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If it’s May it must be Julia Zemiro month

RocKwiz, Eurovision & DNA Nation -SBS sure is getting its money's worth of Julia Zemiro this month.

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If it’s May it must be Julia Zemiro month on SBS.

The perennial Eurovision presenter is about to bring us all the harmony and kitsch fun of Europe, but this year will return with RocKwiz as a warm-up act. But wait there’s more. Later this month she will also appear in science-based series DNA Nation with Ian Thorpe and Ernie Dingo.

No wonder she is headed for a good rest, once Eurovision is over.

RocKwiz returns for its 14th season this Saturday night. Adopting another thematic approach, it will salute Legends from Europe, America, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the UK.

Zemiro says the 13th season saluting the Decades went down well they decided to tackle another theme.

“We had different age ranges in the show and it was really fun. It was interesting to see how people get emotional about different periods. The 80s was my growing up time, but for others it was the 90s and even the ‘noughties’ were still important. It was great to concentrate on eras and realise how great those decades were. I’d love to do that again,” she says.

As a music trivia show RocKwiz eclipsed ABC’s Spicks and Specks long ago. While it has varied its length, episode runs and gameplay, the core team of Zemiro, co-creator Brian Nankervis and the RocKwiz Orkestra have stuck to the heart of this crowd-pleasing show.

“When the show first started it was 23 minutes. Then we made it longer, experimenting with a 45 minute format, then an hour and back to 45,” Zemiro recalls.

“In the beginning we had guests who did a duet at the end of their own song. Then we realised there were musicians who really wanted to be on the show but didn’t want to answer questions. So we made them the ‘answer’ to a question and they come out and sing their song. It was a great way to get more music in there.”

“We haven’t had anyone say they can’t do it.”

The first episode this week centres around Europe, looking back on acts such as ABBA, Shocking Blue, Nena, Kraftwerk, The George Baker Selection, Golden Earring and more.

“The nice thing about doing legends of Europe is that we were able to do one that isn’t about Eurovision. What European influences does Australia remember in music over the years?

Able to pull out big name Aussie and international stars, RocKwiz is only constrained by their production dates, and the wider budget.

“If we were a show that was on every night like The Project, or (airing) for 3 months of the year, we’d have no problem getting anyone,” she explains.

“But there’s no budget for that. So when we decide to film is when it’s suitable for everybody. We’ve tried to keep the same cast and crew for 12 years now. So we get whoever is in town and available. We haven’t had anyone say they can’t do it.

“For a musician to get the opportunity to go on a show and play their song…. there’s not many shows that do that anymore.

“We pretty much do it on the smell of an oily rag as it is. So the only regret is we can’t access everybody all the time.”

The show is once again back at its spiritual home, The Espy in St. Kilda with management allowing access despite being closed for renovations.

“It was fantastic for us because it meant we could have the whole place to ourselves, and do the show. It was missing a certain atmosphere not to have the front bar heaving but it was so generous to give us the room. I think (the Gershwin Room) was the first floor to be renovated and we’re the first to make it sticky!”

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“It’s exciting this time because Dami has to qualify.”

After this week’s premiere episode the show rests to make way for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Zemiro has a long association with the event, attending since Moscow 2009 (and fronting SBS specials even earlier). Once again she is joined by Sam Pang, and new ‘backstage presenter’ Toby Truslove. Former X Factor champ Dami Im carries the nation’s hopes with Sound of Silence, after the EBU granted Australia a return appearance. But there is no free pass to the Final this year.

“It’s exciting this time because Dami has to qualify. So there is a lot more work to do and be on top of,” says Zemiro.

Australian viewers can vote in the Live second Semi Final (but not for Dami Im) and the Live Final -primetime replays will not include voting.

Amongst the more colourful acts this year is Ivan from Belarus, vowing to perform naked with live wolves. While she’s all for it, Zemiro doesn’t like his chances.

“I’m assuming it will be on a video. They’ll probably do some screen business where he is walking around semi-naked with wolves in the background or something. The rules do state no live animals on stage. And in terms of nudity it’s supposed to be a family-ish show. But I quite like the song.”

A loyal French expat, she’s also pumped for singer Amir with “J’ai Cherché”

“This year France has a chance of being top 5 and that hasn’t happened in an eternity,” she declares.

“I would like the top 5 to be some combination of France, Spain and Australia and I think Russia will be in there, it’s a great song. Belgium is such a disco song and it’s so catchy that even if you’ve never heard it before you’d remember it.”

But she’s giving nothing away on the presentation planned for the Australian entry -if only because she doesn’t know what’s in store.

“I think they worry to tell me anything in case I accidentally leak it!” she laughs.

“With Guy (Sebastian) they asked for a bunch of stuff but once they got there they cut back on about half the lights. So you don’t really know what it’s going to look like until you’re there in the room.

“Dami will sound great, look great, she’s ready and she knows what pressure is. Like Guy, having been through an Idol or an X Factor situation she knows how nuts it can be.”

Finally, she fully endorses Gold Logie nominee Lee Lin Chin returning as spokesperson, delivering Aussie votes to all of Europe in the Final.

“I think it should be a regular gig for her. They’d be crazy not to give it to her and she becomes the person that everybody looks forward to seeing. May I say last year she was one of the fastest and most efficient!”

RocKwiz Salutes the Legends of Europe 8:35pm Saturday May 7 SBS
Eurovision Song Contest Semi Final 1 Live 5am AEST Wednesday May 11 SBS
Eurovision Song Contest Semi Final 2 Live 5am AEST Friday May 13 SBS*
Eurovision Song Contest Final Live 5am AEST Sunday May 15 SBS*
DNA Nation 8:30pm Sunday May 22 SBS
*Australia votes

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