbers, following the odds, and he was clear that Ireland had a battle on its hands to qualify. Last night after the semi-final, he told RTÉ News that he had been optimistic in the build-up because "it's such a catchy song", but he added that when the bookies were saying that it was not going to qualify, "I was a little bit prepared for this, but I am disappointed." For the fans outside the venue, that same word rang true: disappointment. Many, including friends Michelle and Martina, who had travelled from Ireland, made it clear they thought Emmy had done a "wonderful job" and they were "very grateful to her for all she had done for Ireland" and that she "should be proud." Emmy herself spoke about how grateful she was for the experience, and wrote a message on her social media saying, "I'm SO sorry, Ireland. We will forever love you and be grateful and honoured to have represented you." Sharp disappointment from all sides, and some Eurovision Irish fans are now calling for a change to how the Irish candidate is chosen. Even though Ireland has not placed highly in recent years, with the last win coming almost thirty years ago in 1996 for Eimear Quinn's The Voice, there is a deep and on-going affection for Eurovision in Ireland. It was sparked when an 18-year-old schoolgirl Dana first won the contest for Ireland in 1970 with All Kinds Of Everything. Ten years later, when Johnny Logan scooped the top spot with What's Another Year? in his white suit, the die was cast and Irish fans took ownership of the competition. His win again in 1987 with Hold Me Now cemented the deal. Then the glory days in the 1990s when Ireland had an impressive run of winners, including Linda Martin with Why Me? in 1992, a song also written by Logan, Niamh Kavanagh's In Your Eyes in 1993, and Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan with Rock 'n' Roll Kids in 1994. At this point in this year's betting, Sweden is topping the poll for tomorrow night's competition. If they win, they will knock Ireland off the top spot in the Eurovision hierarchy. Both Ireland and Sweden are currently tied at seven wins each, so an eighth win for Sweden will mean an unwelcome update to the record books. So why can't Ireland reclaim its former glory on the Eurovision stage? For Michael Kealy, head of the RTE Delegation, it is a competition that is "getting harder and harder to do well in." Speaking in Basel after last night's disappointment he said, "I am like a broken record sometimes, about the constraints that RTE have unfortunately compared to other broadcasters around Europe. "Look at the time and effort that other countries put into, selecting and supporting an act, the 360 degree support you need from social media from the moment they are selected". For Irish fans, they continue to have questions about RTÉ's approach to the selection process and Ireland's reliance on a single dedicated Late Late Show Eurosong special to choose the final entry. When asked if Ireland needed to change this, Mr Kealy pointed out "what we did this year was exactly the same as we did last year, which got us a top 10 finalist with Bambie Thug." He pointed to the differences in the scales here and went on to describe how Finland's entry, for example, is chosen in front of a massive audience at an arena. He outlined his view that "it's a question of resources and it's a simple as that," adding that "you don't want to hear about RTÉ's woes from me but that's the truth." Experts and devoted fans like ESCTom agree about the gaps between the selection processes here and other European competitors, too. ESCTom told RTÉ News, "There are 37 eligible countries in this competition - with 26 of them hosting dedicated national finals and shows including rounds, semi-finals and then finals to choose their songs. "Eurovision fans like myself have been calling for this for Ireland for years." In his view this approach would lead to showing "the Irish public several options and letting them choose a really great final competitor." But while the fans continue to thrash out the mechanics and processes behind the Eurovision spotlight, it is clear that even without the wins in recent years, the song contest continues to hold a unique place in people's hearts and it has a magic that is inexplicable to many. Just ask nine-year-old Dubliner Katie Lovett whose parents flew her to Basel this week as a special treat because she is such a big Eurovision fan. In her lifetime, Ireland has only made it to the final once, with Bambie Thug last year, and yet she loves the competition. "I love music and I love that loads of different people come from different countries and I just think it's really nice." she said. After the lights come down on the grand final in Basel tomorrow night, Ireland's Eurovision fans will once more be knee deep in analysis of what can be done to get Ireland back in centre stage, because who doesn't Laika party?
Irish Independent
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
What next for Ireland after failing to reach Eurovision final for eighth time in 10 years?
It had been hoped Ryan O'Shaughnessy's qualification in 2018 could turn the tide after four years stuck in the semi-finals, but Ireland – still barely holding onto the joint record for the highest number of wins – returned to the wilderness for six more years until Bambie Thug again raised the nation's hopes last year. The 'ouija pop' artist finished in sixth place, the first top 10 result since Jedward were so good in 2011 that we sent them again the following year. However, the new dawn presented by Bambie Thug went behind another cloud last night, as it was revealed Ireland would not be heading to the grand final in Basel. Where did it all go wrong for the country that once won the contest three times in a row – and will we ever again manage to merely qualify three times in a row? The Irish delegation has been led by Michael Kealy since 2013, who has shared his thoughts on the country's Eurovision finish each year. Here is what he has said after each of the last seven Eurovision Song Contests – from what worked to what didn't. 2024 – Bambie Thug finishes sixth in the final with Doomsday Blue A memorable performance in Malmo landed Bambie Thug in top ten, Kealy hoping their success could be the beginning of 'a renaissance period' for Ireland. 'I always thought we were only one great artist and one great song away from a good result,' he said, praising the 'powerful team' and 'clear idea' that Bambie had. 'It is not that we [RTÉ] have had a different attitude to the contest, it's not. [It's because] a great artist comes out of nowhere… and has a vision that connects with people.' 2023 – Wild Youth fails to qualify with We Are One Band Wild Youth did not crack the code to qualification in Liverpool, with their song We Are One not making it past the semi-final. ADVERTISEMENT In the aftermath, Kealy said he 'would agree' that Ireland's selection process should be separated from The Late Late Show, He told RTÉ's The Ray D'Arcy Show that RTÉ has been 'chronically underfunded' for decades, which 'shows particularly when it comes to us putting on entertainment shows'. "When it comes to entertainment, you need scale to make it look as impressive as a show that you would see in other European countries, and the truth is our facilities in RTÉ are not sufficient to mount shows like that." 2022 – Brooke Scullion fails to qualify with That's Rich! It was a surprise when Brooke Scullion, with her catchy pop song That's Rich!, did not qualify in Italy in 2022. Kealy said the singer had reached the high standard needed to succeed in a tough competition, but told The Irish Sun that she potentially lost out in the jury vote. Six professional juries from the second semi-final were removed that year due to irregular voting patterns. 2021 – Lesley Roy fails to qualify with Maps Singer Lesley Roy had a second chance at Eurovision in 2021 after the contest was cancelled due to the pandemic the year before, but it was not to be. She later said there had been technical issues before the performance. 2019 – Sarah McTernan fails to qualify with 22 A catchy track did not translate to success in Tel Aviv in 2019 and while McTernan put in a strong performance, Kealy said going on stage in the 'notoriously difficult' number two slot had been a challenge. "But that's the breaks. It's a tough, tough competition, it's not as easy as it once was, there are over 40 countries taking part, it's a difficult, difficult competition and it attracts top professionals from around Europe,' he said. "Other countries plough in huge resources into the competition which unfortunately a small broadcaster like RTÉ just doesn't have so we have to be clever with what we do with the limited resources we have.' 2018 – Ryan O'Shaughnessy finishes 16th in final with Together A strong finish by Ryan O'Shaughnessy in Portugal in 2018 marked some progress for Ireland in the Eurovision, with Kealy saying his success helped boost entries to the represent Ireland the following year. 2017 – Brendan Murray fails to qualify with Dying to Try A hot air balloon on stage in Kyiv did not raise Ireland's chances with Murray's song, with Kealy saying he was 'devastated' for the singer. He added: "I'm not sure people appreciate how hard it is to qualify these days – it's a completely different competition to how it was when we used to win back in the 90s.'
Irish Independent
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
What next for Ireland after failing to reach Eurovision final for eighth time in ten years
It had been hoped that Ryan O'Shaughnessy's qualification in 2018 could turn the tide after four years stuck in the semi-finals, but Ireland – still barely holding onto the joint record for the highest number of wins – returned to the wilderness for six more years until Bambie Thug again raised the nation's hopes. The 'ouija pop' artist achieved a sixth place finish last year, the first top ten result since Jedward were so good in 2011 that we sent them again the following year. However, the new dawn presented by Bambie Thug went behind another cloud last night, as it was revealed Ireland will not be heading to the grand final in Basel. Where did it all go wrong for the country that once won the contest three times in a row – and will we ever again manage to merely qualify three times in a row? The Irish delegation has been led by Michael Kealy since 2013, who has shared his thoughts on the country's Eurovision finish each year. Here is what he has said after each of the last seven Eurovision Song Contests – from what worked to what didn't. 2024 – Bambie Thug finishes sixth in the final with 'Doomsday Blue' A memorable performance in Malmo landed Bambie Thug in top ten, with RTÉ's head of delegation hoping their success could be the beginning of 'a renaissance period' for Ireland. 'I always thought we were only one great artist and one great song away from a good result,' he said, praising the 'powerful team' and 'clear idea' that Bambie had. 'It is not that we [RTÉ] have had a different attitude to the contest, it's not. [It's because] a great artist comes out of nowhere… and has a vision that connects with people.' 2023 – Wild Youth fails to qualify with 'We Are One' Band Wild Youth did not crack the code to qualification in Liverpool, with their song 'We Are Young' not making it past the semi-final. In the aftermath, Mr Kealy said he 'would agree' that Ireland's selection process should be separated from The Late Late Show, He told RTÉ's The Ray D'Arcy Show that RTÉ has been 'chronically underfunded' for decades, which 'shows particularly when it comes to us putting on entertainment shows'. "When it comes to entertainment, you need scale to make it look as impressive as a show that you would see in other European countries, and the truth is our facilities in RTÉ are not sufficient to mount shows like that." 2022 – Brooke Scullion fails to qualify with 'That's Rich!' It was a surprise when Brooke Scullion, with her catchy pop song 'That's Rich!', did not qualify in Italy in 2022. Mr Kealy said the singer had reached the high standard needed to succeed in a tough competition, but told The Irish Sun that she potentially lost out in the jury vote. Six professional juries from the second semi-final were removed that year due to irregular voting patterns. 2021 – Lesley Roy fails to qualify with 'Maps' Singer Lesley Roy had a second chance at Eurovision in 2021 after the contest was cancelled due to the pandemic the year before, but it was not to be. She later said there had been technical issues before the performance. 2019 – Sarah McTernan fails to qualify with '22' A catchy track did not translate to success in Tel Aviv in 2019 and while McTernan put in a strong performance, Mr Kealy said going on stage in the 'notoriously difficult' number two slot was a challenge. "But that's the breaks. It's a tough, tough competition, it's not as easy as it once was, there are over 40 countries taking part, it's a difficult, difficult competition and it attracts top professionals from around Europe,' he said. "Other countries plough in huge resources into the competition which unfortunately a small broadcaster like RTÉ just doesn't have so we have to be clever with what we do with the limited resources we have.' 2018 – Ryan O'Shaughnessy finishes 16th in final with 'Together' A strong finish by Ryan O'Shaughnessy in Portugal in 2018 marked some progress for Ireland in the Eurovision, with Mr Kealy saying his success helped boost entries to the represent Ireland the following year. 2017 – Brendan Murray fails to qualify with 'Dying to Try' A hot air balloon on stage in Kyiv did not raise Ireland's chances with Murray's song, with Mr Kealy saying he was 'devastated' for the singer. He added: "I'm not sure people appreciate how hard it is to qualify these days - it's a completely different competition to how it was when we used to win back in the Nineties.'
