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Australia has announced Guy Sebastian as the official ambassador to be sent to Vienna as our first ever representative in the hugely popular Eurovision song contest.
“It’s amazing. I’m stoked to be involved,” Guy said after he was revealed as the new Ambassador.
Speaking at Sydney Opera House in a special announcement that was broadcast around the world, the former Australian Idol winner revealed that he was thrilled.
“It’s Eurovision – it’s huge!”
“I’m pumped. With Eurovision, it’s so eclectic– you never know what you what you’re going to get – last year’s winner was a lady with a beard!”
2015 marks the first year that Australia has been invited to join ‘the world’s biggest party’ as the Eurovision Song is known, and put forward our own entrant for the 60th anniversary of the traditionally European song competition.
The landmark decision comes the year after Jessica Mauboy gave a stellar performance as the ambassador for Australia in a special-guest spot at the 2014 Eurovision Contest, in front of a global audience of over 125 million.
This time though it won’t simply be a guest-spot, but Australia will actually be competing alongside the other European nations as a wildcard entrant.
While this is the first time we’ve officially competed as a nation, Aussies are no strangers to participating in the contest. Olivia Newton-John, Gina G. and the New Seekers all having taken part as representatives of the UK.
Indeed, the song contest has gained a dedicated following in Australia where last year over 3 million people watched the final.
Jessica Mauboy onstage at Eurovision 2014 representing Australia in a special guest appearance
The executive supervisor of the Eurovision song contest at the European Broadcasting Union, Jon Ola Sand, said: “At the very heart of the Eurovision Song Contest is the importance of bringing countries together to celebrate diversity, music and culture.”
He continued on to say that it would be remiss to “throw the world’s biggest party,” celebrating it’s 60 birthday without inviting “the show’s Australian friends.”
The organisers also revealed they had a very short window of time, and required a song that was written after September 2014. As to what Guy’s first song will be?
“I’m not quite sure. It’s still being worked out. I can’t sing something that was released prior to September…thankfully my latest album came out in November!”
Left: Last year’s winner – “bearded lady” Conchita Wurst. Right: Jessica Mauboy performing as a special guest at Eurovision 2014.
Michael Ebeid, the managing director of SBS gave some insight into how the selection was made.
“We just went to all the independent and major record labels and said ‘who’ve you got?’”.
“We were offered some very interesting people…but we were very delighted with the outcome today.”
Whatever song Guy chooses to perform, there’s no doubt it will be a grand affair.
Guy said: “I want it to be epic. I want to try and represent us as a nation…I either want it to be fun or epic.”
“Go big or go home!” Julia Zemiro, Australia’s Eurovision presenter chimed in.
Congratulations to Guy on the exciting news!
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