Australia’s national selection, Eurovision – Australia Decides, has generated plenty of buzz since its return was announced earlier this year. Broadcaster SBS previously said they were planning to go “bigger and better” than their first national selection, and we’ve seen just that – with some big names among the 10 acts taking the stage.
While the sunny Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre gets ready to host on February 7 and February 8 next year, we want to know which of the artists you are most excited for. Only one song has been released and confirmed so far, but that hasn’t stopped us from checking out the back catalogues of all the competitors, and thinking about what each contestant might bring on stage.
If we know anything about Australia – they always go big.
Eurovision – Australia Decides participants
Casey Donovan
Casey shot to fame at the humble age of 16, becoming the youngest winner of Australian Idol in 2004 before going on to win the Australian version of I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here in 2017. A household name, the once-shy singer has flourished as a musician — whether on stage or on screen, presenting or writing. Her highest accolades to date include an ARIA No #1 Award for “Listen with Your Heart” and receiving Indigenous Awards for Best Album, Best Single and Most Promising New Talent.
Diana Rouvas
A proud representative of her Greek culture, singer-songwriter Diana recently won this year’s season of The Voice Australia, after making it to the top 8 of the same show back in 2012. She’s performed as a backup singer to legendary Australian songstress Tina Arena, and tours Australia often. She will be performing the yet to be released track “Can We Make Heaven”.
Didirri
The son of a painter and children’s performer, singer-songwriter Didirri honed his ability to perform in public as a circus performer. As a teenager, he learned to play music at on the piano, before learning guitar and earning a Bachelor of Music. His debut EP Measurements has collected over 30 million streams, and led the singer to playing renowned festivals including the UK’s The Great Escape and Latitude Festival, Australia’s Splendour In The Grass and Barcelona’s Primavera Sound.
iOTA
New Zealand-born Australian Sean Hape, better known by his chosen name iOTA, has definitely lived a life. A singer, songwriter, revered stage performer and actor, international audiences may have seen iOTA in films including as the Doof Warrior on Mad Max: Fury Road and Trimalcio in The Great Gatsby. Locally, his talents have lent themselves to the stage, appearing in his own stage productions of Smoke & Mirrors, Hedwig & the Angry Inch and The Rocky Horror Show. His musical style is described as eclectic at best, both in style and in substance.
Jack Vidgen
Reality television veteran (despite his young age), Jack won Australia’s Got Talent as a fresh faced 14 year old, before launching a successful recording career. He left the spotlight several years later due to burnout, deciding to work at an aged care home. Earlier this year, he relaunched his career as a participant on The Voice Australia, finishing as a semi-finalist. He will be performing his ballad, “I Am King I Am Queen”, which he released this week. You can listen to it on Spotify here.
Jaguar Jonze
Jaguar Jonze is an eclectic mix of culture, inspiration, and musical flavour. Born in Japan to a Taiwanese mother and Australian father, she has featured often on Australian indie radio station Triple J, gathering a following along the way. She has recently released a colourful, Tarantino-inspired track in “Kill Me With Your Love”. She will be performing a new track at Australia Decides called “Rabbit Hole”, which is yet to be released.
Jordan-Ravi
Relative newcomer Jordan-Ravi is colourfully described as an ‘enigmatic soulful singer-songwriter with a chocolate tone and a talent on the guitar’. Growing up in remote Australia in the same region as Eurovision 2018 representative Jessica Mauboy, the 19 year old recently gained worldwide attention after appearing on America’s Got Talent, with a cover of “High Hopes” by Panic! At the Disco. He will be performing yet to be released “Pushing Stars”, a track written by 2019 Australia Decides alumni George Sheppard and Tania Doko.
Mitch Tambo
The First Nations singer blends traditional sounds and language with contemporary beats and production, breathing modern life to a traditional culture. The 29 year old singer reached the grand final of Australia’s Got Talent after receiving the golden buzzer from judge and former Pussycat Dolls lead singer Nicole Scherzinger, who was visibly moved by his audition, describing him as “a true representative of Australia’s beauty, culture and talent”.
Montaigne
24 year old Montaigne has made quite the impact on the Australian indie music scene, making the coveted Triple J’s Hottest 100 list, an annual poll of popular-voted favourite songs. Receiving many accolades, she’s also won an ARIA award in 2016 for Best Breakthrough Artist and a nomination for Best Female Artist on her debut album Glorious Heights. Her most recent album Complex was released in August this year, to critical acclaim. She hopes to release her inner-diva at Eurovision Decides.
Vanessa Amorosi
Selling over two million albums in her career, Vanessa has proven her versatility across many genres, including, pop, rock, blues, jazz, and gospel. Vanessa’s songwriting ability and dynamic vocal range have led to four critically acclaimed studio albums, as well as 16 ARIA and APRA nominations. One of her biggest accolades was performing at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics and at the Paralympic Games, singing the Olympic song titled “Heroes Live Forever”. She’s making an emphatic return to the music scene 20 years later with her new album, Back to Love — from which she will be selecting a song to enter in Australia Decides.
