Again sad news, just at the start of 2021: Liam Reilly passed away at age 65. Liam Reilly was the Irish participant in the 1990 Eurovision Song Contest and became 2nd with the song “Somewhere in Europe”.
Liam Reilly, was an Irish singer/songwriter and musician . He was a member of the group Bagatelle. He left the group in the mid-1980s and moved to the USA. There he started a solo career and recorded his first album “Savannah Serenade”. In 1988 he took part in the Irish National Song Contest, the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song “Lifeline”. He became 2nd but came back to win the event in 1990. As a composer, Reilly returned to Eurovision in 1991 when he wrote Kim Jackson’s entry “Could it be that I’m in love”.
Liam Reilly also produced cassette ‘Throwing Caution to the Wind’. All songs were written by him except ‘Georgia on My Mind’ and ‘Moonriver’.
Reilly passed away “suddenly and peacefully” at his home on 1 January 2021. May he rest in peace.
🇧🇪 Essyla is the Belgian entry for Vienna
photo: EBU/RTBF Belgium has chosen Essyla to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. The announcement was made on 19 February 2026 by Belgian broadcaster RTBF, who revealed both the artist and the song for this year’s contest in Vienna, Austria. Essyla will perform the song “Dancing on the Ice” on the Eurovision stage in May. The track was co‑written by Essyla alongside Nicolas d’Avell and Emil Stengele, with lyrics by Essyla and Barbara Petitjean. It carries a message of hope and resilience, framed around youth and the determination to keep moving forward despite challenges. From The Voice Belgique to Eurovision Originally from Perwez in Walloon Brabant, Essyla first became known to the public during the ninth season of The Voice Belgique, where she reached the final. Her early musical journey began with forming her own band at a young age and later studying voice at the IMEP music institute in Namur. Her style blends influences from French chansons, jazz, folk, rock and funk, creating a distinct pop‑centric sound that has attracted attention across Belgium. Before Eurovision, Essyla released singles like Let You Go and Not My Kind of Dude, and followed these with her debut EP I’ll Be Okay. Through her lyrics, she often explores themes of personal identity, empowerment and emotional honesty. A Significant Selection for Belgium Essyla’s selection marks a notable moment for Belgium at Eurovision. She is the first solo female artist to represent the country at the contest this decade, following a series of male solo artists. The 2026 contest also carries symbolic weight: it marks the 70th anniversary of Belgium’s participation in Eurovision, having debuted in the very first contest in 1956. Belgium’s sole win came in 1986 with J’aime la Vie by Sandra Kim. In May, Belgium will compete in the Eurovision semi‑finals with hopes of securing a place in the Grand Final and showcasing Essyla’s ambitious and uplifting entry on the international stage.
