Eurosong 2011 - Falling - May 6th 2025

Are you alright there ? Today's entry in the Eurovision Histories series we are looking at another national final entry. We're not going back too far in time today, to 2011. A time of protests and riots in the wider world. I was 16 during this time, failing chemistry and this was the 2nd Eurosong final I watched sat at my family computer. 

The 56th Eurovision Song Contest took place on May 14th with the 2 semifinals on May 10th and May 12th. But we aren't here to take a look at the representative for Ireland but one of the competitors who fought for the honor of competing for the emerald isle this year. 

The Irish selction for 2011 was held on February 11th 2011, on The Late Late Show (a staple of Irish selections). The songs had been revealed the day before on the radio. 5 songs were co.peting for the chance to be Ireland's representative using a mix of both regional juries and public vote. 

The song we will be looking at is below where you can see the facts ( and a link to the performance if you don't know it or have forgotten it) 

Song :Falling 
Artist : Nikki Kavanagh 
Place : 2nd 
Points : 96 


Falling was performed last that night with 3 backing vocalists, 2 dancers and Nikki herself dressed in emerald green. She's also on this little raised platform which she steps down from at the start of the 2nd verse when she walks around with dancers and then heads back up at the start of the 2nd chorus. 

The song is about someone who's lover has become distant and how she will fall apart if they do leave. She's having to pretend it's all OK but inside it isn't. I profess to listening to this song on repeat for ages in 2011 and still fairly regularly nowadays too. It's a pretty standard melody with the staple eurovision key change in the final chorus. It's not the most adventurous but Nikki sells the song with her vocal, the heartbreak feels believable. .

Falling won the jury vote in the selection with 66 points gaining 4 sets of 12 points an nothing lower than an 8. However it came 2nd with the public vote , getting 30 points and losing by just 2 points to the eventual winners, Jedward with their song Lipstick. Jedward were 2nd with the jury and 1st with the public, sealing them victory and the trip to Germany. They ended up going onto to Qualify for the final and placed 8th. 

Do I think this would of faired any better. If I'm totally honest, I don't see it doing as well. I think it would of qualified with some better staging as the vocals were strong but it doesn't stand out from a composition point of view. Having said that, I still love it and I was very upset at the time that it didn't get through !!! 

3 words then to sum this one up ... let's go for dramatic,  angsty and melancholic. If you've never heard this one, then I suggest giving it a listen as it's definitely worth one !! 

Until the next time,  remember history is important especially if it's Eurovision History!!! 

Ellie x 

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