How Australia made it into the Eurovision Song Contest?

The 64th Eurovision Song Contest has begun in Tel Aviv, Israel, where performers from 41 countries are competing in the world's largest television music competition.

Australian singer Kate Miller-Heidke at the Eurovision semi finals.

Australian singer Kate Miller-Heidke at the Eurovision semi finals. Source: AAP

Amid the host of European talent, Australia's Kate Miller-Heidke has already wowed the estimated 200 million viewers, blitzing her way through Wednesday's semifinals to earn herself a spot in the final round.

But, why is Australia competing in a singing competition that has "Euro" in its name?

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The Eurovision Song Content AKA Eurovision started in post-World War Two Europe and has been broadcast annually since 1956.

Throughout its history, it's almost entirely involved countries from the European Broadcasting Union (hence the name).

But for Australia, Eurovision began long before it was first invited to actually compete in the song contest: Aussies have been watching Eurovision for more than 30 years since SBS first broadcast it in 1983.

In 2014, Darwin-born singer Jessica Mauboy made a guest appearance at the Eurovision extravaganza in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Mauboy got the audience singing and dancing with her track Sea of Flags, which touched on Australian stereotypes while living up to the quintessential Eurovision kitsch.

But 2015 was when everything changed.

That year, Australia was invited by the European Broadcasting Union to actually take part in the contest as a wildcard entry as a result of SBS pushing to increase Australia's presence at the contest.

Host broadcaster that year, Austria's state television network ORF, couldn't refuse.

SBS announced ARIA Award-winning singer Guy Sebastian would represent Australia at the 60th anniversary of the contest in Vienna, Austria.

His performance of Tonight Again marked an important celebration of Australian music, diversity and culture and banned Australia fifth place, with a score of 196 points.

 

Talent in Tel Aviv

In February, Kate Miller-Heidke won the inaugural Australian final of "Eurovision - Australia Decides" which was held on the Gold Coast.

She said her song Zero Gravity was inspired by coming out of depression after the birth of her son, Ernie, in 2016.

"It's a personal song ... It feels like the song is rooted in deep emotion for me," Miller-Heidke told SBS News.

She dazzled crowds with the song on Wednesday morning, earning herself a ticket straight to the grand finals, which are due to start at 5am AEST on Sunday.

 

Additional reporting: Natarsha Kallios, Julia D’Orazio

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