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Extra.ie
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Eurovision viewers have their say as EMMY fails to advance to finals for Ireland
The reviews are rolling in following Ireland's failed Eurovision Song Contest bid, with many hitting out at the staging for our entry, EMMY. The Norwegian singer-songwriter took to the stage for the second round of semi-finals on Thursday with her song, Laika Party. Dressed in a silver dress, the singer sang from a rocket where she remained for the duration of the song. The reviews are rolling in following Ireland's failed Eurovision Song Contest bid, with many hitting out at the staging for our entry, Emmy. Pic: Andres Poveda Unfortunately, as catchy as the song was, it didn't make the cut with Ireland bowing out at the semi-final stages. The stacked semi-finals ended in heartbreak for five other countries alongside Ireland as Armenia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Malta advanced to Saturday's finals. Speaking after the semi-finals, Emmy admitted she was feeling 'so many emotions.' Speaking after the semi-finals, Emmy admitted she was feeling 'so many emotions.' Pic: Andres Poveda 'I am a bit sad if I have disappointed Ireland,' the 24-year-old told media, 'But at the same time they have been so nice and supportive and we have received so many beautiful messages.' She added: 'We couldn't be happier, or prouder or more grateful to be representing them, and that they chose us.' Viewers and fans had their say online, with many sad to see Ireland fail to qualify. Ooof. Emmy deserved to qualify. Was head and heels a tougher night than the first semi. Would be happy with Finland, Germany or Spain for the win.#Eurovision #Eurovision2025 — Barry O'Rourke (@orourke28) May 15, 2025 One said: 'Emmy absolutely delivered her performance! Laika would be proud #Eurovision #Eurovision2025.' Another wrote: 'Ooof. Emmy deserved to qualify. Was head and heels a tougher night than the first semi. Would be happy with Finland, Germany or Spain for the win #Eurovision.' A third added: 'Gutted Emmy didn't make it through to the #Eurovision2025 final for Ireland tonight. It'll always be a Laika Party for me.' gutted Emmy didn't make it through to the #Eurovision2025 final for Ireland tonight 😔 it'll always be a Laika Party for me 💚🤍🧡 — lauren ♡︎✨ (@laurenp_xxx) May 15, 2025 Others weren't as on board with Ireland's entry, with one person branding the staging 'poor.' They said: 'While #emmy is a lovely person the staging of the song was very poor! Very little movement and colours were used 2 years back for Brooke! We are just not able to compete! #rte #Eurovision2025.' Another shared: 'I want to say good things about this, but I have to be honest… marty whelan would wanna simmer down 💀 i'm sure emmy is nice and all, but Laika Party was on the irish singles chart for 1 week, and it was at 49… the #Eurovision fans liked it, but clearly it wasn't many people's number 1, or enough to get a vote… — 𝐿𝒜𝒩𝒜 𝑀𝒪𝑅𝒢𝒜𝒩 (@lanasvapejuice) May 15, 2025 'I cannot stand Emmy's voice and this entire performance is extremely static and repetitive even junior #eurovision entries are not this cheap-looking. 'Better luck next time, Ireland.' A third hit out at RTÉ's Eurovision commentator, Marty Whelan, writing: 'Marty Whelan would wanna simmer down. I'm sure Emmy is nice and all, but Laika Party was on the Irish singles chart for 1 week, and it was at 49… 'The #Eurovision fans liked it, but clearly it wasn't many people's number 1, or enough to get a vote…' Despite holding the joint record of the most wins throughout the history of the competition, Ireland has only managed to advance to the finals twice in the last ten years. Last year, Bambie Thug finished in sixth place — our best placing in more than 20 years — with Doomsday Blue. In 2018, Ryan O'Shaughnessy placed 16th overall after getting to the finals with his song, Together.
