On Saturday the good folks at SBS Australia and Blink TV will bring us the second instalment of Eurovision: Australia Decides — the country’s national selection for Eurovision 2020. It features some of Australia’s best-known talents (think Casey Donovan and Vanessa Amorosi) along with some of its freshest voices and most out-there queens. From reality show winners serving pure emotion and empowerment to avant-garde pop artists dropping eccentric tunes, there really is something for everyone.
Deban and I recently met up to react to all the goodness. This video is a whopping 45 minutes long, so we’ve included timestamps below and in the description of the video. You can always skip ahead to your favourite if we’re waffling a bit too much for you.
Australia Decides 2020: The Finalists and Song Titles
0:33 Casey Donovan – “Proud”
4:58 Diana Rouvas – “Can We Make Heaven”
8:08 Didirri – “Raw Stuff”
11:37 iOta – “Life”
16:08 Jack Vidgen – “I am King I am Queen”
20:00 Jaguar Jones – “Rabbit Hole”
23:20 Jordan-Ravi – “Pushing Stars”
26:35 Mitch Tambo – “Together”
29:59 Montaigne – “Don’t Break Me”
35:28 Vanessa Amorosi – “Lessons of Love”
Paul Clarke on ‘Eurovision: Australia Decides’
Head of Delegation and Australia Decides producer Paul Clarke recently spoke about what the Australian delegation had learned from their 2019 entry. Kate Miller-Heidke’s “Zero Gravity” was tipped as a possible winner of Eurovision 2019 but finished in ninth place.
Clarke had nothing but praise for Kate’s performance but said that an Australian popera song might not have appealed enough to European audiences.
He explained: “For a lot of Europeans, they turn to Australia for what is new and what is different. I think they felt they already had opera. That opera is something that comes from Europe.”
But Clark has faith in the 2020 lineup of Australia Decides. So deep is the field that he even reckons the show has “four, five, maybe six people that could win the competition this year” and give Australia its first Eurovision win.
While the running order for the February grand final hasn’t been confirmed, Clarke says that the show will likely be opened by singer-songwriter iOTA. “We’re going to do something as absolutely off the wall as what we did with Kate. It’ll be dangerous. People watch Eurovision for the spectacle. Having an artist like iOTA in the competition is a licence for mischief.”
The grand final of Eurovision – Australia Decides will screen on Saturday 8 February at 19:30 AEST (10:30 CET).
Australia 2020 selection is terribly terrible, most are soft ballads and cant even match the hype of their 2019 entry only IOTA Life maybe can do it, hoping that will be their entry…. Else welcome to first time no final to Australia 🙁
I’ll admit I’m a bit disappointed with this selection. Like I liked all but two songs of last year’s selection but this year I’m mostly just indifferent toward all but one song. They’re not bad but I just feel like they drag on a bit. Montaigne is my winner by far but I do like Casey’s song but that song does give me been there done that. So my top 3 is: Montaigne, Casey, and iOta. But definitely need to hear them all live, so could change opinion. Anyways good luck to them all.
I think the draw will be important and I suspect the winning act will be in position 7-8-9. Whoever has the best vocal and staging of those three spots will win, just as KM-H did last year.
Haha! No final for Australia this year! I’ll be laughing so hard when they fail to qualify for the Grand Final. Hopefully they’ll get the hint that they’re not welcome in this contest any longer and leave! Apparently they didn’t get the hint after their disastrous televote results the last few years. Goodbye and good riddance!
There’s always one sad individual who thinks Eurovision shouldn’t be inclusive. Bet with a name like Ernest Chelmsford your sitting in a beige cardigan in your slippers watching the neighbourhood in case someone pinches your leased BMW . If you want to throw stones about disastrous televotes go ahead and throw it. Still got more than some counties that have been in it for years – cough cough UK. If you don’t know what I did there was I threw shade dude.The theme for Eurovision this year is Open Up which means freedom so Oz has the freedom to join… Read more »
REACT TO ISRAELI WINNER EDEN!!! (& ELLA LEE)
Montaigne and Vanessa get my votes but would prefer Montaigne to take it out. Can’t wait to see them all in the Gold Coast on Sat and hopefully they are as good live as they are on their recordings.
I love watching William Lee Adams in his element, he has this excitability in his personality that is infectious. It’s gotten to a point now where some artists are more pumped to meet him, than he is them. Haha
I know everyone is all for Montaigne. I like her song too. My fear is that it’s just too safe to do any good at Eurovision.
I completely agree with you and I’m shocked that someone out there shares my thoughts
My favourites: Casey, Vanessa, and Jaguar.
Will be voting Casey. I think her voice will bring the song to life on the night.
So annoyed that you boys are not going to be on the G.C! Hurry up and come to Australia already.
I am sorry, some songs felt like 10 minutes. What the snooze fest is going on? Only Montaigne stands out
Jaguar Jonze???
most interesting entry after Montaigne
Montaigne is the epitome of playing safe
Very disappointed that neither William nor Deban noticed that iOTA came out of a closet. But what a selection of songs, almost all are good enough to be in the contest. Hopefully here in the UK, the BBC can find one song close to this calibre. And it’s a Sharpie.
Jack Vidgens all the way, if this goes to Rotterdam, this is a contender for a North Macedonia 2019 moment
I wholeheartedly disagree. He was the same gimmick as Bilal and Europe rejected him last year.
What is gimmicky about Jack Vidgen?
No, that’s the job of ‘Proud’. But I do like Jack and I think his time will come.
I’m glad you liked Jack Vidgen. I find his performance so raw, emotional and honest. I hope he does really well at the weekend.
Loved Jack for years since he was a sweet 14 year old with a huge amazing voice. Love this new song and hoping he can possibly take it to Rotterdam. My other choice would be Mitch Tambo.
I agree with you. My favourites are Montaigne, Jaguar Jonze, Didirri and Vanessa. I really love Didirri’s song as well but I think Montaigne will win it. I will be at the Jury show this Friday. Very excited and looking forward to it.
Them and iOTA. Which is already half the contestants. Damn, Australia, you’re bringing the goods!