Yesterday Australia selected its act for Eurovision 2020. But amid all the songs, glamour and voting of Eurovision – Australia Decides, guest performer Dami Im had a special announcement to make. The Stockholm 2016 runner-up revealed that she was hoping to make a Eurovision comeback — five years after her original appearance
Dami revealed that she was looking to get involved with Australia’s national selection for Eurovision 2021.
She made the announcement on stage, surrounded by show hosts Joel Creasey and Myf Warhurst, and fellow guest performer Måns Zelmerlöw. Dami told the audience, “Tonight I’ve had such a great time and I realise how much I love and miss Eurovision. So I’ve decided that next year I’m going to be throwing my hat in the ring to be on this stage to compete for Eurovision 2021!”
The announcement was met with enthusiastic applause and cheering from the Australia Decides audience.
Dami Im previously represented Australia at Eurovision 2016. Her song “Sound of Silence” placed first in its semi-final, topped the grand final jury vote and place second overall — giving Australia a tantalising taste of Eurovision victory.
The power ballad “Sound of Silence” remains a strong fan favourite and there are many who would like to see Dami have another turn.
But things are different now to how they were in 2016. Back then, broadcaster SBS internally selected their act for Eurovision. Since 2019, Australia has used its popular national final. While SBS has not confirmed its selection method for Eurovision 2021, it seems likely that they will again use the successful national final.
But even still, there’s no suggestion that Dami will have a guaranteed place in a potential 2021 national final.
It seems likely that Dami will be on the lookout for the perfect song to eventually take her to whichever lucky city gets to host Eurovision 2021. Songwriters of the world, take note!
Eurovision 2016 reunion – Dami Im performs with Måns Zelmerlöw
Earlier in the evening, Dami performed her new single “Marching On”. The song paid tribute to her mother, singing the praises of the woman who raised her to be the person she is today.
Dami also joined Eurovisoin 2015 winner (and the host of Dami’s Eurovision) Måns Zelmerlöw. They dueted on a new version of Måns’ single “Walk with Me”.
The performances showed that Dami is in top form and very much capable of tackling the demands that a Eurovision performance has.
What do you think? Should Dami Im return to Eurovision? What sort of song should she sing? Tell us your thoughts below!
Eurovision – Australia Decides 2021 Line Up
Amy Shark
Alfie Arcuri
Dami Im
Mark Vincent
iOTA
Jaguar Jonze
Mitch Tambo
Diana Rouvas
Casey Donovan
Jack Vidgen
I don’t know where she find the time to do everything? Releasing two singles within a few months of each other, appearing on Australia decide, sang her new single Marching On, sang a duet with Mans Walk With Me, announcing she threw her hat in for 2021 Eurovision than immediately flew to another city to do Dancing with the stars live in the same weekend. Can’t wait for 2021 because I know Dami will be amazing! At least this time she have more than a full year to prepare unlike in 2016 which was a last minute thing.
I think in that case SBS should give Dami Im a direct nomination because who wants to compete against “the queen” in Australia Decides 2021 ? We all know what Dami Im is able to sing and perform – and I have the strong feeling in 2021 it is her time to win the ESC.
I wonder if the this announcement a year in advance might have a negative effect. Will strong acts thinking about entering say “we’ve no chance, so not this year” and then we’ll end up with a weak final?
Then Dami is very strategic, Shangela would be so proud! That’s exactly what she should’ve done, she now put all the competitors on notice to clinch a win and tell them to back up, 2022 is when you should apply. Imagine, Dami 2021, Electric Fields 2022 and Vanessa Amorosi 2023. Australia is in the long haul 😀
It could finally push some countries to send better songs next year. Although its too early to say that since most of them havent released their entries yet.
Dami Im is actually one of the better songwriters working in music today with a great idea of who she is as an artist.
She managed to take what was a pretty by-the-numbers, overly-produced Australian ESC-style song and drag it up to 2nd place. Can you imagine what 2021 Dami, in a position to call a few more shots, can produce? I consider Europe put on notice. In 2021, you bring your A-game or she’s coming for you.
Well that’ll be even more of a lock than Destiny in Malta…to be honest I feel like I would want to see other artists compete. However it would be awesome if they manage to get Delta to compete against her….like a mega star version for 2021- otherwise I feel like more indie and obscure artists would be really disadvantaged.
You know “a mega star” version of Australia Decides would have artists such as Sia, 5 Seconds of Summer, Iggy Azalea, Tones and I, Dean Lewis etc. It’s completely reasonable to have Dami Im and Delta competing in the current contest.
She’s winning Australia Decides next year if she finally enters. I was hoping for a Electric Fields comeback but I don’t want to see them placing 2nd again…
1. Latvia 2. Spain 3. Australia 4.Italy 5. Albania 6.Czech Republic.
Do someone have almost the same opinion :)?
I know it’s slightly off topic but is anyone feeling something for Delta Goodrem. I’ve heard her live many times and she never disappoints. Has she ever been approached.
omg I love delta. I don’t know if she’d ever consider Eurovision tho.
Yes she was approached but could not do because she is in the voice as a judge which is in may.
She should definitely be back next year. One small detail, though: her hair looks really burned and damaged, she should do something about it. Besides that small thing, she’s gorgeous! Love her voice!
Dami hair is colored brown LOL
I think she’ll be a lock-down participant and SBS only needs to find nine other acts. She writes great songs on her independent era (which is now) so I expect her to pack a good song for 2021.
Aside of that, I want Australia decides to be more polished in terms of graphic and promotional designs. The current ones we had are okay, but I know SBS could do more. I really wish they will have an integrated design theme, a promotional photoshoot, and a better lighting and backdrop next year.
I can’t wait for Dami! She is amazing!
Great News!
But the national final might receive like a number of 600 songs and will only select few songs in the end just like this year. If that will happen next year, let’s hope that Dami Im will make the cut.
Dami will be using her own song, but she will be offered a song, so she will have a choice.
They should internally select her and use Australia Decides to choose a song for her…
Yes! We should start a petition!
I’m not sure what I think of Dami returning to Eurovision. She was my winner in 2016, but Australia has got so much talent and a lot of artists I’d love to see represent them in Eurovision. I don’t understand why they announced it yesterday, I mean it’s hard to say but who will even apply for Australia Decides next year? Given that she returned to “Australia Decides” two years in a row, it feels to me like her career’s “on pause” at the moment and that she wants to do Eurovision again to up her career. I still question… Read more »
Yes Australia has a lot of talent that will still have their chance to compete, dami will not be given a free ride. And ive got news for you her career has never been so good, she is the busiest Artist around, 2 massive tours in 2019, released 2 new singles in 2019 and 3 new singles in 2020 already including ‘marching on’ she has been booked out weeks in advance. Atm she is doing ‘dancing with the stars on channel 10 and heer year has already been booked out. Dami is doing EV because as she said she loves… Read more »
at this point they should just go internal and give her an amazing song. she knows she’s gonna win aus decides so i don’t want her to come up with sumthin meh…
I am not sure, there are no Guarantees that she will win it, but i think she will be the one of the favorites to win, it has to be a great song, so this will encourage her to make sure it is great song otherwise she is not going.
Maybe have a show where she sings all entries, like Sonia did innUK 93
I’m sorry but am I missing something here. The contest is still 3 months away and people are taking about a singer for 2021. Can we please focus on this year’s contest and give this group of current singers our full attention. Yes she’s a great talent but please let’s leave the discussion until after the final. I think it’s a little disrespectful to Australia’s winner.
No, because Dami Im is special.. and she should be internally selected.. and we can just hand her all awards out there right now.. cuz Dami Im !
I don’t care if she’s special or not. It’s more than 15 months away and as I said before it’s very disrespectful to Australia’s winner this year. Put your feelings for Dami to one side for the moment. Let the final come and go then go overboard as much as you like.
They should just let her go to ESC 2021.
Other artists might not go for the Australian NF if she’s in
That’s the spirit. I hope this time she’ll get a good song.
She got second place and people kept saying it’s a bad song. You people are deaf for sure.
lol Yeah, cos everyone knows only good songs are allowed to get second place. Your logic is moronic for sure.
You are an extremely vindictive person.
Don’t get into the kitchen if your hearing aid can’t take the heat.
You are so right. Time to go offline and be with my boyfriend. Only a fool would bother spending time on a gnome like you. 🙂
that language was not good.
These wiwi comment sections are pure entertainment! Keep it going. I’ll get some popcorn
i love her song:) so not all think the same;)
If she ends up as part of the national final next year, she’ll probably win it as she has her fan base and Eurovision fans voting for her, besides her great voice obviously Sound of Silence was a good song but not quite a winner, she got to 2nd place thanks to her strong vocals If she finds a song that is even just a bit better, she can actually win Eurovision In recent years, we’ve seen that having a good song is not enough in order to win the contest; it’s gotta be special I think it would be… Read more »
I love Dami… But I‘m not a fan of artists coming back to do Eurovision a 2nd time, it feels too much like a, looking in the rear view mirror, backward step, for artist and for country. For example, to think an exciting new artist like Montaigne not qualifying last night cos Dami went again (if she went for it this year). Do you know what I mean. I’m all for giving a new sound, a new artist a go.
I get what ur saying, but 2021 isn’t the last time Australia will compete. We’ve been confirmed until 2023 and that will probably be extended, so there’s lots of chances for new artists to try their hand. 🙂
Australia’s participation will definitely be extended. Australia is in too deep now and it would seem somewhat unfair to kick them out in 2023.
I hope so. As an Australian myself, I am so grateful we have been allowed to stay and compete, and I hope we can become a mainstay.
i don’t understand your logic, every artist has that same privilege of being voted in because of their fan bases, montainge certainly has that privilege so what of it.
I have always believed that these shows would attract that sort of voting and so be it if that’s the way SBS wants to do it.
Sounds like a great idea
If she can bring quality, she could win. I’m rly looking forward to see what she brings next year.