Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017
David Musumeci | ||||
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Finals performance | ||||
Semi-final result | Qualified (6th, 160 points) | |||
Final result | 9th, 173 points | |||
Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest | ||||
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Australia debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2015 by invitation from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) as a "one-off" special guest to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Eurovision. On 17 November 2015, the EBU announced that SBS had been invited to participate in the 2016 contest and that Australia would once again take part. In 2015, Australia was guaranteed a spot in the final of the contest and was allowed to vote during both semi-finals and the final; however, from the 2016 contest and onwards, Australia would have to qualify to the final from one of two semi-finals and could only vote in the semi-final in which the nation was allocated to compete.
Australia was drawn to compete in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 9 May 2017. Performing during the show in position 3, "Don't Come Easy" was announced among the top 10 entries of the first semi-final and therefore qualified to compete in the final on 13 May. It was later revealed that Australia placed sixth out of the 18 participating countries in the semi-final with 160 points. In the final, Australia performed in position 14 and placed ninth out of the 26 participating countries, scoring 173 points.
Background
Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) has broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest since 1983, and the contest has gained a cult following over that time, primarily due to the country's strong political and cultural ties with Europe. Paying tribute to this, the 2014 contest semi-finals included an interval act featuring Australian singer Jessica Mauboy. Australian singers have also participated at Eurovision as representatives of other countries, including Olivia Newton-John (1974, United Kingdom), two-time winner Johnny Logan (1980 and 1987, Ireland), Gina G (1996, United Kingdom), and Jane Comerford as lead singer of Texas Lightning (2006, Germany).
Tying in with the goal of Eurovision—to showcase "the importance of bringing countries together to celebrate diversity, music and culture", the 2015 theme of "Building Bridges", and arguing that they could not hold "the world's biggest party" to celebrate the 60th edition of Eurovision without inviting Australia, the EBU announced on 10 February 2015 that the country would compete at that year's edition as a special guest participant. Along with the "
Before Eurovision
Internal selection
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At Eurovision
According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "
Once all the competing songs for the 2017 contest had been released, the running order for the semi-finals was decided by the shows' producers rather than through another draw, so that similar songs were not placed next to each other. Australia was set to perform in position 3, following the entry from Georgia and before the entry from Albania.[8]
In Australia, both semi-finals and the final were broadcast live on SBS with commentary by Myf Warhurst and Joel Creasey.[9][10] The Australian spokesperson, who announced the top 12-point score awarded by the Australian jury during the final, was the television newsreader Lee Lin Chin.[11]
Semi-final
Isaiah Firebrace took part in technical rehearsals on 30 April and 4 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 8 and 9 May.[12] This included the jury show on 8 May where the professional juries of each country watched and voted on the competing entries.
Once all the competing songs for the 2017 contest had been released, the running order for the semi-finals was decided by the shows' producers rather than through another draw, so that similar songs were not placed next to each other. Australia performed third in the first semi-final, following the entry from Georgia and preceding the entry from Albania. At the end of the show, Australia was announced as having finished in the top 10 and subsequently qualifying for the grand final. It was later revealed that Australia placed sixth in the semi-final, receiving a total of 160 points: 21 points from the televoting and 139 points from the juries.[13]
Final
Shortly after the first semi-final, a winners' press conference was held for the ten qualifying countries. As part of this press conference, the qualifying artists took part in a draw to determine which half of the grand final they would subsequently participate in. This draw was done in the reverse order the countries appeared in the semi-final running order. Australia was subsequently placed to perform in position 14, following the entry from Croatia and before the entry from Greece.[14] In the unlikely event that Australia should win the contest, the EBU have confirmed that in accordance with the rules, they would co-host the contest in Europe, with Germany announced as the first choice, and United Kingdom the back-up hosts should Germany decline.[15] During the final on 12 May. Australia placed ninth in the final, scoring 173 points: 2 points from the televoting and 171 points from the juries.[16]
Voting
Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Australia and awarded by Australia in the first semi-final and grand final of the contest, and the breakdown of the jury voting and televoting conducted during the two shows:[17][18]
Points awarded to Australia
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Points awarded by Australia
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Detailed voting results
The following members comprised the Australian jury:[19] On 9 May 2017, it was announced that Natasha Cuppit had replaced Jordan Raskopoulos as a member of the Australian jury.[20]
- Steven Capaldo (jury chairperson) – university music education lecturer, conductor, composer, CD producer
- Lucy Durack – performer, actress
- Natasha Cuppit – voice coach, performer, conductor
- Jackie Loeb – singer, comedian, actor
- Peter Hayward – music teacher, music director, creative director
Draw | Country | Jury | Televote | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
