Australia’s Sheldon Riley will be joining Greece’s Amanda Georgiadi Tenfjord for the Eurovision grand final on Sunday, May 15.
This morning, after 18 countries competed in the second semi-final of the song contest’s 66th edition, Australia advanced to the final, becoming part of the 25 countries contending for the glass microphone on Sunday morning.
Cyprus’ Andromache failed to progress to the next stage with her song ‘Ela’.
READ MORE: Greece qualifies for Eurovision 2022 grand final
Australia
WATCH Sheldon Riley’s grand final qualifying performance of his haunting ballad ‘Not The Same’ in semi-final 2:
Fulfilling his lifelong dream of taking to the Eurovision stage, Sheldon delivered a vocally flawless performance of his self-written song, ‘Not The Same,’ whilst wearing a 38-kilogram dress featuring over 90,000 pearls, crystals and feathers.
Sheldon told Eurovision.tv the dress was purposefully white and not black.
“The song really isn’t dark. It’s powerful and there’s a lot of light to it, so we wanted to switch the colour to white,” the 23-year-old said.
“I didn’t want the song to make you feel sad by the end, I wanted people to feel empowered.”
Australia’s Eurovision history
Australia has broadcasted the contest every year since its 28th edition in 1983.
In 2014, Australia first took to the Eurovision stage as a non-competing, interval act – with Jessica Mauboy performing her song ‘Sea of Flags’.
WATCH Australia’s Eurovision debut in 2014 with Jessica Mauboy:
A year later, Australia was invited to compete for the first time in celebration of the contest’s 60th edition themed ‘Building Bridges’.
Since then, Australia has competed seven times – failing to qualify for the grand final once, last year with Montaigne’s ‘Technicolour’.
When Dami Im performed her power ballad ‘Sound of Silence’ in 2016, Australia earned its highest place in Eurovision – being the year’s runner up behind Ukraine’s Jamala who performed ‘1944’.
Australia competing in Eurovision 2015 – 2021
Cyprus
WATCH Andromache’s performance of her ethno-pop song ‘Ela’ in semi-final 2:
Showered in blue and orange hues, the 27-year-old singer used coloured lighting to its fullest extent whilst singing from within a shell.
Speaking with Eurovision.tv last week, Andromache revealed “the colours that we use on stage – those represent the Meditteranean; the sea, Cyprus, Greece,” as well as “the warmth” of Cyprus, she said.
Cyprus’ Eurovision history
Cyprus first entered Eurovision in 1981 and as of 2019, the country holds the record for most times participating in the contest without winning.
In 2018, Cyprus earned its highest place when Eleni Foureira placed second with her pop banger ‘Fuego’.
Since the semi-final era began in 2004, Cyprus has competed 18 times, failing to qualify on 8 occasions: between 2005-2009, and in 2011, 2013 and this year.
READ MORE: Eurovision 2022: Who is representing Greece, Cyprus and Australia?
See the official running order of the 25 grand-finalists here:
