Australia: "Eurovision: Australia Decides" to determine Eurovision 2022 hopeful

Australia:
Thursday, 26 August 2021

  • SBS has confirmed that the national final Eurovision – Australia Decides will determine the country's Eurovision 2022 representative and entry.

    The Aussies after two successful national finals of "Eurovision: Australia Decides" have been missing their national selection event and don't hide it! SBS confirmed that the next Australian ESC hopeful will be selected through the show Eurovision – Australia Decides . 

     Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate commented on the event's return to his city: 

    “If there is one event that shouts ‘Gold Coast’ it is Eurovision ­– Australia Decides. Like Eurovision, we are bold, unapologetic and famous for fun. I am delighted that [it’s] back.” 

    The national final is set for Saturday, February 26 and will once again be presented by the comedian Joel Creasey and music buff Myf Warhurst for the third consecutive time. 

     

    Song Submission window opened

    Without leaving any kind of genre of music left outside, SBS is inviting songwriters to submit their original composition as part of the national selection process via sbs.com.au/eurovision.

    The song portal, is now open for submissions until 26 September 2021. There are no restrictions on the number of songs composers and songwriters, both published and unpublished, can submit. 

    Paul Clarke, Creative Director of Eurovision – Australia Decides stated: 

    “We’ve got some very exciting artists to announce shortly, but first we need songs! It’s an opportunity for all our songwriters to showcase their best and boldest – please send your songs to the SBS song portal.”

    After an evaluation songs will be shortlisted and will be released in the following months along with the ten artists that will battle for the ticket to Italy next May representing Australia.  The Australian public will have a say on the final outcome along with a jury , selecting the next Australian representative for Italy. 

     

    Australia In Eurovision 

    Australia has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest five times since their debut at the 2015 contest in Vienna. Although Australia’s first participation in the 2015 contest was set to be a single time participation, the country was invited to take part in the following years successively. Last year after an agreement with EBU, Australia secured its participation up to 2023.

    The country’s best result in the contest is Dami Im’s 2nd place in 2016. Australia has also finished in the top ten in three of its other appearances in the contest, with Guy Sebastian finishing fifth in 2015, and Isaiah Firebrace finishing ninth in 2017 . In 2019 , Kate Miller Heidke won the first national final to take place in the country and represented the land of Down Under at Tel Aviv with her song “Zero Gravity”. Kate achieved a 9th placing marking the country’s return back in the top 10.

    In 2020 Montaigne  won the country’s 2nd national final in history. Eurovision: Australia Decides 2020, held in Gold Coast , Queensland last February. Her entry “Don’t Break Me” achieved to top the jury voting and came second in the public vote. However due to the covid-19 outbreak the contest was cancelled and Montaigne never had the chance to compete in Rotterdam. 

    Nevertheless, SBS internally selected Montaigne to represent the country in Eurovision 2021 with her song "Technicolour". The Australian hopeful once again wasn't able to travel to Rotterdam because of the ongoing travel restrictions. She competed in the first semi final with her live on tape performance but failed to qualify to the Grand final. 

     

    News Source: SBS

    Image: SBS