Ireland's bid for glory at Eurovision 2023 will take centre stage tonight in the Late Late Show Eurosong Special, where Ireland's six hopefuls will battle it out to represent Ireland in Liverpool this May at the 67th Eurovision Song Contest.
Viewers at home will have the opportunity to cast their vote for their favourite song and help to decide who will represent Ireland at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
The winner of tonight's Eurosong will then perform at the Eurovision Song Contest, in front of an audience of 160 million people around the world.
The winner will be chosen by the combined votes awarded by, the Public Vote, an International Jury and a National Jury.
The six Eurosong competing acts are ADGY (Too Good for your Love), CONNOLLY (Midnight Summer Night), Wild Youth (We are One), Leila Jane (Wild), K Muni & ND, Kofi Appiah and Nevlonne Dampare (Down in the Rain), Public Image Limited (Hawaii).
The six songs were selected from hundreds of entries received by RTÉ.
Speaking about tonight's special Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy said: "This Friday is going to have a big, bright and sparkly line up of acts. Big stars, big numbers and big expectations because this could well be Ireland’s chance to reclaim their title as Eurovision winners. So, I would say get ready to party and join us for what should be quite the extravaganza."
Listen to the final six entries, who will perform live on Friday night, below:
Song No.1: Too Good for Your Love
Performer: ADGY
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Too Good for Your Love was written by ADGY (Andrew Carr) as a piano ballad during lockdown and is a collaboration with producer Boksay. The two artists worked together remotely in creating the final version of this song, which is described as "an upbeat, high-tempo dance track".
ADGY is a singer-songwriter from Co Donegal, whose music career took off in 2020 when he signed a record deal for his release Like You Do with Universal Music Group. Since then, ADGY has accumulated over 10 million streams globally across streaming platforms and radio.
He said: "I've been a songwriter for as long as I can remember, and I've written for lots of artists, as well as myself. But it's my dream to perform live on stage in front of a large audience, and I hope to do more of that this year".
Song No.2: Midnight Summer Night
Performer: CONNOLLY
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Midnight Summer Night was written one night during the pandemic when Leitir Meailláin's Jennifer Connolly was just 17 years old. Currently, in her 1st year of Creative Music Production at IADT / Sound Training College in Dublin, Jennifer says she has had a passion for music since she was a young child, and that this song plays with themes of nostalgia and the passing of time through her vocals.
"The song conveys confusion and overwhelming detachment, but overall the song implies that nothing bad lasts forever, delivering a sense of hope. To be in with a chance to share my song on such a legendary platform as Eurovision is amazing. It would be nothing less than a dream come true to bring Eurovision back home for Ireland once again."
Song No.3: We Are One
Performers: Wild Youth
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Wild Youth are a four-piece band from Dublin, who have a string of top hits in Ireland and have toured with names including Niall Horan, Lewis Capaldi, and Westlife. On top of their own sold-out tours of Ireland and the UK, Conor O'Donohoe from the band has also written a string of top hits for other artists and co-written with Moncrief and The Script.
We are One was written with Grammy-nominated songwriter Jörgen Elofsson.
Wild Youth said: "We are so delighted to be here. Eurovision is something we have always loved and would love to represent our country. We hope that everyone loves the song that we've written and believe we can be the band to represent Ireland this year."
Song No.4: Wild
Performer: Leila Jane
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Leila Jane is an indie pop singer-songwriter based in Dublin who was described as '"one to watch'" by Late Date's Cathal Murray. Imelda May selected her to be the recipient of the 'Imelda May Scholarship' at BIMM Institute Dublin, where she graduated with a first-class honours music degree.
"All Eurovision songs need a strong message, and Wild is an empowering song about the strength of a woman's spirit," Leila Jane said.
"Wild represents my love of the creative freedom I have here in Ireland. It would be an absolute honour to show Eurovision what Ireland's got!"
For the track, she teamed up with Liis Hainla, an Estonian songwriter, Finnish producer Arto Ruotsala, and British songwriter Aaron Sibley.
Song No.5: Down in the Rain
Performers: K Muni & ND (Kofi Appiah and Nevlonne Dampare)
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Down in the Rain by Longford duo K Muni & ND is described by the artists as a testament to their determination. The song chronicles a difficult period in their careers when their music wasn't getting the attention they believed it deserved.
Down in the Rain, encourages listeners to never give up on their aspirations no matter how tough the road may seem.
"It would mean the world to us to represent Ireland," the duo said. "We remember watching Eurovision as kids with our families, so to think we could have the people of Ireland, our people, tuned in to cheer us and our country on is incredible."
Song No.6: Hawaii
Performers: Public Image Limited
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Public Image Limited celebrated their 40 Anniversary in 2018 and are fronted by former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon, also known as Johnny Rotten.
Hawaii is a love letter to John Lydon's wife of nearly five decades, Nora, who is living with Alzheimer's.
Described as "a pensive, personal yet universal love song that will resonate with many", the song sees John reflecting on one of their happiest moments together in Hawaii.
According to the band, the emotional ballad is as close as John - whose mother was from Co Cork and father came from Galway - will ever come to baring his soul.
"It is dedicated to everyone going through tough times on the journey of life, with the person they care for the most," John says. "It's also a message of hope that ultimately love conquers all."
Speaking to RTÉ News, Lydon said he is "really pleased" to enter the Irish Eurosong contest, and that singing a song dedicated to his wife will be very emotional for him.
Eurovision stalwart, Marty Whelan, will capture all the backstage action throughout tonight's show and Ryan will be joined in studio by an expert Eurovision panel.
Liverpool will host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine on Saturday, 13 May, with semi-finals on Tuesday 9 and Thursday 11. Ireland will compete in the first half of the first semi-final in Liverpool on 9 May.
The Late Late Show Eurosong Special, RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, Friday, 9.35pm