The national finals for the Eurovision 2022 season have well and truly wrapped up.
The Aussievision team voted for their favourite national finals this year. Each team member got to vote for their five favourites and then award an extra point for their ultimate national final favourite.
Lets take a look at the Top 5 favourite national finals from the Aussievision team:
5. 'Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu' 2022 (UMK) - Finland - 8 votes
It was the national final that took place in the morning after 'Eurovision - Australia Decides' 2022 for us Aussies.
The Finnish national final took place on February 26, at the Logomo in Turku. It was hosted by Paula Vesala and Miisa Rotola-Pukkila and broadcast on Yle TV1 channel. The show has had a successful run the last couple years.
The show once again didn't disappoint. with Blind Channel returned as an interval act. The Rasmus who are well known for their 2003 hit 'In The Shadows' ruled the night winning both the jury vote and the televote in pretty much a landslide, with 'Jezebel'.
With nearly 2 million viewers tuning in for UMK 2022, it is the most viewed national final of its format since it began in 2012.
4. 'Eurovision France, c'est vous qui décidez!' - France - 9 votes
After the huge success last year with Barbra Pravi's win with 'Voilà' which finished in runner up spot at Eurovision 2021 in Rotterdam, France's best result in 30 years, it was no surprise 'Eurovision France, c'est vous qui décidez!' would make a return.
It was another impressive show which took place on March 5 at the France Télévisions studios in Saint-Denis, hosted by Stéphane Bern and Laurence Boccolini and broadcast on France 2.
12 artists and songs competed with a chance to represent France. The jury consisted of jury president, French singer and actress Jenifer along with many other well known French artists, celebrities and personalities. They were also joined by Swiss Eurovision 2021 representative Gjon's Tears who was a guest judge.
Six artists made it through to a Superfinal with Alvan and Ahez going on to win with their song 'Fulenn'. They smashed the jury vote, scoring six sets of douze points from the jury of ten, and receiving 102 points overall. They also won the televote scoring an additional 120 points finishing with an impressive total of 222. They won by 50 points over runner-up Pauline Chagne.
3. 'Melodifestivalen' 2022 - Sweden - 12 votes
A constant favourite with the Aussievision team, 'Melodifestivalen' (Melfest) returned with a few tweaks, and a slightly different approach.
Covid came knocking preventing the show from doing a tour across Sweden, so all the shows took place in Stockholm, but that didn't stop the amazing production. The competition took place at the Avicii Arena and the Friends Arena, and was hosted by past Melfest participant Oscar Zia.
Over six weeks from February 5 to March 12, there were four heats, a semi-final and a Final with 26 artists battling it out to win the coveted Den stora Sångfågeln (The Great Songbird) trophy.
The competition became an epic battle between the popular Swedish composer and former Idol judge Anders Bagge, and singer songwriter Cornelia Jakobs. The rivalry kept Melfest fans on the edge of their until the end which was an impressive win for Cornelia. She managed to win over the juries and come second in the televote with her entry 'Hold Me Closer'.
2. 'Benidorm Fest 2022' - Spain - 17 votes
'Benidorm Fest' 2022 was a pleasant surprise for all Eurofans and a clear favourite in the Aussievision team.
The Spanish national final took place from January 26 to 29 over two semi-finals and a Final. It was hosted by the iconic Alaska along with Inés Hernand and Máximo Huerta. The Spanish broadcaster TVE created the 'Benidorm Fest' inspired by the previously run 'Benidorm International Song Festival'.
13 artists competed in two semi-finals where eight artists competed in a Final. There were many favourites heading into what was a very hotly contested final!
Chanel went on to win with her amazingly choreographed number 'SloMo' by just five points ahead of Rigoberta Bandini. Chanel won the expert jury, came second in the demoscopic jury and third in the public televote. Chanel's percentage in the televote did lead to a bit of a drama after the competition...
1. 'Eurovision - Australia Decides' 2022 - Australia - 18 votes
It was no surprise the team voted the Australian national final as their favourite.
Several members of the team were able to travel to the Gold Coast and watch Australia Decides live. For some it was the first time they got to travel on a plane or even go interstate since 'Eurovision - Australia Decides' 2020 before the pandemic hit!
Australia Decides made a return to the Gold Coast bigger than before, after being cancelled in 2021. The competition took place on February 26 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. It was hosted by the amazing Joel Creasey and Myf Warhurst.
10 artists battled it out, including Australian Eurovision 2017 representative Isaiah Firebrace, former Australian Idol contestant and household name Paulini, and making a return, Australia Decides 2020 artist Jaguar Jonze, just to name a few.
It was Sheldon Riley that went on to take the crown with his powerful emotive ballad 'Not The Same', coming runner up in both the jury and televote, with 100 points, winning by three points to Western Australian prog metal band Voyager.
The remaining top 10 favourite national finals from the team were:
6. 'Sanremo Music Festival' 2022 - Italy - 7 votes
7. 'Tu bije serce Europy! Wybieramy hit na Eurowizję' - Poland - 6 votes
=8. 'Melodi Grand Prix' 2022 - Norway - 5 votes
=8. 'Eesti Laul' 2022 - Estonia - 5 votes
=10. 'Festival da Canção' 2022 - Portugal - 3 votes
=10. 'Eurovision Song CZ' 2022 - Czech Republic - 3 votes
What was your favourite Eurovision national finals this year? Let us know on our socials.
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