Riverdance, the original 7 minute performance as the Interval Act of Eurovision Song Contest 1994.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ม.ค. 2025
- On 30th April 1994, Riverdance, the original seven-minute performance was the interval act at the Eurovision Song Contest at The Point Theatre, Dublin (now the 3Arena) and was broadcast to an estimated 300 million viewers worldwide.
As votes were being counted around Europe, Riverdance burst onto the stage and took the audience by complete surprise. From the haunting vocals of Anúna, the graceful elegance of Jean Butler, the explosive arrival of Michael Flatley and culminating in a long line of Irish dancers beating the stage in perfect heart-stopping harmony, a whole new genre of entertainment was born.
30 years on with over 30 million audience members later and a worldwide viewership of 3.5 billion, Riverdance continues to astonish audiences globally.
“The phenomenon rolls on!… There will always be a Riverdance!” THE NEW YORK TIMES
I remember being blown away by this on the night. For my money, it's still the single greatest ever performance at ANY Eurovision, and that includes the songs!
Yes I remember seeing this on the night. It was stunning and mind blowing never having ever seen Irish Dancing before even this was on a new level.
The bar is a bit low though isn’t it?
Can YOU do it?
I saw Riverdance in New York City some 25 years ago - and I agree: it was mesmerizing! One of the vocalists had such an ethereally beautiful voice - and she was just the understudy! It really was an assemblage of amazingly talented performers. 🤩
Agree with you.
Still get chills 30 years later watching this performance.
When Riverdance was airing on PBS I was getting off work at midnight. I stumbled on to it with my conventional TV. I'd watch it for a while captivated but annoyed that I was not seeing it from the beginning and moved to something else. It was not until sometime later that I got to see it start to finish. My take: the finale by itself is worth the price of admission and then there was Jean Butler. I was in my early 40s by then and one never given to celebrity crushes but I had stars in my eyes for several years over her.
in tears here. Way better than the shit we'e got going forward today -
And I'm just seeing it for the very first time in 2024!!! 💖
@@JonathanMullan25 I am chuckling here at your directness,not mincing words.and i agree completely !!!
@@djangorheinhardt just speaking my mind, I'm a fairly blunt person
A moment in time that still has the same impact years later
Magical, beautiful and everlasting
I remember seeing both these two dancing as I was in the front row with my aunt who is now 93 years old and I still visit her every week to shop for her. Afterwards we got to meet him in person. I had a camera with a setting for long horizontal which I'd turn 90 degrees to get the full length of a body. I got one of me holding my arm around Michael Flatley's shoulders and he's quite small and about as wet as a man getting out of a swimming pool after all that dancing. He was surprised for the picture, but it was a great shot of the full length of both of us.
I think asked my aunt who was in her 60s if she wanted a picture with him and she said, "When he smells like that? Hell, no" and Michael Flatley just busted up laughing.
Original in it's beauty and absolutely beautiful in its originality.
I will never tire of watching this it still gives me goosebumps even today in 2024 ❤
It does me everything about this is truly brilliant.
I remember watching it live and being blown away. The whole country was infatuated with it. Nobody can remember the Eurovision itself but everybody remembers Riverdance.
well i don’t know what country your on about but the trainers / dance teachers wasn’t in Ireland
@@paulcrawley5687 Never said they were. Think you must have commented on someone else's comment. I can only assume
When the world knew Ireland for the Troubles and U2 this largely forgotten ancient Irish subculture hit the whole world like a glorious happy hammer. 👍👍
You had and have every right to be infatuated with this. It's just perfect.
World, meet Riverdance… Riverdance meet world! This is the place where history was made that forever changed the world. They raised the bar of dance artistry, to its highest level. Plus, everyone who saw them somehow gained some Irish DNA from that day through today and beyond. It will continue until our sun sheds the last of its light…
It remains as fresh and magical today as it was all those years ago. I will never tire of watching
This made my little girl want to learn Irish Dance. 28 trophies and many feis later, my daughter was fantastic and it was worth every minute!
I wish my parents were like this. I had an avid love for Michael Flatley, Riverdance, and the saxaphone of all things..
Never did any of them as a child or a teen; I didn't do much extra curricular, if at all.
