Look out Europe the Aussies are coming! Guy Sebastian takes

Look out Europe the Aussies are coming! Guy Sebastian takes

Look out Europe the Aussies are coming!
Guy Sebastian takes centre stage in Vienna at
Eurovision Song Contest 2015
Australia’s been given the
chance to take the
Eurovision stage by storm,
and we’ve got just the right
Guy for the job.
In celebration of Australia’s
invitation to compete in the
60th anniversary of the
Eurovision Song Contest
and Guy Sebastian’s
performance in the Grand
Final, SBS will bring
audiences its biggest
Eurovision offering yet
across TV, radio and online.
SBS’s exclusive coverage
will once again be in the
capable hands of
Eurovisionaries Julia
Zemiro and Sam Pang,
who will bring their witty
banter to the commentary booth as they guide Australia through the glitz, glamour and madness of the
Semi-Finals and spectacular Grand Final direct from Vienna, Austria.
Both semi-finals will be shown in full on Friday May 22 and Saturday May 23 from 7:30pm. The
Grand Final featuring multi-talented singer and ARIA Award winner Guy Sebastian will screen on
Sunday May 24 from 7:30pm.
This year as Australia is an official competitor, the Australian public will be eligible to vote in the
contest for the very first time.* This, along with a pre-selected Australian jury*, will help determine
the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest winner.
SBS will broadcast both semi-finals and the Grand Final live on Wednesday May 20, Friday May 22
and Sunday morning May 24 from 5am. Australians will be able to vote in the contest in the early
broadcast and then join in the conversation using the hashtag #sbseurovision during the interactive
evening prime-time broadcasts with tweets and party pictures on screen. The prime time broadcast
will feature artist interviews, and behind the scenes clips with Julia and Sam.
Eurovision 2015 kicks off early this year with Eurovision’s Greatest Hits on Thursday May 21. Hosted by
BBC’s Eurovision commentator, Graham Norton, alongside the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest host,
Petra Mede and filmed at London's Eventim Apollo Hammersmith this special concert that celebrates the
60th anniversary of Eurovision features some of the contest's most iconic songs performed by their
original artists.
SBS’s pop up digital radio station will play non-stop hits from Eurovision Song Contests across the years,
and Australian fans will again be able to join in the action online with an enhanced social TV experience
with tweets on screen throughout the broadcast and interactive voting so audiences can rate the
performers.
* Details about how Australia votes will be released early May.
* The Australian Jury will be revealed on May 1.
ON TV
Eurovision Song Contest
Semi Final 1 - Friday May 22 at 7.30pm on SBS ONE
Semi Final 2 - Saturday May 23 at 7.30pm on SBS ONE
Grand Final - Sunday May 24 at 7.30pm on SBS ONE
Hosts Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang, our very own wind machine experts, key change connoisseurs and
Team Guy ambassadors, will be on the ground in Vienna ready to report on all the action from this year’s
contest.
SBS’s exclusive coverage gives fans across Australia a chance to get involved with the contest and back
their favourite performers, incorporating audience tweets, Facebook comments, and voting trends from
the SBS Eurovision website using the hashtag #SBSeurovision.
There are 40 countries competing for glory in the 60th anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest, and
last year’s winner the one and only Conchita Wurst will be back to perform and host the green room.
However it is the Australian performance that is going to have Europeans glad they invited us into
the competition because one thing is for sure Guy Sebastian singing Tonight Again is going to raise
the roof off Wiener Stadthalle and send schnitzels and strudels flying. He’s already made quite the
impression performing the song at Eurovision in Concert at Amsterdam.
While there is no denying Guy’s performance will be a highlight it is by no means all that audiences
have to look forward to. Guy is not the only Australian competing in the contest this year. Armenia
have embraced this year’s theme Building Bridges forming a supergroup with singers from five
continents including Australian Mary-Jean O’Doherty an international coloratura soprano of Armenian ancestry.
The semi-finals are full of surprises with a real variety of musical styles; Belgium have a jam with
Rhythm Inside, Slovenian singer Maraaya is doing her bit to make air violin a thing, and with her
catchy pop song Here for You it may just take off. The Finnish entry Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät (PKN)
made up of four middle-aged, mentally handicapped men are bringing punk back to the Eurovision
stage, and we can only live in hope that Belarus bring the giant hourglass prop from their film clip to
Vienna for their pop ballad Time. After winning the contest in 2012, Sweden are strong contenders
again this year with their artist Mans Zelmerlow and his song, Heroes.
The Big seven countries straight through to the Grand Final this year are a real mixed bag. The
Austrians are not resting on their laurels with the The Makemakes a slick local rock band with their
catchy tune I am Yours, both France and Spain have big in language power ballads, Ann Sophie
from Germany will get the crowd going with her up tempo pop rock number Black Smoke, the
Italians aren’t taking any chances with popular Italian pop opera trio Il Volo, and The UK are
delivering something a little different with electro pop sounding Still in Love with You by Electro
Velvet.
Eurovision’s Greatest Hits
Thursday May 21 at 8.30pm on SBS ONE
Graham Norton and Eurovision 2013 presenter
Petra Mede host a special concert to celebrate
the 60th anniversary of the Eurovision Song
Contest with show stopping performances from
some of Eurovision’s greatest acts of all time.