Irish Times
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Eurovision 2025 disappointment for Emmy as Laiki Party fails to enter winning orbit
Ireland has failed to make it into the grand final of Eurovision Song Contest 2025 . It was a nail-biting finish for our entry Emmy and her cosmic song Laiki Party, which failed to ignite voters in the second semi-final of the contest held in Basel, Switzerland. Ireland's entry was one of a group also including Australia, Montenegro, Greece, Georgia, Czechia and Bosnia that failed to make it onto the Eurovision stage this Saturday. The song, about a Soviet dog that became famous for becoming the first living being to orbit the Earth in space way back in 1957, did not do the business for the 24-year-old Norwegian-born singer, who had hoped to replicate the showing of Bambie Thug – who at Malmo 2024 was the first Irish entrant to make the final since Ryan O'Shaughnessy in Lisbon seven years ago. READ MORE Although Laika's voyage ended tragically all those years ago when she succumbed to overheating and stress after 10 days, Emmy and her writing team decided to spin a tale with a happier twist – but it took a downward trajectory when voting failed to go our way. [ Eurovision 2025 second semi-final live updates: Ireland's Emmy is knocked out before grand final Opens in new window ] Twenty entrants, 10 from Tuesday night's semi-final and 10 from tonight's second semi-final, will join the big five countries of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, along with reigning champion Switzerland, who as host are guaranteed a slot after their act, Nemo, was victorious last year. Twenty-six will participate in the final. The countries qualifying tonight in a show that was all about bright lights, eye-popping costumes and multiple outfit changes were Lithuania, Israel, Armenia, Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Latvia, Malta and Greece. Since the semi-final stages were introduced to the contest, Ireland has now failed to qualify 12 times, and gotten through just seven times. Emmy and the delegation from RTÉ will not be having a party in the sky in Basle on Saturday night, but a pity party at the airport. The singer and her performing entourage should however be proud of their stage presence in a show that is watched by millions around the world annually. Unfortunately, Emmy has ended up adding her name to the growing list of Irish entries being pipped at the post in trying to reach the final.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Eurovision's biggest moments in last round before grand final
Remember Monday gave a nod to Bucks Fizz as they performed at the Eurovision Song Contest's second semi-final. Best friends Charlotte Steele, Holly-Anne Hull and Lauren Byrne - who met at college in 2013 - performed in Basel in Switzerland on Thursday, 15 May. However, they weren't one of the 16 countries fighting for the 10 remaining slots in Saturday's final because they were already through as one of the Big Five. Their performance was one of the highlights of the semi-final, which included commentary from Rylan and Scott Mills for viewers in the UK and included a stage dive, a song about Soviet space dog Laika and some eye-opening outfits. We have a look at some of the night's standout moments. Rylan declared that Remember Monday's vocals were "ridiculously off the chain" after they performed What The Hell Just Happened? during the show. Singers Charlotte Steele, Holly-Anne Hull and Lauren Byrne gave it their all on stage, with a glossy routine that included a little nod to former UK Eurovision champs Bucks Fizz. In 1981, Cheryl Baker and co gave the UK one of its biggest moments at the contest with their skirt-rip move during Making Your Mind Up, and went on to win. Steele, Hull and Byrne started their song with long skirts, then whipped them off to reveal shorter ones underneath as they strode down the stage. "If that was the final performance, especially with juries, they've got to love us... come on, you can't deny them!" Rylan insisted. "Zero nerves," added an impressed Mills. Singer EMMY made a splash for Ireland with her catchy number based on the story of Laika, the Soviet dog who was sent into space in 1957. Laika orbited the Earth on Sputnik II, but died after a few hours. However, Norwegian singer