Now I'm an agoraphobic adult, and avoid my parents like the plague 😅
Please keep doing what you're doing ❤
This performance also made me want to do Irish dancing. I was 8 at the time and I danced and competed for around 10 years, my mum and nan made my costumes. I loved every minute of it and I’m forever grateful for my parents support
@@xbluebae I didn't do too much either. My parents were broke and couldn't afford anything outside of the basic school curriculum.
@@xbluebae a shame you had that experience, but it's never too late to find joy
Still to this day one of the greatest pieces of live music, dancing and entertainment in human history.
2024 and I'm still so amazed by this unbelievable performance 👏👏👏👏👌
This will never age. It still gets the spirits soaring and it brought Irish dance to the world. The singing at the beginning it magical. Superb
totaly agree I also love the drums has well the whole peformance was spellbinding
Magic, best ever, music, dancing just outstanding
You can keep the music and the dancing thanks
Irish dancing kept pretty quiet for 100s of years then BOOM! 👍👍
I actually wished that they got to the dance sooner.
No matter how many times I watch this, I never get bored, it's awesome
All these year later and I still find it thrilling, no other word. What a show!
The original performance the best stunning
I'd seen clips of the original, but this is the first time I'd seen it all the way through. I now understand why it was such a phenomenon! IMHO Jean Butler deserved way more credit for her part.
Yesss her part at the beginning is so much more emotional
You NEVER SPOKE A TRUER WORD!!!!!!!!! Julie Gill, Glasgow, Scotland.
It's divine ❤
Can you imagine the reaction from the viewers
She was part of Riverdance longer then Flatley was so I think she did get all the credit she deserved.
Our youngest daughter started Irish Dancing in 1997 and qualified for the World Championships with her team in 1999. They eventually went to two World's competitions, first in 2002 and again in 2005. She danced for a total of 12 years and her mom andI enjoyed all of it, especially the travel to cities where she competed and met some real nice folks.
That is really cool! Such an astounding dance.
Wow❤🎉😮
No one cares
@@MB-tr5sz I wouldn't be so sure ...
Irish dance is incredibly athletic. It takes talent and hard work to get to Worlds!
After all these years it is still spine tingling!
This never gets old! 2024 I still get the chills watching it.
Absolutely, remember it so well. I live in Zimbabwe and flew to Johannesburg as the show brought out with Michael Flatley sensational.
@@normacoope8239 superb indeed
Jean Butler was absolutely gorgeous!
*Is
Jean Butler in my opinion stole the show with her beauty, talent and grace, Michael Flatley was very much a 2nd in comparison to Jean Butler.
@@johnwhite626
AGREE 100‰
What a beauty and talented
"Beauty"? It is in the eye of the beholder - don't minimise her dancing
Even after all these years it still hasn’t diminished its appeal.
I swear in my memory there were about a thousand dancers on the stage that night! 😆 That’s the impact they all had, sounding like an army! Bravo.
I remember it the same way! At the age of 6, I couldn't believe that so many thousand people knew how to move their legs that fast!
Same thing here . Watching it now I go like “where are ethe other thousand dancers I saw that night” brilliant
I now cry over the passing of the finest pure moments that were these people and time.. The world will never again be like this. RIP.
Well said. A flashpoint in history. Transient but indelible
I'm a black woman living in Philadelphia and I, along with some friends, have tickets for the show next April. Already excited... 1 year ahead of time !!!! ❤❤❤🥰
Hi I’m from S Jersey.. and I’ve been following river dance since 1995.. I first saw them while I was at work and fell in love.. I’ve never been able to go see them. I’d be excited too.. are they at the convention center again? I hope it’s a nice day and your heart filled with joy..God bless
@@katieks48 Hi. They are going to be at the Kimmel Center. That's on the campus at Temple University.
Hi Jocelyn,
If you’re a black woman…you’re honorary Irish !
🥰
@@davidhryan thank you for that compliment !!! 🤗 My dad was in the Air Force in the 1950's and he was stationed in England where my older sister was born. So even though she's not Irish, she came close !!! Lol !!! Ironically she is a professional dancer. ( Ballet). I turned her onto Riverdance and Lord of the Dance and she loooves it !!! I found out last year, watching videos of competitions, that there are Irish dance troupes for people over 50.. I'm looking to see if they have classes. I'm 59 and may be too old for the jumps and kicks but I love a challenge and it would be fun to try !!! 😃
What relevance is your colour?
