Australia’s In Eurovision This Year! (Sorta)

Ever since ABBA Waterloo’d their way into Australia’s hearts in 1974, this country has had a strong love affair with the annual Eurovision Song Contest. The yearly celebration of all things whacky, weird, and wonderful about European music is equal parts magnificent spectacle, and cringe-worthy shock value. Though we’ve longed to take part in the contest, we’ve been unable to due largely to time differences that render us unable to effectively take part in the voting process. Also probably because we’re kind of not really in Europe. BUT ALL THAT CHANGES THIS YEAR. In 2014 we, Australia, are officially going to take part in Eurovision 2014 in Copenhagen!

Well, kind of.
The parent broadcasting company of this year’s contest, Denmark’s DRhas announced that Australia has been granted permission to produce the interval act during the second Semi-Final on the 8th of May. After the acts that are vying for the title have performed, and whilst Europe votes, Australia will be taking the stage to show everyone in Denmark exactly what we’ve got. While this means that technically we’re not part of the actual competition, that sure as shit isn’t going to slow us down. Eurovision broadcaster SBS is responsible for putting the act together after meeting with Eurovision editorial boss, Mikke Bech. “They will come up here with a huge display of all possible senses that represent what Australia is. They are going to work visually with what Europe means to them and what Australia means to us in Europe, so it is going to be big and spectacular – and it is going to involve a lot of humour.” You’re goddamned right it will, Bech-o!
If you’ve got any worries about how the act might stack up against previous Eurovision entries, the bar is set pretty low at “something better than falsetto goth dubstep opera from Romania.”
Actually, we might be in a bit of trouble. That was awesome.
The Eurovision song contest takes place on the 6th, 8th and 10th of May in Copenhagen, Denmark, and will be broadcast on SBS shortly thereafter. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy this 10-hour loop of Moldova’s magnificent sax man and his majestic thrusting.

Photo: Mathias Wienand via Getty Images.

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