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Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Donal Skehan calls for current Eurosong format to be scrapped
Celebrity chef Donal Skehan has called on the Eurosong format to be scrapped, as he praised RTE for asking song contest bosses for a breakdown of our vote. Drama unfolded earlier this month after Ireland's hopeful, Norwegian singer Emmy, failed to qualify in this year's song contest with Laika Party, as Austrian entry JJ eventually won performing Wasted Love. The results prompted calls by RTE to investigate the voting breakdown by the EBU. Speaking on the first day of Bord Bia Bloom yesterday, Donal – who took part in the 2008 Eurosong contest to find Ireland's entry – described Emmy not making it to the final as "tough", saying RTE are right to ask for the voting breakdown. Donal said: "Oh, it was tough. And I feel for Emmy, because I think she represented us really well. "But you know, when we were judging on the night, I always kind of thought it was one of those songs, it was going to go either way, and we were just unlucky." The telly chef added: "Look, Ireland needs to do something different. Ireland needs to do something special. "And it needs to be something that comes from the artists themselves, a real creative look at what it's going to be. "And you have to remember that it's not just the Eurosong stage in Ireland, it's a stage in front of 250 million people that they have to perform on. "So it really has to be thought the whole way through. "I said it on the night [of Eurosong]. I mean, I think you look around Europe and you see Sweden has Melody Festival, and Finland has this huge stadium show with four nights across, you know, a couple of months and they create really strong entries because of that. "And also the entry, the competitors get the opportunity to perform on that level and that stage that is similar to Eurovision. So I think we do need to step it up." Donal hit the headlines earlier this year when Eurosong hopeful Samantha Mumba questioned his credentials to judge other artists. He revealed there has been "no communication at all" with the Gotta Tell You singer. He said: "I don't know if I'd be asked [back to Eurosong]. But, as I said, in some way the format itself just needs to change, you know. "And I think it is hard for people to be judged on the night. "And I think, in essence, what we want to see as a format is something that you put people forward and the entry stands alone." He praised RTE for looking for the voting breakdown of Eurovision last week, saying: "Everyone who was watching was a bit confused about what was going on, particularly with the mood and the feeling of what most Irish people feel." President Michael D Higgins opened the first rain-soaked day of the five-day event in Dublin's Phoenix Park, and called on more support for local producers. During his 20-minute speech, he received a round of applause after passionately telling people that "harmful retail practices" are damaging local producers. The President said: "May I also take a moment to add my voice in support of those commercial producers who have stayed with the production of vegetables, those who labour diligently and all too often without due recognition or remuneration. "Their numbers, sadly, have dwindled to fewer than 100. "These men and women are facing untenable pressures, not least the harmful retail practices that result in produce being sold as 'loss leaders' below the cost of production. "This is a disgrace. This cannot continue. If we are serious about food security, about fairness, sincere in our commitment to sustainability, we must support our shrinking community of producers who play a vital role in sustainable food production." Mr Higgins also spoke about the impact of climate change and biodiversity, saying: "Bloom's ongoing success is undoubtedly a reflection too of our welcome, albeit late, collective acknowledgment across society that we live on a fragile planet, one that is facing catastrophic climate change and ecological breakdown. "We are living, as we all know, in an era of profound environmental challenges, one that is defined by shared interacting crises. "The world's leading climate scientists have told us, with increasing urgency, that the planet we share is in peril. Biodiversity loss and the accelerating and devastating consequences of a warming world are no longer projections, they are now our lived experience." He added: "The impacts of climate change in Ireland are impacts with which we are all familiar. They are reflected by not only the threat but the experience of the consequences of rising sea levels, and also, of course, by an increased frequency and severity of weather events such as high-impact storms, droughts and floods. "Too many of us will have experienced the dreadful consequences of Storm Eowyn at the end of January. "May I take this opportunity to thank again all those who worked to address the severe consequences, including all of the