The first time I saw this - I thought it was the best thing I had ever seen. It still makes me feel good
It is the best thing I have ever seen
The two best things to come out of Eurovision, Riverdance and ABBA!
Celine Dion might want a word with you (but otherwise I agree).
And Hard Rock Halleluja.
Northern Kings
Agreed. Picton, NZ.
In that order....😅
After all these years, still absolutely amazing!!
I used to watch the Eurovision contest every year with the family at home.
I immediately recognized Jean Butler, also my maternal grandmother who called me so that I didn't miss her performance.
I met Jean Butler on May 1, 1986 in Paris, I was at the party organized by the community of North Americans and Nordics, being Finnish.
There was to be a dance performance, one of my friends came to pick me up because according to him an important dancer was missing, they asked me to replace her at short notice.
We danced covers of scenes from shows, "West Side Story" "Grease".... plus other dances from all eras, Jean Butler danced with us in the Celtic dance part, she was already wonderful. she signed an autograph for me, I signed one for her.
I was happy to see her dancing during the Eurovision contest, I remembered her but until the beginning of the 2000s I didn't know if she remembered me, but a friend told me in 2010 that Jean Butler spoke about me on her TV show, too bad I never saw that clip but it made me happy that someone remembered me as a dancer.
I have watched the original performance hundreds of times, and it still gives me goosebumps at the end! When Jean and Michael look at each other, you know they're so proud of what they have done.
Gosh - i can remember seeing this as it went out. We'd never seen anything like it before!
Absolutely stunning 😍
This is still thrilling 30 years later. Incredible
This was on my 9th birthday and as an Irish person it still gives me a lump in my throat to this day especially since it was performed on home soil. Simply breathtaking ❤
A mere interval act changed the dance world. 💪
Far and away the best thing to come out of Eurovision. Still fantastic!
The first time I saw Riverdance was on a PBS special presentation of the first full show. I and my two roommates were so astonished that we sat through the whole show with our mouths hanging open, not speaking a word. I took my mother to the live show on tour in San Francisco in 1998. I was even more mesmerized, as was my mother. The best show ever.
I totally agree
Unbelievable to think this is 30 years old today. As electrifying now as it was then.
I remember this first time in front of the world … and the rest is history. Outstanding!!
The most awesome experience of my life to see Riverdance live with Michael Flatley.
Wow wish I could have been there
30 years later . . . still goose bumps. Powerful performance!
Still get goosebumps watching it, simply brilliant
Jean Butler & Michael Flatley were incredible in the beginning years -- 30 years ago the Irish Step-Dancing they epitomized here started a true phenomenon which is RiverDance! ☆☆☆☆☆ ♡♡
Astonishing performance!
There are very few moments when everything - the music, the choreography, the dancing, the set, the lighting - all work seamlessly to create pure magic.
This was one of those moments.
When they created magic on a stage at Eurovision.
Who could have seen it coming?
Fantastic!
It was amazing and still is.
They were truly phenomenal dancers.
The Interval Show that blew the main event completely off the stage - incredible. Never been seen before!
I was 17 and I rarely watched Eurovision, but I was glued to this. Unforgettable.
I was 13 when this aired. All the main acts are forgotten but riverdànce still captivates new audiences. This was a once in a lifetime event.
To this day..for me best Eurovision ever..it still gives me goosebumps..❤❤❤❤
Dear God, compare this masterpiece to Eurovision 2024. There is no comparison. 2024 feels like it scraped the gutters to find any old crap to put on stage. I watched 1994 in real time and at every step change in the performance I felt “it can’t get better” but it did, and then it hit another level and I said “it can’t get any better” but it did, until we had a line of dancers in perfect step with uillean pipes going full tilt, the look on Jean Butler’s and Flatley’s faces was sublime, it just said, “we know this is f****n’ brilliant, and we’re loving it”. It was the greatest Eurovision ever beyond doubt.
Dont ask God he doesn't care but yes on all levels you are right
This is exactly what I think about it ❤ Thank you for this comment ❤
"And the winner of the 1994 Eurovision contest is .............." crickets.
@@brianloughnane4033 It was Got who gave them all the talent.
What is/was Eurovision?
I was 12 years old watching this at home in Ireland with my family when it aired.. We were all gobsmacked and now 30 years later it's still just as spectacular now. Seen the live show in person last December.
