Ireland will choose its Eurovision 2025 entry this week and among the entries is pop star Samantha Mumba.
Samantha Mumba is among six acts competing in Eurosong to represent Ireland the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel.
For many fans, this is a dream come true as they've wanted the pop star to compete for years.
However, for other fans, they starting googling her name as they had no idea who she was.
This was a rough 50/50 split according to a poll we did on the Aussievision social account.
So to remind some and to educate others, here's the background of Samantha Mumba.
Samantha Mumba's early career and breakthrough success
Born in Dublin in 1983, Samantha Mumba was discovered at just 15 years old by legendary pop producer Louis Walsh, best known for managing acts like Westlife and Boyzone.
After signing a record deal, she quickly made waves with her debut single, Gotta Tell You, in 2000. The track became an international hit, reaching No.1 in Ireland, and New Zealand, No.2 in the UK, No.3 in Australia and No.4 in the US.
Her debut album, also titled Gotta Tell You, was released later that year and cemented her status as a rising star.
The record saw several more successful singles, including Body II Body, Always Come Back to Your Love, and Baby Come on Over. These all made the Top 5 in the UK.
At the height of her fame, Mumba toured extensively and became a fixture on music television, including appearances on Top of the Pops and MTV.
She also earned a nomiation for Billboard Music Video Awards for Gotta Tell you and the song Baby Come on Over (This Is Our Night) received a Grammy nomination for the K-Klass remix of in the Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical category.
Acting career and industry shift
Following her initial chart success, Mumba ventured into acting. She landed a major role in the 2002 sci-fi film The Time Machine, starring alongside Guy Pearce. While the movie received mixed reviews, it introduced her to Hollywood audiences and hinted at a possible career shift.
Despite her promising start, Mumba’s music career stalled due to record label disputes.
Plans for a second album never fully materialized, and her pop presence faded as the industry evolved. She continued acting sporadically, with appearances in various TV shows and independent films, but she largely stepped away from the spotlight.
A slow down in the 2010s
Although she never returned to mainstream pop dominance, Mumba remained active in the entertainment industry.
She took on presenting roles on Irish television and competed on reality shows, including Dancing on Ice in 2008.
She had a brief comeback with the song Somebody Like Me which went No.5 in 2013.
That same year she married police officer Torray Scales and later welcomed a daughter, shifting her focus towards family life.
Recent music
In recent years, Mumba has returned to music in a more independent capacity.
In 2020, she released new tracks, including Cool and Process, showcasing a mature sound that reflected her growth as an artist.
While she may not have the chart presence she once did, her legacy as an early 2000s pop icon remains intact.
Eurovision 2025 for Ireland?
She now has turned her sights to Eurovision with her song My Way competing this Friday (Saturday morning) for a chance to compete in Basel.
She told the Éirevision podcast that she hadn't previously participated because she wasn't aware of the process.
"For years I wasn't asked and I didn't know the politics behind it [the selection process]," she told them.
"So I started digging around and asking and I all had to do was throw my name in the hat."
She also said her daughter and timing was a key reason for her participation.
"Timing is everything, years ago i don't know if I would have been in the right headspace for it."
"Timing is everything, years ago i don't know if I would have been in the right headspace for it," she said.
"I have a little girl who is 9 and she is Eurovision crazy, I would love to do something she would think is cool."
Eurosong will take place on Friday 7 February at 10:35pm CET (Saturday 8:35am AEDT).
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