SBS.CO.AU REPORTS / AUSTRALIA – After the unprecedented cancellation of the Eurovision Song Contest this year, SBS is proud to announce that art-pop singer-songwriter Montaigne will still get her shot at Eurovision glory, when the Eurovision Song Contest returns in May 2021.
Montaigne was chosen to represent the country after winning Eurovision โ Australia Decides with her performance of Donโt Break Me in February 2020. Sheโs thrilled that Australiaโs decision will be honoured in 2021.
Montaigne said โIโm so happy to receive this good news during such times. At home, weโve started this ritual of cracking open a fortune cookie daily and reading our fortunes to each other and I got one that read, โYou will be sharing great news with all the people you love.โ Iโm so glad it came true!โ
Australia joins Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Israel, Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine in a growing list of countries whoโve given their 2020 artists a second chance. While Montaigneโs spot on the worldโs biggest stage is confirmed for next year, Eurovision rules stipulate this yearโs songs will not be eligible to compete in 2021.
SBS Commissioning Editor and Australian Head of Delegation Josh Martin said: โAlthough SBS and fans alike will miss Eurovision โ Australia Decides 2021, this will honour Australiaโs decision and give Montaigne the chance to show the world what we already know โ 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!โ
Creative Director of Eurovision โ Australia Decides and Director of Blink TV Paul Clarke said: โItโs great to know for certain that Australia will be able to cheer for Montaigne at Eurovision 2021, and weโre excited to be working with her on a new song and staging. Meanwhile, itโs important to appreciate whatโs been achieved with Eurovision โ Australia Decides. Weโre 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 โ 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.โ
SBS is currently exploring alternative Eurovision programming for 2020 to help unite and entertain audiences during these challenging times and will provide more information soon.
