Random ESC/Ireland Trivia: With seven wins, Ireland currently has the most ESC wins. Also, it has won the contest THREE years in a row (1993 - 1994).
Brooke Scullion - That's Rich
Vocal:
I'm not a fan of her voice because it is a bit too nasally for my tastes, but I think it works well for her. I do love the confidence that she expresses in the song.
Musical Arrangement:
I think that this will do well with the youngsters, who are the majority of the folks voting in Eurovision. It is pretty catchy. As I'm typing, I found myself saying "That's rich" and "Bye, bye, BOY".
Staging:
Not sure if I can say much about the staging at this point. From my understanding, Ireland announces its ESC performers during what would be our version of a late-night talk show, so I have no idea how this will look (eg lighting, choreo, etc.) on the ESC2022 stage. Based on this performance, I would love to see a bit more dancing (if possible) on her part. Also, I do not really get the costumes, but there is plenty of time to revamp/restage the performance.
Final Thoughts:
This song really is not my cup of tea, but I can see it qualifying and doing well in the final especially in the demographic that typically votes in Eurovision. Under normal circumstances, I would give this three stars, but I think it will do well so it gets a 4-star rating
Ireland in last year’s Eurovision:
Lesley Roy - Maps
Semi-final results: 16th place out of 16 performances (20 total points – 16 national juries and 4 public votes)
Final results: Did not qualify
Unfortunately, I could not find a vid on YouTube that has the televised performance with all of the effects. But in this behind-the-scenes version from one of her rehearsals, you can see that there was LOT going on that the audience at home did not see.
I was kind of sad that this one did not advance to the final, but I understand why it did not. While her performance was very innovative, I think the constant brisk walking on the treadmills hurt the vocal aspect of the performance. All of those things said, I LOVE this song. I tend to like upbeat, pop songs with some folk influences that tell a story, and Maps does that for me. This song has been on many of my running playlists since May. Perhaps, this has something to do with the running aspect that is present in this performance and in the music video where she's running around in the woods somewhere in Ireland. I especially love the lyric toward the end of the song: "My soul is a map. My heart is a compass. I am the road. There's only one way to go. This is the way back home."