SINEAD MULVEY Black Daisy, Ireland’s 2009 Eurovision act, are in fighting form in advance of tonight’s semi-final competition.
“We’re feeling really confident. We’re well rehearsed and we’re excited about getting on the stage,” Mulvey said last night.
The four-member girl group, singing the up-tempo pop-rock number Et Cetera, will perform second of 18 acts in tonight’s competition.
Et Cetera is one of only two straightforward pop-rock numbers tonight; the other, coincidentally, is Dutch entry Believe Again, co-written by Ronan Keating.
Mulvey, a 21-year-old Dubliner, has been experimenting with different costumes during the Eurovision rehearsal period and has rejected a shiny gold catsuit in favour of a hot pink and black outfit and long hair extensions that give her a “rock chick” look, said an RTÉ spokeswoman.
The simple staging of the Irish song is in distinct contrast to many of tonight’s acts, in what is one of the most over-the-top line-ups in recent Eurovision memory. Ukraine has contributed a sexed-up pyrotechnical spectacular, while the climax of Greek mega-star Sakis Rouvas’s performance sees him lifted high above the stage on an illuminated plinth.
Rouvas is considered a shoo-in to qualify for Saturday night’s final, as is Norway’s Alexander Rybak singing Fairytale; Rybak is favoured to win the contest overall.
Ireland’s chances of qualifying are less certain. While word of mouth about the Irish performance is strong, most bookmakers do not predict that the act will advance; only Paddy Power predicts it will scrape into the final (in 10th out of 10 places).
Tonight’s successful acts will join the 10 that passed through Tuesday night’s semi-final and the five automatic qualifiers (France, Germany, Spain, the UK and host country Russia) in Saturday night’s final.