Australian duo Electric Fields out of Eurovision in nail-biting finish

Australian electronic duo Electric Fields are out of Eurovision. The pair delivered a dazzling stage performance but failed to win over television audiences in Europe, joining Poland, Iceland, Moldova and Azerbaijan, which now leave the competition.

The loss for Electric Fields – vocalist Zaachariaha Fielding and keyboard player Michael Ross – will no doubt become a reflection point for Australia’s future in Eurovision.

Electric Fields performing One Milkali (One Blood) for Australia at the Eurovision first semi-final.Credit: EBU

Their song One Milkali (One Blood) came with a strong stage performance, but that was not reflected in the buzz on the ground in Malmo, Sweden.

“We did a killer performance,” Fielding said backstage. “We felt like rock stars. That audience, they were just giving. It’s going to be a memory that will be embedded with us for the rest of our lives.”

“We can write about these things,” Fielding added, suggesting the pair might write a song titled You Got It Wrong. “We’re creative people. We’re going to create songs out of it because that’s what we do. You can write songs of heartbreak.”

Ross said they came to Eurovision “with open hearts, we’re so proud of what we’ve just done. It’s been a major undertaking for a lot of people.”

Electric Fields performing One Milkali (One Blood) at Malmo Arena.Credit: EBU

Ross said he was surprised Electric Fields did not get through to the final. “But I am relieved now because we can move on with the path that is ahead of us, which is albums and New York and [a collaboration with] the Darwin Symphony Orchestra.

“I would just say, keep an eye on our story because even though Eurovision is a major, major deal, a major moment, it’s actually not the best of what we’ve got coming,” Ross said. “Keep your eye out.”

Australia’s past Eurovision record has seen the country everywhere from 20th place (Jessica Mauboy, 2018) to second place (Dami Im, 2016). Only once have we failed to qualify for the final (Montaigne, 2021) and three of our artists (Dami Im, Kate Miller-Heidke and Voyager) were ranked first in their semi-finals.

The first Eurovision semi-final round was brutal. The winning countries now progress into the final where they meet the winners of Friday’s second semi-final, last year’s winner (Sweden) and the so-called “Big Five”, Spain, Italy, Germany, France and the UK.

There is a consolation prize for Australia: another Australian contender, singer Silia Kapsis, representing Cyprus, came through the first semi-final with a smooth performance that seemed to capture the energy of the room.

Though she is there under the flag of Cyprus, Kapsis has a sizeable Australian following, and is likely to win votes from the Australian television audience as she progresses into the final. (Under Eurovision rules, the audience in Cyprus cannot vote for her, but Cypriot Australians in Australia can.)

“I am so excited, I have no words,” Kapsis told media backstage. “The audience helped so much, thank you for that support. I had a great time. I was a bit nervy, but we made it.”

Kapsis said she would be “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oy, oy, oy ’til the day I die. I hope Australia support me. Australia were also amazing. They are incredible. They are so talented. But I hope I make you guys proud as well.”

Windows95man performs No Rules! for Finland at Eurovision.Credit: EBU

At just 17, Kapsis said celebrations after the first semi-final would be subdued. “I am going to have a Tim Tam. I am going to make a tea, and then I am going to go to bed. I have schoolwork to do tomorrow, and it’s time to relax my voice.”

From a starting field of 37 countries, only 26 make it to the final in Malmo on Sunday morning, Australian time. On current polling, the leading contenders for the win are Croatia, Switzerland, Italy, Ukraine and Ireland.

This year’s first semi-final was particularly tough; Australia was up against some of the strongest performers in the competition, including Croatia’s Baby Lasagna (singing Rim Tim Tagi Dim) and Ireland’s Bambie Thug (singing Doomsday Blue).

The first semi-final also featured this year’s breakout superstar, Finland’s Windows95man, singing No Rules! Windows95man’s chaotic performance is pure Eurovision in the truest kitschy sense; it includes being born from a denim egg and running amok on the stage with no pants on.

Australian singer Silia Kapsis representing Cyprus at Eurovision.Credit: EBU

Though the loss will be difficult for Australian Eurovision fans, there was a positive footnote: Fielding, who is also an accomplished landscape artist, was on Tuesday named a finalist for the prestigious Hadley’s Art Prize, which celebrates excellence in contemporary landscape art.

The prize, announced later this year, is worth $100,000 to the winner. Both Fielding and his father, Robert Fielding, were announced as finalists. Zaachariaha was also the recipient of the 2023 Wynne Prize, which is judged by the trustees of the Art Gallery of NSW.

With Australia out of the competition, Serbia, Portugal, Slovenia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Finland, Cyprus, Croatia, Ireland and Luxembourg now move into this weekend’s final. Six more countries will be sent home in Friday morning’s second semi-final.

Though the culling process is part of the competition structure, it highlights one of the nuanced aspects of Australia’s participation in Eurovision: when we win a slot in the final, it comes at the cost of sending a geographically European country home.

The first semi-final also included a third Australian performance; Australian-born Irish singer Johnny Logan returned to the stage that made him a star to perform Euphoria.

Logan was the first artist to win Eurovision twice, representing Ireland in 1980 and 1987. His double-win record was held until last year when Sweden’s Loreen won her second Eurovision.

Who will win is difficult to pin down until the competitive field is clearer. Croatia’s Baby Lasagna has all the hallmarks of a winner. In the media centre, next to the arena, his performance was accompanied by hundreds of members of the press singing along. It’s anecdotal data, but it’s hard to argue with.

Switzerland, Italy, Ukraine and Ireland are also dominating the conversation at this point. Behind them, forming a second wave of countries, Netherlands, Greece, the UK, Lithuania, Belgium and Israel are also polling well.

Israel’s participation has been the subject of some contention with calls to boycott the event if it was allowed to participate. Changes were made to the lyrics of Israel’s song, Hurricane, because the organisers deemed them to be political. Israel’s singer Eden Golan did not attend the “turquoise carpet” opening night event at the weekend.

This year’s 68th annual Eurovision Song Contest is the ninth in which Australia has competed. It is the seventh time the contest has been held in Sweden; this year also marks the 50th anniversary of Swedish supergroup ABBA winning Eurovision in 1974 with their hit song Waterloo.

Eurovision semi-final 1 will be replayed on Friday, May 10, at 7.30pm on SBS; semi-final 2 will air live on Friday, May 10, at 5am and will be replayed on Saturday, May 11, at 7.30pm. The Eurovision grand final will air live on Sunday, May 12, at 5am and will be replayed at 7.30pm.

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