EMMY's quirky track Laika Party reimagined her story, and had her living on and enjoying her days in space. "I hope Laika never died and that she spins around us still, and that she has a party in the air and always will," it went. "I hope that she is dancing every night among the stars. I hopе Laika is alive." The performance also featured some dramatic staging, with a huge dog of lights above EMMY's head as she belted out the track. Austria's act JJ entered the semi-final as one of the favourites, and he showed everyone why. His performance of pop opera track Wasted Love showcased his powerful vocals, and the crowd went wild as he sang on an eye-catching set made to look like a sea scene. "That was an incredible song," said Rylan. With just days to go until the grand finale, Sweden is thought to be a shoe-in for the win. But JJ, 24, is behind them with odds of 5/2 from bookmaker William Hill. It wouldn't be Eurovision without some outlandish outfits, and it was Nina Zizic's unusual white get up that had Mills and Rylan scratching their heads. The singer - Montenegro's act in the contest - hit the stage in a white dress with a huge circle of material around her head. The UK's commentators couldn't work out what it was, with Rylan wondering: "We are not sure whether it is a large hat, a coat or a quilt?" Read more: Eurovision What is Eurovision bloc voting and who benefits from it? Eurovision 2025's biggest controversies, from Israel boycotts to lyric rows Where are the UK's Eurovision winners now? After Zizic had finished singing her song Dobrodosli, he joked: "I know what it reminds me of now. You know what a dog wears when it's had an op and it's not allowed to scratch?" Israeli performer Yuval Raphael - a survivor of the 2023 Hamas attacks - made it through to the final. It was reported that local campaigners apparently attempted to place Palestinian flags on the parade route when the contest was launched. However, everything went smoothly as she performed New Day Will Rise on stage on the night. Eurovision host Hazel Brugger launched herself into the crowd in a stage dive after explaining that she wanted to see if the fans could carry her. "I know that you can metaphorically carry us through the evening but can you actually literally carry me? Let's find out!" she said. The star, who was clad in a sparkly silver dress, then lay back and let herself be passed over the heads of the audience. She carried on interviewing people as she was moved along, asking fans their ages or whether it was their first Eurovision. The scene tickled Rylan, who giggled: "I kind of love her!" Malta's entry entertained the crowd with a performance of her song, Serving, that was pure Eurovision. Singer Miriana Conte pulled out all the stops with a dazzling set that saw her singing inside a giant pair of shiny red lips. Her dancers gave a racy display, laying on their backs and parting their legs as she performed. The routine closed with Conte and some of the dancers bouncing enthusiastically on huge red exercise balls as the fans clapped and cheered. "This girl is great and she has really embraced Eurovision with her arms and everything else," said Rylan. The semi-final also included a segment devoted to songs that were meant to have been performed at Eurovision, but didn't make it to the stage because of the coronavirus pandemic. Brugger told the audience: "Five years ago celebrating together was impossible. In March of 2020 the Eurovision Song Contest was cancelled for that year, the first time in its long history." Her co-host Sandra Studer chimed in: "The world stood still because of a pandemic and many songs were never sung on the stage they were actually made for... it's time to fill that gap! Tonight some of the lost Eurovision acts of 2020 finally get the stage and the audience they deserve." Several acts then performed the Eurovision tracks they'd had to scrap amid Covid. Once the votes were counted, 10 acts went through to the final this weekend. The countries that made it included Lithuania, Israel, Armenia, Denmark, Austria and Luxembourg. Finland, Latvia, Malta and Greece were also successful. However, the Eurovision journey ended for the acts from Australia, Montenegro, Ireland, Georgia, Czechia and Serbia. The Eurovision 2025 final will be broadcast on BBC One on Saturday, 17 May.
