This week's Australian Eurovision Fan of the Week is Sally aka @sallyturbitt
Read her full Q&A with us below.
What is your name and where are you from?
My name is Sally Turbitt and I just north of Sydney, Australia.
What do you do or tell us something interesting about you?
I managed to have Dr Jess Carniel, Eurovision researcher, as a guest on my library podcast (I’m a librarian). My angle (and how I sold it to my co-host) was her research, as librarians are often involved in research projects, but really I just wanted to talk about the history of Eurovision for an hour!
We love Dr Jess Eurovision Expert - we've had her as a fan of the week before ~ Aussievision
When did you first get into Eurovision?
Dana International winning in 1998 was the first time I watched the whole competition as broadcast on SBS. Living the UK in the early 2000s was when my love of Eurovision started. Watching it live on the BBC, Terry Wogan commentating, with my Irish partner who could explain all the ins and outs of the competition helped a lot! He says that my European geography is excellent because of Eurovision...
What a classic year to first watch the full show, and can understand the getting into it while in the UK, that's where my love of the contest really grew! (Saturday night's are much better than early Sunday mornings) ~ Dale
Which is your favourite Eurovision year and why?
2014! Rise Like A Phoenix...the staging, Conchita’s dress, voice, the song, it was pure, beautiful Eurovision. I get goosebumps just thinking about it! 2014 was also the first year my daughter watched the semi-finals and final with me, I had been slowly (indoctrinating) encouraging her and in 2014, success!
What would Eurovision be without 'encouraging' family and friends to join our cult!
If you could change one thing about Eurovision what would it be?
I’m not overly keen on Australia competing. I’ve always enjoyed that we watch purely for enjoyment not as competitors. BUT I do understand that we are invited to be there, Australia has a big Eurovision following. So...maybe the one thing I would change would be MORE Eurovision?
If you could only listen to three Eurovision songs for the rest of time, what would you choose?
No Prejudice - Pollaponk.
Rise Like A Phoenix - Conchita Wurst.
Love Is Blind - Donny Montell
Wow three very interesting choices!
Which Eurovision song:
Had the best staging?
Moldova 2018.
Best live vocal?
Ooh, that’s a tie between Dami Im and Polina Gagarina.
Both amazing vocalists and runner-ups
Was robbed?
Beautiful Mess - Kristian Kostov
We will respectfully disagree there :P
From before 2000 is your favourite?
Nel blu dipinto di blu - Domenico Modugno.
Do you enjoy more now, than when they performed?
Rhythm Inside - Loïc Nottet.
Did you last play?
Satellite by Lena.
Is your guilty pleasure?
Jedward!
Agree there, not a fan of them generally but Lipstick was a cracking song
Any other interesting honourable mentions?
Origo - Joci Pápai. Loved the staging, dancer and it’s a beautiful song.
Which national finals are you most looking forward to?
Disclaimer: I don’t pay a lot of attention to the national finals as they are happening, I like to wait until the songs have been selected and then I go back and listen to the other entries. Does this incur a deduction of Eurovision fan points?
No deduction at all, we know many who like to wait or have better things to do than get up at 5am on a Sunday morning to watch a Lithuanian heat!
What do you think of Australia holding a national final? Any early favourites?
I’m happy that we are holding a national final, my early favourite would be Electric Fields, we need a good bop - no more ballads!
We are big fans of Electric Fields, they would excellent representatives of Australia
And finally...
Tonight Again, Sound of Silence, Don’t Come Easy or We Got Love?
That’s a tough question! I love a bop (hello Guy), but Dami’s live performance was amazing. I was pretty dubious when the single was released, but her semi-final performance won me over.
Thank you for your time Sally!