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Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024

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Eurovision Song Contest 2024
Participating broadcasterSpecial Broadcasting Service (SBS)
Country Australia
National selection
Selection processInternal selection
Selection date(s)5 March 2024
Selected artist(s)Electric Fields
Selected song"One Milkali (One Blood)"
Selected songwriter(s)
Finals performance
Semi-final resultFailed to qualify (11th)
Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2023 • 2024 • 2025►

Australia was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song "One Milkali (One Blood)", written by Michael Ross and Zaachariaha Fielding, and performed by themselves under their stage name Electric Fields. The Australian participating broadcaster, the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), internally selected its entry for the contest.

Background

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Main article: Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest

The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) had broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest in Australia since 1983, and the contest had gained a cult following over that time, primarily due to the country's strong political and cultural ties with Europe. Paying tribute to this, the 2014 semi-finals included an interval act featuring Australian singer Jessica Mauboy.[1] Australian singers had also participated at Eurovision representing other countries, including Olivia Newton-John (1974, United Kingdom), two-time winner Johnny Logan (1980 and 1987, Ireland), Gina G (1996, United Kingdom), and Jane Comerford as lead singer of Texas Lightning (2006, Germany).[2]

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) invited SBS to participate in the contest representing Australia for the first time in 2015, as a guest participant to celebrate the 60th edition of the event, being granted automatic entry into the final along with the "Big 5" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) and the host country (Austria).[3] It had since competed in every edition of the contest, i.e. eight times, being required to qualify from its semi-final since 2016. In 2023, it entered the song "Promise" by Voyager; qualifying for the final, ending in ninth place with 151 points.[4]

On 12 February 2019, SBS signed a contract securing a spot at the contest until 2023.[5] On 21 September 2023, the broadcaster revealed that it was in talks with the EBU to secure its participation in future editions,[6] later confirming that it would broadcast the 2024 contest.[7][8] Australia ultimately appeared on the final list of participants of the 2024 contest on 5 December 2023.[9]

Before Eurovision

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Internal selection

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On 15 February 2024, SBS announced that it had internally selected the Australian entrant and entry for the contest and that they would be revealed on 6 March (corresponding to 5 March in other competing countries), with a snippet of the song published two days prior to its release.[10][11] The entrants were announced to be Electric Fields with the song "One Milkali (One Blood)"; the duo had finished runner-up in the first edition of Eurovision – Australia Decides in 2019 with the song "2000 and Whatever".[12] The song was the first Eurovision entry to feature words in the Yankunytjatjara language.[13]

Promotion

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As part of the promotion of their participation in the contest, Electric Fields attended the Copenhagen Eurovision Party (Malmöhagen) on 4 May 2024.[14]

At Eurovision

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The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 took place at the Malmö Arena in Malmö, Sweden, and consisted of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 7 and 9 May and the final on 11 May 2024. All nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) were required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. On 30 January 2024, an allocation draw was held to determine which of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show, each country would perform in; the EBU split up the competing countries into different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot.[15] Australia was scheduled for the second half of the first semi-final.[16] The shows' producers then decided the running order for the semi-finals; Australia was set to perform in position 13.[17]

In Australia, all the shows are being aired on the SBS channel, as well as on the broadcaster's online platform SBS On Demand.[7][12] Commentary is provided by Myf Warhurst and Joel Creasey, with Courtney Act joining as backstage correspondent.[13][18]

Performance

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Electric Fields took part in technical rehearsals on 28 April and 1 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 6 and 7 May.[19] For their performance of "One Milkali (One Blood)" at the contest, they were accompanied on stage by backing singers Brendan Maclean, Alyson Joyce and Simi Vuata, didgeridoo player Fred Leone, and a dancer; LED lighting was heavily used, with the background art being a work by Electric Fields' singer Zaachariaha Fielding.[20][21]

Semi-final

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Australia performed in position 13, following the entry from Azerbaijan and before the entry from Portugal.[17] The country was not announced among the top 10 entries in the semi-final and therefore failed to qualify to compete in the final. It was later revealed that Australia placed 11th with 41 points.

Voting

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See also: Voting at the Eurovision Song Contest

Below is a breakdown of points awarded by and to Australia in the first semi-final and in the final. Voting during the three shows involved each country awarding sets of points from 1-8, 10 and 12: one from their professional jury and the other from televoting in the final vote, while the semi-final vote was based entirely on the vote of the public.[22] The Australian jury consisted of Jane Albert, Alfie Arcuri, Meagan Loader, Mia Rodriguez, and Mason Watts.[23][24] In the first semi-final, Australia placed 11th with 41 points. Over the course of the contest, Australia awarded its 12 points to Croatia in the first semi-final, and to Ireland (jury) and Israel (televote) in the final.[25][26]

SBS appointed Danny Estrin, who represented Australia in the 2023 contest as part of the group Voyager, as its spokesperson to announce the Australian jury's votes in the final.[27]

Points received by Australia

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Points awarded to Australia (Semi-final 1)[25]
Score Televote
12 points
10 points
8 points
7 points
6 points
5 points
4 points
3 points  Luxembourg
2 points
1 point  Moldova

Points awarded by Australia

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Detailed voting results

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Each participating broadcaster assembles a five-member jury panel consisting of music industry professionals who are citizens of the country they represent. Each jury, and individual jury member, is required to meet a strict set of criteria regarding professional background, as well as diversity in gender and age. No member of a national jury was permitted to be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently.[28] The individual rankings of each jury member as well as the nation's televoting results were released shortly after the grand final.