I was 14. It was one of those tv moments you don’t forget. People talk about the dancing of course but the singers and drummers and musicians were all brilliant too.
I was 12 too and remember this as truly magical!
Of all the wonderful female dancers that partnered Michael Flatley over the decades, Jean Butler was the best. ❤
And Michael was better than them all
@@Jesakin-rl7zq Absolutely.....Michael was a supreme showman on top of his dancing genius. The only dancers I see even coming close are the Gardiner Brothers. Unfortunately, since Michael.retired, Irish dancing has slipped in general public attention which means many people have not heard of the Gardiner Brothers. 😔
@snowysnowyriver I have been seeing them on video, in USA, especially when Beyoncé's Texas Hold'em first came out and everybody was dancing to it. I might be Australian but Ireland is my spiritual home.
@@kalayne6713 It's excellent if they are getting a wider audience. They deserve it! 👍
The song is beautiful at the beginning. Those clusters!
I remember watching this in the Beachcomber pub in Killester and thinking it was extraordinary and also that Jean Butler was an absolute fox.
Thirty years later and I’m still speechless! Fortunately, I saw them once, but would never tire of seeing them every night!
I saw Riverdance when it first appeared in London many years ago. Its still one of the best shows I've ever seen. Amazing talent and great entertainment.
This still gives me goosebumps. No country has ever, or will ever beat this amazing performance. I had the pleasure of seeing the Riverdance show 10 yrs ago at the NIA in Birmingham. It was a present for.my 60th birthday off my 2 best friends. Fabulous show, though nothing can match the original 1994 performance ..
I watched this on PBS in 1997 !!! and was mesmerized.
I remember this well, probably the finest interval performance in Euro history. Watching it back again it’s interesting to hear the half hearted audience applause before, and then the bedlam and standing ovation afterwards. 😊
To this day, still breathtaking. I remember sitting in the Castle Inn bar Rathfarnham with friends that Saturday night watching it live.. 1 by 1 conversations swapped for theres to this on TV, till the whole bar watched and you could hear a pin drop, everyone was captivated... at the end the place was in uproar with joy and pride, everyone was mesmerized with this brilliance and that this small nation of ours could put something out there on the world stage..
THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!! Julie Gill, Glasgow, Scotland.
How could that performance ever be the Interval act of anything! Magnificent
One of my proudest moments being Irish. Sent shivers down my spine❤ gratitude ☘️
Still gives me huge smiles, and chills of joy watching, and listening to the Pure Magic of Such a Great performance. Can't stop watching it after all these years. AMAZING.
So nostalgic! I haven’t thought about or heard this song in years but it all came back
I have seen this live on stage three times and I still cry when I watch it, it moves me so much!!❤
In all time of any Euro competitions, this is the best
this is my favourite piece of Eurovision ever
I've seen this perform live n it was the best thing ever
Every fiber in my old dancer's body comes to life when I see this.
One of the most exciting dance performances I have ever seen. That was electric!
Best EVER!!!! I will never, ever forget seeing it the 1st time
I remember watching this at home with my mam and being utterly blown away by what we had just watched. I had never seen anything like this before in my life. Just magical. Brings tears to my eyes still 🇮🇪
Me too. It was one of the last things I saw with my mum, so very special memories. We just had the TV on in the background and were blown away when this came on. I've seen a version in Canberra, Australia some years ago
Just brought me to tears again.
Jeez, I watched it live and here in 2024, ALL the goosebumps all over again!!!!!!! ;-)
I remember this too and have been fascinated by Irish dancing ever since. Bravo!
I saw this on television at the time and it. Was. Magical. I was completely dumbfounded by it. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before or since. A proud time to be Irish 🇨🇮
I'm with you! I stumbled on it while channel surfing and after intensely watching for a few minutes, leaning into the t.v. set, I realized I hadn't closed my mouth the whole time. Truly a "jaw-on-the-floor" moment. Can't believe it's been 30 years!
I remember watching it in 1994 (I don't watch the Eurovision Song Contest any more!) and being just as gobsmacked as the live audience there clearly were! It's still magical, such precision.
Just seen the show for the first time tonight in Dublin. Absolutely mesmerised….. just amazing ❤
Absolutely THRILLING. I can’t wait to see my next live Riverdance performance. A historical and cultural treasure.
