Riverdance as the interval act in Eurovision 1994, Dublin
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- Опубликовано: 29 апр 2019
- Seven minutes that changed the face of Irish dance forever :
On 30th April 1994, Riverdance burst onto the world stage as part of the Eurovision Song Contest. The response from the thousands of people witnessing it in person at the Point and the international audience watching on TV, was extraordinary.
Conceived by producer, Moya Doherty with music composed by Bill Whelan and choreography by Michael Flatley, Jean Butler and Mavis Ascott, it became far more than just a Eurovision interval act. That performance was to become the first step in the truly remarkable Riverdance journey, which has seen the show perform live in over 515 venues worldwide, throughout 47 countries across 6 continents and be seen by over 3 billion people worldwide on TV. And that journey is far from over, as Riverdance continues to tour and returns home each summer to the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin 
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I was in a pub in Dublin that night and like everyone else pretty much ignoring the Eurovision on a TV above the bar... until Riverdance came on and the whole pub fell quiet & was spellbound... and then erupted into wild incandescent applause at the end... everyone was completely taken by surprise and floored.
without exaggeration, I'd say this was Ireland's birth as a modern euoprean nation. I remember my heart bursting with pride for being Irish when I saw this. And then every country in the EBU tried to copy us for the rest of the 90s!
damn
@@Mims118 never said that. Seems to me that the darker colored people's of the world (Germans, Italians etc.) Are mean, uncaring people. Lighter colored (Irish, Swedes etc) are sensitive and kind. And usually are the kind that takes crap. Anyway, Flatley's dancing brought awareness to the Irish and their customs. And respect for the magnificent music and dance.
@@maryswann7623 only it was the Yanks that had to dance for us, it's embarrassing if anything we couldn't do it ourselves.
I agree it heralded a new era
That spontaneous, unanimous, exhaltant cheer before the standing ovation says it all. Absolutely spectacular.
I'm tearing up. Jean was 23 years old. How absolutely beautiful that she would accomplish this at her age. Incredible performance!
At 48 she returned for Riverdance's 25th anniversary
An interval act went on to international acclaim while all others, including the main act, are forgotten. This was truly lightning in a bottle
@Fire TV most likely. The actual winner that evening is not even the best (although far from worse). Poland, Hungary, Russia, and Germany were better
Literally the best interval act in eurovision history. No interval act can beat this EVER. Absolutely Amazing ❤🇮🇪
Nope. And apparently there was a lot of last second scotch tape to keep everything together but this is just inspired. You can't duplicate this level of training and performance,
@@squishmallowfan025 Irish dancers start when they are four ..and start competing onstage about the age of 8 they have competitions literally every weekend my cousin was leinster senior champion. Today professional dancers are even better because things always get better. But these guys were seasoned pros.
@@silverkitty2503 This CAN'T be easy on the knees! I suppose really it's like anything where they make it look easy(ish) - start young, perhaps yes have some theatrical acumen as it's about selling the performance and not thinking about the technique - although very clearly it's there.
What was supposed to be an interval piece became a world sensation and boy, it deserved to be that
One of those rare occasions when everything is just
PERFECT
Being a little girl in Ireland when this was originally aired... Every school playground was a stage full of dancers the following day😂 I can still hear my Irish Dance teacher, Mrs. Ryan screeching "BATTERRRR"😂💚🇮🇪
Was she from the north
4:30 The roar from that crowd for....an interval act! Something special had been born.
I never ever get tired of watching the original dancers. Jean Butler and Michael Flatley. Hell, I am so amazed at the stamina, remembering of steps, the choreography, the music. I had such a huge crush on Jean. Lol.
