Isaiah Firebrace named Australia’s Eurovision 2017 contestant

As tipped by TMN yesterday, 17-year-old Isaiah Firebrace will be Australia’s contestant at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv, Ukraine.

The 2016 X Factor Australia winner from Moama in southern NSW was announced at an intimate event in Melbourne last night. Firebrace, who’ll just be using his first name during the contest, performed his Eurovision entry Don’t Come Easy, which is released to the market today.

He also performed his debut single It’s Gotta Be You and Sam Cooke’s A Change Is Gonna Come.

The power ballad Don’t Come Easy was written by DNA Songs, the songwriting and production team of David Musumeci and Anthony Egizii. Time will tell if it has what it takes to make waves at Eurovision.

The duo wrote 2016 runner-up Dami Im’s Eurovision hit Sound of Silence which won the Marcel Bezençon Composers Award for best original composition at last year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

SBS Managing Director Michael Ebeid said: “The theme of Eurovision this year is ‘Celebrate Diversity’ and we are once again thrilled to be participating in a global event which could not be more aligned with SBS’s own purpose.

“Isaiah is a young artist who beautifully embodies the Australian spirit with his passion, hard work and humility, not to mention immense talent at just 17 years old.

“We are proud to have him represent our country, and can’t wait to see him shine in Kyiv.”

Firebrace, who used to make six hour round trips from his regional town to singing lessons, admitted, “Even though it has been a dream of mine, never did I think for one minute it would be a possibility.

“To be able to share this news with my family and friends is unbelievable. I can’t wait to go to the Ukraine to perform Don’t Come Easy. I will make Australia proud.”

Firebrace was an early bookies favourite but rumours also suggested Delta Goodrem, Jessica Mauboy, The Veronicas and former X Factor contender Nathaniel Willemse as favourites.

According to Firebrace’s record label chief Denis Handlin AM, Chairman & CEO of Australia & NZ, and President Asia of Sony Music Entertainment, the artist’s debut single It’s Gotta Be You has exceeded 50 million Spotify streams after three months.

It’s gone platinum in Sweden, is about to go gold in Denmark and charted in Norway.

“Incredible voice, humble nature and great determination will win the hearts of Europe with Don’t Come Easy,” Handlin predicted.

SBS, Sony and production company Blink TV, whose director Paul Clarke is Australian Head of Delegation, will work together on the Australian end of Eurovision.

SBS has been broadcasting Eurovision since 1983. But in recent years, Eurovision has changed the rules to include Australia. Jessica Mauboy was a guest performer in 2014, while Guy Sebastian was the first official entrant in 2015.

Last year’s contest drew a total of 3.7 million metro and regional Australians across the two heats and Grand Final. According to SBS, this was a 13% audience growth in the Live Grand Final, and an 82% lift in online visits year-on-year.

Eurovision has a worldwide TV viewing audience of 300 million.

In 2017, SBS will broadcast the event on Friday May 12, Saturday 13 and the Grand Final on Sunday May 14 at 7:30pm. Live broadcasts begin on Wednesday May 10 at 5:00am.

Replacements for Julia Zemiro and Sam Pang, who previously hosted the Australian link for eight years, are yet to be revealed.