first-responders, for their valiant efforts. "We have to make ourselves aware of the imbalance between those who are carrying the consequences of a warming Earth and those who contributed to where we find ourselves in terms of the climate change which has been provoked." He then visited the show gardens and stopped by at Nature's Symphony: Celebrating Organic Growth. The garden highlights Ireland's commitment to advancing its organic agriculture sector and is also closely guarded by Macnas Con Mor, the artwork which the President referenced in his speech earlier that day. He said: "I am deeply honoured that the garden includes a reference to my own long-standing support for organic food production, sustainability, and the arts. "The presence of Con Mor, the gentle eco-conscious giant from the West of Ireland, is a particular delight. Con Mor, a protector of birds, lover of trees, symbol of ancestral wisdom, reminds us of the myths and stories that connect us to our landscapes, and that continue to inspire new generations of guardians of the Earth." Taoiseach Micheal Martin visited a number of gardens and met with food producers at Bloom. Elsewhere, Repak's Most Sorted Garden, designed by James Purdy, won Gold and Best in Category in the prestigious Large Garden category. Created to engage the public in the future of recycling, the Most Sorted Garden serves as an example that waste is not an inevitability, but a challenge that can be solved through smart design and sustainable thinking. James said: "This garden is about showing that sustainability doesn't mean compromise, it can be beautiful, functional, and thought-provoking. I'm grateful to Repak for the opportunity to tell this story and for supporting a vision where every element is intentional, regenerative, and truly circular." Speaking about the win, Repak chief Zoe Kavanagh said: "We are incredibly proud of this achievement. James Purdy has brought Repak's vision to life with creativity and conviction. "The Most Sorted Garden embodies the circular economy by proving that with considered design, we can eliminate waste and give materials a second life." She added: "This award is a testament to the importance of sustainability and innovation in shaping a greener future for Ireland."
The National
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
From Dubai to Eurovision glory: JJ reveals his next big move after contest win
Standing in front of the mirror at home in Dubai and singing Hannah Montana songs, 13-year-old Johannes Pietsch dreamt of one day becoming a pop star. 'I've always believed that you can never dream too big,' Pietsch, now 24, tells The National. 'And that nothing is unreachable.' Better known by his stage name JJ, he realised that dream two weeks ago when he was crowned the 2025 winner of the Eurovision Song Contest. JJ's high-pitched operatic pop number, Wasted Love, had been a bookies' favourite ever since he was named as Austria 's representative in the long-running competition in January. Twenty-six performers – out of an initial 37 – performed in the finals in Basel, Switzerland. Each performer represented a country from the European Broadcasting Union, and contestants were voted through to the finals by television viewers. 'It was a crazy feeling to win for Austria,' JJ says, still on a high from his win. 'It was a really long show and a lot of intense waiting. But when we finally got the points it was euphoric. I was going through a roller coaster of emotions.' The son of an Austrian father and Filipina mother, JJ was born in Vienna, but spent 15 formative years in Dubai where his father ran an IT business, before the family moved back to Austria. 'I had a pretty great childhood in Dubai,' says JJ, who went to the German International School. 'In Dubai we always had the latest in everything, from gadgets to the newest toys – everything that we saw coming from the States [was] in Dubai a week later. 'And I remember how much fun we had as kids. It was so diverse, a lot of different cultures meeting at one place. That was really nice.' It was also in Dubai where JJ's love for music was nurtured. 'We had karaoke parties every weekend at our house and that's where I started singing,' he laughs. 'The first song I learnt to sing was Because of You by Kelly Clarkson. 'And my dad was a big fan of classical music so the next morning we'd be listening to Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, and that's when I continued to develop my interest in classical music as well.' His blend of classical and pop music with operatic flair, set JJ apart from the competition at Eurovision, which is known for sparkly outfits, cheesy Europop lyrics and flamboyance. He says he learnt to sing falsetto at his parents' karaoke parties. 