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Guy Sebastian to compete for Australia at Eurovision

It's official. Guy Sebastian will perform -but the song is not yet chosen.

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Guy Sebastian will represent Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna -but the song has not been decided.

The announcement was made by SBS at a Live press conference this morning at the Sydney Opera House hosted by Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang.

“I was pumped,” he said upon being invited. “It’s Eurovision!

“It beats the local RSL.

“Eurovision is so eclectic. You never know who you are going to get.

“I’m stoked to be involved.”

The song has not been decided due to the rules that a song cannot have been written before September. But he said the song would be epic in style.

“Either (something) super fun or a big ballad that showcases my voice.”

This will be the first time Australia has competed in the 60 year contest, as part of a one-off agreement by the host broadcaster and the European Broadcasting Union.

Former Aussies who have performed include Olivia Newton-John, Gina G. plus Melbourne-born Johnny Logan and a guest appearance by Jessica Mauboy in 2014.

Managing Director Michael Ebeid acknowledged that the head of Eurovision Jon Ola Sand had long been a supporter of Australia’s enthusiasm for the event and instrumental in helping Australia appear.

“Having his support has been absolutely terrific,” he said.

“We are very excited to have secured an opportunity for Australia to be represented at Eurovision. It has been a four year journey to achieve this ambition and I’m so proud that Guy Sebastian will be representing our country to Eurovision’s world audience.

“As an accomplished artist who has achieved global success, Guy’s vocal talents are unrivalled and he has the experience, maturity and strength of character to represent us in this competition.

“Australians love to compete, and we wanted to find someone who we can all believe in and get behind, and Guy is the perfect artist to represent Australia and SBS on the world’s stage.”

Producers BlinkTV said they had approached all the record companies to find an act who was available in the short lead-in time.

Director of Blink TV, Paul Clarke said:

“We’re thrilled to announce Guy Sebastian as our as our first Eurovision competitor. He has an individual soul voice that suggests the greats like Stevie Wonder and Al Green, but is distinctively his. He has matured to become a terrific songwriter, and songs like Battle Scars and Linger show his integrity as an artist, and the depth of his talent.

“Most of all, Guy is an artist that reflects where Australia is now – he is very much a fitting ambassador for our music and our cultural life (and not just because of his love of cricket), I’m sure he will fly the flag for us wonderfully.

“One of the biggest factors in making this choice is the scale of the event – we need an artist who has the confidence to nail it on the world’s biggest stage. I know Guy will be one of the best singers there this year. And who knows he may just bring it home.”

If Australia wins, the 2016 event would be hosted by Australia but in a European city.

Eurovision will air on SBS from 20 – 24 May with both a Live broadcast (including with Live voting) and primetime replay.

43 Responses

  1. My, this has generated so much chatter all over the place….right or wrong…it is done….and if people are going to comment on Eurovision ‘Song’ Contest….they should at least bring themselves up to speed as to what it is all about…and put it in this sites search box…David Knox has done quite a few articles that you should read……
    I am a long time fan….and like Jayfunk….I will just enjoy and have fun and be an armchair critic over the voting…. 😀

  2. Isn’t Eurovision supposed to be for the Europeans? Why is Australia competing?

    Eurovision is also about launching unknown artists – isn’t Guy Sebastian a bit too experienced for that? Couldn’t we find some talented, unknown Australian who needs a break? The great thing about Eurovision is the quirky wannabe performers trying to get recognised. Guy Sebastian has been around too long for that.

    I think we have missed the point of it all in our desperate need to show off to the world.

    1. Tatiana with respect you probably need to get up to speed on what Eurovision is about: which is a song composition contest. It has never been about breaking new artists (that’s what X Factor and Idol is for). There is a very long list of famous people who have appeared to showcase new songs, most recently Englebert Humperdinck. I dare say he is not an unknown. Yes there are quirky wanna-bes, and sometimes they break through. The majority of entries are acts who have found success in their own country first, including a long list of TV talent show winners.

      This site has also previously detailed why Australia is competing, together with info on why Israel -outside the geographic line- has been a long-standing participant.

      1. I’m with Tatiana! This is Eurovision, Australia is not(and I stress) not part of Europe, we’ve got absolutely no business taking part in this at all. We may be(predominantly) European ethnically, but we’re in a region that abuts, but is not part of Asia. Ours is a separate region of the world generally referred to as “the Antipodes”. And it’s past time they reviewed Israel’s participation as well, as Israel is Middle-East Asian, not European. As for the choice of Guy Sebastian, I could think of far better than him but I’d have to go back to the 1970s and early 80s for the best candidate. I cringe at Sebastian taking part!

        1. Thanks for another geography lesson. I can’t help those who choose to ignore that SBS is an associate broadcaster of the European Broadcasting Union and the stated reasons we were invited by the EBU for a one-off performance.

