Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020
Eurovision Song Contest 2020 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Country | Australia | |||
National selection | ||||
Selection process | Eurovision – Australia Decides | |||
Selection date(s) | 8 February 2020 | |||
Selected entrant | Montaigne | |||
Selected song | "Don't Break Me" | |||
Selected songwriter(s) | ||||
Finals performance | ||||
Final result | Contest cancelled | |||
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 originally drawn to compete in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, which would have taken place on 12 May 2020. However, the contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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.[2] 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).[3]
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.
Before Eurovision
Eurovision – Australia Decides
Competing entries
On 29 August 2019, SBS announced an open submission for interested songwriters to submit their songs online until 30 September 2019. Songwriters were required to be citizens or permanent residents of Australia and songs were required to be in English or an
Final
The final took place on 8 February 2020. The combination of public votes (50%) and a five-member jury (50%) selected "
Draw | Artist | Song | Songwriter(s) | Jury | Televote | Total | Place |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Iota | "Life" | Jesse Watt | 19 | 13 | 32 | 9 |
2 | Jordan-Ravi | "Pushing Stars" | Tania Doko , George Sheppard, Martin Eriksson
|
11 | 12 | 23 | 10 |
3 | Jaguar Jonze | "Rabbit Hole" | Deena Lynch, Aidan Hogg | 18 | 28 | 46 | 6 |
4 | Jack Vidgen | "I Am King I Am Queen" | Jack Vidgen, Andrew Lowden | 19 | 15 | 34 | 8 |
5 | Vanessa Amorosi | "Lessons of Love" | Vanessa Amorosi, Aleena Gibson, Trevor Muzzy | 42 | 40 | 82 | 3 |
6 | Diana Rouvas | "Can We Make Heaven" | Diana Rouvas, Louis Schoorl | 24 | 18 | 42 | 7 |
7 | Mitch Tambo | "Together" | Roberto De Sa, Isabella Kearney-Nurse, Andy Hopkins | 24 | 33 | 57 | 5 |
8 | Casey Donovan | "Proud" | Justine Eltakchi | 40 | 60 | 100 | 2 |
9 | Montaigne | "Don't Break Me" | Jessica Cerro, Anthony Egizii, David Musumeci | 54 | 53 | 107 | 1 |
10 | Didirri | "Raw Stuff" | Didirri Peters, Oscar Dawson | 39 | 24 | 63 | 4 |
At Eurovision
According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "
References
- ^ a b "Australia: Eurovision - Australia Decides to Return in 2020". Eurovoix. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- ^ Vincent, Peter (9 May 2014). "Jessica Mauboy performs at Eurovision Song Contest". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
- ^ a b Kemp, Stuart; Plunkett, John (10 February 2015). "Eurovision Song Contest invites Australia to join 'world's biggest party'". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
- ^ Siim, Jarmo (10 February 2015). "Australia to compete in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
- ^ Granger, Anthony (29 May 2020). "Australia: Eurovision 2020 Participation Confirmed". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- ^ "Join the party as Australia selects its 2020 Eurovision artist". SBS. 28 January 2020. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- ^ Roberts, Dale (10 February 2020). "Ratings up for Australia Decides 2020". Aussievision. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- ^ "Who will represent Australia at Eurovision in 2020?". SBS. 29 August 2019. Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- ^ "First two artists revealed for 'Eurovision – Australia Decides' 2020". SBS News. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- ^ "Two more acts revealed for 'Eurovision – Australia Decides' 2020". SBS. 19 November 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
- ^ "4 more artists and first song for 'Eurovision - Australia Decides'". Eurovision TV. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- ^ "Eurovision: Australia Decides 2020: guide". TV Tonight. February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- ^ "How to vote: 'Eurovision - Australia Decides' 2020". SBS. 31 January 2020. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- ^ "Eurovision royalty to grace Eurovision – Australia Decides – Gold Coast 2020". MY GC. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ Groot, Evert (28 January 2020). "Which country performs in which Eurovision 2020 Semi-Final". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 28 January 2020.