It’s time to vote in our poll! Choose wisely, you can only vote ONE time. Voting ends once the ten competing songs are released — the date is yet to be confirmed at the time of publication.
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Who is your favourite? Who do you think will surprise us? Let us know in the comments.
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Jack Vidgen for sure ! You got this !
Jack Vidgen you have this ! And deserve to win
Casey Donovan – I have a feeling the song will be EPIC!
VANESSA AMOROSI for sure, mind blowing voice she has and a true Australian.. She is mostly the one that will be picked.. true talent
It’s got to be JACK VIDGEN!!! He’s the absolute best. He touches my soul with his voice, his gentleness soothes my spirit and his honesty and passion in bringing himeself into his love for his work, makes me want to follow and support his journey. I believe in him. Go Jack!
Jack Vidgen is, to me, the most courageous, honest, and vulnerable one in the contest! To allow the world to look into your soul, through his song, is mind blowing. It’s awesome!!! #TeamJackVidgen
Let’s go Jack
Best of luck Jordon from the U.S.A!!!!
Jack Vidgen
#EuroVidgen
Vanessa I love U
I think everyone should just chill and wait for the live versions at Australia Decides. Every one of these artists are great live performers. We get the same old comments when the songs are released. They’re boring / generic until they put their own spin when they sing live . Best example of this is Sound of Silence. That song was pretty generic but when performed live it became EPIC!! So I wouldn’t judge anything yet until we see the live production and what these guys can do . But just so you know most Aussies will be better live… Read more »
I think vanessa amorosi is too generic . Mont aigne , mitch tambo , iota and Jordan ravi will definately bring strong competion . Jack vidgen is also nice but my preferable choice is jordan ravi
Generic? Pfft. It’s called actual talent.
Im looking forward to Vanessa if it’s “hello me” not Gimmie Your Love. It’s too generic
All of them, but especially Montaigne. That was such a happy surprise.
I still can’t believe that there are no returning artists like Electric Fields. But I would like to hear from all these artists soon.
Honestly, it’s hard to tell because we don’t have all the songs released. I’ll reserve judgement until I get a chan e to listen all their songs.
I look forward to that day when fans say Australia and Sweden have diversity and original songs in their selection and call Albania generic who mostly are 80% women screaming their hearts out in the same type of ballads every year. But i guess that will never happen because fans dont like how the real world see it. The fans like their fantasy bubble where Australia and Sweden are the 2 worst countries in ESC….
Sweden and diversity? Like 80% radio-friendly songs that you can hear in every radio and 20% schlager? Right, very diverse…
Your not very educated i see. If you live in Albania and have heard albanian music all your life then Swedish pop music is exotic. If you live in Sweden and have heard swedish music all your life then albanian music is exotic. Ever thought of that? Ofc not beacuse you dont seem to think much. So that generic crap is so wrong.
You think that I am not educated because I don’t agree with you? Is that even an argument?
I just pointed out that swedish entries are not diverse at all. It seems to me like they are sending the same type of music to ESC every year (in recent years).
And yet you are saying that it is Albania who sends unoriginal songs
Didirri, iOta, Jaguar Jonze and Montaigne for me. By the way, I voted for Didirri cause only one vote is allowed 🙁
Iota for me and girl who will sing rabbit hole (never heard this type of song tittle ) lol
Like the diversity of this lineup.
To say it with Vanessa: I’m excited for “absolutely everybody, everybody, everybody…” 😀 😀
iOTA
I think he will bring something edgy and good.
We NEEEEEED a didgeridoo in an Australian number at Eurovision. Mitch is bringing that and therefore is my fave…
Mitch Tambo, time for Australia to give us their own language at eurovision
I agree, but IOTA and Jaguar Jonze are also very interesting.
you mean english haha? If you are educated you know that most people in Australia talk english as their native language.
Mitch’s ancestral language that he sings in is classified as extinct since 2007 so it’s not really anyone’s native language anymore let alone Australia’s “own language”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamilaraay_language
Jaguar Jonze… If that little city from your brain is half as big as Neo-Tokyo from Manga then we are in for an exciting time!!! Europe needs new and different, so if that is what you’re going to bring along with a show, you’re my pick! (So many choices here Australia!!!! Great year 2020 already!)
For pure performance, iota, Montaigne and Diana Rouvas will be amazing, for voice Casey Vanessa and potentially Jordan-Ravi (Tania Doko can write a great tune). But most excited for Jaguar Jonze… alternative? Time will tell
None of them seem very interesting
Which Country has the highest population of Macedonians in the world after Macedonia?
These artists exist unlike FYROM who dont exist. I hope in 2020 you will realize that do. Im praying for you 🙂
I voted for Montaigne, but if I had to pick another one, it’s Jaguar.
Jaguar Jonze, Mitch Tambo and Montaigne. I’m scared Casey’s song will be a basic ballad and everyone will vote for it.
I´m sharing your opinion ….
They all seem very good, but Jaguar Jonze is the one that caught my attention the most. Looking forward to Australia’s entry this year!!