'After going through puberty, I realised that I still had a high singing voice. At first, it was just a cool party trick to imitate a soprano, but as I got better, I continued to work on that and eventually decided that I wanted to pursue a career in opera.' After moving back to Vienna as a teenager, JJ took part in reality shows including The Voice UK in 2020 and Austrian talent show Starmania in 2021. He also attended the opera school at the Vienna State Opera where he now performs. Last year, JJ and his collaborators wrote Wasted Love, a song about unrequited love that showcases his unique falsetto voice and blends classical music with techno beats. They sent the song to ORF, the Austrian public broadcaster, which selects the country's representative for Eurovision, and JJ was eventually picked following an audition. At Eurovision, which began on May 13, JJ, along with Sweden's three-man band Kaj, quickly became odds-on favourites to win. But it was during rehearsals for the grand final on May 17, that he began to think he actually had a chance in winning. 'My biggest competitors were Sweden, and they came up to me and said that they were blown away by my stage performance. And then the audience was also cheering even louder when I came on stage. 'That's when it started to click. I was like: 'Oh, so we could actually win, because the people are more hyped for me than they were for Sweden'. 'Then I just thought: 'OK, I'll just enjoy it and give my everything and we will see who wins.' 'But I must say, Sweden did an amazing job on their performance. I really respect them so much. They are the loveliest people, the three of them, and we have a great friendship too, so it wasn't really like a competition in that sense.' JJ is a little exhausted from the press tour following his win, but grateful for everything. For now, he's looking forward to a holiday in July, before he returns to the studio to make new music. He's also in discussions for a potential tour. 'I want to say thank you so much to everybody for all of their love and support. It's been really overwhelming how much love I've been receiving from every single part of the world,' he says. 'And the entire Filipino community in Dubai, I've been feeling so much love from them, and also the locals in Dubai and all of my friends that I still have there. I can't wait to finally bring new music to all of them and hopefully come for a tour to the Middle East. I would love to come back. That would be amazing.'
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Eurovision 2025 watched by 166 million
The Eurovision Song Contest confirmed its place as the world's biggest live televised music event with 166 million viewers in 37 countries watching the 2025 competition, organisers have said. This year's 69th edition in Basel, Switzerland, attracted three million more viewers than last year's contest in Malmö, Sweden, said the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The EBU said Eurovision had seen significant increases in youth engagement with a record 60% of viewers aged 15-24 tuning into the competition. The 17 May final was won by 24-year-old Austrian JJ, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, singing Wasted Love, which blended techno beats with operatic vocals. "This year's Eurovision Song Contest has once again demonstrated its extraordinary power to unite millions across continents through the joy of music and shared celebration," said Eurovision director Martin Green. After the drama as the votes from national juries and the public were revealed, Austria finished with 436 points, ahead of Israel - whose participation drew protests - on 357, and Estonia on 356. Votes were cast from 146 states, with viewers in the United States and Canada voting the most outside Europe, ahead of Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, and South Africa. The final commanded viewing shares were above 50% in 19 of the 37 European markets, led by Iceland (98%), Finland (91%), Sweden (90%), Norway (85%), and Denmark (75%). The viewing shares in Finland and in France (40%) were the highest ever for Eurovision in those countries. The highest average audience was in Germany, with 9.1 million viewers - the best figures since 2016, said the EBU. Meanwhile, there were 969 million views on Instagram and 748.5 million on TikTok. Following JJ's win, next year's event will be hosted in Austria. Last week, Eurovision director Martin Green released an open letter following voting concerns surrounding this year's competition. The statement came amid ongoing debates regarding Israel's promotion of its entry, as well as discussions among several national broadcasters about the current voting system. In his letter, Martin Green said Eurovision employs specially developed systems designed to prevent fraudulent voting. "Every year the Reference Group for the Contest, which contains representatives from and acts on behalf of our Members, studies the data provided by our voting partner Once to make recommendations of any actions available to us to ensure our rules and systems remain fail safe and take into account contemporary external factors such as advances in technology and external influences," he wrote. "This process will happen as it always does in June this year."