London's Eventim Apollo Hammersmith is the
venue for this official anniversary event, which
features some of the contest's most iconic
songs performed by their original artists,
including Brotherhood of Man, Johnny Logan, Dana International, Lordi and reigning winner
Conchita. Arguably the contest's most iconic interval act, Riverdance who, led by Irish dance
champions Michael Flatley and Jean Butler stole the 1994 Eurovision show, make an appearance
too. Other winners amongst the 15 performers from 13 countries include Nicole, Loreen, Herreys,
Dima Bilan, the Olsen Brothers, Anne-Marie David, Bobbysocks and Emmelie de Forest.
Rosa Lopez performs a medley of some of Spain's best Eurovision entries, while Natasha St-Pier
represents France with one of the country's biggest Eurovision hits, Je N'ai Que Mon Ame.
Eurovision’s Greatest Hits is the perfect start to SBS’s Eurovision weekend.
The Glitter and the Glory – The Feed’s Eurovision After Party
Monday May 25 at 6:30pm on SBS 2
The Glitter and the Glory - The Feed's Eurovision After Party will dissect, poke, giggle and celebrate
the top ten moments from the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest final.
Hosted by Marc Fennell and Jeannette Francis, with special guest panellists The Feed's Eurovision
After Party will be the ultimate Eurovision recovery for every fan not yet ready for Eurovision to be
over, or those who missed it all together and were left wondering what the fuss was about.
Guy Sebastian’s Eurovision song Tonight Again
Tonight Again showcases the trademark soulful sound
which Guy is renowned for. With a contemporary R&B
style bursting with hooks, beats and celebratory lyrics,
Tonight Again is a song that belongs on the Eurovision
stage. Written and produced specifically for Eurovision at
Guy’s recording studio in Sydney, Tonight Again is a new
song highlighting Guy’s vocal prowess, with upbeat pop
stylings and a catchy anthemic feel.
Tonight Again is available NOW
http://smarturl.it/TonightAgain.IT
Tonight Again is available to stream through Spotify here:
https://open.spotify.com/track/1IYuJ3Q8Q3ObNThBdVoK4S
Listen to Australia’s Eurovision song and watch the behind scenes video of Tonight Again coming
together in less than 48 hours here on the SBS Eurovision website:
http://www.sbs.com.au/programs/eurovision/news/australias-eurovision-song
ON RADIO
SBS Eurovision Radio on SBS Radio 4 (Digital Radio)
From May 1
Also available online at sbs.com.au/Eurovision and the SBS Radio App
SBS Radio kicks off Eurovision celebrations early this year, with a month of Eurovision hits on SBS
Eurovision Radio, the non-stop soundtrack to the world's biggest song contest, 24 hours a day.
Listeners can request their favourite Eurovision tracks, test their trivia skills and tune in to exclusive
news, artist interviews and more straight from Vienna, with the SBS Radio Eurovision Reporter, Chris
North.
Listeners can tune in for the main event with Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang on May 20, 22 and 24, for a live
simulcast of the semi-finals and Grand Final.
ONLINE
sbs.com.au/Eurovision
Eurovision parties will be even more exciting this year, with fans being able to back our first ever
Australian contestant, Guy Sebastian.
In the lead up to the event, sbs.com.au/eurovision will be the hub for all the latest Eurovision news. Hosts
Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang will present exclusive behind-the-scenes video interviews with artists, as
well as all the latest gossip and galleries direct from Vienna.
Across all three nights (May 22-24) the Eurovision website will be the number one destination for the
complete interactive experience. Viewers can rate their favourite performance, submit party photos, and
join the social chatter. They can also win a Renault car and exciting prize packs.
To get into the Eurovision spirit, party packs are available to download with all the essentials to glitz up
parties across Australia. To get started, SBS are giving away paddles, posters, and songbooks. The SBS
Eurovision website will also post all the latest details on parties happening near you over the weekend.
Join the party at:
sbs.com.au/eurovision
#SBSEurovision
HOST BIOGRAPHIES
Julia Zemiro
Best known for her work as host of the SBS hit TV program, RocKwiz, Julia’s theatre, film and television
work spans all genres from drama to comedy, improv to hosting and more.
Julia’s most recent television work includes Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery – a documentary interview
series and Stop Laughing; This is Serious. Other television credits includes co-hosting The Crown Prince
Awards for DR TV, The Agony of Modern Manners, appearing as a guest panellist on Stephen Fry's QI,
guest judge on Exhumed, hosting RocKwiz (series 13), ABBA Bang-a-Boomerang, An Accidental
Soldier, Conspiracy 365 and Lowdown.
Julia has hosted the Eurovision Song Contest alongside co-host Sam Pang since 2009 and has become
the face of the contest for Australia.
Sam Pang
Sam Pang is a radio and TV presenter, comedian and writer who can be seen on Have You Been
Paying Attention? on Channel 10, Santo, Sam and Ed’s Total Football on Fox Sports, Friday Front
Bar on AFL.com.au, and the new series of Agony on ABC. For the past 6 years he has been the cohost of SBS's coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest with Julia Zemiro.
Previously Sam co-hosted Santo, Sam and Ed's Sports Fever on Channel 7, shared his views on
life and relationships in Agony Uncles on ABC1, was the co-creator of Kane & Disabled, a 10 part
comedy series of interstitials starring Lawrence Mooney featuring some of Australia's best
paralympians that screened in the lead up to the 2012 London Paralympics on ABC2, and was part
of ABC’s nightly coverage of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
For interviews with Guy Sebastian, Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang please contact:
Jessica Parry
T: (02) 9430 3786
E: [email protected]