‘Ireland’s songs just haven’t stood out’ – Eurovision entrant Bambie Thug on our six-year losing streak and their determination to end it

Ireland’s Eurovision entrant Bambie Thug has promised they will “stand out” from the crowd ahead of the first semi-final on Tuesday.

Bambie Thug, who uses the pronouns they/them, is in Malmo in Sweden this week ahead of next week’s contest and has completed several stage rehearsals of their single Doomsday Blue.

Ireland has not made it through to the Grand Final since 2018 and Bambie Thug believes they know why.

“Ireland hasn’t (got) into the final because the songs haven’t been, I guess, standing out… and ours definitely does that this year.”

Ireland’s odds have improved in recent days and this has intensified the pressure to deliver a stand-out performance.

“Yes, it does add extra pressure,” Bambie Thug said.

“I am trying not to look at the odds because I think everything can change on the night.”

Asked what it felt like to take to the stage in the Malmo Arena, they said: “I don’t know, I was quite dissociated.

“It felt good. It was really fun when the pyro came on because it’s really hot. It is exciting before the performance starts and you hear the du-dum where it says ‘Ireland’. It is definitely seeping into my bones slowly.”

They said there are still elements of their performance they want to “iron out” before the semi-finals.

“I am a perfectionist, so I have bits I want to change, definitely,” said Bambie Thug.

However, they said they are excited to bring “some theatre, storytelling and romance to the screen”.

This year’s Eurovision is set to be one of the most controversial in the contest’s history.

There have been ongoing calls for the organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), to expel Israel. In 2022, the EBU expelled Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

Responding to questions as to why Israel is still a member of the EBU when Russia was suspended, a statement on the Eurovision website reads: “The Russian public service broadcasters had their EBU membership suspended in 2022 due to consistent breaches of membership obligations and the violation of public-service media values.”

Multiple planned protests are due to take part across the city over the course of the festival.

As a result, there will be heightened security measures in place as 100,000 visitors are expected to arrive in ­Sweden’s third-largest city.

At a press conference last month, Swedish police said there would be a strong security presence.

The EBU says it “supports the rights of those who wish to demonstrate peacefully”.

In relation to increased security measures, the EBU said it “takes the safety of attendees and staff at the Eurovision Song Contest very seriously” and “feel confident in being able to create a safe event for all participants and visitors”.

To date, RTÉ has received approximately 2,750 emails calling for the station to boycott the contest.

More than 16,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the exclusion of Israel.

And last month, 400 Irish artists wrote a letter addressed to Bambie Thug, calling on them to boycott the contest and pull out. Among the signatories of the letter were former Eurosong contestant, Erica-Cody and Derry Girls actor Siobhán McSweeney.

This week, the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) staged a demonstration outside RTÉ studios in Montrose over Israel’s involvement. Among those taking part were singers Mary Coughlan and Liam Ó Maonlaí and actor Stephen Rea.

Bambie Thug spoke about the boycott last month on the Late Late Show, saying “I think if I wasn’t in the competition, I would also be boycotting.”

They told host Patrick Kielty: “But at the end of the day, it’s the EBU [European Broadcasting Union] who have to make the decision and unfortunately, in my eyes, they aren’t making the right decision. So yeah, it’s bittersweet,the whole thing.”

Speaking this week about their song, Bambie Thug said: “Is it different from what we’ve (been) sending? Yes it is. You know, alternative music does not have enough light in Ireland. It’s not given enough airtime. I’m not given enough air time.

“I mean, alt music is definitely getting more and more popular, even outside Ireland… And I would hope my performance kind of gives a shock to the world that is needed to bring some much-needed respect and eyes back on our homegrown (acts).”

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