The Wiwi Jury reveals their favourites in Australia’s Eurovision — Australia Decides 2020

This weekend, Australia will decide Kate Miller-Heidke’s successor. Ten acts will battle it out on the Gold Coast for the right to represent Australia in Rotterdam. Eurovision — Australia Decides promises to be an exciting contest but there can only be one winner. The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — has weighed in on who they think should take the reins in Rotterdam.

Antony

1.  Montaigne – “Don’t Break Me”

“Don’t Break Me” is a welcomed addition to this national final. A catchy and well-produced track, the song allows for Montaigne’s strong vocal abilities to flourish — her voice would be something novel for the Eurovision stage. All of this allows you to feel her emotions. You feel her pain, you feel her vulnerability and you feel her sorrow. In this national final, there are a number of songs that have the potential to win the right to represent Australia this year at Eurovision. However, because of its authenticity, this song should win.

2. Mitch Tambo – “Together”
3. Vanessa Amorosi – “Lessons of Love”
4. Diana Rouvas – Can We Make Heaven”
5. Jordan-Ravi – “Pushing Stars”

Barnabas

1. Jaguar Jonze – “Rabbit Hole”

There are several quality efforts in this year’s Australian competition, but the one that really stands out of the crowd is this “Rabbit Hole” that I’d love to be drawn into. Jaguar has put together an indie-rock banger that leads you through her musical maze, making you want to smash the repeat button to pieces. There’s no chance that you’d get bored plus the song also has this weird and edgy personality. If somehow the music video can be translated to the stage, I personally guarantee y’all the new queen on Kate Miller-Heidke’s throne.

2. Didirri – “Raw Stuff”
3. Vanessa Amorosi – “Lessons of Love”
4. Diana Rouvas – “Can We Make Heaven”
5. Montaigne – “Don’t Break Me”

Julia

1. Montaigne – “Don’t Break Me”

Cue dramatics, cue key change. Montaigne leaves us all hanging on a thread with her powerful pendulum of soft and strong vocals. We feel and endure her pain. I could only imagine the Eurovision crowd clenching their fist bringing their hands down to defy being brought down also. Montaigne’s epic ballad is in a class of its own and I am sure we she will be begging the crowd in Rotterdam to not break her down. In this case, 2020 is her rise.

2. Mitch Tambo – “Together”
3. Casey Donovan – “Proud”
4. Didirri – “Raw Stuff”
5. iOTA – “Life”

Florian

1. Vanessa Amorosi – “Lessons of Love”

“Lessons of Love” is a well-produced track that embraces the qualities that first made Vanessa Amorosi emerge to the music scene years back. The track is nicely building up and leads into a chorus filled with strong vocals and good progression production-wise. However, there’s room for growth with the live performance. Given Vanessa is an experienced performer, she should be able to deliver a great performance on the night. Otherwise, it could be a shot for another act to come and shine.

2. Jaguar Jonze – “Rabbit Hole”
3. Montaigne – “Don’t Break Me”
4. Diana Rouvas – “Can We Make Heaven”
5. Jordan-Ravi – “Pushing Stars”

Natalie

1. Montaigne – “Don’t Break Me”

I’m not as enthused by the national selection this year as I was last time. Montaigne’s song, composed by the minds behind “Sound of Silence”, is my favourite. It’s mystical, passionate and about a very important issue. The intense but light production hits very hard to home for me and the repeating electronic melody and the deep percussion is so raw. It’s a bit more of a sad dark song and I prefer the fun of Kate’s song last year, but I think Montaigne brings a very good song that would do Australia some good.

2. Jaguar Jonze – “Rabbit Hole”
3. Vanessa Amorosi – “Lessons of Love”
4. Casey Donovan – “Proud”
5. Jordan-Ravi – “Pushing Stars”

Robyn

1. Didirri – “Raw Stuff”

In a national final full of many stand-outs, my attention has fallen on one of the more subdued numbers. In “Raw Stuff”, Didirri seems to have taken inspiration from the laidback but theatrical style of American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, but cast through an indie Australian lens. “Raw Stuff” is simple and heartfelt. When Eurovision is full of loud, bold performances with slick staging, Didirri could do a Salvador Sobral and deliver a simple gem with “Raw Stuff”.

