Australia might be the newest addition to the Eurovision lineup (and not even a permanent one at that) but in four short years, they have made quite an impact. We look at Australia’s time at Eurovision (it goes back much further than 2014!) and give 10 reasons why we love Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest.

1. Australians have been participating in Eurovision since 1972

The UK has usually been the recipient of Australia’s talent. It started with some Aussie members of the New Seekers who performed “Beg, Steal or Borrow” in 1972, but the down under roll call also includes Olivia Newton-John, “Mr Eurovision” Johnny Logan and more recently Anja Nissen.

2. Dami Im came this close to winning

At the nail-biting points reveal of 2016, it came down to the wire when Australia had won the jury vote. Could Dami Im also do well enough in the televote? Sadly Australia’s fourth placing in the televote was good but not good enough. But their second placing overall was a well-deserved silver medal.

3. They embrace modern, multicultural Australia

Australia isn’t just the sun-kissed cast of soaps such as Neighbours and Home and Away. It has a diverse culture, made up of many different ethnic and cultural groups, including European migrant communities. SBS’s choices for Eurovision have highlighted this diversity. #allaboard

4. They’ve been broadcasting Eurovision for 35 years

They didn’t just casually come across Eurovision while channel surfing in 2014 and think “Oh, that’d be fun.” SBS has been broadcasting Eurovision since 1983 and have sent their own commentary team since 2009. It’s become essential family viewing.

5. Ooh ah, just a little bit, ooh ah, a little bit more

In 1996, Aussie songstress Gina G delivered the explosive “Ooh Aah… Just a Little Bit” as the UK’s entry. It didn’t win Eurovision but it is one of the greatest Eurovision entries ever, it hit number one in the UK and even reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

6. They had their Eurovision fanboy dream come true

Australia loved Eurovision! They dreamed of participating! They got to perform as an interval act And finally in 2015 the EBU was like “Oh, ok — I guess you can come and #joinus.”

7. All that was going on with the interval act in 2014

It started with a skit showing Julia Zamiro airlifting Australia to Europe. Meanwhile in Copenhagen, a flurry of dancers took to the stage. It was like a comedy lip sync challenge from RuPaul’s Drag Race — a humorous song accompanied by dancers frolicking with giant beers, koala heads, surfboards and other items of Australiana. That didn’t last long and soon enough Jessica Mauboy took to the stage. She sounded a little shaky but proved that Australia could deliver a Eurovision-quality entry.

8. Guy Sebastian brought his own street lights

Some travellers bring converters to make sure they can plug into local sockets. Guy Sebastian brought his own street lights for the “Tonight Again” staging.

9. They are loved by the juries

How can we put this delicately? Sometimes the Australian performance hasn’t been as strong at the grand final but they’ve been rescued by a more sympathetic jury vote. Juries have saved Australia’s bacon for the past two years and the Aussies must be feeling relieved. We just hope they don’t make a habit out of it.

10. If they win, they won’t make us watch Eurovision at 3am

Word is that if Australia were to ever win Eurovision, it wouldn’t be hosted there. SBS would kindly co-host in Europe with a local broadcaster (possibly in Germany) and save fans exorbitant airfares, jetlag or just having to get up at 3am to watch the show.

Bonus: The legendary Lee Lin Chin

For the first three years, SBS newscaster Lee Lin Chin read Australia’s points. She introduced Europe to her dry wit and iconic sense of style. Can she be enticed out of retirement to deliver the points once more?

What are you favourites moments from Australia at Eurovision? Sound off below!

Read more Australia Eurovision news

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keegs
keegs
5 years ago

we just gotta send the cat empire and we’re golden

Krzysztof
Krzysztof
5 years ago

For the 10th point – only we are making them watch Eurovision at 5am. Even if such contest in Australia was at 9 pm their local time, it would be in afternoon European time (exact hour depending on where the contest was held there and where you are in Europe to watch it). You’d only need to wake up so early or don’t go to bed the day before if you were there and the contest was starting at 5am, to make it happen exactly at 9pm CEST in Europe, so that’s only problem for a few thousands of people… Read more »

oscillate
oscillate
5 years ago

Guy and Dami deserved the points they got. Remarkable performances from these two!

However, the last two were a hot mess, esp Jessica. way overrated. song was okayish. performance was bad.

OrangeVorty
OrangeVorty
5 years ago

Dami I’m was awesome but Jessica Maubouy made a string song a hot mess on the night – what a shame.

Eee Pee
Eee Pee
5 years ago

Not gonna lie, I gasped when Isiaih hit that bum note!

Jo.
Jo.
5 years ago

“Tonight Again” is still my fave Aussie entry. “We Got Love” is generic, but it came from the heart.
“Sound of Silence” and “Don’t Come Easy” are disposable jury baits.

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
5 years ago

I love Australia in ESC, they truly love the contest and send quality every year with quite famous performers as their singers. Idk why the juries love them so much, but it compen sates for the fact that they have no friend- support at all and also no diaspora to speak of, so it balances each other out nicely. I might regret saying this next year, but I think Australia might have a qualification streak coming up as big as the likes of Ukraine, Russia and Sweden.

Marcelo
Marcelo
5 years ago

But that is a two edge blade. Australia being “overrated” by the juries might get them a lot of points but it will further make televoters less happy about voting for them. Just look at how in 2015 and 2016, Australia got amazing televoting results and even more considering they’re a country who has just debuted. And after 2017, almost nobody in Europe wants to vote for the Australian entries, which is definitely sad. And it won’t change if Juries continue to trait Australia like they did with Isaiah.

