And what’s more, I’m actually in Europe for the build-up to
the contest this year! But alas, the main show is actually not being held in
Europe thanks to Israel’s win in 2018. Disappointed is an understatement.
However, I am still able to experience the excitement of
National Final season at close range. Here in Sweden, the biggest of all the
national selection competitions, Melodifestivalen, gets underway tonight and continues
for several weeks until the Swedish entry is announced in early March.
In a welcome development, Australia has also joined in on the National
Final excitement this year and everyone has a chance to select the artist we’ll
be sending to Tel Aviv in a nationally-televised event from the Gold Coast next
weekend (9 February).
I’ll admit, I was a bit dubious when this was first
announced. The past few years we’ve been competing, Australia’s entry has been directly
chosen by SBS and they’ve done a pretty good job at choosing great artists who
reflect Australia’s ethnic diversity. With entries open to all this year, I
thought there was potential for there be a lot of absolute dross.
But in shocking news, most of the entries are actually…good?
So I thought I’d run through the ten songs and rate them
from my personal worst to best. Enjoy!
10. Mark Vincent – This Is Not The End
This chap won Australia’s Got Talent in 2009 and look, there’s
no doubting he’s got a great voice, but this is the most dated song on offer.
Still, he’s a shoo-in to play Javert whenever the next big-budget arena spectacular
of Les Mis comes to Sydney.
9. Tania Doko – Piece of Me
You might remember Tania as being part of 90s Aussie chart-toppers
Bachelor Girl (admittedly Buses and Trains is still a bop). This track also has
a 90s feel, but that’s not a plus – even Eurovision’s moved on from this sound
by now.
8. Ella Hooper – Data Dust
Another 90s legend! Who didn’t love Killing Heidi’s Weir?
This song really isn’t that bad at all, but it still feels a bit dated. Ella is
great though.
7. Sheppard – On My Way
These guys had a massive hit with Geronimo
(which their dad/manager described during this SBS undercover investigation as “catchy as Asian
flu” – charming), and this song is in the same mould. It might do well, but it’s
a bit generic for me.
6. Aydan – Dust
This kid is only 18 but he’s got a great, mature sound. The
song reminds me of some of the sexy male-sung ballads that have been doing well
in Eurovision recently (for example, Austria last year) but it’s really
dependent on performance.
5. Leea Nanos – Set Me Free
Another disgustingly talented youngster. 16-year-old Leea is a ‘wildcard’
entry and inexperienced performer, but she wrote this track herself and it has
a really great contemporary Eurovision sound. Again, it’s all in the performance
and she may be a little overwhelmed playing to the massive crowds in Tel Aviv.
4. Courtney Act – Fight for Love
Idol 2003 flashback! Courtney Act’s been carving out a great
career on international TV lately, being runner-up in RuPaul’s Drag Race and
having her own dating show on UK TV. She’s got a high profile, is an
experienced performer and this track is a banger – we could do a lot worse than sending
this legend as our representative.
3. Alfie Arcuri – To Myself
I never pay any attention to Australian TV talent shows, but
this lad won The Voice in 2016. He really does have a great voice and I love this
song. Like I said about Aydan’s track, this also reminds me of the recent sexy
dude Eurovision ballads but I think this is actually better than any of those.
2. Kate Miller-Heidke – Zero Gravity
See what I mean about the talent on offer? Kate is amazing
and her brand of quirkiness mixed with a phenomenal voice is a perfect fit for
Eurovision. The song is unusual and fresh (though it does incorporate opera
which can be a bit hit and miss at the contest). She’s a seasoned performer and
would knock it out of the park on stage, and in any other field she’d be my favourite…
1. Electric Fields – 2000 And Whatever
…were it not for this INCREDIBLE number from indie festival
fixtures and Triple J darlings Electric Fields. I mean, this is not only an
absolute banger, it’s also cool as fuck. My favourite Eurovision songs are
those that combine the singer’s mother tongue with English, and so singer Zaachariaha
Fielding incorporating Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara is just perfect. I
think it would also make an important and powerful statement to have Australian
indigenous language performed on stage at Eurovision during the UN Year of Indigenous Languages. I love it, and while I
don’t know how it will translate to live performance, I hope it wins and
represents us on stage in Tel Aviv.
