The Irish will decide tonight who will represent their country at Eurovision in 2023. The final six included Public Image Ltd – a band founded by British singer John Lydon after the breakup of the Sex Pistols.
The Irish representative for the Eurovision Song Contest will be selected during a televised show in Dublin at 21:30 local time. Public Image Ltd’s competitors are the successful indie-pop band Wild Youth and four singers just starting their careers: Adgy, Connolly, Leila Jane, and K Muni & N.D. The winner will be selected by a professional jury and TV viewers.
John Lydon on his approach to Eurovision
“I don’t know what I’m going to be going through performing today. Even now I tremble when I think about it,” said John Lydon, quoted by Sky News, referring to the lyrics of the song he will perform with his band today. The song “Hawaii” is Lydon’s love letter to his wife, who is battling Alzheimer’s disease. Earlier, he admitted that it is “dedicated to everyone who goes through hard times in life.” It is also a message of hope that in the end love will conquer all.
John Lydon Shutterstock
As he added, he does not feel prejudice against competitions such as Eurovision, which he watched with his parents in the past. “It’s as good a way to listen to music as any,” he said. He stated that he wanted to represent Ireland because he was Irish by blood. His parents emigrated from Ireland to Great Britain. He himself was born in London. He has British and Irish citizenship, and since 2013 also American.
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The post-punk band Public Image Ltd was formed by Lydon shortly after the Sex Pistols disbanded in 1978 and was active until 1992, then reactivated in 2009. Lydon is the only member of the group who has consistently been in its composition. Apart from him, the band currently consists of guitarist Lu Edmonds, bassist Scott Firth and drummer Bruce Smith.
Eurovision 2023 UK
Eurovision 2023 will be held in Great BritainShutterstock
This year’s Eurovision final will take place on May 13 in Liverpool. The UK is the host country replacing Ukraine, which won the competition in 2022, but due to the Russian invasion, it is impossible to hold the competition on its territory. Ireland has won Eurovision seven times, more than any other country, but since 2018, its representatives have failed to make it to the final concert.
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Main photo source: Shutterstock