I've been waiting, such a long time, for this time of year to roll around again! Yup, that's right boys and girls, it's time for us to make another half a*sed attempt to break our own record and win the Eurovision Song Contest for an 8th time. Tonight's Late Late Show is a Eurosong special, featuring none other than Lordi don'cha know, and we've got all you need to know about it right here.
We've already introduced you to the mentors and the five acts battling it out for the chance to win a place in the Eurovision semi-final in Malmo, Sweden on May 14th, but we thought we'd give you a quick reminder ahead of tonight's vote. It's the same story as last year by the way, half of the votes will come from the juries and the other half from the public So, in no particular order, here they are...
Ichequin - Shay Healy
Hugh O'Neill and Sinead Bradley have been touring and writing songs together for over 19 years while Tevfik Kulak's played with the likes of Whitney Houston, Pavarotti and Diana Ross. They're working on a soundtrack for a Turkish-Irish film about the Ottoman Empire now apparently.
Aimée Fitzpatrick - Mark McCabe
17-year-old Aimee Marguerite Fitzpatrick is from Swords. She's a bit hit on the YouTube where she performs her own adaptations of well-known popular chart songs by artists who inspire her and her YouTube channel is only huge so it is. Keep an eye out for the fella accompanying her on the piano, we hear he's a bit of a Rock 'n' Roll kid...
Zoe Alexis Bohoroquez - Niall Mooney
This Mullingar girl is an oul friend of Niall Horan and recorded her first song with Bressie himself. This young wan's been scouted by Timbaland and a Diva Next Door calendar girl. Sure isn't Mullingar the home of Joe Dolan himself like? It wouldn't be too hard to rock it like Rihanna when you're born and bred in the pop mecca of the Midlands. And yes, one of her backing singers does look familiar...
Ryan Dolan - Stuart O'Connor
A young singer songwriter from Strabane in Co. Tyrone, Ryan Dolan is the only act who has written his song himself, teaming up with Dublin's Wez Devine to give us 'Only Love Survives'. This young fella is no stranger to the stage, having supported Tinchy Stryder, Jedward (there they are again) and many more besides that...
Kasey - Mairéad Farrell
Kasey was in Kian Egan and Louis Walsh's failed girl band, Wonderland, but since they went their separate ways she's been off to Nashville recording with producers who worked with the likes of Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood and Lady Antebellum. 'All Kinds of Everything' seems a long time ago eh?
We've got our favourites here in the office, but we ain't gonna give the game away just yet! Who are you backing for Eurovision glory? Catch The Late Late Show tonight from 9.35pm on RTE 1. I'd like to see Ryan Tubridy in full Lordi attire...