Controversy has followed RTÉs decision to nominate traditional group Dervish as Ireland’s representative in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Commentators have described the move as a “gamble”, warning that the Sligo folk outfit might be too “downbeat” to cut the mustard in the competition, which is to take place in Helsinki next May.
“They’ll have to find a way to dress up Dervish. They’re a very downbeat act in terms of how they present themselves,” Shay Healy, the songwriter who won the Eurovision in 1980 with ‘What’s Another Year?’ told Hot Press. “They’re a music collective as opposed to a showband – they don’t get up and wiggle their bums.”
While some might see that as a virtue, Healy isn’t the only one to express scepticism. “If RTÉ were determined to nominate a trad band, they should have plumped for Kila,” said Thomas Black, a prominent A&R consultant and panelist on You’re A Star: “They need someone who’ll have an impact visually and have a higher energy. Kila are more upbeat.”
Black also questioned the transparency of the nomination process.
“There didn’t seem to be much open discussion about using Dervish. If it was someone at RTÉ whose field of expertise is television, it just shows that they think of the Eurovision Song Contest as a TV show first and foremost.”
But RTÉ has defended the decision, describing Dervish as “respected ambassadors” of Irish music.
“Ireland’s last Eurovision winner in 1998, ‘The Voice’, was a traditionally inspired composition, and the recent history of the competition has seen ethnic song styles figure prominently,” said Kevin Linehan of RTÉ.
The song which Dervish will perform has yet to be chosen. Songwriters have up until Monday January 8 to submit their compositions, which should be a maximum three minutes in duration.
Healy, a member of the Eurovision judging panel, pointed out that the choice of band may exclude younger writers. But he added that this might actually benefit the competition. “Having been on the jury last year and hearing what the younger songwriters of Ireland were producing – it’s pretty crappo,” he told Hot Press.
“It’s short on style. Musically it wasn’t very sophisticated either, so [the nomination of Dervish] may well be the best thing that’s happened in a long time.
“The kind of writers that it will attract are more adaptable, mature and know how Dervish work. They’ll look at the instrumentation and the line-up, and see what they can use to the best advantage. They’re the people who’ll enter, I hope.”
Thomas Black believes newer entrants should also stay away from the Eurovision – but for very different reasons.
“From a personal point of view, I wouldn’t recommend anyone young to do the competition,” he said. “It’s not taken seriously and it doesn’t benefit anyone in the long term. Ultimately it’s like watching a race on TV – a week later and you’ve forgotten who’s won.”
Black also believes that the process by which the song is chosen should be altered.
“Dervish should do one of their own compositions,” he offered. “It would be good to choose an act that are defined at what they do, and then let them play a song that represents themselves. That way, they’re not losing credibility and if they do well, it opens up markets for more record sales for them.”
In response to last year’s criticisms, RTÉ has appointed publisher and IMRO board member Johnny Lappin to the judging panel alongside Healy, Universal Music Ireland MD Dave Pennefather and singer Eleanor Shanley.
Songwriter and Irish Times journalist John Waters, who entered last year, told hotpress that Lappin – a prominent critic of the 2005 selection process – would bring an element of “rigour and ethicality” to the competition. “Hopefully they’ll have learnt (from last year),” he said. “My songwriting partner and I are intending to apply again, but we don’t mind losing because at least it will be fair.”
In the meantime, the Sligo six-piece – without a shadow of doubt one of the finest trad bands of the past decade – have been working their way round Arizona and New Mexico, with Dutch dates to follow in the run-up to Christmas.