reland’s Eurovision appearance will be “big and daring”, Wild Youth singer Conor O’Donohoe has promised.
The group will represent Ireland in the first semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest Liverpool on May 9 with their song We Are One.
O’Donohoe said he believes the number fits the size and stature of the competition, adding that he is undergoing a training regimen to prepare.
Knowing that we won by a public vote is quite a nice feeling and knowing that people want us
“We’re definitely not taking any shortcuts, and it’s definitely going to be as big and bold as you think it’s going to be,” the singer told PA news agency.
“I don’t want to give anything away. It’s all very, very cool.”
O’Donohoe revealed the creative process for writing the song, which focuses on unity and togetherness.
“I didn’t write about the Eurovision Song Contest in mind, but I didn’t write it with the Eurovision Song Contest in mind either,” he said.
“I just wanted to write a good song and have it in the Eurovision Song Contest.
“But Eurovision is such a big stage for me, I wanted to write a song that could match the status and size of the Eurovision stage and arena and scale.”
The singer said it wasn’t difficult to get the other band members, Callum McAdam, Ed Porter and David Whelan, on board for the offer.
“Everyone was really into it,” he said.
“I think David is as big a Eurovision fan as I am; Cal just likes to play the drums, so once he’s on stage and he’s drumming, he’s happy, and Ed went all in and believed in the vision too.
“Everyone was really happy to go for it to be honest.”
Wild Youth performed at the Eurosong edition of RTE’s The Late Late Show and got the chance to represent Ireland at this year’s contest. Sex pistols frontman John Lydon and his band Public Image Ltd.
O’Donohoe said he was terrified leading up to the RTE show.
“I had no idea which way it was going to go,” he said.
“I felt like we really put ourselves in a kind of vulnerable position.
“People thought it was an advantage to be a band that was, say, known before we got to Eurosong, but there’s also a lot of things that play when we don’t win, and we were the act that was a little bit known , it would have put everything in great jeopardy in the future.
“A lot of people tell me we were angry, we went for it.
“Without risk, in my opinion, there is no reward. So it was a risk, but we are very glad we did it.”
He added: “Knowing that we won by a public vote, it is quite a nice feeling and knowing that people want us and feel that we are good enough to go and represent our country.
“And I hope we can live up to and live up to all of their expectations and I hope we can make everyone very proud.”
O’Donohoe said he was eating healthier and singing while running to ensure he is in top form at Liverpool.
“It’s a big stage and there’s a kind of runway, so I absolutely have to put down the McDonald’s and pick up the carrots.
“I do my singing lessons every day, and I listen to the song and then I run on a treadmill while I sing the songs.”
Wild Youth will tour Eurovision events Europe ahead of the game, with performances in Barcelona, Warsaw and Amsterdam.
To reach the final on Saturday, May 13, Wild Youth must qualify from Tuesday’s semi-final, which also features entries from league favorites Sweden and Finland.
“The first big win for us is just trying to get out of that semi-final and stay focused on that,” said O’Donohoe.
“And if we get through that semi-final, who knows? The Irish have done crazier things.”
Ireland has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest more than 50 times and has a record seven wins, but has not qualified for the final since Ryan O’Shaughnessy entered with his song Together in 2018.