Dami Im’s top note pipped by Ukraine at Eurovision

She may have only just missed out on being crowned Eurovision winner but Dami Im can expect a hero’s welcome.

Dami Im represents Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm. Picture: AFP

She may have only just missed out on being crowned Eurovision winner in front of a global audience of nearly 200 million people, but Dami Im can expect a hero’s return in Brisbane’s south, where a parade by the local council is in the works.

Just a year after Guy Sebastian came fifth in Australia’s first foray into the world’s biggest song contest, Im was pipped from top place by Ukraine’s politically charged song about the Soviet Union’s forced displacement of Crimean Tatars, 1944, sung by Jamala, which received 534 points under the two-stage voting system.

While Im’s excited parents were with the 27-year-old winner of TheX Factor in the green room of Stockholm’s Ericsson arena as her song, Sound of Silence, reached 511 points, dozens of stude­nts at her former Logan school turned up to a classroom early yesterday — a Sunday — to cheer her on.

Logan Mayor Luke Smith said yesterday the council was looking to hold a parade for Im when she returned.

“No Australian has ever been so close to winning the world’s largest song competition,” Mr Smith said yesterday.

“Dami has shown the world what ability she has — her style, grace and sheer musical talent.

“She has taken the City of Logan to the world stage.”

Im moved to Australia from South Korea when she was nine, learning English partly by singing Spice Girls songs and studying at Logan’s John Paul College.

The magic of Eurovision

VIEW GALLERY

She came to prominence during the 2013 season of The X Factor, which she won.

She had been among the bookmakers’ favourites to win Eurovision this year.

Speaking after the contest, Im fought back tears of happiness

“I wanted to win it for Australia. Ukraine did really well. I knew I would be proud and satisfied if I came second or third, you know, I was ready for that,” she said.

“It’s still like I don’t know what happened. I’m just so happy and, oh my gosh, I can’t believe it. I hope Australia’s proud of me and I’m so grateful for all my support.”

From the campaign trail, Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten praised Im’s achievement, with the Prime Minister pointing out she had won the jury vote in the contest, but not the “televote” of European television viewers.

The John Paul College Facebook page praised her placing, describing­ Im as an inspiration for students at her former school.

“Thank you for representing Australia with such pride. More importantly, thank you for teaching us about humility, hard work, perseverance and self-belief,” the school said.

“Thank you for inspiring our students to reach for the stars, to believe that anything is possible.”