The Wiwi Jury reveals their favourites in Australia Decides national final

Ten acts are fighting to represent Australia at Eurovision 2019. Australia’s national final will take place on February 9 on the Gold Coast. The land Down Under has internally selected their entry for their first four years of participation but Team Wiwi is excited for their first national final. The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — has listened to all ten songs and has plenty to say. What did we think of the acts? Read on to find out.

Deban

1. Electric Fields – “2000 and Whatever”

A heady dance mix of indigenous sounds, thumping bass and vocal fabulousness — Electric Fields have charged up Australia Decides. In this varied field of 10 songs, one song truly stands out. Despite the complacent song title of “2000 and Whatever”, this entry serves as a credible musical voyage of heritage beats updated for the 21st century.

2. Sheppard – “On My Way”
3. Aydan Calafiore – “Dust”
4. Alfie Arcuri – “To Myself”
5. Courtney Act – “Fight for Love”

Robyn

1. Electric Fields – “2000 and Whatever”

Australia has a televote problem and so it’s tempting to want to pick the act that would be the safest choice for winning over European televoters. But no — safe doesn’t win Eurovision (as Netta, Jamala and Salvador will testify). I’m sticking with my instinctive favourite, “2000 and Whatever”. It melds modern electronica with the ancient Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara language, creating something that could have only come out of Australia.

2. Courtney Act – “Fight for Love”
3. Aydan Calafiore – “Dust”
4. Ella Hooper – “Data Dust”
5. Kate Miller-Heidke – “Zero Gravity”

Antony

1. Sheppard – “On My Way”

There is just so many words that I could use to describe this song: anthemic, inspiring, empowering, catchy and uplifting. It’s just so positively infectious that you cannot help but have a smile on your face! Whilst in previous years, Australia has a problem with the televote, this song should solve that issue as well as maintaining the country’s strong track record with the jury. This is evident by previous singles by the band that have charted well in both Australia and Europe, and this should be replicated with this song.

2. Kate Miller-Heidke – “Zero Gravity”
3. Alfie Arcuri – “To Myself”
4. Aydan Calafiore – “Dust”
5. Electric Fields – “2000 and Whatever”

Pablo

1. Electric Fields – “2000 and Whatever”

This stands out way above the rest. “2000 and Whatever”, outside of being one of the best song titles I’ve seen, is an absolute millennial anthem. The lyrics are packed with such a joie de vivre aimed at a whole generation put down by many aspects of life. You’re not going to live forever, so know you’re perfect every step of the way just as you are. Australia has caught flak for being safe and predictable but if they decide to be #NukkunYaDrekkly to us, this tribal pop moment will be remembered for years to come.

2. Mark Vincent – “This Is Not the End”
3. Courtney Act – “Fight for Love”
4. Aydan Calafiore – “Dust”
5. Kate Miller-Heidke – “Zero Gravity”

Antranig

1. Kate Miller-Heidke – “Zero Gravity”

The Australian selection consists of ten high quality entries. Three of them stand out and I’ve gone back and forth between those three for several days. Ultimately, I think Australia needs to go with either Kate Miller-Heidke or Electric Fields. The former brings a unique pop number that will undoubtedly be jury bait and appeal to voters with an anthemic conclusion, while the latter has a strong identity and sound and will also place well at Eurovision. Most importantly, neither entry is playing it safe. My pick is “Zero Gravity”, which is polished, slick and catchy, with incredible vocals. While Electric Fields is good, Kate Miller-Heidke is the only act that could potentially push for the Eurovision trophy. It is that good.

2. Electric Fields – “2000 and Whatever”
3. Leea Nanos – “Set Me Free”
4. Sheppard – “On My Way”
5. Courtney Act – “Fight for Love”

Barnabas

1. Kate Miller-Heidke – “Zero Gravity” 

This is the song that has really surprised me. I almost yawned as it kicked off as a dance song, then Kate suddenly switched to her opera voice and stunned me. As I got more and more into it, I fell more and more in love with it. I do believe this could have a great shot in Tel Aviv — it’s a daring song, out of the box, with more musical layers carefully put together. I am totally buying this! Australia pulling a Jacques Houdek? Yes please!

2. Ella Hooper – “Data Dust”
3. Mark Vincent – “This Is Not the End”
4. Sheppard – “On My Way”
5. Aydan Calafiore – “Dust”

Oliver

1. Electric Fields – “2000 and Whatever” 

Their first national final and Australia is definitely not playing any games. I was completely torn between my top two but in the end I had to choose “2000 and Whatever”. This song has such an enchanting and magical feel to it right from the offset and manages to keep one’s attention for the entire duration of the song. The use of the Pitjantjatjara dialect is something revolutionary and wonderful to have in the contest and I’m so glad to see countries exploring their own ethnicities deeper and sharing them with the rest of the world.