  3. I stopped following Eurovision several years ago, but peripherally aware of it each year, how can you not in this country? My first reaction as Jayfunk’s is that Guy is too good for it. He has grown into an urban and roots pop star; if that isn’t a contradiction of terms. He has been very smart with his choices and exploration. How will he shoehorn himself into this circus? We’ll see. One of my favorites was Britain in 1996 or 7 with Katrina & The Waves ‘Love shine a light’. They had already been on the pop scene for over a decade and it was a comeback of sorts. Guy has been around since 2003 so it is an injection for his popularity. As they say on all the talent shows: ‘It’s all about song choice”

  6. Anyone that has ever been to see Guy Sebastian perform live will tell you that he has an amazing and powerful voice. He sent shivers up my spine with his flawless performance. I’m not a fan of Eurovision at all, but with Guy involved, I will definitely be watching.

  7. Oh what a rotten choice! That has ruined the entire idea for me. Never liked him and I don’t think they will at Eurovision either.

  8. I don’t mind Guy Sebastian but i don’t quite understand why he is performing at EuroVision considering Australia is not part of Europe at least not officially. Although he should perform well.

    1. You need to bring yourself up to speed with the rules of Eurovision (also, check spelling)

      You don’t need to be a country within Europe to enter Eurovision, you just have to be a member of the EBU.

  10. Eurovision is a truly dreadful event and way past its use by date. GS is an accomplished musician and being chosen for this type of show could destroy his career. Most folk who watch it within Europe these days….laugh AT the entrants rather than enthusiastically embrace their career and music. Get a throat infection quick GS while you still have your sanity

  11. Anyhow who gave the so called Authority to SBS to chose an Australian entry? I would have thought they should have chosen a handful of contestants and have an audition to pick the winner

  12. It’s a stupid decision by SBS what’s the point in sending someone who is already an international star.give a young kid a break who needs the international exposure that’s an up and coming talent .I won’t be watching anymore.If SBS don’t reverse their decision.

  14. i would say he’s only doing it for the exposure as its watched by millions of people, imagine the album sales after that! I wonder if Jessica Mauboy got the same after she performed?

  15. “It beats the local RSL”. Indeed it might but if that is what the singer is more used to, they may battle in Eurovision. I think that comment indicates something about standard and mindset??

  19. Don’t get me wrong I love Guy Sebastian but he is the wrong choice for Eurovision. I’ll enjoy watching him represent us but should have been someone else.

  20. Guy just needs to choose a good song. Not necessarily a song that promotes Australia which could result in the performance being cheesy. The song needs to show his talent, his singing voice and be somewhat catchy. Ballads can be catchy. I wonder if we get to hear the final song choice before Eurovision.

    I’m not sure how many countries this applies to in the Eurovision or if song and artist selection varies between countries but isn’t there like a publicly voted song contest by country where the public votes for the person to be their Eurovision representative? This would mean that there would be plenty of opportunity to hear an artists song before the finals begin.

  22. Well that’s a boring choice, isn’t it? Sort of like those entries from the Balkan countries where they send some traditional folk singer, except without the excuse of ‘traditional’ or ‘folk’. All that’s missing is being sponsored by Tip Top Wonderwhite & the CWA…

  23. Whilst I love Guy, I could not be more disappointed with his selection. We needed to send someone who has the camp flare and wild personality that Eurovision requires. He’s a teriffic talent but so not Euro worthy.

    I would have loved a supergroup, all female / mixed talent type….

    1. I agree with you. He’s a fantastic live performer but when I think of Eurovision I think of outrageous costumes and as you said ‘camp flare’. Can’t help but feel that someone like Dami Im or Samantha Jade would have been a better fit.

      1. Agree with you too… When I think Eurovision I don’t think Guy…. Dare I say it, Young Divas would have been a bit of fun…. He’d be great for anything else but this, I dunno…. I guess we’ll have to wait and see how it all pans out, and at then end of the day, it’s only a singing contest we aren’t really a part of lol…

        1. Eurovision is awash with camp acts, so sending another is no guarantee of a win. Ballads can often cut through a sea of doof doof. You win Eurovision by connecting with the arena audience, which is in turn felt by the TV audience. There are many factors, but it is wildly unpredictable. Australia will feel a rush of welcoming by the crowd and will position us well. The bookies have been very accurate in most of the recent years (but not always).

          1. You are right there Dave, I think we all had a pre-conceived idea of what we wanted. When all is said and done, it’s still going to be pretty exciting…

            Look at all of us “Eurovision Experts” throwing in our two cents lol, we all have no idea what will happen, will watch with an open mind, a glass of bubbly and dancing shoes at the ready!

  24. A TV themed website is not the place for me to rant on my specialty subject of music. All I will ask is: When do I get my $1.01 back for my $1.00 bet that the entrant would be an ex-reality tv contestant. So unimaginative.

      1. Nothing to say of the fact that both musicians that have been showcased at Eurovision from Australia are from SONY Music and both came from Idol?

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