The live TV spectacle is still several hours away. But those eager to get a taste of the Eurovision — Australia Decides experience don’t need to wait that long.
Earlier this afternoon, Australian broadcaster SBS uploaded all ten performances from the jury show of the inaugural Antipodean national selection. Unlike other contests, such as Sweden’s Melodifestivalen, they’ve posted full three-minute clips. This means you can see Sheppard’s LED hearts, Courtney Act’s latex-clad dancers and Kate Miller-Heidke mile-high dress in all their glory.
Click here to watch Eurovision — Australia Decides 2019 rehearsal clips.
Eurovision – Australia Decides 2019 Voting
The rehearsal footage isn’t merely to whet our appetites ahead of Saturday’s final. Its main purpose is actually to help viewers make up their minds when voting, because lines are already open.
Lines remain open through the night and will close during tomorrow’s live broadcast. Australian residents can make their voices heard by texting the relevant SMS numbers. A maximum of 20 votes can be cast per person. Full voting details can be found HERE.
Does the Eurovision – Australia Decides Running Order guarantee success?:
Running order is typically seen as highly important to a national final.
Where an act sings can determine their chances of overall success in the competition. In particular, acts singing later in the show tend to do better and are also often interpreted as being a broadcaster’s preferred choice for Eurovision.
With that in mind fan favourite Sheppard appear to be in a strong position in seventh. At the other hand of the spectrum Electric Fields – another fan favourite – face an uphill battle performing in second place. Famously, nobody has ever won Eurovision performing from that spot, however there have been upsets.
Estonia’s 2017 act Koit Toome & Laura performed second in their national final and still won Eesti Laul.
It should also be noted that the public vote will be open from 1am (AEDT). Voters will be able to watch and assess individual performance videos from today’s jury rehearsal, which may serve to neutralise the advantage of a preferential spot in the running order.
Eurovision – Australia Decides Running Order in Full:
- Ella Hooper – “Data Dust”
- Electric Fields – “2000 and Whatever”
- Mark Vincent – “This Is Not The End”
- Aydan – “Dust”
- Courtney Act – “Fight For Love”
- Leea Nanos – “Set Me Free”
- Sheppard – “On My Way”
- Alfie Arcuri – “To Myself”
- Kate Miller-Heidke – “Zero Gravity”
- Tania Doko – “Piece Of Me”
Who has the best rehearsal clip? Do you have a winner? Let us know in the comments.
So happy Electric Fields did not win. Has to be one of the most overhyped entries ever in a national selection. Thank you Australia!
Congrats, Kate! Congrats, Australia! creative song and mesmerizing performance! My new first! Australia doesn’t play it safe anymore. 🙂
No!!!!!Electric Fields……… Okay. Kate is my second so I can accept this. But she needs to change the staging, though.
Yaaasss! Wow, what a final. Thank you to everyone at SBS and on Wiwibloggs. Good times.
Literally none of my favourites ever wins.
Well done, Australia. Got your top three right. Decent winner.
Ze-e-e-e-e-e-ero Gra-a-a-a-a-avity it is. The jury and the public agreed about the three best ranked. No drama, then.
Yeeeeeeees! Everybody voted right, for once.
Isn’t this a public broadcaster? So many breaks, it’s insane.
This is nothing compared to some European broadcasters. Not to mention the networks in USA & Canada!
I’m glad I don’t watch television anymore, except for Eurovision shows.
For a moment I feared they would show all the 700 songs they received.
Okay, this is one interval act too many. Jesus.
I agree 100%, Tibor. Both entries need adjustments, but nothing serious. I would still pick EF, but I would be happy with Kate.
I prefer Dami in this setting. Much more personal than her anonymous Eurovision staging.
Dami Im on piano is one of the best solo acts ever. I would wear her dress in her honour too. Absolutely. 😛
Would be able to fit into it, though? 😛
I would have to diet. Much. 😛
But please don’t wear that unflattering dress they gave to Jessica last year. 😛
What a great show!!! Honestly, all ten felt like full packages, so congrats!
My personal top (many of these would be my new 1st):
1. Dust
2. This is not the end
3. Zero gravity
4. Set me free
5. 2000 and whatever
– Other five were also quite good! ANY of the ten would top my list in Montenegro or Moldova with ease.
Thanks Colin. Interesting list that’s completely different to mine. But all 10 are amazing, as you say. 🙂
It will be fascinating to see who wins – I have no idea what Australia’s music tastes are like!