2. Kate Miller-Heidke – “Zero Gravity”
3. Sheppard – “On My Way”
4. Mark Vincent – “This Is Not the End”
5. Leea Nanos – “Set Me Free”

Cinan

1. Mark Vincent – “This Is Not the End”

Right after the first listen, I immediately opened my phone and bought it. Normally, I’m not so into ballads, but such a theatrical ballad is one of my favourites. And the delivery is so strong and emotional. I think we all have to say “this is not the end” when we face difficulties in life, as Mark Vincent says. I strongly believe that the Eurovision audience will rate this song. I wish Mark success.

2. Electric Fields – “2000 and Whatever”
3. Sheppard – “On My Way”
4. Kate Miller-Heidke – “Zero Gravity”
5. Courtney Act – “Fight for Love”

Florian

1. Electric Fields – “2000 and Whatever”

What I love the most about this track is the way it combines Australian ethnicity with urban and contemporary sounds. This song stands out so much that this could just as well be a front runner in Tel Aviv. There’s no way one can forget about this song. It is crazy, fun and — most importantly — a great song!

2. Leea Nanos – “Set Me Free”
3. Sheppard – “On My Way”
4. Courtney Act – “Fight for Love”
5. Alfie Arcuri – “To Myself”

Julian

1. Electric Fields – “2000 and Whatever”

“2000 and Whatever” is a real surprise for me. While everyone was or is still counting on Sheppard’s “On My Way”, I’m all about Electric Fields. I didn’t know what to expect from them but I fell in love with it. The mixture of modern and traditional, English and the Aboriginal language, mysterious and electric music. It has all I could expect for an Australian act at Eurovision. I can imagine the viewers at home connecting with the song as well as the people at Euroclub. If this went to Eurovision, this would be my all-time favourite from Australia.

2. Mark Vincent – “This Is Not the End”
3. Sheppard – “On My Way”
4. Courtney Act – “Fight for Love”
5. Leea Nanos – “Set Me Free”

Lukas

1. Courtney Act – “Fight for Love”

From all ten songs, this one by far stands out the most with its pop beat and memorable chorus. We know that Courtney is going to give a great performance — the only question is going to be her live vocals. But even with that in mind, right now this is still my favourite entry in the Australian selection because the other songs are quite forgettable. I think that if Courtney can pull this one out live, it has the best chance to do well at Eurovision.

2. Sheppard – “On My Way”
3. Alfie Arcuri – “To Myself”
4. Electric Fields – “2000 and Whatever”
5. Kate Miller-Heidke – “Zero Gravity”

Luis

1. Electric Fields – “2000 and Whatever”

“2000 and Whatever” is the exact opposite to the kind of music Australia has sent to Eurovision, and oh how I wish they embrace it and take Electric Fields to Tel Aviv. This song hits you in the face, it’s edgy, fun, engaging and half crazy. It is actually hard to explain what exactly in this glorious mess is what makes me burn the replay button, but I just can’t help it. Hell yes, happy 2000 and whatever, y’all!

2. Leea Nanos – “Set Me Free”
3. Alfie Arcuri – “To Myself”
4. Sheppard – “On My Way”
5. Aydan Calafiore – “Dust”

Kristin

1. Electric Fields – “2000 and Whatever”

So, the lyric is somewhat hard to sing along to, but it doesn’t bother me one bit because this song is life! It’s a party ride all the way through and I’m only a nanometre away from grabbing my glowstick, throwing some butterfly clips in my hair and just dancing the night away like it’s 2000 and whatever. Electric Fields are going in for the fun, and damn it, this is fun. So, how about it Australia? Y’all wanna party? Then this is the song to go for.

2. Mark Vincent – “This Is Not the End”
3. Sheppard – “On My Way”
4. Alfie Arcuri – “To Myself”
5. Courtney Act – “Fight for Love”

Lucy

1. Sheppard – “On My Way”

Ohhhhh the romance. I’m in love with this, it makes my heart happy and just makes me smile, and isn’t that what music is all about at it’s core? Sheppard are an accomplished act so the pressure won’t faze them and I’m sure live they are going to smash it out of the park. It’s anthemic and atmospheric which just adds to the soaring quality of it all. It’s simply glorious and I would struggle to find any other song this year that would take Australia from my number 1 spot if they go to Eurovision.

2. Courtney Act – “Fight for Love”
3. Electric Fields – “2000 and Whatever”
4. Ella Hopper – “Data Dust”
5. Leea Nanos – “Set Me Free”

Who are your favourites in Australia’s selection? Who can go all the way at Eurovision? Let us know in the comments below.

Read more Australia news