"Lord Of The Dance" should become a film based on Michael Flatley's life from humble beginnings being born to Irish parents growing up in Chicago to the glittering and successful life long career and the smash hit show of the 1990s and the part he played in bringing show to life
Cast:-
Aiden Turner as Michael Flatley
Amanda Seyfried as Jean Butler
Allan Leech as Damien O'Kane
Shakira as Bernadette Flynn
Domnhall Gleeson as Daire Nolan
Maisie Williams as Helen Egan
Cillian Murphy as Desmond Bailey
Lilly James as Anne Buckley
Maura Higgins as Gillian Norris
Saiorse Ronan as Máiréad Nesbitt
Katie McGrath as Cora Smyth
Ciárán Hinds as Ronan Hardiman
Music:-
Musical score by John Williams &
Original "Lord Of The Dance" music by Ronan Hardiman
Songs by Anne Buckley
and "Dangerous Games" sung by Nadine Coyle
Vocalist:-
Enya
Producers:-
Michael Flatley
Niamh O'Brien
Jean Butler
Bernadette Flynn
Damien O'Kane
Helen Egan
Daire Nolan
Anne Buckley
Gillian Norris
Kelly Hendry
Desmond Bailey
Choreography:-
Bernadette Flynn
Damien O'Kane
Kelly Hendry
Desmond Bailey
Hair and Make up:-
Gillian Norris
Executive producer and Director:-
Robert Zemnickis
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Jeffrey Werner same here. Well, except I had a crush on Michael, not Jean. Lol
daniel taylor that would be an awesome film!
@@kaymuldoon3575 It's now officially 2 to 1 for Jean ... the Irish Nicole Kidman!
I had a “crush” on Jean until I realized a decade later that I really had a crush on Michael. 🤣🌈
Best Eurovision interval act still to this day. Proud to be Irish
shame the 2 leads dancing aren't even Irish.
Shane Folan the two leads not being Irish just shows how far we reach. Simply beautiful
Michael Flatly was born in Ireland, Jean Butler is An Irish American
@@MichaelWoods85 no he wasn't
@@MichaelWoods85 They're both Irish American. Jean Butler was born in Nassau County, New York, Michael was born in Chicago. It doesn't make me less proud of my Irish roots.
What a goosebumps and proud to be Irish moment!
It still gives me goosebumps to this day ( ; I fuckin' luv our tiny island.
Yes lads!
it's been 10 years since I (temporarily) left Ireland...but my heart still beats like a 1994 Eurovision interval act ✊🇮🇪☘️
30 years later and still stunning!
To this day, it still takes my breath away. I remember seeing this when it originally aired and I stood up from my couch at the end and wanted to cheer myself! What a performance! I got to see the original show as well when it came to my city. Live was even better.
Me too, I so clearly remember watching this at the time and being mindblown by it. Not many things look as spectacular years later but this really does.
I was only 8 years old but can still remember the reaction. My parents said it was all anyone talked about for days afterwards with constant tv,radio,newspaper coverage etc.
The music gets played the odd time in Irish nightclubs about 2am or at Irish weddings…now THAT is an experience 😂 Everyone thinks they’re Michael Flatley. 💃
As an Irish person this still makes me so proud. 2023 and there has never been such a stunning, breathtaking intermission show at Eurovision (or anywhere else) as this one from 1994.
The Irish will forever be glorious.
I was a hopeless snob about the Eurovision Song Contest ... still am. However, I watched the contest that year on SBS Australia, the multi-cultural channel, purely because Ireland was the host and I'm 100% Irish heritage. When the act was announced, I thought that it would be just some typical Irish traditional dancing and some toorah-loorah diddley-eye singing. Eight minutes later, I was in shock. OMG ... what just happened?
The dance and its presentation was exceptional in itself, but it is the spontaneous burst of applause which underlines just how special this was!
I aspire to enter a room like Micheal flatley one day
Nureyev eh?????????????????????????????????????????????????????
@@phyllispetras3369Michael mentioned in a documentary, that he once danced with Rudolph Nureyev.
The moment when you go "Swedish Smorgasbord was alright, but it was no Riverdance" forevermore...
It all started with this moment, and I will appreciate it for a long time.
