From Mimili, an Aboriginal community in South Australia, to Malmö, host city of the Eurovision 2024, Electric Fields are buzzing. They’ll represent Australia at the song contest with their number “One Milkali (One Blood)”. Vocalist Zaachariaha Fielding and keyboardist Michael Ross edge us closer to greatness with their dreamy song, which yearns for a world where we are united (by music), all aboard, coming together — think of any Eurovision slogan of the last decade.
Each beat of “One Milkali (One Blood)” is like a homecoming and awakening. It was inspired by the breathtaking surrounds of Zaachariaha’s home, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands (also known as the APY Lands of South Australia), and dreams which are forever in their reach. The duo’s motto to “bypass the barriers” extends to every element of their being in pure celebration.
Scroll down to read the “One Milkali (One Blood)” lyrics
Australia at Eurovision 2024: Electric Fields with “One Milkali (One Blood)”
We start with Zaachariaha’s arresting vocals, which immediately command attention against a twinkling chorus of instruments as he states, “I stand in the eye of the spiral,” as if on the precipice of something great. The song, which loosely translates to “One Blood” is sung in English, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara, an Aboriginal language of the Anangu peoples – one of the oldest living cultures on earth. It’s a first for Australia at Eurovision, and is a showcase of Australia’s rich tapestry and history that is often not seen on the global scale.
Electric Fields have said: “We are buzzed with euphoria at our chance to share this music with the world. Our music comes from the deepest place in both of us and Eurovision is the most exciting opportunity to bring together our cultures and share the joy of our global connection.”
What do the lyrics of “One Milkali (One Blood)” mean?
Their lyrics are also deep and mathematical. References to 0.618, which is known as the inverse of the golden ratio (1.618), the ratio of two numbers is the same as the ratio of their sum to the larger of the two quantities. In nature, it’s used to maintain balance, and financial markets use it for balance as well. With honeybees, for example, if you divide the female bees by the male bees in any given hive, you will get a number around 1.618. Sunflowers, which have opposing spirals of seeds, have a 1.618 ratio between the diameters of each rotation.
I may be dreaming
But the atoms are awake
Spill the tea on reality
And the 0.618
Combined with being “one of them billions-illions”, Electric Fields remind us that balance is important in the world – and there’s no better way of understanding balance in the world than understanding how both significant and insignificant we are in the world. To maintain balance, we should think, love and be as one. It’s deep, and it’s a song with a true message.
References to pop-culture, like Mickey coming into the real world (beyond fantasy), band Fleetwood Mac and Janet Jackson, as well as “spilling the tea”, harks back to culture of the 80s, 90s and now.
What ya gonna do in the real world Mickey?
What ya gonna do when you see?
Milkali (milkali kutju)
Milkali
Escape with us to the planets
To the Fleetwood Macs and the Janets
Milkali la
While entertaining the Gods
The song is released by Wonderlick Recording Company and Sony Music Entertainment Australia, and was produced by Luke Million, Michael Ross and Zaachariaha Fielding.
“One Milkali (One Blood)” lyrics — Electric Fields (Australia Eurovision 2024)
Songwriters: Zaachariaha Fielding, Michael Ross
I stand in the eye of the spiral
One of them billion-illions, billion-illions
My soul slips away from its title
One of them billion-illions
And I descend to the center of the earth
I may be dreaming
But the atoms are awake
Spill the tea on reality
And the 0.618
What ya gonna do in the real world Mickey?
What ya gonna do when you see?
Milkali (milkali kutju)
Milkali
Escape with us to the planets
To the Fleetwood Macs and the Janets
Milkali la
While entertaining the Gods
One milkali la, milkali la
It’s raining love
One milkali la, milkali la
We’re on a graviton
As it tangles
With them billion-illions
Of our souls and angels
We kiss and matter dismantles
To see we don’t own the universe
Feel the borders blur
We belong to her
I may be dreaming
But the atoms are awake
Spill the tea on reality
And the 0.618
What ya gonna do in the real world Mickey?
What ya gonna do when you see?
Milkali (milkali kutju) Milkali
Escape with us to the planets
To the Fleetwood Macs and the Janets
Milkali la
While entertaining the Gods
(One milkali la, milkali la)
It’s raining love
(One milkali la, milkali la)
While entertaining the Gods
One milkali la, milkali la
It’s raining love
One milkali la, milkali la
Milkali (milkali kutju)
Milkali (milkali kutju)
Milkali la
One milkali la
It’s raining love
(Milkali la, one milkali la, milkali la)
One milkali la
What do you think about Australia’s entry for Eurovision this year? Do the lyrics of “One Milkali (One Blood)” make you come together? Let us know in the comments below.
For me, this song is scarier than Lordi and Hatari. WTF is this song&video?
Still thrilled that William and Deban decided to *enter* this year.
I am very sorry, but this will finish dead last.
I am not confident it will qualify for the finals but I am confident it won’t finish dead last, even in its semi.
Biggest grower of the year for me. First listen I thought it was ok but after a few spins it made its way into my most played of the year. If they perform it well live this could do really well.
Boring. They can stay in Australia. No need to travel from the other side of the planet.
U ok Hun?
This is in my top six of the year. My main worry is that the EBU’s restriction on rehearsal viewing will cut the momentum of songs such as this which we have not yet seen performed live. In earlier years they could make a big impact from their first appearance (as did Fuego), but that’s no longer possible.
Like these lyrics, like this song. As mentioned below, I too have a smile after listening. I hope this translates in the live performance, United in Music.
After Kate, Australia’s best ever entry. Top 5 worthy.
Every time i hear this song it makes me smile. When those didgeredoos come in on the track i think of i will survive from Priscilla Queen of the desert outback sequence. Good song hope its staged well
I love this song, it also reminds me of that Priscilla sequence!
In some ways I’m glad they’re not doing the pre party circuit 😉
Extra levels of anticipation, also climate change.