Australia has quickly become a powerhouse of the Eurovision Song Contest. And now SBS has crowned its 2020 queen to lead them into battle in Rotterdam. Montaigne has won Eurovision: Australia Decides and will represent Australia at ESC 2020!

It was a night of bright lights, but Montaigne shined brightest with “Don’t Break Me” — a song that asks the question, “Are we really breaking up?” Montaigne’s protagonist knows she’s with Mister Wrong, but she struggles to walk away and make it right. The performance was quirky and eccentric, but the song is mainstream and radio-ready.

Australia Decides 2020 Jury and Televote results

Jury vote

54 points Montaigne

42 points Vanessa Amorosi

40 points Casey Donovan

39 points Didirri

24 points Diana Rouvas

24 points Mitch Tambo

19 points iOTA

19 points Jack Vidgen

18 points Jaguar Jonze

11 points Jordan-Ravi

Public vote

60 points Casey Donovan

53 points Montaigne

40 points Vanessa Amorosi

33 points Mitch Tambo

28 points Jaguar Jonze

24 points Didirri

18 points Diana Rouvas

15 points Jack Vidgen

13 points iOTA

12 points Jordan-Ravi

Review of Australia Decides 2020

Montaigne had to beat some stuff competition. Singer and performance artist iOTA opened the show with “Life” — an out-of-the-box song with an equally outré performance. He bent his back like he was doing an Ina Bauer on the ice, all accompanied by two instrumentalists being lowered from the ceiling. Jordan Ravi followed in the dreaded number two spot with “Pushing Stars”. The America’s Got Talent alum pushed beaucoup de talent in front of a digital starscape. Those stars leaned a bit more Sesame Street than Star Wars, but it was still charming if somewhat juvenile.

Then came Jaguar Jonze, whose edgy song “Rabbit Hole” told the story of her own struggles with PTSD. She literally tore down the walls of a mini stage, eventually revealing the grand scene around her. The fan favourite merged pop and edge perhaps better than anyone. This felt less glossy Marie Claire and more avant-garde Vogue Italia.

The Voice star Jack Vidgen sang fourth. “I Am King I am Queen” is all about telling your own story and not letting other people tell it for you. “I think music brings out emotions in you that you may not even know are happening,” he said in his voiceover. Our guy definitely let it all out!

Award-winning singer songwriter Vanessa Amorosi started splayed out on the floor on her back, having survived a car accident — with the car at stage left. It was a somewhat apocalyptic scene. She eventually stood up to deliver “Lessons of Love”. The power was clear, but at times she seemed to be singing straight from her nose. But she definitely brought it home at the end. Diana Rouvas, who was mentored by Boy George, stood before a digital circle and belted it out on loop. It was loud, but controlled.

“Together” singer Mitch Tambo wore feathers — and a lot of fringe — to portray the emu. The song had a Disney quality and the chorus was very Phil Collins Tarzan. Shout out to Mitch for singing in his native language, which really fit the rhythm and flow of the verses.

Casey Donovan smashed the vocals. She proved that with powerful vocals you can fill a stage — even if all you have is a mirror behind you and some mobile phone lights in the audience. Perhaps the vocal of the night. The penultimate went to Montaigne, who messed with the idea of a woman playing the clown. While her costume may have raised eyebrows — she seemed to have a luffa around her neck — the joke is on you if you question her talent. It needs some polishing, but it was contemporary, fresh and original.  Lastly came Didirri with “Raw Stuff”. An appropriate title for a song so pared back.

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Jamus
Jamus
4 years ago

Embarrassingly bad.

Will finish next to last.

Looking forward to Dami 2021!

Mws
Mws
4 years ago

So excited at the Montaigne win and our selection this year! Australia should have a thing where whoever wins Aria Breakthrough Artist in November gets an automatic invitation to be one of the 10 at Eurovision Australia Decides, they can accept or decline. But these are the types of artists, new, young, emerging, that we need auditioning and representing us at Eurovision. Giving these young, fresh new sounds a chance and a platform.

Miguel
Miguel
4 years ago

Montaigne is a real artist. Her performance was very good. Im impressed how she could sing and dance like that. This was the obvious winner, as this is the song that stands out, even if my personal favourite was Jaguar Jonze.
The song is very peculiar yet quite catchy, with pop flavours without becoming generic. I just hope they change the staging for Eurovision. This is not working for me. The camera angles are awkward, her outfit is not great either and I kept worrying she would step on the other dancers…

Isa
Isa
4 years ago

If Montaigne is talented then she did not show it with her “Don’t break me” performance. Anyone who has a pair of ears can easily tell her vocals were bad. All that dancing was simply distracting and bad (she looked like she was just fooling around like an actual clown). An excellent candidate to the bottom placing in Eurovision’s televoting!

