John Lydon loses bid to represent Ireland in Eurovision with song honouring wife
John Lydon has reacted as it was revealed he and his band Public Image Ltd have not been chosen to represent Ireland at this year's Eurovision Song Contest.
The selection was unveiled by Ryan Tubridy on Ireland's Late Late Show Eurosong special tonight, where Wild Youth were chosen by voters.
Following the result punk rocker John and his band tweeted: "All journeys end Some begin again Thank you Eurosong. Aloha..."
Ireland's Eurovision entry was picked by the public following a vote, which is the first time the country have opted to use the public vote to choose their entry since 2015.
Former Sex Pistols rocker John, 67, and his band Public Image Ltd were amongst six acts who hoped to represent Ireland in the song contest, which will take part in Liverpool this year on behalf of Ukraine amid the Russian conflict.
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Other acts hoping to represent the Emerald Isle were ADGY with Too Good For Your Love, Connolly with Midnight Summer Night, Wild Youth with We Are One, Leila Jane with Wild and K Muni & ND with Down in the Rain.
Former Sex Pistols rocker John, 67, and his band Public Image Ltd were amongst six acts who hoped to represent Ireland for Eurovision (PA)Irish-British punk rocker John, known best under his stage name Johnny Rotten, formed Public Image Ltd after leaving the Sex Pistols in 1978.
The band's entry song, Hawaii, is a tribute to John's wife Nora Forster, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2018.
In the song, the punk rocker reflects on their years together – and in particular, one of their happiest moments in Hawaii.
John and German publishing heiress Nora met in 1975 and have been together since. In June 2020, Johnny became Nora's full-time career after her condition deteriorated.
Public Image Ltd's song Hawaii is a tribute to John Lydon's wife (Mark Doyle / SplashNews.com)John became emotional as he discussed his wife and the tribute song days before Ireland made their Eurovision selection.
Speaking on This Morning earlier this week, he said: "It took me four years to do the lyrics to the song. Alzheimer's is an enormous problem, at the moment it's incurable and I struggle to find and keep a relationship with Nora and me.
"The song, it tells you not to ask lots of questions and to be happy for them. It's a love song, with huge tragedy in it and the message that love does conquer all."
"Music is fantastic it organises her brain," John said.
Johnny Rotten star John became emotional as he discussed his wife Nora (ITV)The former Sex Pistols rocker also discussed their romance as he said: "At this time in our lives, we were imagining doing nothing and leading a care-free existence.
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"That's not the case anymore, she requires 24 hour attention and I'm more than willing to give her that," John said as he became tearful. "Because the life she's given me up until now has been amazing."
As he became emotional This Morning host Holly Willoughy said: "Oh Johnny..."
"If I can get that message across in a song," Johnny said through tears. "Well hello... Hello there," he sang.
(ITV)During his bid, he was praised by Good Morning Britain host Ed Balls as he discussed caring for his sick wife.
Discussing the song, John said: "This is the beginning of a new journey. Oddly enough, as bad as Alzheimers is, there are great moments of tenderness between us.
"I try to capture that in the song. It’s not all waiting for the Grim Reaper. I can see the personality in her eyes that lets me know.
"Her communication skills are letting her down. I’m just blessed that I can be there and catch on to that and pass something useful on to other people."
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