Australia has once again proved that anything Europe can do, we can also qualify for the finals for, as our nation’s one great hope for Eurovision 2016, Dami Im, has cut through the competition and made it out of the semis and into the grand final.
Drawing a standing ovation that eclipsed all the other competitors in the second semi final, Im is only the second Australian contestant to ever make it to the finals after Guy Sebastian got a wild card invite last year, finishing in fifth.
Breaking down and crying with joy after making it through, the 27 year old singer couldn’t be happier with her performance.
“When I saw all the fans singing along and waving, and everyone cheering to me, I don’t cry all that often, but I burst into tears,” she said, reports Fairfax. “I was so touched how everyone was so supportive of me.”
Joining the likes of Latvia, Georgia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Serbia, Poland, Israel, Lithuania and Belgium in making it out of the second semi final as well as Hungary, Croatia, Netherlands, Armenia, Russia, Czech Republic, Austria, Azerbaijan, Cyprus and Malta from the first, to have made it this far at all is a huge success for Dami. I mean she actually beat out Irish favourite Nicky Byrne of former Westlife fame, and he’s actually from Europe.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Im though, with the Brisbane songstress telling Fairfax that she was a little nervous at the prospect of performing before a global television audience of 180 million, not to the mention the 10,000 strong crowd who came out to watch the show live. “That made me shake a little bit, so I’m trying to fight that off. I think it’s important to just try and perform for that one person,” she said.
Being on stage however brought out her competitive side and help quash those nerves. “Normally I would say I am quite a shy person and I am a quiet girl, but when I get on that stage I feel like a different person,” she explained. “I feel really empowered.”
A strong contender for a top five finish with her song Sound Of Silence doing very well with fans and betting agencies, let’s hope her spirit of competition is enough to see her live up to expectations.
Check out her performance for yourself below.
Australia! Listen here: https://t.co/jtRfHqhSp8 https://t.co/e3ZovPKEnv
— Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) May 12, 2016
Watch: Dami Im – Eurovision 2016 Second Semi Final (Live)
The 61st Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final will air on SBS on Sunday 15th May.
