Australia slays at Eurovision and books a place in the final

Australian band Voyager has booked a slot in this weekend’s Eurovision Song Contest final, delivering a stunning performance in the second semi-final. The Perth-based progressive metal group survived a brutal round in which six countries were sent home.

They must now face some of the strongest artists in the competition, including singers representing Sweden, Finland, Norway, and France. From a starting field of 37 countries, just 26 countries are proceeding into this weekend’s final.

Speaking at the post-show press conference, lead singer Danny Estrin said Voyager’s success at Eurovision was a reflection of Australia’s “wonderful history” of bands. “A lot of great artists have come from Australia, and a lot of great bands come from Australia, so why not Voyager?”

Estrin’s day job, as an immigration lawyer, was brought under the spotlight. Asked by a journalist whether it was easier for a migrant to reach Australia or an Australian band to get into the Eurovision Song Contest, Estrin said: “Which one is more difficult? Statistically, getting into Eurovision slightly more difficult than getting a visa to Australia.”

The band was also asked by Europe’s media about Australia’s future in the competition — the agreement under which we compete expires this year and must be renewed before next year’s competition. “It’s a live discussion but we have started building a very small stadium in a regional town in Western Australia that holds about 400 people and we hope you come next year,” Estrin said.

Voyager’s performance of Promise stood out in a patchy semi-final. With many of the strongest acts in the first semi, Australia was able to dominate the mixed field. And with more than two decades of touring experience and seven albums to their name, Voyager had stage experience on their side.

Australia’s Andrew Lambrou representing Cyprus at the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest.Credit: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU

Voyager’s stage presentation has also improved significantly since last week’s technical rehearsals, with tighter camera shots delivering more impact to the TV audience, a critical component of winning votes.

Australia moves into the final with Albania, Cyprus, Estonia, Belgium, Austria, Lithuania, Poland, Armenia and Slovenia, as well as first semi-final winners Sweden, Finland, Croatia, Moldova, Switzerland, Czechia, Israel, Portugal, Sweden, Serbia and Norway.

Denmark, Romania, Iceland, Greece, Georgia, and San Marino were sent home on Friday, along with Malta, Latvia, Ireland, Azerbaijan and the Netherlands which did not survive the first semi-final.

Only the so-called “Big Five” – Italy, Spain, Germany, France and the UK – are given automatic starting positions in the Eurovision final. The previous year’s winner (in this case, Ukraine) is also always given a guaranteed final slot.

The consensus on the ground in Liverpool is that there are three potential winners in the field of 26: Sweden’s Loreen (singing Tattoo), Finland’s Kaarija (Cha Cha Cha) and France’s La Zarra (Evidemment).

Behind them in the polling are a second group, including Norway (Alessandra, Queen of Kings), Spain (Blanca Paloma, Eaea), Italy (Marco Mengoni, Due vite), Ukraine (Tvorchi, Heart of Steel) and Israel (Noa Kirel, Unicorn).

For Australia to win the competition, a number of factors would need to come to play, most importantly favourable placement in the second half of Sunday’s final. But with Eurovision, as much as it can seem a dead certainty, it can also remain anyone’s game to the final moments.

Australian singer Andrew Lambrou, representing Cyprus, also survived the second semi. Lambrou finished his performance with “thank you Europe, thank you Australia”, a potentially strategic play for additional votes, as the Cyprus TV audience was unable to vote for him. (Participating countries cannot vote for their own artist.)

Austria’s Teya & Salena singing Who The Hell is Edgar? at the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest.Credit: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU

Speaking after his performance, Lambrou said he was connected to his roots in Australia, “but it finally came to life when I was in Cyprus [recently]“.

“My grandparents and my family mean so much to me. I am a family man, we are a very tight family. For me to be given this opportunity to represent Cyprus, it’s just the most special thing in the world.”

Asked how he felt sharing the stage with Australia’s Voyager, Lambrou said: “I don’t have a bad word to say about them. It’s a beautiful moment to be sharing this with them. To be in this position now, and we’re both going to the grand final, is something I am never going to forget.”

The Eurovision cognoscenti would tell you the competition is now down to Sweden or Finland, but should those countries (and another high-scoring Scandi contender, such as Norway) end up splitting their regional bloc vote three (or more) ways, it could open a path for France to surf into the lead and win.

It is a statistical reality that Eurovision’s outcome is shaped by both regional voting blocs, such as Cyprus-Greece, Moldova-Romania and Sweden-Denmark-Finland-Norway, and diaspora voting, where migration has moved appetites for different types of cultural music across Europe.

One of the structural disadvantages for Australia in the competition is its absence from those voting blocs, though Voyager’s prominence in the UK media in the past week may give them a leg up in the final with British voters.

This year, too, the European Broadcasting Union has expanded the voting from telephone and SMS voting in competing countries to include voting from anywhere in the world using the Eurovision app or the esc.vote website.

The competition is being staged in Liverpool this year, after last year’s second-placing country, the UK, stepped in and offered to host the event because last year’s winner Ukraine was unable to do so. The telecast was hosted by British singer Alesha Dixon, actress Hannah Waddingham and Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina.

Eurovision’s semi-final #2 will air on SBS at 7.30pm on Saturday; the final will air live at 5am on Sunday, repeated at 7.30pm on Sunday.

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