Our Australian Eurovision Fan of the Week is Duane from Melbourne via New Zealand. Read his full Q&A with us below:
What is your name and where are you from?
Duane, Melbourne (originally New Zealand) don't even with the sheep jokes. Let’s all rejoice in world peace okay.
Tell us something interesting about you?
I once went to audition for an advert I thought was for Durex condoms... turns out it was in fact for Dulux paint!!! Kinda ironic considering my friend and I went in Drag. We got the gig, it played for many years In case you’re wondering her name was Delta Goodroot... no complaints received
Oh Duane that is amazing! ~ Aussievision
When did you first get into Eurovision?
I woke up from the Matrix in 2012! The year my life was changed for ever!
I was chronically hung over and was channel surfing when I dropped the remote on the floor and couldn't bare the thought of retrieving because i was that ill.
Next thing I know Loreen takes the stage with Euphoria!! I had no idea what the show was or what the hell was going on but I instantly knew it was a winner!
Since then I have gone on to view all Eurovision That the word of YouTube has to offer! If anyone has any years worthy of mention that are not on there holler!!
Love the term 'woke up from the Matrix' re Eurovision - we might steal this!
Which is your favourite Eurovision year and why?
Hands down would have to say 2018! My first time ever at the live shows!
Walking into that arena for the first time is a once in a life time experience I’ll never forget and getting to see all the behind the scenes in the back stage tour was amazing.
Initially I was salty about there not being any LED screens/flooring however the show they produced was incredible and being in the golden circle was everything. Also the boys over there.. hubba hubba! Deffo not salty after arriving there haha.
I also feel like this year had so many amazing acts! More than any other year I have watched.
Nothing compares to the first time you walk into an arena and see a Eurovision stage for the first time.
If you could change one thing about Eurovision it would be...?
Political/neighbourly voting!!!..... does that count as two?
It just gets so “ oh here we go” and predictable.
"Getting votes from your neighbours is a sure way to get your song disgraced. But when Sweden gets 12 points from Norway, it's clearly just good taste!"
If you could only listen to three Eurovision songs for the rest of time, what would you choose?
What kind of sorcery is this!?
Polina Gagarina-Million voices, Koit Toome, Laura-Verona and Elina Nechayeva-La Forza
That's a whole of singing
Which Eurovision song:
Had the best staging?
So many to choose from!! la forza definitely had me gagging!! I can’t even begin to tell you how STRESSED I was when the projection dress was up in the air!!
Top award goes to Sergey Lazarev with you’re the only one. I mean I still can’t figure out how that wall worked! I’d loved to have seen him jump off that.
Best live vocal?
Spasibo!! Polina Gagarina : Million voices Grand final. This performance was everything !! The emotion, the feeling! omg still sends chills down my spine.
Incredible vocal!
Was robbed?
Where do I even start!! Look I can’t even choose one so here’s 4
Most recent- Aisel from Azerbaijan should definitley have progressed to the finals! It was a beautiful song, the staging could have been tweaked but it deserved GF placing for sure.
Robbed of the win- Im still not over Polina comming second in 2015 . She didnt deserve any of the booing she recieved and over all I thought it was a far better song to
win that year. She totally wanted it!
Just plain shook: Suzy, Quero Ser Tua. WTF happened that year? #JusticeForSuzy
Most upsetting: Koit Toome, Laura- Verona. I can’t even with this one! Damn you Jury!!!!
100% agree with Aisel, she should have got through AND Polina should have wone! ~ Mike
I can relate to the 'most upsetting', took me a while to cope with Verona missing out in 2017 ~ Dale
From before 2000 who is your favourite?
Charlotte Nilsson- take me to your heaven. It’s just so upbeat and campy! Perfect vocals too.
Do you enjoy more now, or then?
Tanja, Amazing! I completely glazed over this one in 2014 but now days it’s on HIGH rotation.
Did you last play?
Hero - Charlotte Perelli . can’t figure out why this finished so poorly!
And it had to be saved with a wildcard from the semi (as it finished 12th) - still can't understand that...
Is your guilty pleasure?
Kaliopi, Dona ( even if she sounds like shes about to have a stroke)
I just love the feeling this song gives me even though at the time I had no idea what she’s singing about as I speak Zero Macedonian but It’s a song you don’t need to! #AllaboutDatFeeling
Great song, unlucky not to qualify in 2016.
Any other interesting honourable mentions?
Ogene- Lights and shadows
Equinox Bones
Eleni Foureira - Fuego
Sara Aalto- Monsters
Aysel, Asrah - Always
Euroband- This is my life
Kait Wolf- What about my dreams
Svala- Paper
Loreen- Euphoria
Jessica Mauboy - We got love
And much more!
Nice to see Paper on there, a forgotten song from 2017.
Tell us what you think about Australia Decides and do you have any favourite artists so far?
Why not?! A bit of variety never hurt anyone and it could result in a fantastic entry for Australia going forward!
I actually predicted electric fields would be on the radar for this year! Don’t ask me how.. maybe it was my Pisces intuition. Can totally see them on the Eurovision stage! wish them the best of luck!
Kate’s also fantastic and am very much looking forward to seeing (hopefully) her quirkyness shine through at Australia decides.
I am slightly nervous about letting the Australian public decide considering some of the public comments into whom should be entering.....
It’s also as close to Eurovision as I’m going to get this year so let the games begin!!
Other than Australia Decides, which national finals are you most looking forward to?
I do love a good Eesti Laul and Songvakeppnin.. there’s just something about the Baltic and Nordic nations that get my waters going!!
Melodi Grand Prix and Melodifestivalen are also on my watch list.
Obviously I’m going to Australia decides as well .
And finally...
Tonight Again, Sound of Silence, Don’t Come Easy or We Got Love?
#TeamDami all the way! Probabaly the closest to victory Australia will ever get
Well we hope one day we go one step closer, but agree it'll be tough!
Thanks for your time Duane!