WildDancer101 there both Irish not Irish American
After 25 years and many, many views this still takes my breath away. And always will.
on PBS 25 years ago in DC, they showed little clips from the Eurovision performance as an ad for the first time the whole show was going to be broadcast. The clips alone were so fantastic, I taped them and couldn't wait for the broadcast of the show. It was absolutely stunning. There is nothing more exciting than seeing something wonderful that has never been seen before.
The audience was thinking, “Wow...these folks have achieved the impossible: they’ve made Irish dancing COOL.”
Irish dancing was always cool, they just took it to a whole new level
Always come back to this. Nobody in the years later were able to top this. It can never be done again.
It was truly lightning in a bottle
Riverdance became the Irish equivalent of what 'Thriller' and Michael Jackson did for pop music . Ironically, Michael Flatley mentioned in a t. v. show interview, that he and Michael Jackson discussed the idea of doing a show together. Shame that MJ died before it could take place 🥺 The Flatley and Jackson show, would have been a much bigger hit in my opinion, than 'This is it ' ever would have. I would have paid any amount of money to see Flatley and Jackson dancing together. 🤗
Cutting the opening song is a mistake, it's every bit as good as what followed and sets the scene.
I agree. It's an integral part of the performance. It's unforgiveable to cut it out.
It's elsewhere on here. I've just seen it but the comments are disabled.
ruclips.net/video/4Dfrhh1Otwo/видео.html
Here it is included
25 years today since their greatest performance of the century to become the world's greatest and most successful talented act in the history of music and entertainment ( showbiz) . So many memories, so many remarkable stories and so many memorable moments from over those years since the very beginning in the early 90s. Thank You Riverdance! Congratulations and Happy 25th Anniversary! 😍
&::
In celebration of 25 years Riverdance celebrates with a brand new show..all the music and dances reimaged.
Saw a clip of the original Riverdance cast dancing with the next generation of Riverdance dancers.
@@martinpatrick1746 I just seen it last night. Nothing was reimagined, exactly the same as show I seen in like 2011. But there was full live music and singing which wasn’t in the last show.
The spirit of humanity in one incredible performance,
My husband, teenage daughter, and I were travelling in Ireland and saw this as it happened on TV. It's still amazing. A few years ago, daughter and I saw the touring company in Los Angeles.
It still gives me the shivers, after all these years!
Hear the roar from the crowd at the end, the audience was blown away
Nothing will ever be as good as the original with Jean Butler and Michael Flatley.
Wow I can’t believe I still remember this! Very popular back in the day. 1994, great movies!
my goodness, how the Eurovision audience has changed from 1994 to 2024
❤❤❤ I haven't seen this in a good while and i am choking up with tears of pride. I don't think anyone expected THIS that night. I am so very proud of my country. THIS WILL NEVER be topped in any European song contest EVER. I bet even God beamed. ❤
Simply fantastic
The best interval act of all time.
Watching this yet again after hearing Bill Whelan's incredible interview on this morning's Morning Ireland show. I will never forget the time I first saw it in 1994. I'm so proud to be Irish ☘ 🇮🇪 💚
So mesmeric. Makes me cry every time. Beautiful
Honest spontanious standing ovation is an unbeatable response and for Riverdance this was historic.
In 1994 I have had the TV connected with my HiFi-Stereo equipment for a handful of years and though I have no recollection of the ESC1994, I'm sure, that this performance had me crank the (volume) knob all the way up.
It made us buy the VHS and the CD a few years time ahead when the hype was at its highest and today around 25 years later, it's obvious why the talents, skills and quality reached stardom. It was perfect.
Still mesmerizing, and in no small part to the elegance of Jean Butler and completely electrifying presence of Michael Flatley. Hoping he recovers as he has so much more to give. Watching him fly out onto the stage... who will ever forget that moment. The whole country just stopped...
I remember watching this when I was 10. When Michael Flatley came dancing on to those drums I thought this is something else. I wasn’t wrong.
Goosebumps…marked a moment when us Irish felt proud…started to believe…started to break free….
The two hosts knew didn't they? They knew what was about to be introduced to the world.
Maybe the were at rehearsals?
