Entries for Australia’s inaugural national selection Eurovision: Australia Decides closed in early November. Now, SBS has confirmed just how many songs were submitted for review — and we are mighty impressed!
The Australian broadcaster revealed on their website that over 700 songs were entered for review during the three-week entry period. Each song has been reviewed by a panel of judges, who have put together a shortlist of viable songs.
While the public have not yet been informed of which songs have made the shortlist, the broadcaster revealed that they are in the process of matching shortlisted songs with ‘high-calibre performers’ — all of whom will be revealed very soon. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for The Veronicas or even Australia’s sweetheart, the long rumoured Delta Goodrem.
Last month, SBS Commissioning Editor of Entertainment Josh Martin spoke about the diversity of entries received, saying “hundreds of songwriters across Australia have already submitted a diverse mix of songs – from pop to country, ballad to thrash metal, novelty to opera and everything in between.”
It’s also worth noting that entries submitted were not necessarily the finished product. Producer of Eurovision: Australia Decides and Australian Head of Delegation Paul Clarke stated that everything from “demos to finished products” were submitted to the broadcaster — meaning that there may be some work yet to hone in the best song for the best singer.
Show dates for Eurovision: Australia Decides
SBS officially confirmed a move to a national final last month, marking a move away from selecting their artists internally as done in previous years. The event will be hosted on the Gold Coast, Australia’s sixth largest city and recent host of the Australian television awards The Logies and the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
The event will be held at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, which has previously played host to the Gold Coast auditions for The X Factor Australia, as well as serving as the accredited media centre for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Only metres from Gold Coast’s stunning beaches, fans and performers will no doubt be able to soak up the sun and a mojito or two – a taste of what many Eurovision fans will be tasting at Eurovision next May in Tel Aviv.
What do you think? Who would you like to see compete in Australia’s new national final? Share your thoughts below!
sweden’s 12 points are already being given…
I’m so curious who the artists are! I wonder if Dami would try again? Although I think if she did her chances of winning probably would be high and it’s really hard to beat 2nd place like she did last time. My predictions are to artists who would participate are: The Veronicas Samantha Jade Ricki Lee I hope Delta but the timing hasn’t worked previous years. 5 secs of Summer and Amy Shark would be interesting. I’m predicting there will be someone country like Keith Urban don’t know why lol. Maybe Taylor Henderson. I can see Kylie Minogue possibly doing… Read more »
Wouldn’t it be funny if, on an unexpected plot twist, we had a song from Brendan Minogue (yes, he’s related to his wildly famous sisters)?
Such a joke.
I cannot wait to find out who the artists will be. Would love to see Empire of the Sun, Pnau, Midnight Juggernauts, lisa Mitchell
I’ll be attending. Hope there are some great songs! 😀
I hope SIA is one of them.
I still don’t understand why they have to match songs with singers themselves (X Factor/Idol style).
Whatever happened to entering with a song either written by yourself or that a songwriter specifically wrote for you?
Sweden won twice in 4 years with same formula, I’m still a little concerned but I’m sure it will be fine. I wonder if some of the selected artist submitted their own entries but the SBS just want to have the final say?
I believe Melfest also does this, with the screening process being much more rigid to dwindle down the thousands of submissions before eventually matching the ones that made cut with prospective artists.
And that’s just scratching the surface as this one of several articles about how Melodifestivalen choose their annual line-up of songs over at ESC Insight: https://escinsight.com/2016/09/05/melodifestivalen-jury-invitation-ben-roberston/
700 is a really good number for a first time national final wow
Will any Australian Wiwibloggers be attending Australia Decides? I wish I could go! 🙁