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Aussies, we CAN vote for Dami — but you’ll need to set your alarm on Sunday morning. Picture: AP Photo/Martin Meissner
SO, AUSTRALIA’S competing in Eurovision for the second year in a row. Nobody’s really sure why or how, but it’s happening and we’ve got ourselves a bloody good entry, so let’s just roll with it.
There are a few things you need to know before Sunday, though, fellow honorary Europeans:
Dami, Queen of Europe. Picture: AP Photo/Martin MeissnerSource:AP
Yes, you can vote
... But not for Dami. Australians can have their say on performers from other countries but you’ll have to get up early on Sunday morning. The Grand Final kicks off live at 5am Sunday on SBS, with a prime-time repeat at 7:30pm that evening.
Dami’s scheduled to perform second, so expect her on stage by around 5:30am. The easiest way for Aussies to vote is via the Eurovision app, or by following the instructions on TV during the live telecast. The voting window opens after the last song has been performed, and ends 15 minutes later. These votes determine 50 per cent of the outcome, with the other 50 per cent determined by each country’s judging panel of musical experts (Australia’s own judges include Richard Wilkins and Danielle Spencer).
We MIGHT actually win the bloody thing
Dami might just do better than Guy’s number five placing last year, if bookies are to be believed.Source:Supplied
Following Dami’s stunning performance at the second semi-final today, bookies slashed her odds to win from $19 to $5 — behind only favourites Russia. Failing a spectacular wardrobe malfunction or a Cosima-esque bout of throat nodules, expect her to at least match Guy Sebastian’s top five placing from last year.
But if we do, don’t expect us to host it
Sorry Aussie fans, it’s probably not coming Down Under next year.Source:AAP
Soz guys, it just ain’t gonna happen. Firstly, because it’s in the fine print — Eurovision rules stipulate the ceremony must be held in Europe — but also because of the logistics involved. Eurovision brings together dozens of European nations, and many of the smaller ones — like teeny Malta, with its population of under half a million — just don’t have the resources to send a pop star, support team, media and legions of loyal fans to the other side of the world for a week.
Unfortunately, this might count against us winning, too: If Australia wins but doesn’t host, it’ll fall to another country — the runner-up — to host next year. Which is a bit of a booby prize, really: “Congratulations, you didn’t win! Please absorb all the stress, cost and hassle of hosting next year’s competition, cheers thanks a lotâ€.
Remember the biggest rule of Eurovision: There really are no rules
She’s no Dami, but we’re quite keen on Belgium's entry, Laura Tesoro. Picture: AP Photo/Martin MeissnerSource:AP
This is, after all, an event that allowed Australia, a non-EU country on the other side of the world, to take part last year just because we have a statistically high proportion of mad Eurovision fans — it’s not exactly the Olympics, people.
Word on the ground at last year’s event was that the supposed “one off†inclusion of Australia would be extended — and sure enough, it was. At Eurovision, rules are elastic and made to be broken. In a few years it could be held in Antarctica, for all we — and, indeed, the organisers — know.
The Eurovision Grand Final airs live this Sunday May 15 at 5am on SBS. For the non-Eurovision tragics among us who’d prefer a sleep-in, it’ll be repeated that night at 7:30pm.