Although we're fairly devo about the Eurovision Song Contest being cancelled for this year, we are still planning on getting our fix of Euro-pop goodness. Because RTÉ is airing an alternative Eurovision night this weekend.
On Saturday, May 16, this year's entries will still get their time to shine as RTÉ will show a special, non-competitive edition of the annual event.
Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light will showcase this year's 41 entries, and we are so happy that we still get to experience it.
Throughout the past few days, people have been sharing their favourite Eurovision memories on social media using the hashtag #EurovisionAgain.
https://twitter.com/jucopel/status/1259182341894934529
https://twitter.com/Riverdance/status/1123135778786349056
https://twitter.com/_joesharkey/status/1256682359384145922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1256682359384145922&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.her.ie%2Fentertainment%2Feurovisions-alternative-show-is-airing-on-rte-this-weekend-505198
Meanwhile, Dublin drag queen Davina Devine said, "I’ll always remember when I was a lil gay kid tuning on TV and seeing Linda Martin win in ‘92 and then Niamh Kavanagh in ‘93 the following year, the sheer joy and excitement I felt!! I ran into the street, like what people did when their favourite soccer team won a match, jumping with pride. This was my soccer match, my gay World Cup! The glory days will stay in my heart forever!"
Philly McMahon, the producer of Ireland’s 2020 Eurovision performance, said, "My favourite Eurovision moment is still the heart-thumping, feet stomping, drum beating thrill of Riverdance, which was the interval act at the 1994 contest in Dublin. I think those six minutes will always be remembered as a cultural turning point for Ireland, emblematic of growing confidence in ourselves as a nation in the mid-nineties. Jean Butler shone through our television sets and gave Irish people permission to be sexy - it was, and still is, magic."
Lesly Roy, who was supposed to represent Ireland at this year's contest in Rotterdam, said, "I think even though it wasn’t actually an entry, I like many people were floored when Riverdance came on the TV live from the Point Depot, I remember not taking a breath almost until the final head turn happened!
"The eruption from the audience and even the houses around me in Balbriggan was electric and I remember that being one of my fav memories of the Eurovision!"
I have a feeling we'll all be calling up our mates on Zoom to enjoy an alternative Eurovision night
this weekend!
Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light airs on RTÉ One on Saturday, May 16 at 8pm.
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