I was due to give birth to my youngest son any day and I can remember watching this and my son was kicking like crazy during the whole thing.
That's neat! Maybe he'll be the future star😊
Tears of joy stream from myself as I watch, not only the amazing dancers but also the wonderful , clear beautiful singers , slainte Eire xxxx
My husband and I saw their first tour in the US here in Detroit I believe in 1996. It was the breathtaking performance of a lifetime. I sat at the edge of my seat through the entire show.
Perhaps you can envision the experience for us in Europe, witnessing this live on Europe's grandest stage, broadcasted in every country, an event rivaling the magnitude of the Super Bowl. It was utterly enchanting; it took our breath away…
This performance brings tears to my eyes,not of sadness but of joy and pride,proud to be Irish
Still absolutely breathtaking 😍
The phenomenon that is Riverdance, the best 7 mins ever to grace our TV screens. Gave me shivers as much today as it did 30 years ago, truly spectacular. 🌟🌟🌟
It upstaged everything else from EuroVision, by a _long_ shot!
No other country will EVER beat this. I can't even remember who won but will never forget this. From the sublime voice to the dancers was perfection. I have since seen the actual show 3 times. As good as they all have been no one can equal Michael and Jean
Ireland for the third time in a row!! The winning song was "Rock 'n' Roll Kids",
performed by Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan.
*Masterful, Elegant, Graceful, Magnificent, Exquisite, Stunning, Mesmerizing, Enchanting and Absolute Perfection! A Phenomenal Performance!* *BRAVO!*
Everything about this from the voices ( haunting) to the dancing,music will never be bettered. Outstanding and brilliant in every department,
Brings back so many great memories!
It blew me away thirty tears ago, and it still does. An absolutely stunning display!
Even after over thirty years still as incredible as it was that first night.
This performance is 30 years old and I still remember this as if it was yesterday; my girlfriend at the time and I were blown away by it. It was my first introduction to Irish culture.
Was it really 30 years ago???? Times flies! Jean Butler one of the most desirable females ever!
The amazing part is... This show never gets old. Same explosive wonderful energy. Pure joy
Ye brings tears to your eyes, what passion and bloody natural pride, 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪☘️☘️☘️👏👏👏👏👏👏
Yep, still gets me... Remember when I saw it on telly, true shock and amazement :)
Was 3 when this happened so never seen it live but yet I always come back to this video every 6 months or so from pure admiration and awe also my irish blood 💚
I watched this when I was little girl… still love it!!!
Michael Flatley & Jean Butler the Fred & Ginger of Ireland
……..buuuuttttt, neither are Irish. He’s from Chicago (in spite of the fake accent) and she’s from Long Island (NY)
❤ Greetings from coastal Mississippi. I have witnessed Riverdance many times. Have even been privileged to meet the cast❤
Saw this in Birmingham all those years ago and I still get goosebumps when I see and hear it,it was in the week before Princess Diana's funeral which made I'd even more poignant they had a 2 minute silence for her and you could have heard a pin drop so emotional and so wonderful 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊❤❤❤❤
I still get goosebumps from watching this.
As an Irishman, and I think I speak for most Irish people, this will give us goosebumps every time we hear it for the rest of our lives
I’m of Irish heritage and I’ve never set foot in my homeland but it still gives me goosebumps!
@@raewynstewart I'm several generation English but it still gives me goosebumps
One of the best interval acts at Eurovision I've ever seen. From the choir to the dancers and music everything came together for 7 minutes and transported people away from the 1994 contest for a second.
The man hours it took to rehearse this making sure everyone tapped in sync must be commended.
This made Irish Dancing more mainstream making everyone in the world notice than just people in Ireland who already knew about it and certainly eclipsed every else that night as often has been stated.
As Sir Terry Wogan said, "You didn't need to be Irish to like that." which I completely agree with been accessible to anyone whatever country they're from and having loved the show myself ever since and seen live for their 20th anniversary and will see again next year for their 30th then.
My mom's friend (an Irish dance teacher) sent us (in the US) a VHS copy of this a week after it aired in Europe. We wore that cassette out. We saw Riverdance live 3 times, and Lord of the Dance 4 times. Had the honor of meeting Michael backstage on most of those occasions. Those kids work out and rehearse for HOURS prior to the show. Wonderful memories!
Still get goosebumps..so unexpected. Who knew this would be such an International sensation..and still going ❤