Guy is Australia’s grand Eurovision

May 25, 2015 5:23 pm 7 comments Views: 43

Represent … Guy Sebastian is singing for Australia at Eurovision. Picture: News Corp Australia
Source: News Corp Australia

GRAHAM Norton has no idea why Australia’s been let into it, and nobody can work out the voting system, but despite that every year the annual Eurovision Song Contest draws more than 190 million viewers across the planet.

It’s a sublime celebration of one-hit wonders, cheesy lyrics and unlikely winners. Which means our local favourite, Guy Sebastian, goes in with no guarantees. But we can guarantee some things about Eurovision after 60 years.

Reigning champ … Conchita Wurst rose like a phoenix to win last year. Picture: Jeremy Piper
Source: News Corp Australia

THERE’S ALWAYS A CONCHITA MOMENT OR A BOILOVER

CONCHITA Wurst won the contest for Austria last year with the song Rise like a Phoenix and immediately became a global gay icon. And then there was Gina G, whose Ooh Aah. Just A Little Bit was a UK No 1 in the lead-up Eurovision in 1996. But Gina G finished in eighth place — apparently being drawn to sing second in the final cruelled her chances. The fact the Australian-born Gina G she was representing the UK is a whole other story.

Flashback … Singer Olivia Newton-John in 1978. Picture: News Corp Australia
Source: News Corp Australia

MORE THAN ONE AUSTRALIAN STAR HAS A EUROVISION PAST

IRISH chat show host and comedian Graham Norton has panned Sebastian’s involvement this year as ‘a nonsense. The last thing Eurovision needs is another song’.

Relax, Graham, it’s a one-off, 60th anniversary nod to Eurovision’s inexplicable popularity Down Under.

And it’s not like Guy’s the first Aussie to compete — albeit not under our flag until now.

Olivia Newton-John lined up in 1974 for Britain — and despite running into the ABBA juggernaut that year maintained her stardom.

Australia can also claim the only person to win Eurovision twice — Johnny Logan (his wins for Ireland came in 1980 and 1987) because the Irishman was born in Frankston, Victoria.

He moved back to Ireland when he was three.

Eurovision royalty … ABBA lays claim to the best song in the event’s history. Picture: AP
Source: Supplied

SOMETIMES, THE HITS ARE LASTING

ABBA’s 1974 winning hit Waterloo was voted all-time best song in Eurovision’s history. Likewise Eurovision has showcased huge fledgling talent including French-Canadian singer Celine Dion (who won for Switzerland in 1988 and went on to become an international star). Bucks Fizz became ‘80s icons off the back of their Eurovision-winning Making Your Mind Up in 1981.

NOBODY REALLY KNOWS HOW VOTING WORKS

IT goes something like this. Bookies name the likely favourites — which has no bearing (we think) on the final result. Each country (there’s about 40 competing) has a jury of five which votes on a sliding scale — 12 to their agreed first choice. Countries are not allowed to vote for themselves. Those votes are then combined 50/50 with viewer telephone votes.

Then you blend in the rivalries (Ireland v Britain, North Europe versus southern Europe) which everyone insists don’t exist.

Australia’s jury reps are entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins, actor/musician Danielle Spencer, singer Jake Stone, music industry heavyweight Amanda Pelman and pop music presenter Ash London.

Please explain … Jedward during the semi-finals of 2012 Eurovision. Picture: Supplied
Source: AFP

SINGING, DANCING OR COSTUMING TALENT APPEARS OPTIONAL

THAT’S the only reason we can find for why identical twins Jedward won favour with televoters in both 2011 and 2012. They’d shot to prominence back home making the finals of The X Factor in 2009. They may have won accolades for weird outfits and tall quiffs, but not so much with judges. Which didn’t matter, back home, they were selling records.

Career non-starter … Bonnie Tyler tried the Eurovision route to reigniting her career at the age of 62, but failed to fire up the judges. Picture: AP
Source: AP

AGE IS NO BARRIER TO ENTRY

WHEN Bonnie Tyler was a global sensation in 1984, she was too busy to take up a Eurovision invite. In 2013, the then 62-year-old freed up enough time in her schedule to appear in the hope of reigniting her career. She sang Believe In Me. But the judges didn’t.

Engelbert Humperdinck was 76 when he competed for the UK in 2012.