‘What’s Another Year’ was produced, mixed, and mastered by Martin Leahy who also performs pedal-steel, synth, and drums on the single.
Eurovision hopefuls Victoria Keating and Áine O’Gorman join forces to release their cover of Johnny Logan’s ‘What’s Another Year’. The West Cork duo previously released their tender version of the Eurovision favourite on September 29, 2023.
When singer/ songwriters Victoria Keating and Áine O’ Gorman collaborate, they create magic. Originally made famous by Johnny Logan the duo has put their own mark on the song imbuing it with raw emotion and tenderness.
Following Victoria’s cancer diagnosis in May 2023, the West Cork natives decided to submit their own entry to the Eurovision this year. As they were writing, full of new meaning and hope the Johnny Logan classic came to mind and it felt right that the duo records their own version.
Speaking to Craving Cork about the single, Victoria Keating says,
“It’s back to the glory days of songwriting, and we have dedicated it to Shay Healy. ‘What’s Another Year’ was produced, mixed, and mastered by Martin Leahy who also performs pedal-steel, synth, and drums on the single. With Áine performing on piano and strings. All monies raised through sales of the single will go to the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland.”
Long time friends, Victoria and Áine have previously released three co-written songs including 2020’s ‘The Poor Ground’ written with Jamie Kelly in response to the Tuam Babies scandal; followed by singles ‘Brigid’ and 2023’s ‘Sweet Bird’.
Victoria and Áine were blown away by support for their Kickstarter fundraising campaign that will help the songwriters complete recording of their upcoming album. Victoria’s cancer diagnosis put an urgency to completing this project which she says has been a lifeline during her treatment. Anyone interested in finding out more about this can do so by visiting https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/953740193/victoria-keating-and-aine-o-gorman
Performed by Johnny Logan and composed by Shay Healy ‘What’s Another Year’ won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1980. It was Johnny’s first Eurovision win (out of three, as performer and later songwriter) and Ireland’s second Eurovision win. The song went on to reach the Number 1 spot on the UK Singles Chart.
You can listen to Victoria and Áine’s entry below:
Victoria Keating has worked with Christy Moore extensively since 2011, providing harmony vocals on five albums. She has toured with both Christy and Declan Sinnott playing sold out shows such as Glastonbury and Vicar Street, Dublin.
In 2017, Victoria was thrilled to be asked by composer Mark Wilkins to perform in ‘The Madrugada’ a song cycle based the lyrics of Mick Lynch, former frontman of Cork punk band Stump. Victoria is building a loyal fanbase on her lockdown project ‘Little Rooms, Big Music’.
Ballinadee singer-songwriter Áine O’Gorman writes songs from a deeply emotional perspective. With two musical parents, her mother a piano teacher Áine had no choice but to pursue a life of music.
A full-time musician Áine after spending years performing in bands began releasing her own music in 2019 with her debut single ‘Lydia’. Since then, she has released more music including 2021’s self-titled EP and her 2022 single ‘These Empty Rooms’.
‘These Empty Rooms’ is a powerful tribute to Áine’s late mother Margaret O’ Gorman who died tragically 20 years ago and is a relatable song about grief and living with the empty spaces left behind. ‘These Empty Rooms’ has been included in this year’s Grammy submissions.