Australia and the Eurovision Song Contest: A Surprising Love Affair
Eurovision, the annual song contest that brings together countries from across Europe (and, in recent years, beyond) for a night of music, spectacle, and friendly competition, has been captivating audiences around the world for decades. While it may seem like an exclusively European affair, there is one surprising country that has been making waves in recent years: Australia.
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Yes, you read that right. Australia, that massive island continent on the other side of the world, has been participating in the Eurovision Song Contest since 2015. How did this come to be? And why has Australia been so successful in this unlikely competition?
The story of Australia's involvement in Eurovision starts with its love of the contest itself. Eurovision has been broadcast in Australia for many years, and has developed a cult following among fans of pop music and over-the-top performances. In 2014, Australian broadcaster SBS began airing the contest live for the first time, and the response was overwhelming. The viewing figures were among the highest of any Eurovision broadcast around the world, and Australian fans began to clamor for their country to be allowed to participate.
The organizers of Eurovision were initially hesitant. After all, how could a country that was not part of Europe compete in a contest that was supposed to be about European unity and cultural exchange? But they eventually relented, and in 2015 Australia was invited to participate as a "special guest" for that year's contest, which was held in Vienna, Austria.
Australia's entry that year, a catchy pop song called "Tonight Again" performed by Guy Sebastian, was a hit with both the judges and the viewing public. It finished in a respectable fifth place, and Australia's love affair with Eurovision was officially born.
Since then, Australia has been a regular participant in Eurovision, and has even been given its own voting bloc to reflect the enthusiasm of its fans. In 2016, Australia's entry, "Sound of Silence" performed by Dami Im, came in second place, narrowly losing out to Ukraine. The following year, Australia finished ninth with "Don't Come Easy" performed by Isaiah Firebrace. And in 2018, Australia's Jessica Mauboy wowed the crowds with her performance of "We Got Love," finishing in a creditable 20th place.
So why has Australia been so successful in Eurovision? There are a few factors at play. For one thing, Australia has a strong tradition of pop music and a thriving music industry, which means it can compete with the best of Europe in terms of songwriting, performance, and production values. Additionally, Australia's participation in Eurovision has been seen as a way to strengthen cultural ties between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, which has become an increasingly important part of the global economy in recent years.
Whatever the reasons, it's clear that Australia's love affair with Eurovision is set to continue for many years to come. And who knows? Maybe one day Australia will win the contest outright, and bring the trophy Down Under for the first time. Stranger things have happened in Eurovision, after all.