Thanks for the comment. I am really interested in the results. I know my list isn’t usual among Eurofans, but I find it the best to always be honest. 🙂
PS. IDK, but I thought that Electric Fields, Aydan, Courtney Act, Sheppard and Kate Miller-Heidke received tremendous applause in the arena. Indicator?
Yeah possibly, but you never know what the TV audience will like. (Or not like.)
Pineapple belongs on a pizza!
I wish more countries would hold their NFs at this time.
Ugh. I would need to buy more coffee.
I suggest adding some vanilla beans. 😉
10 – Tania Doko – “Piece Of Me”
If this isn’t what people think a Eurovision entry is to be like, I don’t know what people think a Eurovision is to be like. I was hoping for a stronger chorus, but, overall, it’s a great entry – maybe not for Tel Aviv 2019, but definitely for Jerusalem 1999.
This was a pleasant surprise. Slick, professional, great dancing and some great singing. On point throughout, and great communication to the audience. Thank you Tania; I’m honoured to have witnessed that performance. 🙂
Slick is really the definition for this one. But after so many things happened on the other entries, I felt cold about this one. Maybe a different running order would be better for her.
Honestly, it felt like a sad and poor display, performing after Kate.
Yeah I know, but that’s not Tania’s fault. (So I would never put that in a technical review, but yes it’s sadly true in a contest.)
I literally tuned in during Kate’s performance when the depression dancer behind her touched her. She seemed shocked, so was that an accident or planned? If it was an accident, she recovered nicely.
Yes I did notice that, but I thought it was part of the performance. If it was an accident, wow.
Also noticed it. Don’t remember the same thing happening on the jury show.
Total pro!
09 – Kate Miller-Heidke – “Zero Gravity”
This might work in Eurovision but the audience ruined the moment. She literally told in the postcard that the verses are supposed to be introverted – so why did they keep shouting as if it were a dance floor banger?
Hmmm. This is a potential Eurovision winner. But M_K is correct. The audience screamed too much over the first minute, and got in the way of the performance. By the way, stunning choreography! I was not expecting Cirque De Soleil – that was amazing! Very well done to the choreographers, and Kate of course is superb. Bravo.
Nah… every time an operatic entry goes to Eurovision, people say it’s a potential winner. And as of now, none of them has ever won.
The song is very creative and they came with a great visual idea to translate the meaning of the lyrics. Nobody will be able to forget what just happened. This is something that can be really helpful in Eurovision. But I don’t know if the juries will love it or kill it.
08 – Alfie Arcuri – “To Myself”
I think he tried a bit too hard to create something “empowering” so what came out in the end doesn’t feel as authentic as he wanted it to be. It’s by no means a terrible song, I just think it’s a bit too “obvious”.
I know that many commenters here like it a lot but sadly this entry doesn’t do anything for me.
This is the most difficult one to rate. The song is deeply personal and this is clearly reflected in the performance. This is a very strong positive. However, there is a problem with the song: it is the same four-chord structure as Jessica Mauboy’s “We Got Love”. I can’t un-hear that, so it gets in the way of this song. Also, it’s the prepared audience “lights on” ballad moment, which comes across as forced and unnatural. I have also noted: Vocal cracks; some under-the-note moments, and nerves.
07 – Sheppard – “On My Way”
This is my favourite so far. Well-made straightforward power pop song. I was hoping for even more energy on stage, though, Reminds me a little of “Sex on Fire” by Kings of Leon.
This could be Australia’s winner. A great performance. A simple, feel-good song. Sometimes that is all it takes to win.
It wouldn’t be my choice, but I can’t blame if Australia decides to send them to Tel Aviv. They have some international fame, they’re likeable, the song is accessible to all kinds of audiences and juries… If they decide to play safe with this one, I’ll have to understand.
06 – Leea Nanos – “Set Me Free”
It’s a cute little song with a not-so-strong chorus and I feel it might be a bit too naive for adult Eurovision. Leea seems to be a bit too insecure to deliver the “sexy style” performance she aimed for. The second half is extremely boring.
