Earlier this year she won Australia‘s national final and was set to go to Eurovision 2020 with “Don’t Break Me”. Now Montaigne will get another shot at Eurovision, as broadcaster SBS has announced that the blue-haired singer has been internally selected for Eurovision 2021.
SBS confirmed the news this evening. Montaigne shared her excitement, saying, “I’m so happy to receive this good news during such times. At home, we’ve started this ritual of cracking open a fortune cookie daily and reading our fortunes to each other and I got one that read, ‘You will be sharing great news with all the people you love.’ I’m so glad it came true!”
Following the cancellation of Eurovision 2020, Montaigne had expressed her sadness at the end of the Rotterdam contest, but said she would like to return to Eurovision 2021. In a now-deleted tweet, Montaigne wrote, “I would really like to do it. really really. a lot. but that’s up to SBS.”
Farewell to ‘Eurovision – Australia Decides’ 2021
But Montaigne’s internal selection means we won’t be seeing a 2021 edition of Australia’s new national final Eurovision – Australia Decides.
However, Australia Decides creative director (and former Head of Delegation) Paul Clarke says this isn’t intended to be the end of the national final. He explained that SBS plans to bring the contest back in 2022, adding, “To our music community, we say – write the perfect Eurovision song! We have every intention of bringing the show back to the Gold Coast in 2022 bigger and better than ever.”
SBS Commissioning Editor and new Head of Delegation Josh Martin explained the reasons behind going internal for one year:
“Although SBS and fans alike will miss Eurovision – Australia Decides 2021, this will honour Australia’s decision and give Montaigne the chance to show the world what we already know – that she is an incredibly talented, exciting and original artist. Our focus will now shift to a new song for 2021 and Montaigne is not wasting a moment of this period of isolation with many new ideas already on the table!”
The cancellation of Eurovision – Australia Decides also means that Dami Im — who had vowed to be part of the 2021 contest — will have to wait another year before attempting a Eurovision comeback. Neither Dami — nor any other acts — had been confirmed for a potential 2021 edition of the national final.
It's confirmed,@actualmontaigne will represent Australia in the Eurovision song contest 2021 #Eurovision #Eurovision2021 pic.twitter.com/dpgxdYofos
— SBS Eurovision (@SBSEurovision) April 1, 2020
Eurovision 2021: Confirmed artists from ESC2020
At the time of publication, Montaigne is the 13th confirmed artist for Eurovision 2021. Like Ukraine, Australia is ditching its national final and will turn to internal selection for 2021.
- Australia – Montaigne (confirmed 2 April)
- Austria – Vincent Bueno (confirmed 26 March)
- Azerbaijan – Efendi (confirmed 20 March)
- Belgium – Hooverphonic (confirmed 20 March)
- Bulgaria – Victoria (confirmed 21 March)
- Georgia – Tornike Kipiani (confirmed 21 March)
- Greece – Stefania (confirmed 18 March)
- Israel – Eden Alene (confirmed 22 March)
- Netherlands – Jeangu Macrooy (confirmed 18 March)
- Romania – Roxen (confirmed 31 March)
- Spain – Blas Cantó (confirmed 18 March)
- Switzerland – Gjon’s Tears (confirmed 20 March)
- Ukraine – Go_A (confirmed 18 March)
SBS has also confirmed that they are “exploring alternative Eurovision programming” for 2020. The broadcaster says it aims to “help unite and entertain audiences during these challenging times”. SBS will announce their plans soon.
What do you think? Are you excited that Montaigne has been internally selected for Eurovision 2021? And are you sad that we won’t get a national final in 2021? Tell us your thoughts below!
I’m very happy for Montaigne! Bravo to Australia!
I think it makes perfect sense, money is saved and justice is done
Good! I am looking forward to Montaigne slaying in 2021, as well as to the grand return of Australia Decides in 2022. 🙂
Just get rid of this clown thing, please
Lol, why? Seriously, good acts are told to compete in a final again and she gets internally selected even though her live was a car crash…
The broadcasters that have confirmed that they’ll have their usual NFs in 2021 have a long tradition of holding them, whereas 4 of Australia’s 5 previous entrants were internal selections, so Eurovision: Australia Decides isn’t a selection with the deep tradition of MelFest or Eesti Laul, so it can be ditched for a year, especially when an internal selection managed to net Australia a silver medal four years ago.
Yes!!!!!!! I was hoping my country would make the right decision and they did!!!
I wasn’t the biggest fan of her song but I liked it and her other material is good so certain she can come back with something even better.
Also, all the countries going ahead with their selections for next year…. are they sure they won’t have to cancel them when corona likely spikes again next winter? xD
Yasss!
So glad to hear this! “Don’t Break Me” was in my top 3.
Awesome news! Such an interesting artist, can’t wait what she comes up with for next year. Eurovision is better with Montaigne in it!