Zolipop
Zolipop
5 years ago

Number 9 is rather a reason to not like them, I’d like to see Australia and Sweden treated like regular countries by juires. I’d also be glad if they were a bit riskier, bringing music styles that aren’t usual by other countries – in my opinion, Tonight Again is highly above the rest for it’s R&B vibes, while each of them since then seemed to me as a song sent just for the sake of being present. I mean it as no offense (Australia is very welcomed to the contest by me), but I’m waiting for either a win (or… Read more »

Jordan
Jordan
5 years ago

Because juries loved tham so much from 2015 to 2018 (in overrated points by juries every year) they suffered 2 time in last 2 year to be last in televote . Because same reason, Sweden was suffered in televote this year in televote.

AngieP
AngieP
5 years ago

Australia is the most recent debuting country, starting in 2015. I have to say I wasn’t among those who were excited about their debut. As for the songs, I wasn’t usually a fan, apart from their first try and of course Dami Im’s amazing performance (though I still believe she shouldn’t have won in 2016 and she didn’t). However, Australia has offered some incredible moments, Dami Im’s stunning performance, Guy Sebastian’s up-beat “Tonight again” and the interval act in 2014. What I love about Australia in Eurovision is that they were so dedicated to a contest in which they never… Read more »

Marcus (Day One)
Marcus (Day One)
5 years ago

In all seriousness Australia has been overrated by the juries the past 2 years. I know Australia always gets a reduced televote because of people not wanting to vote for them. In 2016 if another country sent Dami it would have come in the top 2 of the televote. But their past two entry’s would have done just as bad with the televote had another country sent them. And the jury votes were way too high since 2017 for the quality of performances. Especially considering Jessica had really bad vocals and wasn’t ranked fairly based on that especially considering Finland… Read more »

Denis
Denis
5 years ago

I think Lee Lin Chin is on her way to become an ESC legend! And she’s worth it!

noone
noone
5 years ago

I haven’t been impressed by any Aussie act this far. They all sounded the same, very formulaic and “American”, like a typical cookie-cutter mainstream, this year also with atrocious lyrics. They are playing it safe in a really bad and unappealing way. But all four of them were very good vocalists though, they all had great voices. Maybe that’s why they are jury favourites… It’s just a shame that in 2017 and 2018 they took a spot in the final from a more deserving country. I hope they can come up with something original.

Joe
Joe
5 years ago

Kudos for representing minorities with the frequency they do. I haven’t been blown away by everything they’ve sent, but they clearly care about making a good impression and take the contest seriously. Pleased to have them around.

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe

@Joe: Off-topic: I like your profile pic! Is this a Muppet character? 😀

Joe
Joe
5 years ago

Yup! Don Music from Sesame Street

Krzysztof
Krzysztof
5 years ago

Dami Im! <3
Her performance convinced me that Australia should be returning to Eurovision every year, and that Eurovision time is a great time for visiting Australia. 🙂

No Name
No Name
5 years ago

They need to leave tbh

Ariso Light
Ariso Light
5 years ago
Reply to  No Name

People like you need to leave tbh. Stop watching Eurovision if you are closed-minded and not willing to bring more people together.

Henry
Henry
5 years ago

If there’s semis like this year 19 acts vs 18 in the other, EBU should invite Kazakhstan to join to make the semis equal and fair.

plingplong
plingplong
5 years ago

Wonder if we’ll ever see a national final

KuhKatz
KuhKatz
5 years ago

To be honest, it was a great idea of an invitational participation, but, as EBU won‘t invite a second country, they should make place for other interested country to get their chance like Kazakhstan. And to be honest, the last two years weren‘t really strong, Isaiah wouldn‘t even be in the final without juries just to get only two points from the public, and Jessica ar least was in the top ten in the semifinal but public slapped her in the face with only nine points and the last place in the final. It seems like people are getting tired… Read more »

Eastman
Eastman
5 years ago
Reply to  KuhKatz

I’d like to see a guest invitation that goes to a different country every year. Maybe a guaranteed spot in the final in order to not take away a qualification opportunity for a European country. That would be fairer.

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
5 years ago
Reply to  Eastman

@Eastman: Yes, a guaranteed spot for a guest entry is good. In 2015 when Australia participated first, they also had a guaranteed spot as a guest country, so there were 27 countries in the final. For guests, take a final place! For longer participation, take the qualification in the semi! Like Australia from 2016 to today. That would be a great option 🙂

Boycott Jerusalem 2019
Boycott Jerusalem 2019
5 years ago

Australia has definitely made an impact but I can’t help but feel they’re becoming a bit complacent like “recycling” previously seen act like Jessica Mauboy.

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
5 years ago

As a German I am always PRO Australia because then my country would probably host with the Australian broadcaster 😀 😀 But without jokes, it would be cool to see that case happen! ^^
My opinion about the entries:
2015: Cool, charming pop song. 8/10
2016: Great ballad, very good staging in silver. 9/10
2017: I liked the melody and Isaiah is hot. 7/10
2018: Generic? Yes! Vocally weak? In the semi due to a cold. Anyways, not a terribly bad song though. 6/10

Aaron
Aaron
5 years ago

It’s more likely that the BBC / United Kingdom would host with Australia