Florence Petit
Florence Petit
4 years ago

Really suprised by all the bad comments…loved the song from the begining, she sang very well on stage and the choregraphy is very dynamic and bring the song to life. Loved the performance. It needs some finetuning and the costume can improve to something more beautiful, but the potential is there. I think it can do very well. Love from France

Lenchen
Lenchen
4 years ago

Everyone is hating this and I can’t understand why. „Lessons of Love“ didn’t catch me at all but Montaigne gave a wonderful performance and the song is stuck in my head. I hope she will do well in Rotterdam! I love everything about this!

Indiana07
Indiana07
4 years ago

Very good compared to that disaster last year

Orvalgeek
Orvalgeek
4 years ago

#notinfinal

Dennie
Dennie
4 years ago

Ugh, how awful. Not a nice voice to listen to, awful costume, awful make up, mediocre song. Can we please get over Australia already and move on with the EUROvision songcontest?

Leanne
Leanne
4 years ago

I saw the two dress rehearsals and the main event. First was not good; second was better and the televised performance was okay. Ill have to wait to see the recording as it must have come off well on TV to score so high. The sound techs need a lesson on how to mix with their ears and not the monitors. Very booming bass in the room. Finally, the most out there unique, wild performer of all, iOTA was given rubbish staging imo !!! Check out Smoke & Mirrors (on youtube) which he co-wrote. Thx

Kosey
Kosey
4 years ago

I want to like this for trying something different but I just find it irritating. I hate the costume, I don’t know what they’re trying to go for there but it’s gone over my head, and the hand gestures and dancing is way over the top. The whole thing is distracting, such that I didn’t focus much on the song, which I fear may actually be quite bland.
Australia, what have you done? You had better choices.

Patrick Mares
Patrick Mares
4 years ago

This is my least favorite entry from Australia! I really don’t like it but this could be because of the visuals! But then again, I don’t need to get everything and what do I know? I also didn’t get Portugal 2017! lol

emeej
emeej
4 years ago

I dont see why people are so dissapointed, this is a really good song and with an improved performance it could get a very respectable result for Australia. I like it a lot!

Leo M
Leo M
4 years ago

Song is fine, very current but there’s nothing original about it. Didn’t like the staging or styling but that probably will be sorted out come May. Definitely not a Eurovision winning entry.

Bella
Bella
4 years ago

So Australia is sending a generic, tier 3 pop song. What’s new? Also, what’s with the lama petting?

jim
jim
4 years ago

#australiaisoverparty

Richard
Richard
4 years ago

Having just watched it I can’t deny I was totally captivated by the performance. the song is nice enough having heard it once before, but her performance and interpretation really brought it to life. It’s really quite bonkers, in a Bosnia-Herzogovina 2008 kind of way (happy memories). Possibly the backing singers were picking up the slack, but they’ve plenty of time to iron out any wobbles. I hope the keep the kookiness. Loving Australia again.

Dzordz
Dzordz
4 years ago

I kinda like the performance. But other than that, absolutely nothing is good. I’m not sure about her voice, is it good or bad. Obviously she can’t sing and dance at the same time. And the song… Meh… Sorry Australia, not my favourite.

Illegirl
Illegirl
4 years ago

Although the odds predict differently, i still think this is gonna be the worst result ever for Australia

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago
Reply to  Illegirl

I can’t see this finishing below 20th. Unless the lineup is insanely strong and they don’t tone down the staging.

MTD
MTD
4 years ago

This is nonsense.

Gab
Gab
4 years ago

What an awful song. If that’s the best Australia could offer, they shouldn’t participate at all

freshmess
freshmess
4 years ago

The Chainsmokers called. They want the intro to “Don’t let me down” back.

astro!
astro!
4 years ago
Reply to  freshmess

sorry I didn’t know the Chainsmokers invented the guitar

gilpgilp
gilpgilp
4 years ago

I would love Australia to win but I don’t think this will come close.

First row at ESC & JESC
First row at ESC & JESC
4 years ago
Reply to  gilpgilp

in 2021 with Dami Im they will win …….I think that is safe !

Tom
Tom
4 years ago

Rabbit hole was robbed !!! 🙁

Behold
Behold
4 years ago

I thought Jaguar Jonze had by far the best staging and performance, and should always have been rewarded by the jury. The fact that they didn’t proves to me that they are incapable, Måns or no Måns. Didirri had a beautiful song, but with the Aussies being all about spectacle in Eurovision it was never gonna win.