Many thanks, Robyn (you’re my favourite Wiwiblogger), for this amazing news!!! You made my day! Montaigne really deserves being on the 2021 ESC stage. And I’m sure Dami Im will delight everyone in 2022.
SBS is funded by the Aussie Government. The Aussie Government is spending big to keep the economy going and paying for the healthcare of millions of us- we have government payed healthcare – because of Covid 19. Someone earlier mentioned sponsors and I have doubts the Aussie economy will bounce back quick enough ( if we don’t go into recession as predicted by some for the 1st time in 30yrs. We survived the WFC ) but so many Aussie brands both international and National may not come back from this so money will be tight. But the country basically went… Read more »
By the way: Dami Im is very happy for Montaigne. Check her last tweet. That’s what I call humanity!
We stan queens who stan other queens!
I am happy for Montaigne ‘s second chance. I like “Don ‘t break me” very much and I hope for a good song for 2021 too.
Give her chance to find a good song this time
australia said integrity! i really liked “don’t break me” so i hope her 2021 song will be just as great
Good news
This is going to be great.
She can leave her clown styling in 2020 though xD
It is the right decision. All artists should be given the chance! Hope she has a slightly better song! #GOAUSTRALIA
Select her internally as Dami Im’s backvocalist.
that’s so mean
No.
Well its goodbye to Australia decides but hello fairness!
As I said on another topic, Dami still can come back in 2022, its not like all hope is gone (which counts for all that planned to participate in any national selection that is cancelled now)
Yes, Australia decided fairly.
They get it, the right and fair decision.. Eurovision fans are so strange sometimes, all for Dami Im but I can’t remember the love before 2016 happened.. I thought she was great but who says she can repeat the success of Sound of Silence? She will come back, fair thing is to have Montaigne have her moment to shine!!
dami 🙁
Noooo I wanted Dami Im.
Dami has had her chance. Montaigne and many other amazing Australian artists deserve a go before returnees start showing up.
Quite selfish and inconsiderate reaction
More countries making the right decisions. You love to see it.
Regardless of my personal feelings about the song / act, I think it’s only fair to let these artists have another chance next year. They worked hard to get the opportunity and many countries voted for the artist through national selection. There are plenty more years of Eurovision for other acts to have an opportunity to perform.
I loved Montaigne’s song but even if I didn’t, I would feel the same way.
Yes yes yes!!! I love this girl!! So nice, thank you SBS!
Dami Im has left the chat
I’m sure if she is really interested in ESC she’ll be back in 2022.
Or Dami can have her song competing in 2021, but with Montaigne to sing it.
Actually Dami congratulated Montaigne on Instagram. No drama here.
Very talented and credible singer, but the song this year was just meh.
Glad that SBS have selected her for 2021 though it’s only fair. Also gives them a second chance to shine.
They could still do “Australia Decides” though to select Montaignes song no?
Oh yes. I love her and Don’t Break Me. Such a catchy track.
Gonna miss Australia Decides in 2021, but this was the only right choice and I’m happy both to hear Montaigne (an artist I really love) is getting a second chance and that 2022 will see its return.
Around 12 countries will hold national selections next year: all countries from northern Europe, Baltics, Portugal and who else?
Vidbir and Australia Decides is cancelled next year, Sanremo will probably continue to appear next year it’s different national selection , From this year belarus, moldova, slovenia, albania serbia, croatia, armenia, poland, and czech republic is helding a national selection and not counting romania with israel song selection I hear some issue that Serbia and Croatia may choose their representative from this year to next year but not confirmed yet Slovenia and Albania may held their EMA and FiK again next year because it’s never stop Belarus and Moldova could maybe held another national selection if they have money after… Read more »
yep as a Slovene I can pretty much say EMA will be back, since it’s a tradition and it has very high ratings. What will happen with Ana – I don’t know..
Wasn’t to fond of neither her nor the song but good for her. Hope she writes a better song..
I did sort of wanted Dami to return but hope for 2022
How about Australia Decides 2020: Pick Montaigne’s Song?
*Australia Decides 2021
Yes true. My mistake.
So happy for Montaigne and Australia!!!!
I am still upset NRK hasnt shown the same courtesy towards Ulrikke!!!
Why? Ulrikke was awful?
Well I think many many people disagree.. There’s a difference between awful and not your taste..
I wonder why certain national final countries like Australia have decided to stick with their act while other national final countries like Norway decided not to and to instead stage a brand new national final.
Some national finals have been around for decades and are integral to a broadcaster’s schedule as they are
considered institutes such as Melfest.
Yes! Congratulations to her!
Such a great line-up so far! I’m not that excited by Vincent and Stefania(not because of her, but because of the songwriters), all other acts are great and have potential. + Australia is imo better off with internal selection, so I can’t wait to see what Montaigne brings us!
Please don’t tell me this is another april fools
It’s April 2 now in Australia.
THIS is GREAT need! I guess only the nordics will have national selection the upcoming year…
There is also a big chance that Portugal has a NF.