She’s the Australian Idol star who made Australia’s performance debut at Eurovision. Now Jessica Mauboy is back — but this time she’s in it to win it. Broadcaster SBS confirmed that Jessica has been selected to represent Australia in Lisbon.
SBS broke the news today in a video, where Australian commentators Myf Warhurst and Joel Creasey phoned the young diva to check her availability.
This will be the second time at Eurovision for Jessica. She first appeared in 2014 as a semi-final interval act in Copenhagen. Jessica performed the song “Sea of Flags”, an uplifting introduction for Australia. It made the right impression, as Australia was invited back the following year as a competing country.
Earlier in the year, Jessica revealed that she would love to return to Eurovision. Speaking to Sydney’s Daily Telegraph newspaper, Jessica responded with “a big yes” when asked if she would like to return to Eurovision one day.
And now she will have her shot. Jessica’s song for Lisbon has not been confirmed but it is expected to be revealed sometime early next year.
Jessica shared her enthusiasm for her new gig, telling SBS, “I will sing my heart out for Australia, I’m so proud to be officially representing my country and a little bit nervous — mainly about the stress of the dress!”
Australia’s Head of Delegation, Paul Clarke, revealed Jessica has always been on his wishlist. He said, “We have always wanted to give Jessica a shot at the competition, and this year the stars aligned. We can’t wait to develop a great song and stage production with Jessica and her team, and recreate her Eurovision-style as a galactic soul diva.”
Jessica has a substantial career as a pop and R&B singer. She has released three studio albums and has enjoyed dozens of hit singles.
More recently, Jessica has moved into acting. She starred in the 2012 film The Sapphires, and features in the hit Australian musical drama series The Secret Daughter. She has released two soundtrack albums for The Secret Daughter, which charted at No.1 and No.2 in the Australian albums chart.
Earlier this year she had a No.11 hit with the song “Fallin'” from The Secret Daughter.
Since competitively debuting at Eurovision in 2015, Australia has always placed in the top ten. Their best result was in 2016, when Dami Im’s power ballad “Sound of Silence” placed second in Stockholm.
What do you think? What sort of song should Jessica perform at Eurovision? Tell us what you think!
Seriously now, did you just remove comments referring to the obvious fact that Australia is choosing artists based on skin colour?
So do you really think that people will not notice this obvious fact just by removing the comments? Do we not have the right to talk about it?
Yes, but people must be careful how they discuss it. Because Wiwibloggs is based in the UK, it has to follow certain rules. One rule is that it cannot be a forum for hate speech. Racism happens to be a hate crime in the UK – people can go to prison for this. Personal libel is also a crime, technically, hence why the thread about Salvador Sobral was also moderated. There is a level of “freedom of speech”, but only up to a point, and Wiwibloggers are well aware of this. More to the point, we’re all supposed to be… Read more »
Thanks (Robyn?) for removing those awful comment threads. It is appreciated. 🙂
Should we even be surprised? Her selection was bound to happen soon enough, after her guest performance in 2014.
Suspected as much. About as uninteresting a choice as Australia could have made this year. Maybe the shine is wearing off for Australia and their artists are simply not as interested in competing in Eurovision as they were a couple of years ago?
two choice tracks of Jessica Mauboy for you guys to enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwIpMUYpGYc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XUZozJiOIM
Jess was interviewed on the Today show here in Australia this morning. She said that she will be looking to do something up-tempo with great melodies and that the song writing process starts today.
What a Meh-choice…. Could this be their first NQ?
I’d like to know more about how SBS made this selection, and how heavily the record label was involved, and if they still pay the participation fee.
Internal selections are best used occasionally, and it’s a shame to see Australia yet again fail to have a national final.
That said, I’m sure Jessica will be great.
Good to see you again. How was the break?
Oh you are back Eugene!Which are your favorites songs from eurovision 2017?Australia will do well again but i dont see a win.
I honestly think Australia decided to join Eurovision only in a “supporting role”…. just like UK does.
Nah, they’re in it to win it. They’ve got nothing to lose, never having to worry about hosting it. All the fun but none of the responsibility.
