RTE announce Eurosong 2010 Finalists

The songs are:

BABY, NOTHING’S WRONG – PERFORMED BY MICHAEL GRAHAM
Music & Lyrics by Michael Graham, Scott Newman and Yann O’Brien

DOES HEAVEN NEED MUCH MORE? – PERFORMED BY LEANNE MOORE
Written by Tommy Moran and John Waters

FASHION QUEEN – PERFORMED BY MONIKA IVKIC
Written by Marc Paelinck and Mathias Strasser

IT’S FOR YOU – PERFORMED BY NIAMH KAVANAGH
Music: Niall Mooney, Marten Eriksson and Jonas Gladnikoff. Lyrics: Lina Eriksson

RIVER OF SILENCE – PERFORMED BY LEE BRADSHAW
Music: R. Siegel. Lyrics: J. O’Flynn / José Santana

The songs were chosen by a panel chaired by Eurovision winner Linda Martin and including Universal Music Ireland MD, Mark Crossingham, showbiz agent/choreographer Julian Benson, 2FM DJ Larry Gogan, and Diarmuid Furlong, head of the Official Eurovision Fan Club of Ireland.

The winner will be decided by 50% regional jury vote and 50% public televote, replicating recent changes to the rules in the Eurovision Song Contest itself. In 2010, this 50/50 system will also apply to the Eurovision Song Contest semi-final stage, which Ireland will compete in, as well as the Grand Final. The changes are a response to criticism often levelled at the voting section of the show.

The song representing Ireland will feature in the second semi-final on Thursday May 27. The final will be on Saturday May 29.