Every Song Is A Cry For Love
Encyclopedia
"Every Song is a Cry for Love" was the Irish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006
, which was written and sung by Brian Kennedy
in English
. He came 10th in the final, and his performance in the semi-final marked the 1000th Eurovision song of all time. He wore a black suit and was backed by Callum McColl on an acoustic guitar and singing and three specialist singers: Una Healy
, Fran King and Paula Gilbert, who wore maroon dresses and black shirts and suits. The gentle ballad did not involve any dancing.
Kennedy was selected to represent Ireland at the discretion of national broadcaster RTÉ
who then allowed the general public to choose the song during an edition of The Late Late Show
in February, which involved Kennedy singing two other songs which were not submitted by himself. After Every Song Is A Cry For Love garnered 47% of the vote, it was selected. A fourth song had earlier been disqualified by RTÉ, whose panel of judges Brendan Graham
, Paul Brady
and Shay Healy
had shortlisted for the final. It was marred by controversy, as his own song was included after the judging panel had called for additional songs, leading to claims that he had gained an unfair advantage.
The song was released on April 21, 2006, and eventually peaked at Number 4.
It was performed eighth in the semi-final, following Belgium
's Kate Ryan
with "Je t'adore
" and preceding Cyprus
' Annette Artani
with "Why Angels Cry
", the 1000th Eurovision song ever according to the European Broadcasting Union
, after Ireland was forced to qualify due to its failure to make the final the previous year, and came 9th with 79 points, thus becoming one of ten songs to qualify from the semi-final. BBC
commentary during the semi-final set Kennedy's task up as "saving Ireland's Eurovision soul" (a reference to his country's dominant performance of the early 1990s before it fell away later that decade). Indeed, after Ireland was announced as a qualifier, television footage clearly showed Kennedy mouthing "thank God" in the green room backstage.
The song was performed 21st in the final, following Croatia
's Severina
with "Moja štikla
" and preceding Sweden
's Carola
with "Invincible". At the close of voting, it had received 93 points, placing 10th in a field of 24, thus giving Ireland an automatic berth in the final at the next edition of the Contest.
The song was succeeded as Irish representative by Dervish
with "They Can't Stop the Spring
".
Eurovision Song Contest 2006
The Eurovision Song Contest 2006 was the 51st Eurovision Song Contest, held at the Olympic Indoor Hall in Athens, Greece on 18 May and 20 May 2006 . The hosting national broadcaster of the contest was Ellinikí Radiofonía Tileórasi . The Finnish band Lordi won the contest with the song "Hard Rock...
, which was written and sung by Brian Kennedy
Brian Kennedy (singer)
Brian Edward Patrick Kennedy is an Irish singer-songwriter and author, known for his ballads, and has represented Ireland at Eurovision 2006. He is the younger brother of musician Bap Kennedy.-Personal life:...
in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. He came 10th in the final, and his performance in the semi-final marked the 1000th Eurovision song of all time. He wore a black suit and was backed by Callum McColl on an acoustic guitar and singing and three specialist singers: Una Healy
Una Healy
Una Theresa Imogene Healy is an Irish singer-songwriter and musician, best known for being one fifth of girl group The Saturdays...
, Fran King and Paula Gilbert, who wore maroon dresses and black shirts and suits. The gentle ballad did not involve any dancing.
Kennedy was selected to represent Ireland at the discretion of national broadcaster RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
who then allowed the general public to choose the song during an edition of The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
in February, which involved Kennedy singing two other songs which were not submitted by himself. After Every Song Is A Cry For Love garnered 47% of the vote, it was selected. A fourth song had earlier been disqualified by RTÉ, whose panel of judges Brendan Graham
Brendan Graham
Brendan Graham is an Irish novelist and composer. He has published three novels, The Whitest Flower , an Irish no. 2 best seller, The Element of Fire and The Brightest Day, The Darkest Night .He also wrote the lyrics for Rolf Løvland's "You Raise Me Up"...