@@loonylaura85 maybe they were...but the world wasn't was it? Smarty pants.
I remember watching/listening to this 29 years ago and was blown away by the stunning music and precision / spectacle of the dancing. 29 years later nothing has changed. It's still completely stunning.
And the crowd, ROARED.🥳💃🕺💕
Synchronization at beyond level!!
So proud of my Irish heritage xxx 💕💕💕
Everyone should be proud of who they are
work of art ❤️
Just the most amazing dancing I've ever seen.sadly never seen Michael and Jean but I did see the Riverdance company perform at Bradford a few years ago.... unbelievable talent
Michael Flatley & the gang danced & tap danced their way into superstardom !
This is now 25 years ago. And still needed as ever. I wish for them to show up on this years ESC.
What amazing performance
If you’re curious the song is Riverdance by Bill Whelan
WOW!!!! I remember jumping out of my chair and clapping like mad. Then the tears started.
Watching this always cheers me up - thank you:-) Once in a lifetime.
Absolutely brilliant 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
By God that audience does not sit on their hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BRAVO BRAVO!!!!
2:17 is what I came here for
The way she comes over to him makes me fall in love with her every time. Nicole Kidman's sister haha
I always thought she looks like nicole
What we do with our hands...we do with our feet 💚💚🇮🇪🇮🇪👏👏
Too bad I was too little (four years old) to see this tho it was also the first time my country participated. Been a fan of Eurovision since 2000, but only seeing this now... Wow! Literally got goosebumps watching it....This is amazing! (and Ireland won the contest the same year as well)
It took me watching it a few times to notice that the hosts manage to completely change in only 5+ minutes. Impressive.
This was iconic, I remember my whole family watching Eurovision and admiring this performqnce
I swear you can see the moment (4:44) where Flatley realises what he has just done.
Actually this was the brainchild of Moya Doherty (a producer for RTE). She dreamed the whole thing up and put Whelan, Flatley, Butler and the dance troupe and orchestra together. Flatley just capitalised on it.
@@firstindigo THANK YOU for giving Moya Doherty her flowers, she was also responsible for changing the voting system for Eurovision that same year
@@culbycove4963 What do you mean, the voting system didn't change this year? Do you mean the idea to use satellite video?
I was four, just have the faintest memory of sitting on the floor in front of the telly and my mam auntie and uncle and the crowd going nuts
Riverdance = The half time entertainment that stole the tournament.
Saw the group in France years later, and all I can say is that they are exceptional!
Totally storming..! And still quite fabulous after all these years!
Brought the proud irishness out of the Irish..as a Irish child and watching before bed I felt very happy and not knowing the success they would have.
Wow,i remember watching this with my Mum at the time,we loved it,the song at the begining of it was amazing,its still great to watch.
The Composer of this Melodie is a Good for me!!
Absolut amazing vibe between Michael and Jean! Stunning Dancing and Music composed to a perfect Show!
The Eurovision Winner 1994 is Riverdance!!!
MASTERPIECE.........MAGIC.............WONDERFULL...........SPECTACULAR........HUGE EMOTIONS.........BREATHTAKING........ THE WORD TO EXPLAIN THIS EMOTION IS NOT INVENTED YET NEVER GET TIRED TO WATCH THIS AMMMMMMAAAAZZZZZING PERFORMANCE MASTERPIECE EVER OF ALL DANCING AROUND THE WORLD. WE LOVE YOU FROM ALBANIA
Truly spectacular!!! I remember this from the 90’s!!!!
Not usually that interested in Eurovision,I happened to be watching this. I thought I'd watch the halftime show. Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw. Then afterwards no one I knew had seen it it was at least a year before the full show started to conquer the world that people caught on. So glad I kinda stumbled across it at the time. Genuine TV history. So powerful, so moving so dare I say sexy!? The moment modern Ireland stepped onto the world stage. Magnificent.
