Eurovision Fan of the Week - Jake from Adelaide

This week's Eurovision Fan of the Week is Jake and we think he might be the first profile from Adelaide, South Australia! Have a read of his profile below.

What is your name and where are you from?

Hey! My name is Jake, and I’m from South Australia, home to Guy Sebastian.

What do you do or tell us something interesting about you?

So I currently do retail (I say currently, but it’s been 13 years with the same employer…). Somehow, I manage to balance strong left-wing beliefs and values (like, socialism left in terms of degree) whilst studying professional-level finance. It’s tricky. I believe it’s called champagne socialism!

Sounds like the Nordic Model of Market socialism! We're here for that ~ Aussievision

When did you first get into Eurovision?

Call me a bandwagoner, but it was only when we entered in 2015 (I’m somewhat up-to-date with iconic earlier entries – both good and bad) and Guy did us so, so proud. My partner and a friend of his used to do it every year, we could vote, and so I was interested after being one of those “ugh. Eurovision. We’re not even in Europe” people. Didn’t even take until Eurovision week to get hooked – listened to the album on repeat for months beforehand!

Never too late to become a big fan and what better excuse than Australia being invited to compete!

What have you thought of Australia’s journey since joining the contest?

Honestly, I’m kind of surprised we’ve done as well as we have. We all know about bloc voting (looking at you, Greece and Cyprus, as an example), and I thought that would be hard to crack. But Guy and Dami did an amazing job of representing us, we… kind of stumbled with Isaiah, Jess was treated poorly, and Kate bloody well smashed it. Australia Decides helps in building up the mood as we head towards Eurovision – hopefully next year’s is as good as this year’s!

It goes to show if your song and performance you'll do well regardless of your neighbours!

Where are we at and what would you like to see in the next few years?

Obviously we’re a competitive nation, anyone who follows any sport knows that. And I like the fact that we take it seriously, because it means there’s a very good chance that we’ll send something that’s top quality.

But obviously Eurovision is a campy, kitschy contest. And we should probably send something campy and kitschy in nature (take a leaf from the past, but don’t stray into Scooch or Dustin the Turkey territory). In terms of our vote, it is starting to plateau a bit. So, if we want to do well, we should probably shake things up a bit (or we can keep being competitive – as long as we’re in it!).

Kate up a 7 metre pole dressed as a princess was pretty camp! Think Arcade, 1944 and Amar pelos dois shows you can win without being kitsch like Toy. But it takes all sorts, Spirit in the Sky won the televote so you might be right!

What do you think of the line-up for Australia Decides so far, and who would you like to see competing?

It is so good to see indigenous Australians being recognised and selected for Australia Decides! Casey Donovan is an amazing performer, and Mitch Tambo has one heck of a voice in him from what I’ve seen. Absolutely everybody (aye!!) loves Vanessa Amarosi, and I recall seeing iOTA from a David Bowie tribute concert and recall just being in awe of his performance style.

Competing? Courtney Act, again, until she represents us. Also, Kylie Minogue doing something like “Your Disco Needs You”. But I don’t want to list too many names – Leea did an amazing job last year, and very few would have known of her before Australia Decides, so I’m also hoping for some new talent.

Which is your favourite Eurovision year and why?

It could be a case of my first being my best, but 2015 would definitely be it from a song/entry list perspective. Just so many good tunes I still listen to today! In terms of how the show was structured and all that, it would definitely have to be 2016, simply because who could say no to Mans and Petra.

Two incredible years!

If you could change one thing about Eurovision what would it be?

I know that it would only exacerbate the issues with bloc voting, and it would mean we would do a LOT worse, but I’d like to see a higher weighting for the public vote. The jury vote is still important, but something around the 60-75% for public vote would be a good starting point.

Which artist would you like to see return to the competition?

Obviously Dami Im, to see if she can finally rightfully take her place as winner. But also KEiiNo, after their absolute banger of an entry this year. I want to see if they can back it up with another banger in a year where a banger will win instead of a ballad. Fingers crossed it’d mean they’d come back here again, because I missed them and I’m so annoyed at myself for that.

If you could pick only three Eurovision songs to listen to for the rest of time, what would they be?

Well. Obviously Spirit in the Sky by KEiiNO (it’ll take a few years to get past!), Say Yay by Barei, and Run Away by the Sunstroke Project & Olia Tira (I’ll pick a solid banger over a solid ballad any day of the year).

You like your bangers!

Which Eurovision song:

Is the best winner?

Hard Rock Hallelujah by Lordi – because hard rock with the strangest staging/costume can and should win.

Wow didn't see that one coming!!

Has the best live vocal?

Now, I haven’t watched a lot of live Eurovision… But I’m going to go with La Forza by Elina Nechayeva. Because while I don’t usually do opera, it’s Eurovision. And that kind of technique can’t go unnoticed.

Perfection.

Was robbed?

I’ve already said Dami… So I’m going to go with someone different.

How dare Spirit of the Night by Valentina Monetta get like 1 point yet Serhat, completely off-key and a song written in 5 minutes qualify? San Marino qualify like once a decade, and they did it with the worst song.

Sorry Spirit of the Night can't be defended.... hahaha!

Is the best from this decade?

Euphoria – it’s a cookie-cutter answer, but by god it deserves the accolade.

Is your guilty pleasure?

Electro Velvet’s “Still In Love With You”. Strong misogynistic undertones aside, it’s a bloody catchy tune, and the UK had to send something half decent eventually.

I hear you! ~ Dale

Any other interesting honourable mentions?

Interesting in an odd way… Monster Like Me, Norway 2015. I actually play piano, and I haven’t found many scores for songs I’d like to learn. But I’m going to start here (and if anyone has anything from any year of Eurovision, hit me up!). Ideally a book, but single songs (like this one) are fine too.

Also, Scooch – I ragged on them before, but Flying The Flag is so gloriously terrible.

Also (last one, I swear!) – N’oubliez Pas. Because I don’t usually feel deep emotion for songs, but that one manages it every single time.

And finally... Tonight Again, Sound of Silence, Don’t Come Easy, We Got Love or Zero Gravity?

Which one’s my favourite child? I love Sound of Silence, it should have won, Dami was robbed. But I’m actually going to have to go with Zero Gravity, because them vocals + that staging = perfection.

Thank you for your time Jake!