And then the actual winner… what can I say. It’s just awful, I think it will be the Aussies first non-qualifier. It just doesn’t have any redeeming features.

Roo
Roo
4 years ago
Reply to  Behold

Didirri scored higher than I expected. Going last was definitely in his favour. I thought I would tune out by he caught my attention. Quite a decent result IMHO

Oy Oys
Oy Oys
4 years ago

Wish all the best for her but I can’t quite decide if her singing voice is weak or this just is art.

Vanja Ljubi?
Vanja Ljubi?
4 years ago

I absolutely love it, and I think it could win in Rotterdam, it’s just really powerful and Montaigne’s got a beautiful voice. Wishing her all the best in May. <3

Ecoco
Ecoco
4 years ago

It’s dire on all levels, sadly.

Emkay
Emkay
4 years ago

This will definitely need some work. The song isn’t my personal taste, but I could see it doing well. The interpretive dance style choreography might not be the best choice though, as I could see a lot of Europeans being put off by it. We will just have to see how things go in May I suppose.

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago

Well, 4 out 5, technically.

Anita
Anita
4 years ago

I think the camerawork didn’t help Jaguar. We needed to see more of her face. I think a good cameraman would have told her, that it doesn’t need so many light changes and camera cuts per second to create the rabbit whole feeling. The emotion needs to be expressed by the artist and the camerawork needs to help us to catch that emotion – not to disturb this process. I didn’t like the camerawork in Tel Aviv either (f. e. Mahmood suffered from it in my point of view.). To me there seems some kind of trend going on with… Read more »

Lourdes
Lourdes
4 years ago

Montaigne was actually my favorite and I’m happy she won. Anyway, her stage needs to be polished, otherwise it will be another Portugal 2019. Interestingly, Australia has jumped 1st in the odds now, but I still don’t see it as a winner. It doesn’t give me the same feelings I had when Arcade came out last year. Anyway, ‘Don’t break me’ is my #1 now, but it might change tonight, depending on what Italy chooses.

Timi
Timi
4 years ago

I’m not impressed by Montaigne, I think the choreography is awful and the effect she wants to give it’s not there, not enough. And her voice needs more love, she needs to concentrate on her singing, not in that choreography.

But the song is nice, really nice. She needs to improve a lot.
“Rabbit Hole” was perfection.

Tom L
Tom L
4 years ago

Thank goodness for the jury. “Don’t Break Me” isn’t perfect by any means but it’s far better than the screaming dirge “Proud”. Montaigne had a very striking performance. I’m sure a lot of viewers will be puzzled and turned off by her appearance, so I hope she has an opportunity to explain it. She has a great voice but all the movement caused her to struggle. On the other hand, I love the wild energy and the camerawork, so I hope she doesn’t tone it down too much — just enough that she can breathe well enough to deliver the… Read more »

Gil Dadia
Gil Dadia
4 years ago

Nahh…her voice is shaking and the song not good enough.
Australia could do better

Katariina
Katariina
4 years ago

Her vocals are awful and the staging needs to be changed asap (clown imagery??? no thanks). Another bad Australian entry here.

Tory Slay
Tory Slay
4 years ago
Reply to  Katariina

As a 54 year old female who’s been trapped in a narcissistic relationship , I was torn between the man I thought I loved and the constant manipulation and one sided relationship; I fully understand the image she chose to express It’s not a clown but “a puppet “ Being pulled, Being held down , being trapped in a one sided relationship; knowing it’s going no where but DOWN DOWN DOWN Remember them all walking as if puppets on strings? ITS ABOUT braking free, regaining power( the end said it all : Her inner strength regained by braking free her… Read more »

Chromium
Chromium
4 years ago

Hmmm… so the staging definitely needs some editing. It’s a bit “over-staged” but it doesn’t feel like she fully commits. She looks very unsure, especially during close-ups. If I were to make the staging concept for this, I would go for something like Bulgaria 2017, a similar electro-pop ballad.

xohxoh
xohxoh
4 years ago

The song is cute, but nothing special. The staging is atrocious clownery and her live vocals are pretty awful. But it’s Australia i’m sure they will polish it, so there’s a potential. I also feel like she doesn’t have much experience.

dutchie
dutchie
4 years ago

As it is, I can’t see this making it past the semis in Rotterdam. I honestly don’t understand what both juries and televoters saw in this, it’s a mediocre song, sung terribly, and performed awfully. You had way better options with Jaguar Jonze and Didirri, both would have been excellent, refreshing entries and potential top five.

