Who will head to the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest? Here’s the 11 Australia Decides contenders.
From prog metal to orchestral emo, talent quest all-stars to wildcards, Eurovision – Australia Decides has it all. But which act would give us the best shot in Italy in 2022?
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Eleven challengers, one prize – to represent Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy in May.
After a two-year pandemic pause, a new-look Australia Decides contest is back with SBS shaking up the selection field.
They’ve added the first duet, pairing Isaiah Firebrace – who says he has unfinished business after coming 9th in 2017 in Kyiv as a 17-year-old – with break-out punk pop artist Evie Irie.
Boosting the novelty factor, the 2022 line-up scores its first “metal” band entry although five-piece Voyager go 80s synth-heavy with their song Dreamers and would be the perfect darkhorse for the Eurovision stage in Turin.
The field has been boosted by a “wildcard” entry, TikTok star Erica Padilla; her million plus followers give her an outstanding advantage in the public vote.
Weighing up song quality, vocal performance and scope for big stage drama, National Music Writer and Eurovision fangirl KATHY McCABE rates the Australia Decides line-up.
2022 Australia Decides form guide
My Body, Seann Miley Moore
A Voice contestant from last year’s season has been given a song co-written by YouTube stars No Frill Twins. It’s an epic pop anthem on a body positivity theme but the melody doesn’t make full use of Moore’s vocal potential. He’ll make it shine on the live stage but it doesn’t scream 2022 winner.
KM Decides: 11th
I Suck At Being Lonely, Charley
This track from new indie pop signing Charley was written a couple of years ago during a songwriting trip to LA. The orchestral power pop ballad with Olivia Rodrigo-style lyrics about heartbreak offers scope to go peak Eurovision emo but it could be tough to cut through with its slow burn build.
KM Decides: 10th
Little Fires, Jaguar Jonze
An Australia Decides contestant in 2020 – where she dislocated her shoulder during her frenetic performance – she returns with a song inspired by her activism over the past two years calling out sexual assault and harassment in the Australian music industry. Her official video suggests she has a dramatic vision for her Australia Decides performance and fans are already smashing it on streaming.
KM Decides: 9th
Electrify, Andrew Lambrou
The Sydney pop songwriter is definitely trying to push the Eurovision buttons with his Euro-house club vibe. While of Greek Cypriot heritage, Lambrou has included a Spanish verse in a calculated move to catch the ear of the European purists who prefer songs with language at the contest.
KM Decides: 8th
Bite Me, G-Nat!on
Written by 2019 Australia Decides contestant Leea Nanos, the harder-edged r&b pop track from the 2021 Voice finalists sounds like a K-pop reinvention of Destiny’s Child. Girl power may be a popular theme at the contest but this track may be too contemporary for Eurovision. And no girl group has ever won the title; the closest was Norwegian pop duo Bobbysocks back in 1985.
KM Decides: 7th
We Are One, Paulini
This absolute 80s disco belter was made for Paulini’s powerhouse vocals. Co-written by Rick Price, the song is shooting for that unification message Eurovision loves, albeit with some pretty cringey lyrics like “It’s the song of planet Earth”. But her power pipes performance on the Donna Summer style dance track is gigantic.
KM Decides: 6th
To The Bottom, Erica Padilla
The Melbourne singer songwriter won her way onto the Australia Decides stage via a TikTok wildcard competition. A contest to enter a contest to enter a contest. Her “seize the day” anthem in the vein of Bishop Briggs’ River was written and recorded in just a few days after her selection. And with 1.3 million TikTok followers, Padilla will have a huge voting bloc.
KM Decides: 5th
When I’m With You, Isaiah Firebrace and Evie Irie
Our first Australia Decides duet pairs 2017 representative Isaiah Firebrace with one of our hottest rising punk pop stars Evie Irie. The pair co-wrote the song with hot young producer Taka Perry and it’s a unique approach blending Firebrace’s soul r&b sweetness with Irie’s edge. It’s also got the big multi-tracked, choir backing vocals which are definitely on trend in 2022.
KM Decides: 4th
Not The Same, Sheldon Riley
With a wealth of singing contest experience – The Voice 2018 and 2019 and America’s Got Talent in 2020 – Eurovision has always been Riley’s end goal. And he has brought THE song for the job. It’s an enormous orchestral tearjerker reflecting his childhood experience and a triumphant arrangement with more drama than a Bachelor cocktail party.
KM Decides: Third
I Won’t Need To Dream, Jude York
The Queensland songwriter’s grand, theatrical entry captured the contest directors’ ears and later they decided York should perform it. The song’s first half recalls 2017’s winning song Amar Pelos Dois (Love For Both Of Us) by Portugal’s Salvador Sobral before it breaks into a crescendo of voices and beats. This has the potential to raise the biggest goosebumps on the night.
KM Decides: Second
Dreamer, Voyager
Eurovision diehards will remember Lordi, the Finnish heavy metal act who won the Eurovision Song Contest 2006. Welcome Voyager, fusing the Nordic metal vibes with 80s pop. Their synthpop meets bombastic rock entry is one of the strongest contenders. The official video nails the kind of geometric lighting design loved by the voters. There’s also a keytar, so very Eurovision.
KM Decides: First
Eurovision – Australia Decides 2022 airs on SBS on February 26 from 8.30pm AEDT
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Originally published as Who will head to the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest? Here’s the 11 Australia Decides contenders.
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