SUNLIGHT

NICKY BYRNE

SECHUK JURY

Rating

 207/320 (64.7%)

INTERNATIONAL JURY

IRELAND

INT

JURY TOTAL

99.5

Amar

This is a very contemporary song with a fitting and likable performer. It's early to predict, but this sounds like a song we'd see somewhere between 8th and 12th place. It'll be refreshing to see this song performed on stage... I just wish the lyrics weren't that corny. 

7

Benedek

Alright Ireland finally something what reminds me of something more current and fresh or at least it tries to make up for the museum songs before. This song will be a qualifier. Not sure of its chances though. Needs a good draw for top 10-15.

5

Christos

An "easy listening" song with a let's say "cute" performer leading Ireland to the field of the favourites. I totally disagree with the style of the song, because THIS IS NOT Eurovision ...

3

Daria

There is old Irish recipe how to produce a good pop boyband song. In 90s Irish bands (including Westlife) used it successfully. Coincidentally, that time Ireland won the contest 4 times in 5 years without using the recipe. Why did Ireland decide to use it now? The song isn't even catchy enough!

7

Douwe

The Irish entry is a very easy on the ear, solid, catchy pop song with a soaring chorus. The lyrics are the weakest link as they are so simple and full of clichés. 'Sunlight' will certainly bring them to the final for the first time since 2013 but how well it fares there will depend a lot on Nicky's live vocal and an effective stage show. It is perhaps a little too 'safe' to be the winner but great that such an established artist with a massive fan base is taking part.   

8.5

Elena

It's a bit boy band-ish and I get a one direction/the vamps/5seconds of summer kind of vibe. Unfortunately the song is weak and gives me nothing. On the other side, it's radio friendly and a catchy tune.

5

Frederico

Gosh this song is just pointless, formulaic, and tedious. What a weak choice for Ireland . Hopefully Nicky will bring some of his charm and performance experience to give this song some spice when performed live. Still, I don’t think it will go to the final. 

2

José

I think the song is good ... for listening it in an amazing weekend driving a car in the highway, but unfurnatelly I think it will fail in ESC, I don't see this song higher than a 20th place, but much better than 2015 entry.

7

Mark L

OMG! this song makes me very proud to be Irish! I think for the first year in a long time we have a genuine chance of winning! go Nicky.

9.5

Melissa

A great track to play whilst in the car on a road trip. A poor track knowing it has to beat 18 or 19 others just to make it to the Saturday night. Sung by the Westlife band member known for the least amount of solo time in the group. At least he'll look good on TV.

5.5

Octavio

He's an alright singer, has great stage presence and star value. It's quite a catchy number and It has great potential for a good stage performance, but It's not a song to win It's a very average song ... generic. I was expecting something much better after the singer's announcement.

5

Paul C

It's a good song; it's catchy alright but have to say I'm a bit disappointed with the song. Even though the song is entertaining I think it is a forgettable entry, it has nothing original and sounds so similar to so many songs. Anyway, it has potential for a final but it is far away from a winning song.

6.5

Pia

I like this song, but it´s like I have heard it times and times before. Songs like this is like 13 on a dozen ....But still I hope  Nicky reach the final

6

Roberto

Very good song with a very good singer, from a World-wide successful Irish act. Catchy enough, nice contemporary-pop melodies; I like its calm gait, with no self-celebrations or extremisms. Maybe this is the time to welcome Ireland back in the Grand Final. 

8

Roy

In the 70’s there was a song I liked a lot, RAY OF SUNSHINE and this song has brought some sunshine into my life. On the first listen it is quite catchy and I think Ireland will do quite well. Nicky has a good voice, is fairly attractive and he could be the 2016 Måns Zelmerlöw.

7.5

Samantha

Easy on the eyes and ears and simple to digest, this is a nice happy-clappy song that I would have expected more from Denmark . I don't think this will bring Ireland win #8, but it's certainly not bad.

