Tonight's Late Late Show Eurosong Special sees the nation decide the song that will represent Ireland at May’s Eurovision Song Contest - and host Ryan Tubridy reckons this year’s crop is a prime harvest.
Tubs appreciates a tune - sure he’s a massive Beatles’ fan, for starters - and he’s seen enough Irish Eurosong action over the years to be able to deduce the 'Douze points’ potential of the six songs on offer tonight.
Grinning like he’s just received a dinner date request from Paul McCartney, Ryan holds his hands up for effect and insists: "I think we could win this."
'This' being the Eurovision.
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). We can only wish them all well.
"There’s a number of great songs in the line-up tonight - and there’s something about this year.," he adds, while doing that Ryan Tubridy thing again with his hands. "I’m feeling positive and I am feeling hopeful, and I am feeling optimistic. I love this country and I want us to win again. So, let’s do it!"
And you get the feeling that Ryan is just as enthusiastic about tonight"s Eurosong Special as he would if it were the Toy Show. Indeed, I’d bet an overflowing Santa sleigh that he’d love to bi-locate tonight so he could watch the show at home with his loved ones.
After some grim and grimmer years since Ireland’s last win, back in 1996, when Eimear Quinn won with The Voice, Ryan is convinced that 2023 is going to be a special year, and reels of his reasons to be cheerful.
"They represent all types of music, they come - mostly - from all across the island, and have great stories to tell.," he says, before adding: "We love having this on The Late Late Show."
He pauses for breath and carries on. "We love how inclusive it is, we love how the country gets behind it, we love how people at home of all ages can do what they used to do a hundred years ago - which is, put the phones down, enjoy each others’ company and watch a live TV event."
Showing zero bias - like any good parent, he portrays no preference for any of the six Eurosong finalists - he just wants tonight’s winner to bring Ireland glory in Liverpool next May. "Let’s get behind whoever it is," he says, "and let’s go all the way."
Ryan isn’t the only one on presenter duty tonight, as Eurovision legend Marty Whelan will capture all the backstage action throughout the show as the Green Room correspondent.
Marty, of course, will be on commentary when the Eurovision takes place in May, and Ryan winces when asked if he’d fancy a shot at the commentary role when Marty finally calls it a day.
"The man is irreplaceable! I can’t even contemplate such a vista," he insists. "He’s a great guy and really is the voice of authority when it comes to the Eurovision in Ireland."
Then, as if by some sort of Eurovision magic, Marty Whelan joins in for a chinwag. (Or maybe it’s just that I’m in RTÉ at a Eurosong launch and Marty was there anyway.) No matter; Marty’s full of the joys. That’s the way he rolls, really.
Noting that he debuted at what was then called The National Song Contest in 1987, which was also the first year he commentated on the Eurovision itself, he recalls that his relationship with the event goes back even further.
"That to me, was the beginning of the love affair, professionally - but I loved it anyway," he says, before recalling his callow days watching the contest long before he became the Marty we all know and love.
"I was one of those lads, at home with his mam and dad watching the telly. My mother buying the RTÉ Guide and filling in the votes. It’s always been a part of my life. I’ve done commentary on the Eurovision now for 23 or 24 years and I love it to bits."
So what’s Marty’s take on this year’s Irish hopefuls? "I’ll tell you why I think they’re very good," he says, as I contemplate grabbing a couple of chairs and a pot of tea.
"Firstly, they’re very different. There’s no song that sounds like the other song. Some years you might get a bunch of ballads and you’re thinking: ‘Ah lads, come on’. Or somebody’s just leppin’ around.
"Every song this year is very different," he reckons. "We’ve a hip-hop song which is very clearly hip-hop; we’ve another song which is about John Lydon’s wife. I think that’s a very beautiful song. And the overall quality is very strong. I think it’s a very good mix."
And as for a likely winner, Marty says: "I think people are going to be surprised. There’s no guarantee here. I don’t think it’s going to necessarily obvious. Remember, you’ve the experts here, you’ve the European jury, and the viewers. And the viewers could decide everything. So it’s in everybody’s hands."
I’ll leave the final few words to Tubs. After all, it’s The Late Late Show that’s the setting for tonight’s Eurosong Special. That’s been the case for some time, and Ryan is emphatic about the reasons behind it being an integral part of The Late Late calendar.
"It’s got the viewership, it’s got the audience, it’s got the diverse population watching it," he says, referring to the pulling power of The Late Late Show ever since the dawn of RTÉ TV more than 60 years ago. "I think that’s why. All ages, all backgrounds, every part of the country. That’s why it works."
He likes the current song-picking process too. "It’s not decided in a room by five people - which they’ve tried - and it’s not decided by juries alone, so the Irish people get a vote. It’s very democratic."
And what about those who rubbish the Eurovision, who would turn their noses up at tonight’s Eurosong Special?
"I would urge them to crank up their sense of humour, crank up their sense of fun, park their cynicism and get stuck in."
And that, folks, is the Eurovision spirit in essence. Let's get this party started!
The Late Late Eurosong Special, 9.35pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player
