Last year, SBS the national broadcaster of Australia announced the return of their live selection format, Eurovision – Australia Decides 2022. Today Paulini released her entry, ‘We Are One’ that she will perform at the Gold Coast Exhibition Centre on February 26.
Paulini releases ‘We Are One’
Pauline Curuenavuli also known as PAULINI is a Fijian-Australian singer who rose to fame on the first series of Australian Idol in 2003. Early in her career she achieved number 1s in the ARIA charts for her debut single ‘Angel Eyes’ as well as the debut album One Determined Heart. The Sydney-based star is an all-rounder, and has taken her singing craft to the musical theatre world. Successfully paying tribute to the Whitney Houston classic, The Bodyguard. In recent years Paulini returned to the limelight, regaining her competitive singing spirit as ‘The Spider’ in the first season of The Masked Singer Australia in 2019. Last year she took part in the famous jungle of I’m A Celebrity.
‘We Are One’ is an uplifting anthem with an inspiring social message of equality and togetherness. Especially after what we have all been through in the last few years. An anthem fitting for the ‘music Olympics’. The song is written by Rick Price and John Capek. Over the years Rick has worked with the likes of Dami Im, Tina Arena and Girlfriend. Meanwhile John Capek has worked with Cher, Diana Ross and Rod Stewart.
Eurovision to me is like the Olympics for singers! It brings together so many countries and cultures – and while it’s a competition I see it as uniting much of the world through music.
Paulini, (SBS)
The world is hurting so it’s time to bust out with a little hope, unity and joy. There’s no better way to do that than with big sounds, and some big notes. I’m tired of being the person of colour, Australians are tired of lockdowns due to the pandemic, and the world is tired of being divided by religion and fear. It’s time to remind everyone that we are all humans standing on the same Earth, breathing the same air.
Paulini, (SBS)
Eurovision – Australia Decides 2022
Everyone will be saying ‘good morning, Europe!’ once more on February 26 2022, as the Australian national final returns for its third year. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic the show has been on hiatus since 2020. During that time Australia Decides 2020 winner, Montaigne, was internally selected for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 after the cancellation of the 2020 edition. Now, with travel restrictions lifted, Australia is once again ready to take over the Gold Coast and showcase its best up and coming talent to Europe.
In total, eleven entries from the 700 submissions received, will take part in the national final. With the winner selected through a combination of public and professional jury voting. Among the eleven includes the TikTok wildcard. Over the past few weeks Blink TV have assessed the one minute clips sent through TikTok Australia from fans and local artists. Later today the winner will be announced.
- Andrew Lambrou – ‘TBA’
- Charley – ‘TBA’
- G-Nat!on – ‘TBA’
- Isaiah Firebrace and Evie Irie – ‘When I’m With You‘
- Jaguar Jonze – ‘Little Fires’
- Jude York – ‘I Won’t Need to Dream‘
- Paulini – ‘We Are One’
- Seann Miley Moore “My Body’
- Sheldon Riley – ‘Not the Same’
- Voyager – ‘Dreamer‘
- TiKTok Wildcard – ‘TBA’
Eurovision – Australia Decides 2022, hosted by Joel Creasey and Myf Warhurst, will be broadcast live on SBS on 26 February 2022 at 20:30 AEDT (9:30am GMT/10:30am CET). The Eurovision 2019 televote winners KEiiNO will return to Australia after their successful 2019 tour of the country and be the special international guest act. The winner will represent Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy.
Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest
Although many Australians have performed on the Eurovision stage, it wasn’t until 2015 the nation took part ‘as a guest’. Guy Sebastian flew the flag with the uptempo ‘Tonight Again’, finishing in 5th place. Due to the resounding success and positive response, Australia have been doing tonight again ever since. In 2019, the EBU guaranteed Australia’s ability to participate until 2023. So far, Dami Im holds the crown for ‘best Australian result’. Almost winning the contest with ‘Sound of Silence’ in Stockholm 2016.
Last year, Montaigne was selected as Australia’s representative after winning Eurovision – Australia Decides 2020 with her song, ‘Don’t Break Me’. After the contest was cancelled, SBS invited Montaigne back to compete in the 2021 Rotterdam contest. Her entry ‘Technicolour’ placed 14th in semi-final one with 28 points. Unfortunately resulting in Australia’s first non-qualification.
Are you excited for Paulini’s Australia Decides 2022 entry ‘We Are One’? Let us know! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! Also, give us a follow on Spotify for the latest music from your favourite Eurovision acts. As well as subscribing to YouTube for our reactions in the run up to the national final season and the Turin 2022 contest!