UPDATE: Eurovision 2019: Here Are The First Four Acts Fighting To Represent Australia
ORIGINAL STORY: In a bold move for Australia’s Eurovision hopes, all Australian citizens and permanent residents can now apply to represent the country at the 64th Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv, Israel next May.
SBS has announced it is on the lookout for an artist and a song to represent Australia on one of the biggest stages in music.
The broadcaster is hosting a national contest with its production partner Blink TV, dubbed ‘Eurovision – Australia Decides’, which will involve a series of live performances on the Gold Coast in February.
The contest will be broadcast on SBS on Saturday, 9th February, when voting will open to the public.
SBS is also calling on songwriters “of all ages and at all stages in their careers” to submit an original song for consideration, and there no restrictions on the number of songs (both published and unpublished) musos can submit.
Shortlisted songs will be paired with selected artists, and the Australian public and a special jury will decide who will represent Australia at Eurovision, and which song they will sing.
Submitted songs must be an original work between two and three minutes in length, and must include vocals. To submit a song, use the form right here before 5th November 2018.
Entrants must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and must agree to grant all rights necessary for the song to be used at Eurovision. Songwriters under the age of 16 will need a parent or guardian’s permission.
Eurovision 2019 will mark Australia’s fifth appearance at the competition, after Jessica Mauboy took out 20th place in 2018 with her song ‘We Got Love’ (below).
Israel’s Netta Barzilai won the competition with her song ‘Toy’, which has since been accused of plagiarising The White Stripes.
