Australian superstar to sing at Eurovision

Jessica Mauboy.

Sydney, Australia - This year, Australian broadcaster, SBS, are responsible for the interval act in the second Semi-Final of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, and they have chosen platinum selling artist, Jessica Mauboy, to take on this unique challenge in Copenhagen.

She has taken part in the Australian edition of Pop Idol, has released several platinum selling albums and is also a prize-winning actress. Now, Jessica Mauboy has come out as a Eurovision Song Contest diva, as she will form the interval act during the second Semi-Final on the 8th of May.

A huge talent

This comes as good news to Mikkel Bech, Supervising Producer for the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest:
“She is incredibly good and a huge talent, and she is really, really excited about travelling to Denmark and standing on the big Eurovision stage”, says Mikkel bech
“This is huge for her. When we told her that up in the region of 180 million people watch the Eurovision Song Contest, you could tell that she was thinking ‘Gosh, this is going to be huge!’”

DR rewarding Australian Eurovision loyalty

The agreement with Australia came into being when host broadcaster DR decided to reward the country’s unrelenting enthusiasm for the Eurovision Song Contest by inviting them on to the stage in Copenhagen.
They have decided that Jessica Mauboy will lead the festivities when the Aussies form the interval act for the second Semi-Final:
“She has written a song especially for the Eurovision Song Contest. You can hear it is her, but she reflects the Eurovision spirit perfectly”, says Mikkel Bech.

Representing the new Australia

Jessica Mauboy is not just a prize winning actress and singer, she has also performed for celebrities such as the American talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres. She has an aboriginal background and has been especially chosen by Australian television to represent her country in Copenhagen:
“Jessica is an example of what Australia is all about. Australian TV (SBS) have chosen her because she shows another side of Australia that you maybe have not heard so much about before – she reflects the ‘new’ Australia”, concludes Mikkel Bech

What do you think of the Australian choice?

Australia to take part in Eurovision!

Sydney Opera House.

Sydney, Australia - They love the Eurovision Song Contest in Australia, so much so that DR is giving the country a central role in the second Semi-Final on Thursday the 8th of May.

Every year, when the Eurovision Song Contest is broadcast on screens all over Europe, it is also watched enthusiastically in Australia. They have been doing this since ABBA won in 1974.
Now the Land Down Under is being rewarded by DR:
”Australia is going to take part in the second Semi-Final. They have asked several times if they can take part, because they love the Eurovision Song Contest so much. So this year we have given them permission to take to the stage and show us what they can do”, explains Mikke Bech, editorial boss for this year’s edition in Copenhagen.

Australian interval act

In essence, this means that Australia – who has produced acts including Kylie Minogue, Nick Cave and Olivia Newton-John – has said yes to producing the entertainment just before we find out the results of the second Semi-Final at the Eurovision Song Contest on the 8th of May.
And there will certainly be something to look forward to, when the Australians take to the stage as the so-called Interval Act, promises Mikkel Bech:
”They will come up here with a huge display of all possible senses that represent what Australia is. They are going to work visually with what Europe means to them and what Australia means to us in Europe, so it is going to be big and spectacular – and it is going to involve a lot of humour”.

Australia loves the grandeur of Eurovision

Mikkel Bech travelled to Australia to meet with the people at TV station SBS, who are responsible for Australia’s act during the second Semi-Final, and here he had the opportunity to ask why they love Europe’s favourite TV show so much.
”The Australians love the grandeur of the Eurovision Song Contest and what they themselves describe as the somewhat kitschy element to it, but people down there take it very seriously, and there are many people who watch it. It is a big deal for them”
”Also, many of them have European blood flowing through their veins, so for them it is also a connection to their roots in Europe. I believe that many Australians in one way or another have Europe in them, and many people can related to the show”, says Mikkel Bech.
In addition, SBS is the Australian broadcaster that broadcasts the Eurovision Song Contest shows every year to Australian viewers, a little after Europe because of the time difference.

What do you think the interval act will be?

Moldova: Results of the second semi-final

Diana Staver, one of tonight's qualifiers.

Chisinau, Moldova - The second semi-final is just over in the Studio 2 in Chisinau. Seven of eight qualifiers were chosen by a 50/50 combination of televoting and the votes of an expert jury tonight. The public solely voted for the eighth artist and sent Margarita & Metafora to the final.

The second televised show was broadcast live from Studio 2 of the public broadcaster TRM. It was presented by Nicu Turcanu and Djulieta Ganu. The opening act of tonight's second semi-final in Moldova was the dance performance of the show ballet Free Dance.
Eight of twelve acts reached the Moldovan national selection that will take place this Saturday. Here is the result of tonight's show (in order of appearance, qualifiers in bold):

1. Cristina Scarlat - Wild Soul
2. Ana Gulko - Happy Tomorrow
3. Curly - Your Recovery
4. Diana Staver - One And All
5. Dana Markitan - Queen Of The Dancefloor
6. Aurel Chirtoacă - Urme De Lubiri
7. Edict - Forever
8. Margarita & Metafora - Vis
9. Lucia S - Frozen
10. Mikaella - Follow Your Dreams
11. Glam Girls - You Believed In Me
12. Lana Lights - Solar Wind

Impressions from the second semi-final in Moldova

Check out the Full gallery

In the interval, the Moldovan band Millenium entertained the audience with their cover songs.

The national final on this Saturday!

The Moldovan national final O Melodie Pentru Europa (a song for Europe) will take place on March 15th in Studio 2 in Chisinau, starting at 19:00 CET. You can watch the show on eurovision.tv!

Here is the running order for the final show in Moldova:

1. Diana Staver - One And All
2. Doinița Gherman - Energy
3. Boris Covali - Perfect Day
4. Tatiana Heghea - I'm Yours
5. Lucia S - Frozen
6. Margarita & Metafora - Vis
7. Ana Cernicova - Dragostea
8. Edict - Forever
9. FLUX LIGHT - Never Stop No
10. Aurel Chirtoacă - Urme De Lubiri
11. PARALELA 47 - Fragmente
12. Diana Brescan - Hallelujah
13. Mikaella - Follow Your Dreams
14. Curly - Your Recovery
15. Cristina Scarlat - Wild Soul
16. Felicia Dunaf - The Way I Do

Are you satisfied with the results of the second semi-fanal? Tell us below!