Just saw Riverdance live for the time, I'm still in Awe
Stunning 💚
It's the guy in the back at the end....he's beyond thrilled
thats Breandán de Gallaí he became the lead dancer in the Riverdance company some years later
@@siramea Thank you for the info! You can just tell. It's the right combination of technical skill and attitude and sometimes one second of it gets them the promotion.
I've recently viewed some videos of the latest Riverdance crew, and these OG have a more natural beauty and their dance uniform and make up are more modest too. The new one looks a bit over the top with the colour choice and make up. The shade of green and make up selection has a Poison Ivy and Jim Carrey's Joker feel to it, from the Batman movies. This is not an attack on the dancers themselves, but the make up and costume departments.
Eurovision was something you watched. Can say that 1994 was something else! Can't believe it's 30 years since Riverdance was shown! This is the first time I got interested in celtic music. The interval was better than the competitors!
I had almost forgotten how good Flatley was in those days, and the on stage chemistry he had with Miss Butler. It was nice to see this clip…..from the beginning of their rise. I think that Jean should be proud of the work that she did there.
I remember watching this back in '94, when the Eurovision was still about the music and very much worth watching and thinking, "Holy jaysus!" at the end of this piece. Bill Whelan's spin on traditional Irish music was inspired, as was the entire production, especially the choreography, but often forgotten in all of this is Moya Doherty, who came up with the entire concept. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall when Moya, Bill, Jean and Michael first sat down to start hashing out the idea and create something this special. What a shame that Flatley turned out to be a massive douche. Still, it'll go down in history as something that was only supposed to be an interval act, but actually eclipsed the entire event it was an interval for and went on to - quite rightly - become a Worldwide phenonemon. This 5 minutes did more for Irish music and culture than anything had in the previous few decades.
Wow! I love this, amazing, very well done! 💖
The unsuspecting crowd must have been utterly blown away. Their standing ovation response says it all. Literally a history-making moment.
When they first said riverdance before it started, there was a sporadic, tame clapping. After it was done the crowd roared a standing ovation. Michael and Jean knew in that moment they did something special.
Rolled a ciggie for Jean once. Lovely woman, a real star
Still breathtaking to this day.
They hadn’t a whisper what was coming...
30 years ago!
I only rediscovered this recently watch it everyday took me old ma to see it hammersmith odean god rest her soul
Never again will an interval act upstage the main events.
My dad always tells the story of when he was in the pub and the Eurovision was on and they were all smokin away laughin at how the Irish were gonna embarrass us now on the Eurovision and he said once it was over the place was silent and he looked and every man and woman had tears in their eyes then place erupted in cheering
Super, super, super!!!!!!!!!!
When i was a child my grandmother used to try and get me into this. I hated it. Now im older and i can't stop watching it. If theres such a thing as an afterlife just know Nan that i get it now!
They practiced with the lights turned down because it is easier to hear a mis-timed step than it is to see one.
That's a good bit of info! 👍 Where did you learn it?
How interesting that it was Greek nationals who were the first to offer a standing ovation.
OPA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I fucking love the Greeks!!
I was 14 and still remember it - absolutely stunning!
We have such a beautiful culture and it’s awful to see it being threw away.
irish culture being replaced by multi-culture
@Irish Rose I was 32 then. What I remember is that some 'traditionalists' in Irish dancing and culture criticised it at the time as straying too far from the genuine article as they saw it. The dancing and the costumes were too sexy and Americanised, some of the dancers weren't really Irish, etc. They were wrong of course.
Ireland was changing as it and everything else always does, and Riverdance was a reflection of that change, just has having an uppity lefty liberal woman (as again some traditionalists saw her) as president then also reflected that change. Ireland continues to change, you can embrace the change, or decide that some golden moment of your youth should be frozen in time forever, and then whinge impotently at the Internet gods when the real world moves on.
@@dellhell8842 some changes are good and some changes are bad. What makes you think this change is good?
It is amazing!!
Espectalcular👌👍❤
Always love him ❤
And to think the Portuguese broadcaster at the time interrupted the emission for commercials... I only remember the Portuguese presenter completely euphoric after the break.