Introduction

What a surprise was it when the EBU announced that Australia will officially take part in the 60th anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest? This is a unique participation, due to the special occasion. Australia belongs to the EBU as an associated member. Due to the time differences and travel costs an ESC in Australia would be very unrealistic. In case Australia would win the event would be held somewhere in Europe and the Australia broadcaster SBS would organize and co-host the event. There were quite a few Australians in the ESC history like Johnny Logan, Olivia Newton-John, Gina G., Jane Camerford and Jessica Mauboy.

There were a lot of rumours who could be representing Australia in the ESC. Of course everybody thought it could be Kylie Minogue. She was asked to do it. According The West Australian newspaper, she denied the participation. Kylie will watch it for sure, but she has represented Australia on different occasions such the Sydney Olympics in the closing ceremony with prawns on bicycles and the bus of Pricilla – Queen of the Desert.
On a press conference in the Sydney Opera House the broadcaster SBS has announced the Australian decision. It’s Guy Sebastian, a pop singer, who already had several success outside Australia.

Guy Theodore Sebastian was born in Klang, Malaysia in 1981 (close to Kuala Lumpur). Until he was six, he lived in Malaysia, then the family immigrated to Australia. Guy has been living in Melbourne and Adelaide. In the age of 14 he has joined a youth choir at church. He was chosen as solo singer. After school he became a singing teacher and tone technician. In 2003 he participated at the very first Australian Idol show and won it. His first song “Brought Me Here” immediately went number one in Australia and topped the charts in New Zealand and some Asian countries. This song has been the most sold single in Australia ever. The first album “Just As I Am” did also very well and received six times platinum which means a half million records. Until now Guy has released 8 albums and several singles. Additionally Guy Sebastian is involved some charity project with the Royal Children’s Hospital in Sydney and the The Royal Melbourne Hospital, furthermore is an official ambassador of the Red Cross and World Vision.

The song “Tonight Again” is a modern R’n’B composition. Even if Guy Sebastian’s voice is more suitable for ballads, as he says, this song will definitely be a song of special attention in Vienna. This is not a typical Eurovision song, but has some instant appeal elements with a catchy chorus. Good choice Australia!

Australia is automatically set in the Grand Final with the Big 5 countries and the host country Austria. As previous mentioned, this Australian entry is a one-off experiment. If this will be successful a possible continuation would be possible.

History

Debut: 2015
Participations: 1
Finals: 1

For the very first time in history, Australia is participating in the Eurovision Song Contest. Even if Australia does not belong to Europe geographically, there are strong bounds which have grown over centuries. A lot of European live in Australia and the ESC has always been popular. The only big disadvantage is the enormous time difference, nevertheless the show is normally broadcasted on the Sunday night.
Even if this is the first official Australian entry, there have already been some more or less well known Australians singing in the Eurovision Song Contest!

Olivia Newton-John born in 1948, who is originally from England, but moved with her family to Australia when she was five years old. In 1974, when ABBA could win the contest for Sweden, Olivia made a great 4th place in Brighton with “Long Live Love”.

There is Johnny Logan, a guy who has won the Eurovision Song Contest three times for Ireland two times as a singer and one time as a composer. Johnny Logan was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in 1954 as a son of Irish immigrants. His songs “What’s Another Year” in 1980 and “Hold Me Now” in 1987 were very successful all over the world. “Why Me” was sung by Linda Martin in 1992, where Johnny acted as composer.

Gina G., who was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia in 1970, has represented the United Kingdom with the dance song “Ooh...Aah...Just A Little Bit”. This song came 8th in Oslo 1996.

Jane Camerford, who was born Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia in 1959. She has been representing Germany with the band Texas Lightening with “No No Never” in Athens 2006, where a 14th place could be made.

Last year, Australia had a guest appearance in the ESC in Copenhagen, Jessica Mauboy who was born in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia in 1989 had the chance to represent Australia in the interval act of the Semi Final 2 with the song “Sea Of Flags”.