SBS confirms Montaigne for Eurovision 2021
Australia joins a growing list of countries committing to send 2020 artists to rescheduled event in 2021.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under Coronavirus, Eurovision, News
SBS has confirmed art-pop singer-songwriter Montaigne will still represent Australia at the rescheduled Eurovision Song Contest, in May 2021.
Montaigne was chosen to represent the country after winning Eurovision: Australia Decides with her performance of Don’t Break Me in February. But the European Broadcasting Union ruled that 2020 songs could not be re-entered in 2021, which has triggered a backlash from songwriters and performers, and throwing the onus back on broadcasters.
Australia joins Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Israel, Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine in a growing list of countries who’ve given their 2020 artists a second chance.
An elated Montaigne said: “I’m so happy to receive this good news during such times. At home, we’ve started this ritual of cracking open a fortune cookie daily and reading our fortunes to each other and I got one that read, ‘You will be sharing great news with all the people you love.’ I’m so glad it came true!”
It also means SBS will not be staging Eurovision: Australia Decides next February, which is a cost saving for the broadcaster. It also means Dami Im’s hopes to return to Eurovision contention will be set back by a further 12 months.
SBS Commissioning Editor and Australian Head of Delegation Josh Martin said: “Although SBS and fans alike will miss Eurovision: Australia Decides 2021, this will honour Australia’s decision and give Montaigne the chance to show the world what we already know – that she is an incredibly talented, exciting and original artist. Our focus will now shift to a new song for 2021 and Montaigne is not wasting a moment of this period of isolation with many new ideas already on the table!”
Creative Director of Eurovision: Australia Decides and Director of Blink TV Paul Clarke said: “It’s great to know for certain that Australia will be able to cheer for Montaigne at Eurovision 2021, and we’re excited to be working with her on a new song and staging. Meanwhile, it’s important to appreciate what’s been achieved with Eurovision: Australia Decides. We’re so grateful to our key partners Tourism and Events Queensland, City of Gold Coast, Screen Queensland, Moroccanoil and APRA AMCOS for their commitment to building a major TV event for artists and songwriters who, like all of us, are facing unprecedented challenges this year. To our music community we say – write the perfect Eurovision song! We have every intention of bringing the show back to the Gold Coast in 2022 bigger and better than ever.”
SBS is currently exploring alternative Eurovision programming for 2020, expected in May. In Europe the the EBU have also revealed plans for an alternate show for May, called Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light.
10 Responses
I think there could have been a virtual Eurovision with footage from each country’s Decide programme that could be screened at the the same time as Eurovision without a huge venue in Rotterdam. Then next year could continue as normal
She was the national final. She deserves her shot. Albeit a year late.
It would be cruel not to send her. I’m also glad they are only postponing the Olympics and not cancelling it, athletes can still live their dreams.
Whilst i want a fan of the live performance i enjoyed the studio recording of this song (Dont Break Me), but it wasn’t going to win and i bet wouldn’t have qualified.
So i think this outcome is fair in such weird circumstances.
There is still potential for a smaller Australia Decides with Montaigne performing 3-5 songs and letting Australia still decide which song.
Booo for 3 reasons. 1. Montaigne was always a terrible choice 2. We miss out on staying Australia Decides next year, and 3. Dami Im doesn’t get to throw her hat in the ring.
That is very unfair, Montaigne is a great singer.
1. You think Montaigne was always a terrible choice. I think she was an amazing performer that gave me goosebumps live.
2. We miss out on staging Australia Decides next year, due to a global pandemic that is out of the world’s control, literally everything for the next year is cancelled, we can manage
3. Dami Im 2022 is just as good as Dami Im 2021.
I am so proud that SBS and Blink TV have made this decision. Nothing would sadden me more than every act selected this year for any country that isn’t giving them the option to be on that stage.
Dami Im had her chance. We have so may talented people in this country, no one should get a second crack.
There’s no issue with returning, happens all the time at Eurovision. Aussie born Johnny Logan even won twice. Dami will have to wait given odd circumstances.
Three times, if you include Ireland’s 1992 winner that he wrote