Lifford’s Mickey Joe Harte reflects on his time in music

Twenty years ago, Lifford singer-songwriter Mickey Joe Harte found himself on a stage in the Latvian capital of Riga representing Ireland at the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest.

Appropriately enough, his song was called, ‘We’ve Got the World Tonight’. But, while he may not have matched Dana’s success in the competition, his time in the spotlight enabled Mickey Joe to carve out a respectable career doing what he loves best.

In his own words, he said, “The biggest thrill I get, and will always get, is still writing a good song.”

Born in Lifford Hospital – and growing up across the street from it – Mickey Joe has great memories of festivals and the real community spirit in the town during his younger days. Music was all around him from an early age.

He said, “My brother Jim, also a songwriter, was in a band or two in his younger years. They would invariably be in our house practising so I was always around that; in fact, one of my first memories was of ‘Hoot’ Houston with his long black hair coming into the house to practise.

“We were always encouraged to pursue music if we wanted, do our party piece at weddings or confirmations. There was always an upright piano in the house; never a tune in it, but the piano was there!”

Outside of the house, he was fortunate enough to have numerous influences and plenty of encouragement from different sources.

“People like Brendan Maxwell, PJ McGrath and John Crawford, who would get me gigs and competitive opportunities when they saw I could play a bit. I’ve fond memories of these guys and I haven’t forgotten their generosity.”

After being shown a few chords on the guitar aged 13, he admitted he was ‘bitten’, writing his first song, ‘Candlelight’, about the Gulf War in the early 90s. Mickey says he chose to write the tune after seeing the invasion on TV and becoming ‘very susceptible’ to the ferocity of war.

Two years later, Mickey began his music career in earnest, doing the pub and club circuit around Donegal with brother Jim, also remembering five-week stints he and friend Finian Drumm took on in Bundoran.

“By this time, I realised I could sing a bit and hold a tune and, looking at shows like Top of the Pops I thought ‘Wouldn’t it be great to do that for a living? Maybe I’ll have a shot at this singing craic’. No plan B in my head.”

Mickey admits his early career wasn’t always easy, especially when providing for a wife and two kids.

“It had ups-and-downs, no doubt. When the going was good, it was great; when it wasn’t, it was tight enough. That’s nothing new, every musician goes through it; it’s feast or famine and you have to structure yourself accordingly. I never lost belief though.”

But, after years of grafting, Mickey found himself thrust toward fame thanks to one of the first reality TV singing shows.

“I had an agent at this time and was on the verge of releasing an EP. My aunt phoned my mum to tell her about auditions happening at the Guildhall for a talent show called ‘You’re A Star’ with Louis Walsh and Phil Coulter.

“Admittedly I was reluctant, having done these sorts of shows before. My wife Louise said, ‘Ye better go to that or you’ll not hear the end of it,’ so off I went, not knowing what to expect.”

Making it through to the next stage, the Donegal man revealed he did not know he was singing for a place at Eurovision until well into the competition.

He joked, “I always say I got the Eurovision by default; I never put my hand up for it!”

After triumphing in the final against fellow crooner Simon Casey, Mickey was Ireland’s Eurovision entry and on his way to Riga. First, he needed a song which, as he admits, wasn’t easy.

“Phil Coulter picked ‘We’ve Got The World Tonight’ and, if I’m honest, I didn’t get it. It’s not that I thought it was a bad song, it just didn’t land with me. The RTE people were probably taken aback but I couldn’t be dishonest about it.

“The night I heard it, I called up a former tutor of mine who encouraged me to bring it out to his house. Matt White, a producer, was also there and they took me through the song line-for-line. By the time I left that night, the song was mine.”

Song? Check. Backing singers? Check. Now Riga-ready, Mickey admitted the whirlwind experience was not something he remembered too well, and lamented not keeping a diary of it all.

Accompanied by two chartered flights from Ireland, his Eurovision experience was filled with press conferences, sound checks, costume fittings, rehearsals and not one, but two, full run-throughs of the show.

Mickey said, “It was a brilliant experience, albeit exhausting and energy-sapping at the same time. With so much going on, keeping our energy up for the night itself was difficult but the girls and I powered through. Everyone really enjoyed it though.”

A respectable 11th-place finish followed.

“Admittedly, I didn’t think it would win. The song was already number one at home which, coupled with our previous wins, gave it a wave of expectation. But the Eurovision crowd weren’t as enamoured as the people here. The Russian duo Tatu were on my year, which gained a lot of controversy, and the mainland European countries go all out; we really couldn’t compete.”

Asked if he would do it again, Mickey said, “I wouldn’t put my hand up for it again but if I was approached, and they had the right song with the right message… Never say never!”

Competing in Eurovision has opened many doors for the affable performer over the last two decades.

“It brought so many opportunities my way, allowing me to do things and work with people I would never have been able to otherwise.

“It catapulted me to a ‘name recognition’ status, where people knew who I was and could decide whether to work with me or not, without introductions being needed.

“I’m currently producing an album for a guy in LA who wrote songs for the Eagles, and I got to work with Paul Brady, a hero of mine growing up. I’ve been doing various projects trying to keep creative, including laying down tracks for the German version of ‘Dancing With The Stars’.”

He added, “But the biggest thrill I get, and will always get, is still writing a good song.”