5.5

UNITED KINGDOM JURY

IRELAND

UK

JURY TOTAL

107.5

Andrew C

After a few years in the wilderness Ireland look like they want to win again. Catchy song with good looking, well known singer. If they stage this right it could come very very close but I thought that about Ryan Dolan and look what happened there...

8

Andrew G

It’s the best Irish entry since a long time, I really like it a lot, it’s catchy and looks like a proper quality pop song, good standard. I hope this will do really well, because it deserves it, however there is a similarity to last years winner (Sweden 2015) young good looking male with a pop song, will people vote for the similar thing this year! Hope they do! but it’ll definitely be in the final night, can’t see it not doing the finals or even win!...yes win! I think it has potential.

9

Daniel

It's not bad, just a little flat and quite bland but it is radio friendly so there is hit potential. I'm intrigued to see a live performance. It should do well providing Nicky does a good job with the live vocal.

6.5

Danny

The first ever internally chosen entrant for Ireland and they’ve gone for the fifth best singer in Westlife singing a Danish MGP reject. It’s completely unremarkable in every sense. Their qualifying chances depend on how good the backing singers will be! Not good enough.

5

David B

Well done to RTE for ditching those dismal national finals! Instead we get jingly-jangly pop, the type of which regularly washes up on the shores of the Danish final. A good live vocal and a nice stage presentation should propel this to the final. However, the song is so 'light' that a dodgy performance would sink it completely.

6

David E

The comparisons to Måns and his winner are inevitable, but I like this. Nicky’s quite a good singer and the song is credible.  I think this will see them qualify.  

8

Dean

I really like this!  Modern, poppy and catchy.  It will certainly be popular on the Eurovision dance floors this year. Surely this will see Ireland back in the Final? And I'm hoping for some good staging too to help lift it even more.  Bravo!

8

Eddie

A very radio friendly song. It does have a great feel about it and will depend a lot on the staging but should see them through on the name. I just don't know if it's memorable enough.

7

Gary  

A 'name' is positive, but the song is a little disappointing. It will all depend on the presentation and vocal - this could go either way. I like it, but it lacks a unique hook in a ‘heard this before’ way. Let's hope they have a visionary production team. I'd like to see this do well though, all told.

7.5

Joe

Nicky is more used to sharing  stage, and primarily just standing at the back trying to look the part.  I'm not sure how his vocals will carry in a live performance, and he doesn't have a great song here to fall back on if he's not at 100%. Almost indescribably weak....

4

Mark M

Great that we have a known artist in the contest - part of one of the biggest boy bands of all time.  Unfortunately his vocal is awful and the song is nauseatingly clichéd.  It's not bad, but it's not great either.

4.5

Martin

This year's top ten beckons for this radio-friendly piece of up-tempo pop, especially if Westlife fans tune in to watch in May! The song's rhythm and Nicky Byrne's vocals get into your head; make your fingers drum and toes tap - Ireland could be destined for great things in Stockholm ...

8.5

Matt

Good - though I do fear for his voice as even in parts of the official video it is over-powered by the music.  Though will it be relying on Westlife fans?  I'm sure this will be final material but far too early to say if a 'name' will help it.

8

Nico

Hoorah. Good choice for Ireland . Good driving song, not amazing sadly, but hope it will scrub up well on the night. Happy he's doing it and happy they didn't go to Sweden to buy their song.

7.5

Sally-Ann

Always a comfort to see a well-known face on the ESC stage and if we can't have Jedward, a member of Westlife is an excellent substitute.  This is a typical middle of the road album track that grows upon hearing, and I suspect that Nicky's name alone will propel Ireland into the final.

7

Tristán

Nope. This is over processed nonsense, and has no character whatsoever. It's nice to have a dancey song this early on in the competition, but this is one of the most forgettable songs I have heard. Not a snowball in hell's chance of qualifying for the final.

3