2. Vanessa Amorosi – “Lessons of Love”
3. iOTA – “Life”
4. Jaguar Jonze – “Rabbit Hole”
5. Jordan-Ravi – “Pushing Stars”

Antranig

1. Vanessa Amorosi – “Lessons of Love”

Australia is a whole new ball game this year. Last year, any outcome other than Kate Miller-Heidke winning would’ve been a travesty for me. This year, almost all of the songs could take it. I don’t have a standout winner and these songs will make or break with their live performances. Vanessa Amorosi goes into the show with a headstart, packing a song that is catchy and contemporary. However, I’m waiting for someone to rise out of the shadows and take this national final by the scruff of its neck.

2. Jack Vidgen – “I Am King I Am Queen”
3. Montaigne – “Don’t Break Me”
4. Jaguar Jonze – “Rabbit Hole”
5. Jordan-Ravi – “Pushing Stars”

Åri

1. Montaigne – “Don’t Break Me”

My relationship with Montaigne goes a year or two back. She has released some awesome alternative music over her respectable discography and I was there to enjoy it, as was the case with last year’s Kate Miller-Heidke. Hopefully, the Australians know how to appreciate high-quality indie pop, as opposed to some people (I’m still salty, Czechia). This song is brilliant and could definitely bring Australia back to the Top Five. However, I should point out that I have two favourites in this final – “Rabbit Hole” and “Don’t Break Me” are leagues above the rest.

2. Jaguar Jonze – “Rabbit Hole”
3. Diana Rouvas – “Can We Make Heaven”
4. Vanessa Amorosi – “Lessons of Love”
5. iOTA – “Life”

Sebastian

1.  iOTA – “Life”

As the title of his song indicates, iOTA breathes life into a very solid sea of pop, ballad and indie songs submitted into Australia’s national selection. “Life”, as the word goes, is frenetic, fast paced, theatrical, and twist-turning. And while “Life” might seem a little cabaret, I can see this coming to life on stage with dancers, colours and an out-of-the-box performance by the man known as the Doof Warrior. While a more mainstream act might just win, this is an underrated gem.

2. Vanessa Amorosi – “Lessons of Love”
3. Montaigne – “Don’t Break Me”
4. Jordan-Ravi – “Pushing Stars”
5. Jaguar Jonze – “Rabbit Hole”

Lucy

1. Montaigne – “Don’t Break Me”

From the beginning of the track, Montaigne’s unique vocals grip you and you aren’t let go until the track ends. Her voice adds the effect of sheer pleading throughout “Don’t Break Me” fitting in with the song, whilst still sending chills down the spine with how gorgeous they are. There’s modern beats and an anthemic quality to the song, with expensive sounding production. I genuinely believe with good staging this could win Eurovision, which I don’t really get from the other tracks. This surely has to win in the Gold Coast?

2. Jaguar Jonze – “Rabbit Hole”
3. Jordan-Ravi – “Pushing Stars”
4. iOTA – “Life”
5. Vanessa Amorosi – “Lessons of Love”

Tom

1. Vanessa Amorosi – “Lessons of Love”

Holy moly Australia have brought it this year. I love the crop of 2020! I would be happy if any of my Top Three made it to Rotterdam but my winner is Vanessa Amorosi and “Lessons of Love”. From the first listen it made my face melt — her vocals are second to none. I think that this final will be won and lost with the quality of the live performance. However, I know that Vanessa will bring even more to the table on the night. Whoever gets through, prepare to return to the Top Five, Australia.

2. Montaigne – “Don’t Break Me”
3. Casey Donovan – “Proud”
4. Mitch Tambo – “Together”
5. Jack Vidgen – “I Am King I Am Queen”

What do you think? Who do you want to represent Australia in Rotterdam? Let us know in the comments below.

Read more Australia news here