The ex-singer of the punk group, is one of six artists in the running to represent Ireland at Eurovision 2023.
Former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon is in the running for Eurovision, Irish broadcaster RTE announced on Monday. The singer, known in the 1970s as Johnny Rotten, has been evolving since 1978 within the group Public Image Limited (PiL), which he founded after the end of the punk group.
With the song HawaiiLydon and his group could therefore represent Ireland, if he wins against the five other artists also in the race.
This ballad is described as “a love letter to his wife of nearly 5 decades, who lives with Alzheimer’s disease”.
“A message of hope”
Hawaii “is dedicated to anyone who goes through difficult times in life’s journey,” Lydon told Irish Radio. “It’s also a message of hope that in the end, love triumphs over all.”
Born in the UK to Irish parents, John Lydon has had British, Irish and American nationality for some years.
Like France, Ukraine or Italy, Ireland appoints its representative during a telecrochet. It is up to the public, and a jury of music professionals, to choose which song will represent the country in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Absent from the final since 2018, Ireland have nevertheless shone at Eurovision in the past, winning the competition seven times – more than any other country. But Ireland’s last victory dates back to 1996.
The competition takes place this year in Liverpool, and not in Ukraine, the winning country of the 2022 edition, the situation in the country being too dangerous.
