Eurovision 2015: Ireland

Ireland, you finally got it right!   You put on a classy national final with intelligent, honest commentators, good songs, and a straightforward selection process.

Can we please have more Panti Bliss?  She was smart, honest, and intelligent.

RTE used their flagship late night show  "The Late Late Show" to choose the song to send to Vienna, and although five songs competed, it was really a two song race.

Kat Mahon   "Anybody Got A Shoulder"

Molly Sterling   "Playing With Numbers"

And after some tight voting, Stirling's song won.  And it's a good choice.  "Playing With Numbers" is a nice little bit of art pop--a la Kate Bush or Tori Amos.   It's perhaps the best song they've sent in about ten years and it's got a great chance to get out of the semifinal.

However, for me, "Anybody Got A Shoulder" is more memorable because of Kat Mahon's performance.   Her clear diction and interpretation made a mediocre song into an earworm that I've been singing ever since.   (Now off to find some more Kat Mahon songs on Spotify.)

Keep up the good work, Ireland.