The Wiwi Jury — our in-house team of music unprofessionals — is reviewing and rating the 37 competing songs in Eurovision 2024. Next we review Australia, who have chosen Electric Fields with “One Milkali (One Blood)”.
Have the duo electrified us with their entry? Read on to find out!
Electric Fields – “One Milkali (One Blood)” (Australia Eurovision 2024)
Review: Electric Fields – “One Milkali (One Blood)”
Sebastian: With such a strong opener and vocals that could cut glass, Electric Fields immediately raise intrigue. With the inclusion of a digeridoo in the track (can you believe it’s taken almost 10 years for an Australian Eurovision track to feature one?), the song surprisingly pivots to mid-tempo. Production-wise, you can’t help but feel like the dynamic duo could have pushed “One Milkali” more — mid tempo gets you mid-table results at best. We know Electric Fields has an absolutely buzzing stage presence, so give us everything you’ve got, and we’ll no doubt feel your contagious energy.
Score: 7
Scarlett: “One Milkali” is a feel-good crowd pleaser, if a bit repetitive. The incorporation of lyrics in Yankunytjatjara, an Aboriginal language, is appreciated and the overall message of unity is exactly what Eurovision is about. Zaachariaha’s soaring vocals will sound great live in the arena. I only wish the song took us on a bit more of a journey instead of staying in place throughout.
Score: 3
Deban: Australia brings a beautifully crafted pop entry that educates the mind, enlightens the spirit, and fires up the dance-floor. “One Milkali” straddles two points: It is decidedly Australian in it’s heritage, and at the same time, it is an anthem for a borderless world. Ambitious with its intention and flawless in its execution, Electric Fields have excelled in their mission. “Happy 2000 And Whatever” got them noticed back in 2019. But if there’s one song this year that truly delivers on the “United By Music” Eurovision slogan, this is it!
Score: 8
Youyou: To be honest, I like this song. The inclusion of the local indigenous language was definitely a good idea and it’s a very listenable song. After a few listens I started to like it — it brings a pleasant and relaxing feeling. It definitely has a chance to make it to the final in the second half of the first semi-final.
Score: 5
Australia Eurovision 2024 ranking
In the Eurovision 2024 Wiwi Jury, we have 17 jurors but only have room for four reviews. The remaining scores are below:
|
Antranig: 5 Cinan: 7 Georgia: 4.5 Jonathan: 7 Lucy: 8.5 Pablo: 7 Ron: 5 |
Ruxandra: 9 Simon: 5.5 Suzanne: 5 Tom: 7.5 Tomas: 7 William: 6.5 |
We have removed the highest and lowest scores prior to calculating the average. This is to remove outliers and potential bias. We have removed a low of 3 and a high of 9.
Wiwi Jury verdict: 6.37/10
What do you think of Australia’s Eurovision 2024 entry? Share your own score and review for Electric Fields’ “One Milkali (One Blood)” below!
I forgot this song was here this year.
On paper, this sounds great. You press play though, and you realize much of it is forced and/or cringey, especially the video that makes me uncomfortable but not in a good way.. The vocals are terrific, what’s missing to it is some edge. Wish it was less gay disco and more…uhmmm, let’s say, Empire of the Sun.
Interesting but ultimately forgettable and doesn’t make me want hear it again. 5/10
Australia are once again going with a national final act with a fanbase, a distinctive sound and a track record of being great live performers. Like with Voyager last year, Electric Fields have received an initially lukewarm response to their internally selected Eurovision entry. Similar to “Promise”, I think a lot of this is down to fans not receiving exactly the song that they loved the first time around. “One Milkali” is distinctive, creative and full of personality. There are a lot of different musical influences trying to get into the song, almost too many at times. For me, it’s… Read more »
The lyrics are fun!
Honestly, these comments. This is not an “ethno-banger”. It’s a 90s dance song with a digeridoo in places. It’s a pretty good 90s dance song though. Good enough to shine through that unspeakable video.
This song is outright unlistenable. The vocals are grating, it’s a man trying to sound like a woman but the end result is a screechy mess…
I believe this to be the first Australian entry that truly leans into its ethnic side more, and I really like that. All things considered though, I’m not the biggest fan of the final product, most likely given the music video looks like they had to make it in the span of two hours. Still, I think this entry leans itself towards a very fun and eye-catching live performance.
I’m giving this a 6.5/10, it might grow on me more once I see it live
AUSTRALIA – I don’t mind the new trend of Australia sending the acts who performed well in the past editions of AD to ESC. (Can we get Jaguar next, please?) Electric Fields are a very vibrant duo who obviously love what they do, and are committed to sharing their joy. They also share a great chemistry. I don’t think that comparing One Milkali to Happy 2000 and Whatever is necessary or productive. This is a separate song, and will be reviewed as such. It mixed disco with pop and with ethnic Aboriginal instrumental. Despite of the creative usage of this… Read more »
Ah. This was my first review this year where I love the artists but I really didn’t appreciate the song. So I asked for more details about it, and now I know far too much. Even though I appreciate the strong production, great vocals, the high level of structural detail and the “part of the universe” concept, I’m just not feeling this song on a basic level. The problem for me personally is, I feel music when it’s not in one place all the time, often when it’s more “emotionally varied”, dissonant and interesting. “One Milkali” is entirely in E-flat… Read more »
Great song, great lyrics. A much better version of a «We are one»-type of song compared to for example the Irish song from last year. Love the inclusion of didgeridoo and aboriginal language. I think this might surprise a lot and definitely qualify! 9/10 from me.
Like so, so many songs this year – its alright. There is nothing to make me rush to turn it off but there is also nothing to make me search it out.
Well, since “2000 and Whatever” I’ve wanted Electric Fields to take part in Eurovision but, as much as I want to love it, I just think it’s fun. The lyrics look like a mix of really clever ideas with some overused Eurovision clichés. However, in the voice of Zaachaaria, it all turns out into a very interesting pack. The styling and the charisma they both ooze rounds the pack and elevates it all. I’m sure we are gonna be slayed with the live performance. It’s going to be one of those that take off on stage. 6.75/10 1. United Kingdom… Read more »
Last year in this space, I said that I wished “Because of You” offered more of an update on its genre than a simple nostalgic retread. Something like this is what I really wanted. This feels so generous and hopeful, the cultural elements blend in well, and Zaachariaha is one of the most enaging singers in the contest this year. I don’t understand the lyrics 100%, but there’s certainly no shortage of memorable lines. I’m really looking forward to seeing this live at last. I’ve got this in 6th place.
Wonderful review, Zanoni 🙂
“This feels so generous and hopeful, the cultural elements blend in well, and Zaachariaha is one of the most enaging singers in the contest this year.” Perfect. I’m so glad you take this away from the song and Zach and Michael’s work!
Yes the lyrics here are great! One of the best of the year!
The memorability of the lyrics is such a strong point and I love it when lyricists don’t play it safe and live in, particularly Eurovision-friendly, tropes.
Many things in this entry work for me and I’m glad you rank it as highly as you do.
For me, Australia is TOP 3!
I want to like this, but just can’t. It’s got a good vibe, but I find it’s the longest 3 minutes to listen to, I think it maybe goes nowhere and plateus a bit for me. I feel this might translate well on stage, it’ll get a good crowd interaction but for my personal taste it just misses.
Score 3.5/10
This is gonna explode at the live performance. The Aussies know how to deliver on stage.
23rd place – Australia
I both like and dislike this song. I like that it sounds very melodic and easy to remember, but there are some parts of it that I find quite annoying somehow. The music video as well was kind of cringe to me and I haven’t heard them sing it live yet.
I think this entry doesn’t have a big fanbase and most likely won’t go through to the final. However if they do something impressive with the staging and the vocals are good, then who knows, maybe it will qualify after all.
Don’t ever judge a song by its music video, or in this case just a lyric video…thats just a mistake. The live performance will be something completely different. The fandom is just blinded by music videos all the time and that is why so many if the songs without live performances to go by are so highly ranked by fans…
I’m just saying what I’ve seen so far. I haven’t seen them perform live and the music video is the only source material I’ve seen and heard the song from. Of course once they perform for real in Eurovision, my opinion might change. I’m not from the people who judge from videos only, I don’t know why you think like that?????
Truer words have never been spoken. I have seen great live performances I never expected because the video was such a loser to me. And I have seen great videos where the singer gets exposed when trying to sing live.
I actually expect to see more than one singer get exposed this year based solely on how many have worked so hard to distract us with dance breaks or nudity/near nudity in their videos. Those stunts aren’t necessary if you can sing live.
Who is Scarlett?
her reviews so far have been completely off.
Actually her reviews are very good
one of Australias worst entry
I’m guessing you missed the Montaigne years.
Most are bad to begin with I would say, but yes, this is among their worst.
nah I usually like australia
Australia has turned out to be like every other country — a couple of brilliant songs, a couple of truly cringe entries and several that are good enough to not mind listening to.
ethno banger!!!!!!
hope our second country will qualify once again
30TH PLACE: AUSTRALIA: I like some parts of the instrumental here but in general I never liked this song particularly. I don’t find it bad but rather uninteresting. Lyrically it doesn’t tell me anything either. Australia is a borderline qualifier as of now but I believe it’s a difficult song to predict because it’s one of the few songs that we know nothing about how it may visually look like on stage. Surely the absence of a music video also didn’t let it receive a lot of hype during the pre-season. I don’t have much more to say apart from… Read more »
There’s nothing groundbreaking about this.
This is a good song. Wait until the performance. I hope they bring their
didgereedoos
Australia 5,5/12
26. Australia – Electric Fields – One Milkali – 6/10 – perhaps the biggest grower for me although I wasn’t very impressed on first listen. I initially found it disappointingly flat, but have recently begun to realize how much that I have been under-valuing this track’s totally positive heart. I suspect the live performances are going to be filled with joy. There are subtle electronic moments which are pleasing and the message deeply resonates in these troubled times. I wish them well in the contest.
The song is great but the music video really puts me off, hopefully the staging makes it look 3
Look better I meant
The budget for Australia this year is clearly very little. It’s like the EBU is trying to keep them on a lifeline despite very little interest in Eurovision in the country.
Completely false that there is not much interest in Eurovision in Australia, there is more interest here than in many of the European countries.
If there were juries in the semis, Australia would qualify 100%. Now I am not that sure. It’s ethnic and the vibe is good, lyrics are on point. Not sure how much first time viewers will have time to appreciate all this. Good luck Down Under!
I like this one and find it sorely underrated in the odds.
Sure it’s not as good as their previous attempt in the NF but I do think it’s not getting its full recognition.
I hope Australia qualify
It’s interesting that many fan favourites this year are also deemed to be borderline qualifiers. I’m very much hoping Australia qualify too, and very much rooting for our witches in Ireland, Slovenia, and Norway to qualify too.
I don’t want to jinx it but I do hope Ireland qualify. It’s are best chance in years haha
Australia needs to qualify too though. I think Norway will qualify easy enough
The only one from the fan favorites that I would be worried about is Slovenia but that semi is so wide open in my opinion
I bet Ireland will qualify and get announced last (again).
I’ll literally be in the edge of my seat.
If we qualify, we will be announced last for sure
Like Jedward 2012, when they cartwheeled up to the stage after the announcement. Or Ryan 2018.
I think Bambie has a good chance, she benefits from the not-great Late Late Show staging… she still has her full bag of tricks up her sleeve to reveal at the peak moment.
Wiwi Jury Ranking
Tight so far.
Especially 2 through 5.
Objective jury? Neutral? I don’t think so
I said nothing about the jury being objective nor neutral. This is only intended to show how the jury is ranking all the entries.
How can it be “objective” and “neutral” when it’s about personal taste? Nonsense comment.
I have been following this site for years. here are some examples:
21) Australia – As Ari said, it’s a feelgood entry which I appreciate. Love the vocals and love the meaning behind it, but it’s one of those entries I tend to forget about. However when I do remember it, I’m always pleasantly surprised. Not sure about its chances of qualifying, but as always I wish the best of luck. 5.5/10
I love it, it’s super catchy. I hope they stage it well as I still think it’s borderline
They get my 12 points
It’s a calming feelgood entry. Zaachariaha’s powerful voice is the main star here and that’s what made me fall for the song. My first reaction was subdued but by now it’s actually my favorite song of semi 1 and if it makes the final, I might even spare a vote for it. Australia and Slovenia, those are the ones who I wanna see qualify over all the others.
It’s my No 2 song of this year. I’ve adored Electric Fields for years, and rooting for them all the way! I really hope they qualify for the Grand Final. Please vote for them if you can 🙂
Silver star.
One Milkali (One Blood)…One Point.