Eurovision 2024: Who is Bambie Thug? Irish song contest entry leaves fans ‘speechless’

Irish Eurovision 2024 contestant Bambie Thug is undoubtedly one of the favorites of this year’s competition, and has gained more fans following her stunning performance in the first semi-final.

The Cork-born singer, whose real name is Bambie Ray Robinson, was voted in after her performance of original song “Doomsday Blue”, a hard-hitting industrial techno pop song featuring dazzling artistic staging.

Bambie, who goes by they/them/their pronouns, is therefore the first Irish contestant to reach a Eurovision final since 2018. He was praised for what many have called an impeccable performance that will establish them as someone to shake.

They will compete against singers such as the British Olly Alexander, the Croatian Baby Lasagna and the Ukrainians Alyana Alyana and Jerry Heil at the Malmö Arena in Sweden on May 11.

Ireland’s Taoiseach Simon Harris praised their achievement and said it was “time to bring Eurovision back to Ireland”.

“Congratulations to Bambie Thug who has qualified for the Eurovision final tonight,” he wrote on X/Twitter.

“Bambie will become the first Irish act in the Eurovision final since 2018. It’s time to bring Eurovision back to Ireland and Bambie is the act to do it!”

Here’s everything you need to know about Bambie Thug ahead of the Eurovision 2024 final:

The self-described “gothic gremlin elf witch” and “Ouija pop star” was born in Macroom, County Cork, to a Swedish father and Irish mother. Her aspirations for a career as an avant-garde pop artist began in her hometown, they told the irish mail on sunday, explaining that they spent “a lot of time in the field pretending I was in Lord of the Rings and talking to trees and making potions, and that was really lovely.”

Bambie initially trained as a dancer, taking local classes before studying at Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa and then spending two years at Cork City Ballet. “I loved Cork and I still love Cork,” Bambie told the publication, “but then I moved to London because I got a partial dance and musical theater scholarship at the Urdang Academy in London, so I moved for that.”

They completed their studies before deciding to pursue music, spending two years studying the art of writing pop songs and performing at open mics across London. After leaving a talent agency that apparently tried to steer them toward “bubblegum pop,” they began navigating their own careers and “were lucky enough to meet people who really believed in the project.”

Before being chosen as the Irish delegate for Eurovision 2024, Bambie had been releasing music under her professional name for around three years and had already attracted a devoted fanbase along with her airplay on BBC Radio.

Bambie has expressed her excitement about representing Ireland at Eurovision, explaining that it feels “really beautiful” to be appreciated at home.

“There is something that fills my heart that the country sees my art, my things, because this is what raised me,” they said. “These are my roots, this is the land that gave me origin and it is the reason why I write the way I do.”

However, Bambie has also not shied away from criticizing Eurovision organizers for allowing Israel to participate, amid their ongoing war against Gaza. They have echoed calls to exclude Israel from this year’s contest, telling the Irish Examiner: “When things were going on with Ukraine, Russia wasn’t allowed in, so I don’t think there should be one rule for one and a different rule for another.”

Bambie has also objected to the censorship of any show of pro-Palestinian support, after they were allegedly asked to alter their pro-Palestinian message before their performance in the first semi-final.

They told a news conference in Malmö that they were forced to change their body paint into Ogham script (an early medieval alphabet), which translated as “ceasefire” and “freedom,” a nod to the situation in Gaza and in means of Israel’s inclusion in the competition.

“It was very important to me because I am for justice and peace,” Bambie said. “Unfortunately, today I had to change those messages to ‘crown the witch’ only (which was an) EBU order.”

A spokeswoman for the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said: “The writing seen on Bambie Thug’s body during dress rehearsals contravened contest rules which are designed to protect the apolitical nature of the event.

“After discussions with the Irish delegation, they agreed to change the text for the live show.”

Organizers had previously warned that no Palestinian flags or symbols would be allowed in the Malmö Arena.

What about your song, “Doomsday Blue”?

“Doomsday Blue” was written by Bambie Thug with co-writers Cassyette, Sam Matlock and Tyler Rydr, and includes lyrics that reference witchcraft, spells and other nods to the occult.

“It’s a much more mature performance,” Bambie has said of “Doomsday Blue,” compared to her previous work. Interviewed by rock sound, They explained that they submitted the song because it “ticked all the boxes,” as well as being “a little bit transcendent” in the way it fuses different genres.

“They shouldn’t really work, but they do, and for me it’s a bit chaotic, it’s very theatrical,” they said, stressing that they want to give “a show” to Eurovision fans.

“Plus, I had three minutes to show multiple singing styles and vocal skills that I can do, so I thought, this is the one.

“I think there’s something for everyone,” they continued. “There’s a spoken word at the beginning, there’s a pop chorus, then there’s a screeching part and there’s a soulful, almost crooning mid-eight, and then there’s the electro-metal breakdown where I can scream at the top of my lungs. Basically I’m just a braggart!

Suffice to say, Eurovision fans are impressed. In the YouTube comments about Bambie’s semi-final performance, many stated that they were speechless during the crazed performance.

Some also noted how Bambie’s performance demonstrated how essential staging is, with dramatic effects and elaborate costumes intensifying the drama.

“The production of this performance will win the contest alone,” declared one fan. “A big credit to the lighting and visual engineers.”

“The performance was magnificent,” another fan wrote on X/Twitter after watching Bambie sing in the semi-final. “Now go ahead and win, Bambie Thug.”

Another enthusiastic Bambie fan announced that “Doomsday Blue” was “the most original performance we’ve EVER had in the entire history of Eurovision… I’m so fucking speechless. THIS NEEDS TO WIN.”

How can I see Bambie Thug perform in the Eurovision 2024 final?

Bambie Thug will compete in the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 on Saturday, May 11. You will be able to follow live coverage and updates via The independent, and watch the contest live on BBC One.