Why Dean Lewis should represent Australia at Eurovision

Image: Dean Lewis Facebook

Dale from the Aussievision team makes the case for Dean Lewis to represent Australia at Eurovision.

In recent months, members of the Aussievision team have been advocating for artists who should represent Australia at Vienna next year. 

After the hype of our debut in 2015 and some excellent results in our first five years, the 2020s have been less successful.

A single Top 10 result, a 40 per cent qualification record and two non-qualifications in a row just isn't cutting it for a nation like Australia.

It's clear we need a reset. It’s time to send someone established, authentic and world-class.

Dean Lewis could be that artist.

Who is Dean Lewis?

Dean Lewis grew up in Sydney with his father teaching him to play guitar at an early age.

He was inspired by a live CD of British band Oasis and spent the next few years "watching every Oasis video” saying Noel Gallagher "basically taught me how to write songs."

It inspired him to chase a career in the music industry, and he got his start as a sound engineer.

Eventually, he went from behind the scenes to on stage, and his career took off with the release of his debut single Waves in 2016.

It went No.1 in Australia, charted internally, including in Europe and was featured in a number of hit US TV series, including Suits and Riverdale.

His 2018 single Be Alright was even more successful.

It reached No.1 in Australia, Belgium and the Czech Republic, the Top 10 in countless nations including Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden, plus No.11 in the UK.

People have been drawn to his raw emotional music and it's earned him a healthy global fan base, billions of streams and critical respect as one of Australia's best contemporary songwriters.

That honesty has earned him billions of streams, a global fanbase, and critical respect as one of Australia’s best contemporary songwriters.

Why Dean makes sense for Eurovision

Dean Lewis has the combination Australia needs right now: name recognition at home, credibility abroad, and the proven kind of songwriting that cuts through language barriers.

He’s a trusted and established performer, and his participation would send a strong message to European audiences.

Sending someone recognisable tells Europe that we take Eurovision seriously enough to send one of our best.

Even though our artists have been fantastic, we really haven't sent an big established name since Kate Miller-Heidke.

Dean would bring legitimacy and excitement both for local audiences and for international media.

It would also remind the Australian public that Eurovision can be a stage for our biggest stars.

A proven global performer

It's great to have a household mainstream artist for attention and legitimacy, but Europe is the audience voting.

And in this space, Dean’s numbers speak for themselves.

As mentioned, he has charted consistently across the world and particularly in Europe.

This has included his hit singles but also albums and follow-up tracks.

He's racked up billions of streams with Be Alright sitting over two billion currently.

He’s toured across Europe and North America, and that global recognition gives Australia an edge at the Contest.

Storytelling that connects

Authenticity has been rewarded at Eurovision, and Dean has it in spades.

He is a powerful storyteller, sourcing from his own life in the songs he's produced.

His writing is direct, emotional, and cinematic in its simplicity. He also delivers it in a distinct Australian accent.

An entry needs to make people feel something in three minutes, and his songs are anything but soulless.

He has clear stories that are clear and easy to pick up in a short time, with a strong vocal and strong melodic hook.

Basically, He knows how to tell a story, he is good enough to perform, and he has enough to grab attention in three minutes.

The right type of artist right now

Although many will point to the Baby Lasagna's and the Käärijä's and say our next act needs to be loud, bombastic and fun.

But a copy + paste job of previous success at Eurovision is not the direction for success.

It's sending something that stands out and in a sea of novelty and upbeat numbers. Quality, well-written and simply performed songs are in short supply and now stand out in their own way.

It may not be a winner but it will jump from the pack and match the quality European audiences expect from a nation like Australia.

The right moment in his career

Dean is still in his prime but at a stage where Eurovision could make sense.

He’s relevant, respected, and mature enough to see the opportunity as a creative challenge rather than a risk.

He is still touring and his charting positions are still there, but aren't at the heights they once were.

It could give him a mid-career boost in a market he is a proven performer in.

Dean Lewis the competitor

Competing in Eurovision also may appeal to Dean's competitive side.

Before he was a chart-topping artist, Dean represented Australia in esports.

He competed at the 2005 World Cyber Games in Singapore as the nation’s Halo 2 champ.

It's an unusual fact but it says a lot about his drive and desire to compete for Australia.

That mindset matters at Eurovision, where the mix of pressure and pride can overwhelm even experienced artists.

The downside

Doing Eurovision may still feel too gimmicky for an artist like Dean Lewis, which is the downside of the full public vote in the semi-finals.

Additionally, he is touring North America until February, which isn't a lot of turnaround until the big event in Austria.

And finally, although often his music hits just the right note of emotion and vulnerability, without the right song, it may not have the impact in the three minutes on stage.

The bottom line

Dean Lewis represents many things Australia does well in music - strong songwriting, emotional honesty and world-class polish.

He’s a serious artist who could restore credibility, reconnect local audiences, and resonate with Europe in a genuine way.

We don't need to win Eurovision to bounce back, but we need to find a way to reset the way we compete and are perceived by European audiences.

Dean Lewis is exactly the kind of artist who can do that.

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