Australia: First three acts for "Eurovision: Australia Decides 2022" revealed

Thursday, 28 October 2021

SBS, Australia's national broadcaster, has revealed the first three acts that will be competing in the country's nationl final for Eurovision 2022, 'Eurovision: Australia Decides'.

The next Australian ESC hopeful will be selected through the show Eurovision – Australia Decides which is set to take place in Gold Cost on February 26, 2022 and will once again be presented by the comedian Joel Creasey and music buff Myf Warhurst for the third consecutive time.

The Australian broadcast had received more than 700 songs for the national final. After shortlisting the songs, the broadcaster is now trying to select the appropriate act for each song.

Eurovision: Australia Decides Director, Paul Clarke staed on the process:

"This year we received over 700 songs from Australian songwriters, with a handful co-written by American and European songwriters – unexpected co-writers like Boris Milanov. COVID has created some really dramatic song writing themes – one gothic epic, a couple of exciting power ballads but it’s a year of incredibly joyful music. Thanks so much to the songwriters and our partners, because Eurovision – Australia Decides is back and has never been in better shape – it’s going to be a truly memorable event on the Gold Coast February 25-26 and we’d love to see you there."

As the process is underway, SBS has revealed the first three contestants of the Australian national final: Paulini, Isaiah Firebrace and Jaguar Jonze will be among the national final contestants at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre with the ambition to represent the land down under at the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Turin next May.

Isaiah Firebrace

Isaiah is attempting to make his comeback on the Eurovision stage, after his previous participation in Eurovision 2017 where he represented Australia with the song 'Don't Come easy' which secured one more top 10 placing finishing in 7th place of the Grand final. This time Isaiah will not compete alone in the national final but will be accompanied by one more artist who will be unveiled shortly.

The Australian act says on his new goal:

"I’m over the moon to be jumping onto the stage for Eurovision – Australia Decides 2022. When I first represented Australia at Eurovision in 2017, I was 17, it was my first time in Europe and I feel like everything was a blurry dream that went by so quickly – I’ve grown so much as a singer, a performer and as a person since then and I’ve definitely got unfinished business! I can’t tell you anything more except that I’m singing a duet with someone incredible and that we co-wrote the song. What I can tell you is that I cannot wait to share everything with you and that Eurovision – Australia Decides is going to be the biggest party on the Gold Coast. Until I can release the official Aus Decides duet, I’m keeping myself busy and releasing my own single “More Than Me” on November 12 – it’s going to be a very good Summer!"

Paulini

Pauline Curuenavuli , known professionally as Paulini, is a Fijian-Australian singer, songwriter and actress. Born in Suva, Fiji, Paulini moved to Sydney, Australia with her family at the age of four. She rose to fame in 2003 as a contestant on the first season of Australian Idol and placed fourth in the competition. Paulini subsequently signed a recording contract with Sony BMG Australia and released her debut studio album One Determined Heart (2004), which debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified platinum. The album included the platinum single "Angel Eyes", which spent three consecutive weeks at number one on the ARIA Singles Chart. Paulini received two ARIA No. 1 Chart Awards for both the album and single.

Aside from her songwriting work, Paulini continued to release several singles independently between 2009 and 2013. The singer was one of the songwriters of “Culpable” a song by the Spanish Eurovision 2015 representative Edurne.

Paulini says on her national final participation:

I’m super excited to be part of Eurovision – Australia Decides, after all it’s been ages since any of us have really been able to perform to anyone other than our families. That also means it’s been a little while since I’ve been able to belt out any of the big notes I’m known for. But that is something the audience can definitely expect to hear in my new single which I’ll be performing at Eurovision – Australia Decides on the Gold Coast in 2022. Eurovision to me is like the Olympics for singers! It brings together so many countries and cultures— and while it’s a competition I see it as uniting much of the world through music.

Jaguar Jonze

Deena Lynch born 12 January 1992, known professionally as Jaguar Jonze, is a Taiwanese-Australian indie singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Brisbane, Queensland. Lynch originally performed under the mononym Deena before adopting a stage name. Lynch has additionally worked as a visual artist and a photographer, under the pseudonyms Spectator Jonze and Dusky Jonze, respectively.

In February 2020, Jaguar Jonze was a contestant on Australia Decides, entering "Rabbit Hole" to compete for Australia's Eurovision entry. She came 6th place, with 46 points.

Jaguar Jonze says on her new participation in the Australian national final:

"I am honoured and bubbling with excitement to be performing at Eurovision – Australia Decides again in 2022! The imagination, creativity and talent of the performances is always so inspirational, it’s such a special place to express yourself as a musician and an artist. My song is going to be a moment that celebrates our resilience and the little steps that lead to big change, as well as push my creative boundaries to another level. So much has happened since we were all together, and being back with the added strength of my Eurovision family and fanbase will make it a show worth waiting for. I can’t wait to see you on the Gold Coast!”

More names for the national final along with their respective entries will come to light over the following weeks.

Australia In Eurovision

Australia has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest five times since their debut at the 2015 contest in Vienna. Although Australia’s first participation in the 2015 contest was set to be a single time participation, the country was invited to take part in the following years successively. Last year after an agreement with EBU, Australia secured its participation up to 2023.

The country’s best result in the contest is Dami Im’s 2nd place in 2016. Australia has also finished in the top ten in three of its other appearances in the contest, with Guy Sebastian finishing fifth in 2015, and Isaiah Firebrace finishing ninth in 2017 . In 2019 , Kate Miller Heidke won the first national final to take place in the country and represented the land of Down Under at Tel Aviv with her song “Zero Gravity”. Kate achieved a 9th placing marking the country’s return back in the top 10.

In 2020 Montaigne won the country’s 2nd national final in history. Eurovision: Australia Decides 2020, held in Gold Coast , Queensland last February. Her entry “Don’t Break Me” achieved to top the jury voting and came second in the public vote. However due to the covid-19 outbreak the contest was cancelled and Montaigne never had the chance to compete in Rotterdam.

Nevertheless, SBS internally selected Montaigne to represent the country in Eurovision 2021 with her song "Technicolour". The Australian hopeful once again wasn't able to travel to Rotterdam because of the ongoing travel restrictions. She competed in the first semi final with her live on tape performance but failed to qualify to the Grand final.

News Source: SBS / ESCToday