A very nice song, a very nice singer. What could go wrong? Unfortunately the vocals weren’t perfect and the choreography was static and not “hot”. But Leea will no doubt go on to do great things, and I wish her well. 🙂
You’re always so positive. 🙂
Possibly the most playlistable song of this selection, but it didn’t work well live and she seems very nervous on the stage. Which is perfectly normal, since she’s an unexperienced newcomer. A great landmark for Leea’s carreer though, she can come back stronger a few years from now.
Gotta be honest here. I don’t see any potential Top 10 placers. All their performances seem half-baked. Still need more work. The stand outs for me were Alfie, Aydan and Electric Fields.
05 – Courtney Act – “Fight For Love”
It’s silly, it’s a cliché and it’s predictable. And still I like it, simply because it’s done with soul and passion. Something has to be done about the vocals, though. She’d need a VERY strong group of backing vocalists if she made it to Tel Aviv.
Indeed. The choreography was on point. The message and the energy of the performance was spot on. But the vocals aren’t there. Plus the “fighting” element of the Chorus is still missing in the music – more accents on those notes and possibly more instrumentation in the Chorus would make this the perfect protest banger.
To be honest, I was expecting a disaster, since she clearly can’t sing (by the way, her vocals were better on the jury show). The staging made it entertaining and we can notice that she’s doing her very best, so congrats to Courtney. But even if she gave an astonishing performance, the song is so basic and uninspired that could be on UK’s You Decide.
Haha, ouch Sabrina, ouch. 😀
I haven’t slept much, BBC paid the price. 😀
04 – Aydan – “Dust”
I don’t think Aydan is the strongest vocalist (he’s trying to make up for a lack of range with a variation of volume, which is always a no-no for me) and I think he’s relying too much on his slightly overdone 1990s boy group style performance. Not buying the heartbreak, sorry. The song doesn’t have the right tempo and structure for Eurovision, it just doesn’t stay with you when hearing it for the first time.
Yeah, definitely this felt a bit “cold” to me. Like we were watching a star in development. The vocals did an “Isiah moment” at the start with the falsetto, but to Aidan’s credit he kept it all going well. His time will come, no doubt, he is a star. This just wasn’t his night. As for the song, it’s a bit too introverted and moody for my liking, but it is a good song.
I don’t know if it was a Twitter glitch, but the background sound was so low, that it was like Aydan was singing karaoke. I like the song and I like him, but the performance itself isn’t very memorable.
03 – Mark Vincent – “This Is Not The End”
Oh my gosh, he’s really taking this seriously, isn’t he? Maybe a bit too seriously. Musical theatre style songs and performances are usually polarising in Eurovision while I’m usually more on the “pro” side (I even liked “On My Way” in 2017). This entry, however, hasn’t really won me over. It feels like something is missing. Good vocals, though (obviously).
100% performance, tick. But the song… is not my favourite. But bravo Mark; stunning voice. 🙂
What a powerful voice! But I feel the song is there just to showcase his talents, it doesn’t bring anything else to the table.
Thank you! I was looking for this information – link!!!
02 – Electric Fields – “2000 and Whatever”
This entry seems like a natural choice for Eurovision. Still, I think it’s a bit more about an “idea” rather than the actual song. It’s got some catchy parts, but it is also a bit messy and repetitive.
It’s very special. At a time when the old divisions of humanity have re-asserted themselves in Europe, this performance is a timely reminder of the inclusion that the Millennium was supposed to be about. It resonates with me, deeply. Thank you, Electric Fields. 🙂
I’m really hooked by this one, it’s my favorite song in the competition. Zaachariaha is a force of nature! But they messed with the camera angles again. For those getting to know the song today, it can be confusing I suppose.
This performance was so much better than the Jury final – I’m back on board the Electric Fields train!
01 – Ella Hooper – “Data Dust”
Not a bad song (quite simple, but enjoyable pop rock). Sadly, it doesn’t sound very good live. Not sure if it’s a technology problem or weak vocals.
I love this song, and Ella Hooper has crazy-good energy on stage. It’s a great opening to the show; I’m really glad it was first. It was lacking some live sound, indeed. But apart from that, well done Ella! 🙂
This one was a grower to me. Her energy makes it much more interesting than the studio version.
Her stage presence was 100% there, but it sounded so… flat.
where can I watch this?
There is a Facebook Live stream on the SBS Australia Facebook Page. It should also be on their Twitter page.
Thank you
Oh, and it’s so, so great to watch a national final that actually includes a whole bunch of established artists instead of the leftovers of the most recent seasons of “The Voice” and “The X Factor”.
