Ahead of the tonight's Eurovision – Australian Decides, which airs exclusively on SBS, Australia’s 10 contenders for 2020 took to the stage in an epic preview show on the Gold Coast.
They performed to a live studio audience and a jury of industry experts who have cast their vote, and now it’s over to the Australian public to decide.
This year's contestants include singers the nation already knows and loves, such as Casey Donovan and early naughties powerhouse Vanessa Amorosi, but also the youngest and boldest musicians currently in the scene.
Amorosi said after watching on for the last few years, she finally wrote the perfect song for the glitzy contest.
"Last year I felt like I had written the vehicle for it ... I was able to go crazy with my ideas" she told SBS News on the red carpet at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.
"It's three minutes of the full K-bang.
"That's what's super exciting about it, everything counts: the lightning, the way the props are set up, your outfit - it's not just the song, it's the whole thing. As a singer, I’m so fortunate to sing, but I don’t usually get to do the bells and whistles."
Emerging First Nations singer Mitch Tambo, of John Farnham's You're The Voice in Gamilaraay language, said it was an opportunity to show the world Indigenous culture was thriving.
"Our culture is alive, it's well, it's living and breathing," he said.
Mitch Tambo. Source: SBS
"But more importantly, to go with my message that no matter where we come from, no matter what gender we are, sexuality, culture, religion, race, that we just need to come together and love on another."
Along with the power ballads and glitter that's expected from the contest, this year more alternative musicians have thrown their hat in the ring to represent the nation, which could see more young voters come out of the woodwork.
Jaguar Jonze Source: SBS
"I had one rule and that was if I am allowed to be me, if I am allowed to be Jaguar Jonze, then I'm so up for being part of it," Jonze, whose real name is Deena Lynch told SBS News.
"It's a reflection of the music we have in Australia, which is diverse."
Jonze's song Rabbit Hole is about "exploring the intricacies of our vulnerabilities". She wrote it during a time she was learning about her Complex PTSD diagnosis.
"[Mental health] is only serious because we have a stigma attached, it's just uncommon to be singing about it," she said.
"I think it's important to say we all have a mental health, we all have a physical health and we need to be open about it so we can be the best version of ourselves and the happiest."
Jack Vidgen Source: SBS
Returning to the stage is former Australia's Got Talent winner Jack Vidgen, who won the competition when he was just 14 years old in 2011.
When what he had always dreamt of came true, he admitted he struggled to adapt and became unhappy and lost.
The now 22-year-old didn't write his song I Am King I Am Queen for Eurovision - Australia Decides - it's a song about his journey to self-acceptance - but it ended up being a perfect fit for the contest.
"My goal with the performance is to connect with people," he said.
"I feel like my story there's a lot of parallels in everyone's life... It feels really good to be back."
Casey Donovan Source: SBS
Other acts include rock star iOTA with Life, The Voice winner Diana Rouvas with Can We Make Heaven, 19-year-old singer-songwriter Jordan-Ravi with Pushing Stars, art-pop auteur Montaigne with Don’t Break Me and alternative artist Didirri with Raw Stuff.
Tune in to the live TV final tonight to watch ten celebrated Australia artists perform alongside inaugural Eurovision – Australia Decides Kate Miller-Heidke, Sweden's 2015 Eurovision winner Måns Zelmerlöw, Eurovision 2016 runner up Dami Im and Australia’s 2019 Junior Eurovision representative Jordan Anthony.
The Australian public is eligible to vote for their favourite acts via SMS until about 10.15pm AEDT. To register a vote, voters must text the song number of their favourite acts, which will be promoted during the program, to 1999 2222.
The public vote makes up half of the overall vote. The artist and song that receives the most points overall will go on to represent Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam, the Netherlands in May 2020.
When you can catch the final of Eurovision - Australia Decides:
NSW/VIC/TAS/ACT 8:30pm – 11:00pm AEDT
QLD 7:30pm – 10:00pm AEST
SA 8:00pm – 10:30pm ACDT
WA 5:30pm – 8:00pm AWST
NT 7:00pm – 9:30pm ACST