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago

Of course. The song is amazing and would do well across the public and especially with the juries. But the staging needs improving- they have a good concept but Montaigne SHOULD NOT DANCE. Her moves have expression but you can tell that she’s an amateur in that regard when she’s next to the professionals.

Koen
Koen
4 years ago

She eerily reminds my of Switserland’s Rykka in 2016, who came in last in the semi final. I’m afraid this won’t qualify. Even with better staging or vocals. It just doesn’t do it for me. Australia has been lucky getting through to the final on one or two occasions. But I don’t think they will get a pass this time. Sorry!

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago
Reply to  Koen

Comparing Montaigne to Rykka is just insulting. They have blue hair but that’s it. At least PAENDA has artistic credibility.

xohxoh
xohxoh
4 years ago
Reply to  Koen

It’s Australia, of course they’ll qualify.

Fan From Texas
Fan From Texas
4 years ago

She reminds me a lot vocally of Blanche from Belgium, but someone who can emote on stage live. Montaigne is very expressive almost too wild. But that can be cleaned up and polished. Top 10 no doubt. Good luck Australia.

Teddie
4 years ago

An obvious winner! What can I say, haters gonna hate

Darren
Darren
4 years ago
Reply to  Teddie

Sorry
But I really hate that expression “haters gonna hate” 😛
That is all.
Thanks <3

Teddie
4 years ago
Reply to  Darren

You’re apologizing for being a hater? Not my problem, dear, move along 🙂

Sal
Sal
4 years ago

I think the staging really brings the song alive and makes it more dramatic. Obviously, it’s not Eurovision-ready and a lot of vocal and stage work needs to be done but I think it’s going to end up being a worthy entry.

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago
Reply to  Sal

I think Montaigne’s dancing was the problem- that kind of frantic movement hinders your vocals- even in Fuego, you could see Eleni moving gently when she had heavier vocal movements, and saving her most impressive dancing for the instrumental breaks.
Also, Montaigne is not a trained dancer and her dancing looks a bit silly compared to the actual professionals.

Bart
Bart
4 years ago
Reply to  Azaad

The dancing was silly because she is a clown

Tory Slay
Tory Slay
4 years ago
Reply to  Bart

She’s not a clown but a puppet on strings , being manipulated and braking free

KESC
KESC
4 years ago

She really needs to improve her vocals a lot and change the staging completely. Otherwise, this could be a non qualifier in Rotterdam.
I wish her and Australia the best of luck. Hopefully, they prove me wrong as they did last year.

Audrey Chienne
Audrey Chienne
4 years ago

So nice to see Paenda back but I preferred Limits

Malin
Malin
4 years ago

First time I listend to the song today so I have no opinion of the artist. Liked the audio a lot but hoped that the live version would give more real emotions, like I felt when I saw Arcade first time. Now have I seen it live.At first I was really disappointed. She was mumbling and everything was like a amateur theatre to me .. but the suddenly WOW.. She exploded and felt real. Really good at the end in my opinion. But I think there are some work to do. Booth whith the choreography, expression and voice. But in… Read more »

Tory Slay
Tory Slay
4 years ago
Reply to  Malin

Hi Malin from Sweden Beautifully said : ”the explosion “ , I believe , is in harmony with the message she’s expressing Don’t hold her down ,The struggle to brake free from the strings ( she’s been a puppet for so long ) but now taking back her life!!! It’s meant to be A lead up to a “ powerful “ WOW factor; as she takes control of her destiny!!! If you have a moment take a minute to read my note to Kateriina ; Most / or rather many young ones might not fully understand years of being manipulated… Read more »

Darren
Darren
4 years ago

Reminds me ever so slightly of Sigrid – Don’t Kill My Vibe in parts. It’s not bad, but we get so many songs like it in Eurovision every year. It’s the kind of song that I think could either win the whole thing or finish last. They need to work on staging, but I felt the same away about Kate at this point last year, who blew me away when it got to Tel Aviv. Clever staging will be key here for Montaigne. At this point, I expect it to qualify. Juries will probably like it too, I predict 6-15th… Read more »

First row at ESC & JESC
First row at ESC & JESC
4 years ago

my favorite from Australia Decides was Jaguar Jonze – Rabbit hole …….wow …………..but hey, Montaigne was my runner up – so everything is fine for me (but they shout overthink her outfit and improve vocals + staging.

First row at ESC & JESC
First row at ESC & JESC
4 years ago

The BEST news what comes out Australia Decides is that our queen Dami Im will do it again 2021 with ESC. Yes girl, you slayyyyyyyed in 2016 (my winner) – give us the Dami Im realness again in 2021.