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When Australia was invited to take part within the Eurovision Track Contest again in 2015, many individuals had been understandably confused.
Whereas the competition had a protracted historical past of welcoming nations with open arms, the truth that one on the opposite aspect of the world was being allowed in simply didn’t fairly make sense.
However as an Australian now residing in London, I’m firmly in help of my dwelling nation not solely being concerned, however hopefully being introduced again for years to come back.
With the countdown on for this yr’s contest, which is being held in Liverpool in only one week, the clock is seemingly ticking as we wait to seek out out whether or not the European Broadcasting Union will lengthen the invite for following years.
I hope so, contemplating that we’ve undoubtedly earned our spot – demonstrated by our continued success within the competitors over the previous eight years.
Australia has carried out effectively in each the jury and public votes and we’ve taken it critically – sending sensible acts.
Even earlier than we had been admitted to the competitors, Australia each aired the competition on TV and had our residents representing different nations.
And the yr earlier than we first had an opportunity to compete, former Australian Idol contestant Jessica Mauboy appeared because the interval act on the contest in Copenhagen.
Earlier than her track Sea of Flags was carried out, a video was broadcast that addressed any confusion followers of the competition might have in regards to the invitation.
The skit noticed the Aussies advised that if they may ‘transfer Australia to Europe’ they may stand an opportunity, and an formidable plan was then put in place that confirmed (animated) helicopters transporting your entire nation and dropping it over Europe.
Whereas that hasn’t fairly performed out in real-life, Australia has not taken the possibility to be concerned flippantly.
Whereas our place within the competitors was initially meant to be a one-off, the invitation was prolonged for an additional eight years and we’ve been chasing that glory ever since.
The reasoning behind the EBU permitting the Antipodeans in was initially defined by the very fact Australian broadcaster SBS had been airing the competition since 1983, with viewers staying up all through the night time to observe all of it unfold stay.
Whereas I didn’t watch it as a child, I tuned in for the primary time in 2015 throughout college after the not-so-gentle encouragement from one pal, who insisted I might fall in love with what I used to be about to witness.
Having little to no data of what precisely Eurovision was, I used to be shortly educated on the historical past, guidelines, legendary acts and cultural affect of the track competitors.
Regardless of not fairly understanding myself how, and why, we had been concerned, quickly sufficient I couldn’t get sufficient and was diving again into the archives to observe outdated performances.
I additionally discovered myself feeling a way of patriotism for the acts that got here from the nations of my grandparents’ start – Eire, Portugal and Croatia – and threw my help behind them as effectively.
And I believe the bassist of this yr’s act Voyager actually hit the nail on the pinnacle when he put Eurovision’s lasting recognition in Australia all the way down to the very fact ‘it’s a rustic constructed on immigrants and there are such a lot of robust ties to Europe and the UK in Australia’.
Talking to Metro.co.uk, Voyager’s Alex Canion stated that it was additionally ‘nothing however logical’ Australia was concerned, citing that their lead singer Daniel Estrin was born in Germany, their guitarist Simone Dow was raised in Scotland, drummer Ashley Doodkorte has Dutch heritage, and Alex’s mum is English.
Over the previous 52 years Australians have additionally represented different nations, with notable acts together with Olivia Newton-John, who represented the UK in 1974, whereas Anja Nissen represented Denmark in 2017.
This yr Australian singer Andrew Lambrou can be representing Cyprus.
In 2021, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that 29.1% of Australia’s resident inhabitants had been born abroad (7.5million migrants), with the biggest proportion coming from England.
Many different European nations had been additionally listed, together with Italy, Scotland, Germany and Greece, making it clear that even on the opposite aspect of the world, many Australians nonetheless have hyperlinks again to the continent, and due to this fact the beloved long-running track contest.
And it’s clear that performing within the competitors shouldn't be one thing we take flippantly.
Over the previous 9 years, the acts despatched have included Australian Idol winner Man Sebastian (along with his track Tonight Once more in 2015), adopted by The X Issue Australia winner Dami Im, who managed to come back oh-so-close to profitable when she was named runner-up in 2016.
Seeing Dami within the lead following the jury votes on the contest in Stockholm was a nail-biting second, and whereas she didn’t fairly make it over the end line, her success made it clear we may stand a reasonably good probability, and rustle up loads of help alongside the best way.
The second nation outdoors of the Eurasia area to participate within the contest since Morocco competed in 1980, Australia has completed within the high 10 4 instances.
You may’t assist by really feel barely emotional seeing a few of our greatest acts take to the world’s greatest stage and be embraced by hundreds of thousands of individuals.
Plus the very fact we’ve not carried out too badly both helps foster a wholesome sense of competitors and questioning if we'd truly have the ability to safe the title sooner or later.
After 9 years now (bar the cancellation of the 2020 contest), Australia has proved that it, to make use of a neighborhood flip of phrase, shouldn't be right here to f*** spiders.
There would possibly nonetheless be some questions from each Eurovision followers and others who merely have reservations about how a contest named after a continent has been stretched to welcome a rustic on the opposite aspect of the world, however there’s simply as many individuals keen to share their causes on precisely why Australia ought to keep.
Though we’ve been advised it’s unlikely a win would permit Eurovision to be held Down Beneath, it hasn’t stopped top quality acts being despatched all the best way to the opposite aspect of the world to take their shot on the largest stage on Earth.
Though it’s but to be confirmed if we'll see Australia at Eurovision 2024 (it was solely confirmed to take part till this yr below a multi-year settlement), followers and acts are protecting their fingers crossed we will nonetheless play an lively half.
We’ve certainly proved ourselves by now.
Plus, when New Zealand can be seeking to comply with in Australia’s footsteps and ask to have the ability to participate, certainly, we have to be doing one thing proper?
The 2023 Eurovision Track Contest 2023 Remaining airs on Might 13 on BBC.
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