The following members comprised the Australian jury:[23][24]

Detailed voting results from Australia (Semi-final 1)[25]
Draw Country Televote
Rank Points
01  Cyprus 4 7
02  Serbia 11
03  Lithuania 5 6
04  Ireland 2 10
05  Ukraine 3 8
06  Poland 10 1
07  Croatia 1 12
08  Iceland 12
09  Slovenia 8 3
10  Finland 6 5
11  Moldova 13
12  Azerbaijan 14
13  Australia
14  Portugal 9 2
15  Luxembourg 7 4
Detailed voting results from Australia (Final)[26]
Draw Country Jury Televote
Juror A Juror B Juror C Juror D Juror E Rank Points Rank Points
01  Sweden 18 4 8 8 6 6 5 20
02  Ukraine 16 9 17 4 9 10 1 5 6
03  Germany 11 6 25 6 18 13 19
04  Luxembourg 15 5 4 15 19 9 2 16
05  Netherlands ‡[a] 26 26 1 24 20 11 N/A
06  Israel 20 8 24 11 26 20 1 12
07  Lithuania 19 10 16 19 22 22 12
08  Spain 22 13 19 22 21 24 11
09  Estonia 23 25 18 26 8 21 13
10  Ireland 1 3 2 2 1 1 12 3 8
11  Latvia 21 24 23 23 12 25 21
12  Greece 10 12 6 25 23 16 8 3
13  United Kingdom 13 7 5 9 7 7 4 17
14  Norway 7 23 26 21 10 17 18
15  Italy 6 2 7 20 11 4 7 14
16  Serbia 9 16 15 12 25 19 22
17  Finland 24 14 14 5 4 8 3 7 4
18  Portugal 5 19 13 10 14 15 23
19  Armenia 14 21 9 14 5 14 10 1
20  Cyprus 4 15 10 3 13 5 6 6 5
21   Switzerland 8 1 12 1 3 2 10 4 7
22  Slovenia 17 18 20 17 17 23 25
23  Croatia 3 17 3 7 2 3 8 2 10
24  Georgia 2 22 21 16 16 12 24
25  France 25 20 22 13 24 26 9 2
26  Austria 12 11 11 18 15 18 15

Notes

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  1. ^ The Netherlands was disqualified prior to the final.[29][30]

References

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  1. ^ Vincent, Peter (8 May 2014). "Jessica Mauboy performs at Eurovision Song Contest". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Eurovision Song Contest invites Australia to join 'world's biggest party'". The Guardian. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Australia to compete in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 10 February 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Australia". Eurovision.tv. EBU. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Australia secures spot in Eurovision for the next five years". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  6. ^ Jiandani, Sanjay (21 September 2023). "Australia: Future Eurovision participation under discussion". ESCToday. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  7. ^ a b Knox, David (31 October 2023). "2024 Upfronts: SBS / NITV | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  8. ^ Stephenson, James (31 October 2023). "Australia: SBS Will Broadcast Eurovision 2024, Remains in Negotiations to Compete". Eurovoix. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Eurovision 2024: 37 broadcasters head to Malmö". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  10. ^ Diaz, Sebastian (15 February 2024). "Strewth! Australia to announce their 2024 Eurovision entrant on March 6". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  11. ^ Van Waarden, Franciska (4 March 2024). "Australia: SBS Publishes Preview of Eurovision 2024 Entry". Eurovoix. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  12. ^ a b "AUSTRALIA: Electric Fields will fly to Malmö with 'One Milkali (One Blood)'!". OGAE Greece. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Electric Fields to represent Australia in Malmö". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  14. ^ @malmohagen_eurovision_party (18 April 2024). "We are thrilled to invite Electric Fields to Copenhagen on Saturday May 4 for our Grand Final Pre-Party. This Australian electronic music duo combines vocalist Zaachariaha Fielding and keyboard player and producer Michael Ross. Electric Fields fuse modern electric-soul music with Aboriginal culture and sing in Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara and English. The duo have released an EP and several singles. They are set to represent Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song 'One Milkali (One Blood)'". Retrieved 18 April 2024 – via Instagram.
  15. ^ Van Dijk, Sem Anne (13 December 2023). "Eurovision 2024: Semi-Final Allocation Draw on January 30". Eurovoix. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Eurovision 2024: Semi-Final Draw results". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Eurovision 2024: Semi-Final Running Orders revealed!". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  18. ^ Granger, Anthony (11 April 2024). "Australia: Courtney Act Joins SBS' Eurovision Coverage". Eurovoix. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Eurovision 2024: Rehearsal Schedule". Eurovisionworld. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  20. ^ Farren, Neil (28 April 2024). "Australia: All the Details About Electric Fields' First Rehearsal". Eurovoix. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  21. ^ Stephenson, James (3 May 2024). "Australia: More Information About Electric Fields' Eurovision Performance". Eurovoix. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Voting Procedures 2024". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  23. ^ a b "Grand Final of Malmö 2024 – Jurors". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  24. ^ a b Varvaris, Mary (13 May 2024). "Australian Eurovision Jury Vote Revealed". The Music. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  25. ^ a b c d "Results of the First Semi-Final of Malmö 2024 – Australia". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  26. ^ a b c "Results of the Final of Malmö 2024 – Australia". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  27. ^ "Voyager lead singer Danny Estrin is Australia's Spokesperson for the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest jury". SBS. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  28. ^ "How the Eurovision Song Contest works". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  29. ^ "Statement on Dutch participation in the Eurovision Song Contest". European Broadcasting Union. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  30. ^ "How do I vote for my favourite Eurovision song?". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
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