Time to get out the sequins and huge props. The world’s most watched non-sports TV show is on, the Eurovision Song Contest 🎤. Tonight is the second semi-final, with 16 acts from Europe… and Australia.
But wait! 🪃 Australia is nowhere near Europe. How come it’s at Eurovision?
📺 Well, for one, it’s massively popular – it’s now 40 years that Eurovision has been broadcast every year (bar 2020) in Australia, where it’s one of the highest rating TV shows of the year.
🎙️ Actually, Australia is the only country outside of Europe (and Israel) where a majority of the population is even aware of the contest.
🎊 Prior to Australia’s first entry in 2015, many Australians had performed at Eurovision: Keith Potger’s New Seekers (🇬🇧 1972), Olivia Newton-John (🇬🇧 1974), Gina G (🇬🇧 1996) and Jane Comerford with Texas Lightning (🇩🇪 2005).
🎤 The most successful artist at #Eurovision (winning singer 1980 and 1987, and winning composer 1992), Ireland’s Johnny Logan, was born in Melbourne, Australia.
🎧 Logan’s 1987 winning song Hold Me Now was a Number 1 hit in Australia. So too was Bucks Fizz 1981 winning song Making Your Mind Up
📡Eurovision has traditionally been broadcast in Australia with a 12-14 hour delay starting at 7:30pm Sunday. For fans, only a complete media blackout could avoid any spoilers (I know!)
🎬 Terry Wogan’s BBC commentary was mainly used until Australia started sending its own commentators in 2009
🌔 Live feeds at 3am (WA), 4:30am (SA, NT) and 5am (eastern Australia) started in 2015 when #Australia first competed
👨👩👧👦 Throughout the 80s and 90s, Australia’s main Eurovision audience was its large European migrant communities: British, Irish, Italian, Greek, Yugoslav, German, Dutch, etc.
😳 By the 00s, Eurovision went mainstream with the wider Aussie audience, particularly after clips of the crazier acts (featured on the show, The Panel) sparked interest and lots of water cooler talk
💃 Watching Eurovision on that May Sunday night became must-see viewing. Aussies have a thing for kitsch and tack, and we won’t apologise for it!
🎉 Like in Europe, Aussies also do Eurovision-themed parties on the night.
😲 At my first Eurovision (2013 in Malmö, Sweden), when there was no thought of Australia ever being in it, so many Aussie fans with Aussie flags were in the audience that you would’ve thought Australia had sent an entry!
🪣 Going to see a Eurovision live has become a top bucket-list item for many Aussies.
🇦🇺 Aussie artists find competing at Eurovision a great opportunity to showcase themselves to a worldwide audience of 180 million.
So if you’re wanting to grab an Australian audience, do so through Eurovision. We’re watching! Cha cha cha!💃🏽🕺🏽
.%20A%20day%20of%20campaigning%20%E2%99%80%20%E2%80%A6%20or%20a%20day%20to%20buy%20flowers%20%F0%9F%92%90.jpg)
