Australia: Sheldon Riley to Eurovision 2022 after winning 'Eurovision: Australia Decides'

Australia: Sheldon Riley to Eurovision 2022 after winning 'Eurovision: Australia Decides'
Saturday, 26 February 2022

  • Sheldon Riley is Australia's Eurovision 2022 hopeful after winning the national final 'Eurovision: Australia Decides' singing 'Not the Same'.

    One more name added on the list of the the class of 2022 for Eurovision 2022 as Australia selected Sheldon Riley to fly the flag in Turin with the song 'Not the Same'. 

    The Aussies selected their ESC 2022 hopeful through the show Eurovision – Australia Decides which taok place in Gold Coast and was once again be presented by the comedian Joel Creasey and music buff Myf Warhurst for the third consecutive time. 

    Apart from the competing part, the Norwegian Eurovision 2019 acts, KEiiNO, featured the show as guests performing on stage. 

    The Australian broadcaster had received more than 700 songs for the national final. From those 10 acts were shorlisted to take part in the national final, while one wildcard was added to the final line-up with the last spot being determined through TikTok. 

    Thus 11 acts competed for the ticket to Turin today in the following running order: 

    1. G-Nat!on – Bite Me
    2. Erica Padilla – To the Bottom
    3. Seann Miley Moore – My Body
    4. Charley – I Suck At Being Lonely
    5. Andrew Lambrou – Electrify
    6. Sheldon Riley – Not the Same
    7. Paulini – We Are One
    8. Jaguar Jonze – Little Fires
    9. Isaiah Firebrace and Evie Irie – When I’m With You
    10. Voyager – Dreamer
    11. Jude York – I Won’t Need to Dream

     

    The results

    The outcome of the Australian national final was determined by public voting (50%) and the votes coming from a jury (50%), which consisted of the following members: 

    • Darren Hayes -  Former lead singer of Savage Garden
    • Alexandra Rotan - Singer of KEiiNO, the Norwegian 2019 acts
    • Millie Petriella - APRA-AMCOS representative
    • Emily Griggs - SBS Head of Food and Entertainment
    • Paul Clarke - Head of Delegation for Australia

     

    First the votes from the jury were annnounced with the jury scoreboard turning out as following: 

    Jury vote

     

    The overall result was complete with the televoting votes added, after which Sheldon Riley topped the overall score leaving narrowly second behind Voyager while the jury vote winner Jaguar Jonze came third:

    public votes overall

    A few words for Sheldon

    Riley was born on March 14, 1999, to an Australian mother and a Filipino father. His real name is Sheldon Hernandez. He recalls a childhood that was “lots of fun” but also quite difficult. He is now 22 years old.

    Sheldon Riley, then 19, made it to the Grand Finale of The Voice Australia on the first try and again in The Voice, All-Stars 2019. His bold, original sound won the hearts of coaches Delta Goodrem,  Boy George, and Kelly Rowland,  Joe Jonas. He performed Boy George’s hit “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” on The Voice. 

    Sheldon Riley was on the season 8 of The X Factor, as a member of Time and Place, who were eliminated on the first live show. Celebrities like Sam Smith, Adam Lambert, and different drag queens follows Sheldon on Instagram and got some really cool exposure from different people.

    Sheldon also sailed further in international fame by taking part at 'America's Got Talent Show ‘AGT’ Season 15.

     

    News source/Image: SBS