Australia have been active contestants in Eurovision for less than 10 years, yet it feels like they are a longstanding fixture now. Will that be the case in future though? As 2023 sees the end of the multi-year agreed participation and there is no news on what comes next. We’ll keep fingers crossed of course, but could it mean that “Promise” by Voyager will be Australia’s contest swansong?
Australia had held a national final in 2019-20 and 2022, and there seemed plans to do it again for 2023, but then that all seemed to fall through and there was a confusing switch back to an internal selection. That did set alarm bells ringing about Australia’s future participation but tempered somewhat by the announcement of Voyager as the representative. They came second in the national final last year and have clearly been keen to go to Eurovision.
They are a well established band in Australia, with lead singer Daniel Estrin (who is also a practising lawyer) being the sole remaining founder member from back in 1999. They are the second metal band at this year’s Eurovision, though they fall under the progressive metal umbrella. Their entry “Promise” does have a certain sweeping 80s sound to it – both rock and electropop wise and it’s that element of the track I like the most. Somewhat inevitably, it’s the shouty and thrashy metal bridge I like the least about this.
They are very good live performers from what we’ve seen and you can see why they’ve been chosen to close the second semi-final. Australia have sometimes struggled to get a big televote, often having to rely on the juries to bump them up the scoreboard, but I don’t think that will be a problem this time. Given the song, genre, live performance and place in the running order, I can’t see this not getting to the final – and if this is to be Australia’s last time at the contest, then they’re going out with a bang.
Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest
First entered: 2015
Appearances (excluding this year): 7
Best result: 2nd in 2016
Last year’s result: 15th