The Irish Sun
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Eurovision viewers left divided over Ireland's ‘cheesy pop' entry Emmy's explosive performance
EUROVISION viewers were left divided after Ireland's entry performed a "cheesy pop" number. The 3 Emmy performed an incredible rendition of her hit Laika Party at Eurovision 3 Emmy sang her original hit Laika Party 3 Eurovision viewers were left divided by her performance 16 countries are hoping for a place in the Grand Final of Eurovision this Saturday, May 17. Norwegian native Emmy was the third act to take to the stage tonight, lighting up the arena with her fantastic pop hit. The singer donned a silver metallic look with a dramatic hood and matching thigh high shiny boots . READ MORE IN EUROVISION Emmy rose above the stage on an impressive LED platform while she belted out the tune. Dancers dressed in similar metallic trousers busted a move to the music, while Emmy's older brother, Erlend stood playing the piano at the front. Erlend sported a super fun looking with a sequin suit and funky star-shaped glasses. However, Eurovision viewers were quick to react to the star 's foot-tapping performance as they took to social media . MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN Henry gushed: "WOW she DESERVES to qualify. It's very cheesy pop but I love it." Candice said: " Ireland , I love it! Has this 90s dance song vibe, not a winning entry but definitely memorable." Nicky Byrne set to make Eurovision return Pam added: "Love the staging and outfits but the song is meh." Isa remarked: "A song about Laika the astronaut dog? Ireland is SO random this year." While Tina exclaimed: "Laika Party is my winner idc." And Sam wrote: "Not a fan of Ireland's entry I won't lie." HIDDEN MESSAGE Emmy's song was inspired by the stray Soviet dog who was sent on a space mission in 1957. The two-year-old dog's flight to space on November 3, 1957 paved the way for human missions, and despite surviving in orbit, she was soon dead. Reports at the time said she was euthanised after a week, but conflicting stories after the Soviet collapse claimed Laika apparently died of overheating after only a few hours into her journey outside the Earth's atmosphere. However, Emmy's ode to the poor pooch imagines a different outcome, hence the positive song title and upbeat music.
Irish Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Eurovision fans let thoughts be known as Ireland's Emmy splits opinion
Ireland's Emmy has taken to the Eurovision stage, fighting to secure a coveted spot in Saturday's grand final. The stakes are high as 15 countries battle it out for just 10 places, and the tension in the arena in Basel, Switzerland is palpable to even viewers at home. Emmy's performance was a spectacle to behold. Standing atop a silver spaceship, clad in an equally silver pleated skirt, she captured the crowd's attention from the moment she appeared. Her brother stood just below her, quietly playing the keyboard, while four dancers energised the stage with sharp, synchronised moves. Ireland seemingly knocked it out of the park, eliciting a great reception from the audience in the arena - and if that's anything to go by, Ireland could well be on its way to the final. The Norwegian singer is proudly representing Ireland with her song Laika Party - a heartfelt tribute to Laika, the Soviet dog who became the first canine in space back in 1957. Inspired by Laika's tragic story, Emmy reimagines her fate as an endless, joyous party among the stars, turning sorrow into celebration. However, Emmy faces tough odds tonight. Bookmakers place her at 4/6 to miss out on the final and just 11/10 to qualify, ranking behind 11 of the 15 competing nations. With the show still ongoing, Eurovision fans have been quick to share their thoughts on social media - and Ireland's entry has certainly divided opinion. On the positive side, many viewers praised the striking visuals and emotional depth of the performance. One person said: "Love the color effects during Emmys song. Hope that Ireland gets to the final this Saturday. If Emmy doesn't go through to the final this Saturday night then we have some explaining to go through." Another added: "Ireland turning Laika the space dog into a space DJ is the kind of chaotic kindness Eurovision was made for." Someone else wrote: "I'm listening to a seemingly upbeat song, but I feel so sad because it's not really a happy song. Sending Laika to the space is one of the most unforgivable and most ridiculous thing human being did in the name of "science" Props to Ireland for sending this to the #Eurovision." A fourth shared: "Great performance from Emmy It's the first time I connected with the song." Others said: "Ireland giving a masterclass in how staging can really elevate a song", "Loving the electropop/bubblegum vibes from Ireland" and "IRELAND is easily sailing throughhhhhh!!" But not all were convinced. Critics found the staging too static and the song less engaging. One person said: "On further reflections of Ireland, I'm wondering whether Emmy staying in place for 3 mins and relying purely on the dancers makes its too static? Especially with Latvia following and Luxembourg later on to follow." Another wrote: "ireland what was that.." Someone else sarcastically shared: "Go Ireland….give us nothing!!" A fourth person said: "That was horrendous the song for Ireland." Another shared: "My opinion so far in the 2nd semi-final: Australia: rubbish Montenegro: rubbish Ireland: mediocre Latvia: confusing Armenia: hunky & noisy." With such mixed reactions, it seems that Emmy's Laika Party has left a strong impression. The final results will reveal if Ireland's bold, space-themed tribute can capture enough votes to blast off into the Eurovision final on Saturday night.
