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Bringing snarky back - Eurovision fans slam JT's gig

Justin Timberlake will perform his catchy new tune at the Eurovision on Saturday
Justin Timberlake will perform his catchy new tune at the Eurovision on Saturday

Justin Timberlake will be bringing sexy back to the Eurovision in Stockholm this Saturday when he performs during the interval of the song contest final.

The nine-time Grammy award winner will be the first global superstar to perform at the annual song contest (tip of the hat to the Hothouse Flowers in 1988 and we'll kindly skip over Aqua performing Barbie Girl in 2001).

JT will perform his new song, Can't Stop the Feeling, which was written for his latest film, Trolls, during the interval at the grand finale of the show. 

The track is his first new music since 2013's two-part album The 20/20 Experience. 

One of the reasons why Swedish producers were so keen to have Timberlake perform during Saturday's final is because of the strong Swedish pedigree to the new song. just like every other song in the charts these days.

"This is a fantastic opportunity - we are very happy and excited that Justin Timberlake will perform his new song together with his band in our show," Sven Stojanovic, the producer of this year's Eurovision said.

"It makes it extra special that the Swedish songwriters Max Martin and Shellback have co-written and co-produced the song together with Justin Timberlake."

However, some fans have voiced their strong disapproval of Timberlake's invitation to perform at this weekend's final, saying it's out of step with the competition's tradition.

Last year's winner Måns Zelmerlöw

One commentator said that the interval act "is supposed to be about the host country, and Europe", while another claimed that he would be "taking away from the performances by competing countries" and there have also been complaints that "Eurovision is turning into X Factor".  

Many of the negative comments have centred on the fact that a non-European artist is taking centre stage on such a particularly Euro event, while complaints have also focussed on why a "non contestant promoting his new album and has no relevance with Eurovision" is being given such a high profile platform.

Others however have welcomed Timberlake's inclusion and have noted that the Eurovision will be broadcast in the United States for the first time this year, so his performance may have been with a view to broadening its appeal to viewers on the other side of the Atlantic.

There will also be bonus points on the night for the first Irish person to say, "He's good......but it's no Riverdance!"

Ireland's Nicky Byrne will be hoping to book his place in the final when he competes in Thursday's second semi-final with his song, Sunlight.

Timberlake will perform as an interval act in the Grand Final to be broadcast live on Saturday May 14 at 8.00pm on RTÉ One.

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