There is one question a lot of people have to ask every year they’ve tuned into Eurovision in recent years - how are Australia in it?
While the Eurovision Song Contest has been going since the early 1959s, the Aussies have been part of it for a much shorter time. Their first appearance came in 2015, when former Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian represented them. Their inclusion in Eurovision continues to raise eyebrows, but you can’t fault their dedication as they always put the effort in and, in 2016, cane very close to winning the whole thing.
Their act that year, Dami Im, was at the top of the leaderboard by some stretch with her song Sound of Silence, before the televote changed everything and Ukraine’s Jamala triumphed with her track 1944. This year Australia are being represented by Sheldon Riley, with many fans expecting a top 10 finish for him and his song Not The Same.
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His big rivals on the night are sure to be red hot favourites to win - Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra, as well as other well tipped acts like Sweden’s Cornelia Jakobs, Spain’s Chanel and the UK’s Sam Ryder
Why are Australia in Eurovision?
While most definitely not in Europe, Australia has had a huge interest in the contest for years, with a big hint at how much it means to people Down Under dropped in a video which appeared during the semi finals of the 2013 event in Sweden entitled 'Why Australia Loves Eurovision.'
Things went a step further a year later when Australian star Jessica Mauboy, who went onto represent her country in 2018, performed as an interval act during a semi final as the contest took place in Denmark a year later.
After they were announced as official participants in 2015, Australia got a first wed place in the final. And, what was originally billed as a one-off, ended up being far from thy as they have been competing ever since.
These days they have to make it through the semi finals first and, if they ever win, they won’t actually get to host, with the job falling on the shoulders of a European country instead.
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