This week our fan of the week is Miles from Melbourne aka @_milESC_ on Twitter. Have a read of his full Q&A with us below.
What is your name and where are you from?
My name's Miles, and I was born and raised in Melbourne's inner north.
What do you do or tell us something interesting about you?
I used to be a stand-up comedian, and through that I have been a credited writer on two of Australia's biggest quiz shows (Hard Quiz and The Chase), and have also been a contestant on both. I'm also hopelessly obsessed with AFL. Carn the Saints!
That's fantastic you've been a credited writer- nice stuff! And well... someone has to support the Saints... ~ Aussievision
So tell us how you got into Eurovision?
I was always aware of the contest but never really saw myself getting into it - until one year I heard a certain winner... those magical pan flutes at the start of Only Teardrops. It stayed in my head and I swore to watch it the next year. Luckily for me, 2014 was one of the most fantastic years in recent ESC memory.
Which is your favourite Eurovision year and why?
2016 - it was the year Dami nearly nabbed the crystal mic, Måns and Petra set a new bar for hosting and interval acts, the gripping new score reveal system was introduced, and SVT managed to pull off two of the most audaciously stupid scripted jokes in ESC history - the repeated throws to The Final Countdown, and BAAB. I love BAAB.
If you could change one thing about Eurovision what would it be?
I'm really worried that as time goes on, the "Eurovision sound" is beginning to blur too closely with mainstream radio pop music - part of the reason that I fell in love with the Contest is that it often features the sort of music you don't get the chance to hear anywhere else (*cough* Telemóveis *cough*), so I would be keen to see a move away from radio-friendliness and a move towards, if you'll pardon the expression, weird shit. Not everything has to be either a ballad or a banger.
Interesting point, a lot of people want to see it taken more seriousness but you're right, the contest can't ever lose what makes it unique. We prefer a happy medium!
How do you think Australia is going overall in the contest, what would you like to see over the next few years?
I went to Australia Decides for the first time this year, and I'm honestly so happy with where we are. I think, given both the broad church SBS attracts and the slowly dying "art" of the TV talent show, that this competition has the potential to be Australia's foremost singing contest. We attracted such diverse talent this year - the Triple J crew, the talent show graduates, and the legacy talent - that we can only attract better (but hopefully not necessarily bigger) talent in future. So I think we're really nicely placed. As for what I'd like to see - I may be alone in this one, but: pub rock. Our pub rock scene has had such a unique, uplifting sound over the years, from Hoodoo Gurus to Gang of Youths. It may not entirely be a Eurovision sound but it's something I'd love to see up there nonetheless.
Which artist would you like to see return to the competition?
We got so close this year! Francesco Gabbani - he brings so much charm and fun to the competition.
If you could pick only three Eurovision songs to listen to for the rest of time, what would they be?
On cue! Occidentali's Karma (it's neither ballad or banger, it's got a novelty dance, and a GORILLA), Rhythm Inside (it's hypnotic, almost Lorde-like, and I may or may not be considering doing it for the next 'So You Think You Can Eurovision') and No Prejudice by Pollapönk, because it's my moral compass.
This is beginning to sound like the Francesco Gabbani appreciation society! Ha! Nah three interesting and very different choices.
Which Eurovision song:
Is the best winner?
Amar pelos dois. It's a warm hug on a cold winter's day.
Wonderful choice!
Has the best live vocal?
Purely for the astonishing combination of talent, concentration and emotion required, Kate Miller-Heidke, for swinging on a ten-foot pole in Tel Aviv and somehow not dropping the mic, yet metaphorically dropping the mic at the exact same time.
I had severe anxiety every performance about the potential mic drop. I had to rewatch it to really appreciate it without having a heart attack. ~ Dale
Was robbed?
Stones by ZiBBZ. It had such a soaring quality and I reckon it would have made up some televotes in the final.
Is the best from this decade?
Of all 300 expertly crafted compositions which have captured the hearts of the world these last ten years, causing joy, tears, pain, laughter and loss? Probably Still in Love with You by Electro Velvet. Has all of those.
Wow.
Is your guilty pleasure?
I Can't Go On by Robin Bengtsson. Miming a treadmill in my kitchen counts as exercise, right??
Is your favourite National Final song (that didn't make it to Eurovision)?
I'll happily go in to bat for iOTA's Life - I found it charming, otherworldly, and eminently singalongable. It also feels like a big joyous musical theatre number, and I'm a drama kid so I loved it.
What is your favourite song of those released for Eurovision so far?
For me it's a tie - pending a potentially dealbreaking English revamp, Albania's Shaj is the pick of the sweeping ballads this year and we know Arilena will be able to sell it. Alongside her are the magnificent, magnifying glass-wielding maestros themselves - The Roop, and their bizarre entry On Fire. If you bring something a little quirky with a novelty dance, I'm in.
Any other interesting honourable songs overall you'd like to mention?
A friend from OGAE once pointed out to me that the melody to the chorus of the 1976 Dutch entry The Party's Over by Sandra Reemer is identical to the theme song of the Greater Western Sydney Giants. Felt like I had to share that with someone.
*immediately googles 'The Party's Over'* - ha yes can see the similarity!
And finally... Tonight Again, Sound of Silence, Don’t Come Easy, We Got Love or Zero Gravity?
My sister has been a KMH fan for over half her life and she'll kill me if I don't say Zero Gravity. Luckily for me, it's also our best entry, for the reasons above.
Thanks for joining us Miles!