Another year, another Australian entry that I feel a bit neutral about. I understand why we choose soloist pop singers who pretty much only get played on top 40 radio, and I can’t say that any of them don’t have some talent – and Dami and Guy are both particularly excellent vocalists – but I do feel like we’re kind of in a rut with our submissions and that the huge diversity that exists in Australian music and helps us punch waaaayyyy above our weight globally outside the pop sphere is being ignored for ‘Eurovision friendly’ choices. Meanwhile Eurovision is… Read more »
Jessica Mauboy is such a beautiful woman, and I like Australia’s tradition to send artists to Eurovision, with different, mixed origins.
However, I have to say that I was expecting somebody else. I mean, she already performed in 2014, and it’s not a long time since 2014.
I wanted The Veronicas to participate, or someone else.
Additionally, she also needs to work on her vocals. Her vocals in Australia were not the best.
But, I’m going to be optimistic till the song comes out, and hopefully Australia, as well as Jessica will surprise us in a positive way.
Surprising choice. I feel like after dami im aussie artist seem less keen at doing eurovision. As for Jessica she seems nice but her interval performance at 2014 was very weak in regards to her vocals. Australia has always sent very strong vocals to both eurovision and JESC and Jessica seems to be a weaker vocalist. Not that that’s a bad thing because you don’t need to be Anja Nissen or lindita to do go to eurovision. I’ll reserve judgment until the song is released and I hear the live performance but so far I feel like Australia might be… Read more »
I’m not impressed. I preferred other artists tbh.
Solid discography, great performer and powerhouse vocalist. I think she’s a winning choice!
Powerhouse vocalist? Not sure. She’s a nice woman, with a nice voice.. she needs to work on her vocals though. You can not really call her vocals in Copenhagen “powerhouse vocals”, or?
Is that the only performance you’ve heard from her or? The girl can sing.
One single performance doesn’t define an entire career.
She will be IF she has a decent song. She did a great job breaking the ice for Australia in 2014 but ‘Sea of Flags’ was weak. It wasn’t intended as a competition song so we can be pretty confident that she’ll surpass that.
I wish they would give her an R&Bop, but I’m afraid they’ll go for a ballad in the style of Fallin’.
Please not a ballad! After Portugal the place will be wall to wall ballads! But, last year’s song doesn’t win this year’s comp, so we can hope that SBS doesn’t fall into that trap.
I hope not. It’s only one the few opportunities to have something urban/R&B with quality at ESC. However, I’m expecting something like Guy Sebastian’s “Tonight”: catchy pop.
wasn’t expecting australia to start recycling their acts but ok– come on, australia. let’s get sickening!!
Recycling? She’s a very successful and experienced albeit still young artist. She’s totally suitable for the contest.
As fast food music lover, you should be thrilled
Super safe choice, and if the song is as bad as “Sea of Flags” was she’ll be lucky to qualify.
If Isaiah did, she’ll do it.
Woohoo! Awesome news. Looking forward to her performance. She’s a national gem.
And finally, Jessica is going to compete! 🙂 This has been a long time coming, so congratulations and I look forward to hearing the song.
Wouldn’t it be the ultimate irony, just imagine, if Australia were to win in 2018, then the UK leaves the EU in 2019, but UK gets told to host Eurovision (cos Australia can’t host)! 😀
Great, let’s make UK host again.!!!!!!!!
Great choice! Australia is always a winner’s candidate and I think they will be now too. Can’t wait for the song!
That sounds great! I have a good feeling about this. She needs the right song of course. May this be a deserved top 10 material. Good luck to Australia!
I’m happy with this choice, it’s good that she has her chance to represent her country. With a good song she can do well. Good luck.
She’s like the BIGGEST popstar in Australia right now. Really didn’t expect to see her comeback again to compete at Eurovision. Hope she’ll be given a great song!
I’m sure she’ll do better than in 2014.
However, I’m not very excited, I didn’t like any of her new songs. If she presents something like her older albums, perhaps I’ll enjoy it more.
Bring the urban sound haaaaaaaa!!
What if she brings a banger like “Up/Down”…yeaaahh
Please don’t be a ballad lol.
2014 was a hot mess. I hope she redeems herself.
So happy
OMG Australia is already building a tradition. I write this comment without reading the other comments, just because I’m so happy for her. She broke the ice, she did the hardest work in the beginning. Do it Australia!
Bad choice, no charisma, can’t sing, horrendous performence in 2014, but like all aussie acts, will be overscored by the juries…..
now now Celeast – bit early to be naszty girl.
Ouch, so negative. Feels like I shall forever be calling out such negative comments. However, Mauboy’s 2014 performance wasn’t perfect – it did have issues, but unlike in Copenhagen there will be plenty of time for her to rehearse her performance in Lisbon. So it will be much better in 2018, and I look foward to it. Positivity, remember that concept? 😀
i hope she doesn’t sing like she did at the 2014 eurovision, she was so bad. the song was awful. but good luck to her 🙂
Australia for the victory !!!! 😀 😀 *with no revealed song yet
I don’t expect anything special from Australia, the only entry I liked from them was in 2015. Jessica’s performance in 2014 was nice as an interval act, but nothing close to the quality of some songs usually in the competition, so I really cannot say anything about her, I should listen to her song when it’s released to have an opinion. But well, it’s Australia: I can already see a super overrated awful song. Hope I’m wrong.
Given SBS’ history so far in the ESC, not surprised they chose Jessica Mauboy…they seem to alternate male/female, prefer visible minorities given their mandate and court Idol stars with some experience. I’m looking forward to seeing what she can bring to Lisbon next year! Good luck, Jess and Oz!
The good thing is Jessica will have more determination to win & do well in her preformance, I think seeing as sea of flags…wasn’t bad but you could definitely sense her nerves & I think unfortunately that affected her preformance & her vocals abit. The song itself hmm..I think it was ok as she wasn’t competing then & the song suited but maybe it’s just me, it just didn’t seem it was really a stand out song…Seeing as Jessica got more time to prepare…I’d like to think the song will bring out the best in her. I get the feeling,… Read more »
Australia is such a big country and they bring someone who already was at Eurovision. Weird. She’s awful live but of course juries are going to save her. Another top 10 for sure.
I hope she can prove people wrong. My suspicion is that she is a lot better live than you think. Call it a hunch. 😀
she is as good as anyone, she is a cabaret style artist and she will sing with a group of people, she is a very nervous artist nd there will be pressure on her shoulders. ‘It does not make any sense sending Jess MAuboy, she does not need it……………. or does she, Jess is a very greedy person she wants more success, no matter what happens her song will become #1 in OZ if it is a good song. Jess will feel the pressure to do better than Dami Im whom came 2nd in 2016. Bth Dami and jess are… Read more »
That’s such a great news. Good luck to her and Australia. 😀
I am so happy I could cry! Go, Jess!!!
I just hope she has a good song, far better than every other song she’s ever had.
I think it’s well deserved. Being sent in 2014 as an interval ‘entry’ and the years after that they start participating – it almost feels like she would have missed her shot. But she gets to, now! (:
ROBYN HER SONG WENT NUMBER 1 ON THE CHARTS NOT 11!!!
Yep, it peaked at number 11 on the ARIA charts.
Only got to Number 11 on ARIA charts but sat at Number 1 on the Australian itunes chart for a number of weeks.
yeah jessssss!! hope she can overcome her nerves this time with an upbeat song. also ricki-lee you cheeky snake!
Having Jess already perform as an interval act in 2014 makes this feel like we are already recycling artists.
It’s sad that SBS goes with the safest choices, take a risk and try to do something different now that this is our fourth entry. Given her underwhelming music releases this may be our first non qualification.
I agree. But SBS has to cater to their core audience and that is none-English speaking communities. Thus they pick Jessica Mauboy. I mean they could have picked Marlisa. But after the car crash Isaiah was I think they don’t want amateurs any where near the contest.
Jess deserved a chance to redeem herself from the train wreck that was Sea of Flags! So proud to be Australian at this moment ??
I’ll be proud when we bow out of Eurovision. So for now the only thing I’m hoping for is a non qualification.