Extra.ie
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Eurovision winner JJ says he hopes next year's contest will take place without Israel
This year's Eurovision winner, JJ, says he would like next year's competition to take place without Israel. 'It's very disappointing… I would like Eurovision to be held in Vienna next year, without Israel. But the ball is in the EBU's court. We, the artists, can only speak out on the matter,' said the Austrian artist to Spanish newspaper El País. The 24-year-old singer, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, claimed victory at the song contest with the song 'Wasted Love.' In a tightly contested final, Pietsch finished just ahead of Israel's Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 7 attacks. Her song 'New Day Will Rise' received the most public votes. 'There should be greater transparency regarding the [public vote]. This year, everything was very strange about it,' said Pietsch. His remarks echo growing concern among several national broadcasters. Spain's national broadcaster RTVE has requested a full audit of the voting system, with Ireland and Finland also expressing support for a review. Belgium's VRT has threatened to withdraw from the contest if concerns go unaddressed. The director of Eurovision, Martin Green, made a statement this week calling the contest's voting system 'the most advanced in the world'. Pietsch, who is queer, also told El Pas he attempted to bring an LGBTQ+ flag on stage during his final performance, but 'the organisers caught [him] at the last minute.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Eurovison winner calls for Israel to be banned from next song contest
The winner of last week's Eurovision has called for Israel to be barred from competing in the song contest next year. JJ, the Austrian singer who won the competition in Switzerland with his song Wasted Love, said the country should not perform amid the ongoing war in Gaza. The 24-year-old operatic singer, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, told the Spanish newspaper El Pais: 'It is very disappointing to see Israel still participating in the contest. 'I would like the next Eurovision to be held in Vienna and without Israel.' It comes as the competition, supposed to be apolitical, faced another year of controversy over Israel's involvement given the continuing military campaign in neighbouring Gaza. Israel's Eurovision contestant, Yuval Raphael, finished in second place after securing a large margin of the public vote. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organiser of the contest, has been facing accusations of voter manipulation in favour of Israel from various national broadcasters, including the Spanish and Belgian representatives. Elsewhere, Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish prime minister, also called for Israel's exclusion from competing in the future. Ms Raphael, 24, a survivor of the Hamas assault on the Nova music festival on Oct 7 2023, was disrupted in her final performance in Basel by pro-Palestinian protesters who tried to storm the stage. She ended up scoring 357 points for her song New Day Will Rise after admitting that she had prepared to perform with booing onstage following similar treatment of Eden Golan, the Israeli contestant last year. Credit: Youth Demand Her result has caused increased scrutiny of the Eurovision voting system, in which entrants receive points from a professional jury from each country, as well as from a public vote. The maximum amount of points from any country's jury or the public is 12. Many countries awarded Israel the maximum 'douze points' for the public vote, despite their professional juries giving the country zero points. Viewers at home can vote up to 20 times for a small cost charged to each vote by text or phone call. Austria's JJ said the vote-counting system should be revised to improve transparency, echoing calls from various broadcasters to the EBU. Katia Segers, a Flemish parliamentarian, said: 'A system in which everyone can cast up to 20 votes is a system that encourages manipulation. Whether this manipulation occurred in our country and all other participating and non-participating countries must be investigated.' In response to the claims, Martin Green, the director of Eurovision, said: 'It is important to emphasise that the voting operation for the Eurovision Song Contest is the most advanced in the world and each country's result is checked and verified by a huge team of people to exclude any suspicious or irregular voting patterns. 'An independent compliance monitor reviews both jury and public vote data to ensure we have a valid result.' He added: 'We remain in constant contact with all participating broadcasters of the Eurovision Song Contest and take their concerns seriously.' JJ's remarks followed protests calling for a boycott of the competition as well as an open letter published a week before the contest, which featured more than 70 previous Eurovision contestants calling on the organisers to ban Israel and its broadcaster KAN. During last Saturday's grand finale, the Spanish broadcaster RTVE also came under fire after it took a stand against Israel's inclusion. For 16 seconds, Spanish viewers saw a black screen with white lettering in Spanish and English that read: 'When human rights are at stake, silence is not an option. Peace and justice for Palestine.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