S. Capaldo | L. Durack | J. Loeb | P. Hayward | N. Cuppit | Rank | Points | Rank | Points | ||
01 | Sweden | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 8 |
02 | Georgia | 15 | 12 | 6 | 16 | 6 | 12 | 17 | ||
03 | Australia | |||||||||
04 | Albania | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | ||
05 | Belgium | 10 | 7 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 7 | 4 | |
06 | Montenegro | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 4 | 7 | |
07 | Finland | 3 | 5 | 12 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 2 |
08 | Azerbaijan | 9 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 1 |
09 | Portugal | 8 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 10 |
10 | Greece | 4 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 3 |
11 | Poland | 5 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 15 | |
12 | Moldova | 2 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 12 |
13 | Iceland | 12 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 11 | |
14 | Czech Republic | 7 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 13 | |
15 | Cyprus | 13 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 5 | 6 | |
16 | Armenia | 6 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
17 | Slovenia | 14 | 15 | 8 | 12 | 3 | 11 | 14 | ||
18 | Latvia | 11 | 8 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 12 |
Draw | Country | Jury | Televote | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
S. Capaldo | L. Durack | J. Loeb | P. Hayward | N. Cuppit | Rank | Points | Rank | Points | ||
01 | Israel | 10 | 24 | 18 | 19 | 22 | 19 | 17 | ||
02 | Poland | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 22 | |
03 | Belarus | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 14 | ||
04 | Austria | 20 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 19 | |
05 | Armenia | 19 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 15 | |
06 | Netherlands | 15 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 11 | |
07 | Moldova | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 12 |
08 | Hungary | 21 | 13 | 25 | 15 | 23 | 20 | 12 | ||
09 | Italy | 2 | 12 | 21 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 2 | |
10 | Denmark | 6 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 8 |
11 | Portugal | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 7 |
12 | Azerbaijan | 8 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 4 | 11 | 21 | ||
13 | Croatia | 24 | 16 | 24 | 24 | 19 | 24 | 10 | 1 | |
14 | Australia | |||||||||
15 | Greece | 18 | 20 | 19 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 16 | ||
16 | Spain | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | ||
17 | Norway | 11 | 22 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 15 | 13 | ||
18 | United Kingdom | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 3 |
19 | Cyprus | 22 | 21 | 15 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 20 | ||
20 | Romania | 14 | 4 | 20 | 7 | 17 | 12 | 2 | 10 | |
21 | Germany | 12 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 12 | 17 | 23 | ||
22 | Ukraine | 23 | 23 | 13 | 22 | 16 | 21 | 24 | ||
23 | Belgium | 7 | 19 | 7 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 7 | 4 | |
24 | Sweden | 4 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
25 | Bulgaria | 5 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 5 |
26 | France | 16 | 17 | 22 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 18 |
References
- ^ SBS Guide (7 March 2017). "Australia to compete in the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest". Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ Dwyer, Genevieve (7 March 2017). "'Don't Come Easy': Australia's Eurovision 2017 entrant revealed". sbs.com.au. SBS. Archived from the original on 7 March 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
- ^ Dwyer, Genevieve (7 March 2017). "X Factor winner Isaiah Firebrace to represent Australia at 2017 Eurovision song contest". theguardian.com. The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 March 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
- ^ Mercereau, Damien (7 March 2017). "Eurovision 2017 : Isaiah Firebrace, l'espoir de l'Australie" (in French). Le Figaro. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
- ^ Escudero, Victor (7 March 2017). "Isaiah is Australia's representative for Kyiv". eurovision.tv. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ Jordan, Paul (25 January 2017). "Semi-Final Allocation draw to take place in Kyiv". eurovision.tv. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
- ^ Jordan, Paul (31 January 2017). "Results of the Semi-Final Allocation Draw". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
- ^ Jordan, Paul (31 March 2017). "Semi-Final running order for Eurovision 2017 revealed". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ^ Guide, SBS (2 March 2017). "Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang farewell The Eurovision Song Contest". Special Broadcasting Corporation (SBS).
- ^ "SBS's new Eurovision hosts are…". SBS Guide. 24 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ Knox, David (1 May 2017). "SBS appoints Eurovision jury 2017". tvtonight.com.au. TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ^ "Press". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 12 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "First Semi-Final of Kyiv 2017". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ Jordan, Paul; Nilsson, Helena (12 May 2017). "EXCLUSIVE: Running order for the 2017 Grand Final released!". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- ^ Granger, Anthony (13 May 2017). "What happens if Australia wins the Eurovision Song Contest?". eurovoix.com. Eurovoix. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
- ^ "Grand Final of Kyiv 2017". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Results of the First Semi-Final of Kyiv 2017". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Results of the Grand Final of Kyiv 2017". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ Jordan, Paul (29 April 2017). "Who will be the expert jurors for Eurovision 2017?". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ Granger, Anthony (9 May 2017). "ESC'17 changes to juries in five countries". eurovoix.com. Euroviox. Retrieved 9 May 2017.