, Paul Brady
Paul Brady
Paul Joseph Brady is an Irish singer-songwriter, whose work straddles folk and pop. He was interested in a wide variety of music from an early age...
and Shay Healy
Shay Healy
Shay Healy is an Irish songwriter, broadcaster and journalist. He is best known for his role as host of Nighthawks, a RTÉ Television chat show of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and for composing "What's Another Year", Ireland's winning entry in the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest.-Early life:Shay...
had shortlisted for the final. It was marred by controversy, as his own song was included after the judging panel had called for additional songs, leading to claims that he had gained an unfair advantage.
The song was released on April 21, 2006, and eventually peaked at Number 4.
It was performed eighth in the semi-final, following Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
's Kate Ryan
Kate Ryan
Kate Ryan is a Belgian World Music Award winner. She began her singing career in 2001 and later found fame with a string of dance hits. These included covers, mostly of Mylène Farmer and France Gall, such as "Désenchantée", "Libertine" and "Ella, elle l'a" as well as new material...
with "Je t'adore
Je t'adore
"Je t'adore" was the Belgian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, performed in English by Kate Ryan. It was the seventh song which was performed in this Contest and the 999th by counting all songs which have ever performed on Eurovision Song Contest...
" and preceding Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
' Annette Artani
Annette Artani
Annet Artani is an American singer and songwriter. She is best known for representing Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with the song "Why Angels Cry", as well as co-writing worldwide hit "Everytime" with Britney Spears.Artani is currently signed to Ultra Records and is pursuing a career...
with "Why Angels Cry
Why Angels Cry
"Why Angels Cry" was the Cypriot entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, performed in English by Annet Artani.-Style and lyrical content:The song is a ballad, with Artani asking why difficulties occur in the world. In an interview, Artani explained that angels cry for many reasons and that her...
", the 1000th Eurovision song ever according to the European Broadcasting Union
European Broadcasting Union
The European Broadcasting Union is a confederation of 74 broadcasting organisations from 56 countries, and 49 associate broadcasters from a further 25...
, after Ireland was forced to qualify due to its failure to make the final the previous year, and came 9th with 79 points, thus becoming one of ten songs to qualify from the semi-final. BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
commentary during the semi-final set Kennedy's task up as "saving Ireland's Eurovision soul" (a reference to his country's dominant performance of the early 1990s before it fell away later that decade). Indeed, after Ireland was announced as a qualifier, television footage clearly showed Kennedy mouthing "thank God" in the green room backstage.
The song was performed 21st in the final, following Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
's Severina
Severina Vuckovic
Severina Vučković is a Croatian singer and actress. She is commonly referred to by her stage name Severina.- Music career :Severina's style can be described as pop with various folk and cabaret influences. As a child, she took smaller parts in theatre and opera productions in her native Split...
with "Moja štikla
Moja štikla
"Moja štikla" was the Croatian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, performed in Croatian by Severina....
" and preceding Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
's Carola
Carola Häggkvist
Carola Maria Häggkvist , better known as simply Carola, is a Swedish singer and occasional songwriter. She has been among Sweden's most popular performers since the early 1980s, and has released albums ranging from pop and disco to hymns and folk music...
with "Invincible". At the close of voting, it had received 93 points, placing 10th in a field of 24, thus giving Ireland an automatic berth in the final at the next edition of the Contest.
The song was succeeded as Irish representative by Dervish
Dervish (band)
Dervish are a traditional Irish music group from County Sligo, Ireland. They were formed in 1989 by Liam Kelly, Shane Mitchell, Martin McGinley, Brian McDonagh and Michael Holmes. The band was originally formed to record an album of local music which was later released as “The Boys of Sligo”. They...
with "They Can't Stop the Spring
They Can't Stop The Spring
"They Can't Stop the Spring" is a song by Irish band Dervish. On 16 February 2007, on The Late Late Show, it was chosen as the song Dervish would sing at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 in Helsinki. It was written by John Waters and Tommy Moran...
".