Indeed. I’m so excited! 😀
It feels so weird to watch a NF on Saturday at 10:30 but I’m expecting a good show.
9:30am here with sunshine streaming through the windows! Ouch, my eyes. LOL
7:50 here. I don’t even know if I’m really awake!
All of them are pretty bad. First nq for Australia this year? 😡
I didn’t like the Zero Gravity song at all, i don’t understand the hype about that song. It will probably do well though.
My fave 3 songs are:
1 Alfie Arcuri – To Myself
2 Courtney Act – Fight for love
3 Electric Fields – 2000 and whatever
Really impressed by Ellas performance, she is so underrated in this selection. Being realistic I hope Sheppard wins even though it was not the best performance. Kate was also good but not sure about that one yet
It’s clearly Kate.
Also, I bet that “pole vault dancer” was in Mad Max Fury Road ^^.
After seeing the performances, I’m all about the Ze-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-ero gra-a-a… You catch my drift. 😛
Aside of that, I have a feeling this stage would be saved for this year’s Eurovision Asia. It seems intentionally enormous.
I mean, c’mon, guys, SBS needs to save money to support three competing artists (ESC, EASC, JESC) in the same year while also need to organize two big music competitions.
I’m concerned that the voting is opened prior live shows. On plus, people can see the expectations prior show and helped people who can’t watch the live show to vote. On contrary, this opened a big chance for the fanclubs to cast a huge number of votes for their artist, which in turn doesn’t help smaller artists to get televoting shares. Do you guys see the same pro and con in this type of voting?
My concern paid off, but it seems to be at the right places.
I was so pulling for Electric Fields, and it’s still an epic number, but the staging just didn’t elevate it. Great vocals, but otherwise it just got a little lost and somehow the audience was not as involved as I though they might be. On the other hand Kate MH looked luminous and the staging, with the aerialist (with the great core strength) was freaky good. I loved this when I first heard it, and the staging makes me think it could be something really special. But something needs to be done about the big toilet roll dress. It’s been… Read more »
Zero Gravity
This Is Not The End
By Myself
2000 and Whatever
On My Way
So glad someone else recognises Alfies potential!
well well kate miller-heidke unsurprisingly snappedt. send her already.
Yeah sure Electric Fields is amazing but something felt off and I think the ESC rules don’t like the recorded bits. Sheppard gives you life.
Vocals are overall very different from the studio version.
100% agree electric fields don’t come across well live as opposed to how truely wonderful their studio version is
This is probably the saltiest comment section I have ever seen. I thought a majority of the performances were really great. I don’t get how any of the vocals can be called bad when most of you probably fawn over people like Markus Riva whose vocal tone and songs are always complete garbage. Also again when it comes to the performances being “cheap” and boring please watch the performances in the Latvian national selection. No hate towards Latvia, just happens to be the worst this year.
Oh good lord, not Markus Riva!
The national final will be televised tonight, 9th of February, and the winner selected tonight (from 8.30PM AEDT – that is GMT + 11)
My favorite is Leea, but the performance isn’t so good as others.
Performance top:
1. Zero gravity (amazing show, the song isn’t in my favorite)
2. Fight for love (good performance, same as zero gravity, isn’t in my favorite)
3. On my way
4. 2000 and whatever
5. Set me free (is missing something 🙁 )
Electric Fields is giving me LIFE right now!!!
Only Electric Fields. Really anyone thinks, that Australia can choose anyone other? 2000 and Whatever is what Eurovision needs – original, modern, catchy song. This is winning song for Tel Aviv.
Other opinions and all that…I think Zero Gravity is the standout choice, but the fandom has decided on what we should all like. Just be prepared for disappointment tomorrow when Electric Fields loses.
I doubt they will win.
It’s a battle between Kate M., Sheppard and Electric Fields, I’m inclining towards Kate, yes we’ve seen it before but the show was great and the other two are missing something. But I also wouldn’t rule out Courtney Act just yet, that performance was amazing! I would personally love to see Leea Nanos at ESC, she could be a potential Blanche.
Kate looks like she’s costumed as the Queen of the Night from the Magic flute.
I like Kate. A lot of people don’t which is fine. But I think it’s worth the risk. Brings something different , pop with opera and festival dancing. So different and unique which is what Eurovision is all about. Regardless Australia has some creative entries and there are 3 in particular that I can see them doing well with.