Norwegian artist EMMY is attempting to represent Ireland at Eurovision with a song about Soviet space dog Laika.
It's about as international as it gets!
Norwegian artist EMMY is no stranger to the world of Eurovision, but in 2025, she’s taking an unexpected route—competing to represent Ireland.
With her song Laika Party, she hopes to bring an intergalactic, historical, and danceable energy to the contest.
But who is EMMY, and why is she competing for Ireland?
About Emmy and her previous Eurovision experience
Born in Norway, EMMY—real name Emmy Kristine Guttulsrud Kristiansen—has made a name for herself in the Eurovision sphere.
The 24-year-old previously competed in Melodi Grand Prix, Norway’s national selection for Eurovision, in 2021 with Witch Woods.
She qualified for the final but ultimately didn't get the ticket to represent Norway in Rotterdam.
Since 2021 she has been releasing and making music and has taken to TikTok to grow her audience.
She has 1.2 million followers on the platform and many of her songs exceed 1 million streams on Spotify.
Why Ireland?
The question most people have is why Ireland? Why not Norway where she has competed before?
She explained the reasons to the Éirevision podcast.
"We wrote the song at a songwriting camp in Norway, and there was an Irish songwriter at that camp," she said.
"So the short answer is, there is an Irish songwriter on the song. This song is Norwegian and it's Irish so it felt natural to apply for Eurosong."
There are five songwriters credited on the song with the Irish songwriter being Larissa Tormey.
Her song Laika Party
Her entry, Laika Party, is a tribute to Laika, the Russian space dog who became the first living creature to orbit Earth in 1957.
But rather than a sorrowful ballad about Laika’s tragic fate, EMMY has transformed the story into an upbeat, synth-driven pop anthem with a party twist and a wonderful play of words.
The song reimagines Laika’s journey as a cosmic celebration, with lyrics that encourage listeners to dance and let go, all while paying homage to the famous space pup.
She explained to Éirevision that the song came about after she learned about Laika during a family quiz.
"[After the quiz] I started thinking about Laika and how sad her story is," she said.
"I didn't want it to be true so I wanted to write a song about her not dying but rather live in her own party in the sky."
The legacy of Laika
Laika’s story is one of both scientific triumph and ethical controversy. In 1957, the Soviet Union launched her into orbit aboard Sputnik 2, making her a pioneer in space exploration.
Laika, was a stray mongrel picked up from the streets of Moscow. Soviet scientists chose to use strays since they assumed that such animals had already learned to endure conditions of extreme cold and hunger.
Her mission was designed to test the biological effects of space travel. At the time, re-entry technology had not yet been developed, meaning Laika’s survival was never expected.
Though Soviet reports initially suggested she lived for several days, it was later revealed that she died within hours of the launch due to hyperthermia.
The mission provided crucial data on how a living organism responds to the harsh conditions of space, paving the way for future human exploration. Monitoring Laika’s vital signs in orbit helped scientists understand the physiological challenges of spaceflight, including exposure to radiation and weightlessness.
In 2008, a monument to Laika was unveiled to mark her sacrifice.
Eurosong 2025: The battle for Ireland's ticket to Eurovision
Emmy is one of six acts competing to represent Ireland in Basel, including 2000s pop star Samantha Mumba.
They will compete in the national final on Friday night in Ireland which is Saturday morning in Australia.
The winner will be chosen by 33% public score, 33% international jury and 33% Irish jury.
Eurosong will take place on Friday 7 February at 10:35pm CET (Saturday 8:35am AEDT).
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