Australian teenage star to compete at the Eurovision Song Contest
A teenager will represent Australia at the Eurovision Contest – and he’s already one of the favourites for the title.
17-year-old Isaiah Firebrace, who won X Factor Australia in November under the tutelage of Adam Lambert, will attempt to win Australia’s first Eurovision crown with the song Don’t Come Easy.
He may have been suddenly thrust into the spotlight at a young age, but the teenager from the tiny town of Moama in New South Wales – which has just 6,000 residents – has worked hard for his breakthrough.
Firebrace, his country’s second Aboriginal Eurovision entrant, took six-hour round trips to weekly singing lessons – and judging from Don’t Come Easy, they have paid off.
The song, a powerful ballad about being hurt in love, displays all the qualities which convinced X Factor viewers to anoint him their champion.
“It don’t come easy / and it don’t come cheap,” Firebrace sings, which is appropriate as the Australian will have to get through the first Semi-Final on May 9 before finding out if he can compete in the Grand Final on May 14.
He will be the fourth Australian to compete in Eurovision, after the country was invited to be a guest participant in 2014 and 2015, and a full contestant over the last two years.
His song was written by David Musumeci and Anthony Egizii, the same duo who wrote Dami Im’s 2016 entry Sound of Silence.
The song came second, pipped at the last minute by this year’s host country, Ukraine.
Firebrace said he was “so proud” to represent his country.
“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,” he added.
“I can’t wait to go to the Ukraine to perform Don’t Come Easy. I will make Australia proud.”
Check out Firebrace’s entry here:
