Next November 25th, Minsk Arena will host the sixteenth Junior Eurovision Song Contest. It will be the second time that the event takes place in the venue in Belarus’s capital. With Ukraine’s last minute confirmation, a record-breaking 20 countries will participate. Therefore, it is the perfect time to look back at the journeys of all of this year’s participating countries in the contest. Today, let’s travel continue our journey and travel o the far end of the Junior Eurovision world: Australia!
Quick facts
- Country: Australia
- Broadcaster: SBS (2015-16); ABC (2017-)
- Debut appearance: 2015
- Number of participations: 3
- Highest finish: 3 (2017)
- Lowest finish: 8th (2015)
Back to the very beginning…
Australia debuted at Junior Eurovision in 2015 in Sofia, the same year as their Eurovision debut. 14-year-old Bella Paige had the honour of being the first to represent her country at our favourite Junior contest with her song “My Girls”. She finished the night on 8th place with 64 points. So far, that remains Australia’s worst result at the contest. Still not bad hey!
Australia’s journey so far..
Australia has not missed out on a single participation since debuting in 2015 and results have gotten better and better! Not only have they not missed out on a top 10, they placed in the top 5 in 2016 and 2017. In Malta, Alexa Curtis came 5th with “We Are” and in 2017 Isabella Clarke made it all the way to the third place with her song “Speak up”. Definitely not a bad record for our friends Down Under! Will they be able continue, or perhaps even improve this trend?
Looking ahead to 2018
As we reported in early September, Australia internally selected 12-year old Jael Wena to be their Junior Eurovision entrant in Belarus! Although we do know that she has already recorded her entry for Minsk, we do not know any more details about it. Stay tuned for more information on her song and keep checking ESCXTRA for more updates!
My favourite Australian entry!
Being the new Junior Eurovision fan I am, I once again I had only heard the 2017 entry. At the risk of sounding repetitive, I once again say that 2017 was my favourite entry!
All three songs that Australia sent are of good quality and I also really really really like the 2016 entry. But Isabella has the edge for me. Once again, “Speak Up” is my cup of tea. Fun uplifting song, delivered by a charismatic performer. I absolutely love Isabella’s energy and charisma and I quite dig the choreography too hey! After the contest was over, I kept listening to this song for a while and it is one of the few Junior Eurovision songs that still features on my list (actually I only have 7 so this should tell you I REALLY like this song). While I do think Russia’s victory was deserved, I really would have not minded an Australian victory.
Our countries’ journeys so far:
My favourite was 2017, but what is your favourite Australian entry at Junior Eurovision? What kind of song do you hope they will send to Minsk?
Don’t forget to come back next Tuesday for another journey down another country’s Junior Eurovision memory lane!
Let us know in the comment section below or on all social media platforms @ESCXTRA.
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