Eurovision is the musical equivalent of the Grand National, says Phil Coulter, judge for the second series of You're a Star, auditions for which begin next month.
Marie O'Halloran
In this "musical mardi gras", anything can happen and "favourites often fall at the first fence", he says.
As the hugely popular television series gets underway again to choose next year's Eurovision singer, the judge - and former Eurovision winner (for winning song) - is sanguine about this year's 11th placing for Mickey Joe Harte.
By being in the top 12, Ireland was "saved the indignity" of having to pre-qualify for the final next year. He was speaking in Dublin at the announcement of auditions throughout the Republic, for which 5,000 entries are expected.
The composer of Sandy Shaw's winning Puppet on a String in 1967, and Cliff Richard's second-placed Congratulations in 1968, defends You're a Star's emphasis on the singer and not the song.
"If the object is to produce a good performer, that's a specific talent. There are countless numbers of talented people," he says.
But songwriting is different. "We don't have a big pool of natural writing talent. It's a real craft that requires learning and a long apprenticeship. I wrote hundreds of songs before I had a hit," he points out.
Last year's You're a Star received well over 100 songs for the competition, but "only a handful" were worth a second listen.
Having said that, he points out that a song from unknown composer Louise Wallace made it to the last four songs. Larry Bass, managing director of Screentime Shinawil, producers of the programme with RTÉ, welcomes all songwriting entries.
The judging panel includes Linda Martin and Louis Walsh. The compere is Ray D'Arcy.