Now several months on from Eurovision 2024 we’ve all had a chance to mull over the results of the contest. The Eurovision 2024 final saw some very dramatic results, but 11 acts did not get a chance to see that. We thought we’d have a deep dive into these acts and give you our opinion on What Went Wrong. Today we’re going to discuss Australia’s Electric Fields.
In our third part Kittens, Daniel, and Angus discuss Electric Fields from Australia.
Who are Electric Fields?
Electric Fields are an electronic musical duo consisting of vocalist Zaachariaha Fielding and producer Michael Ross. For the duo their music is inspired by aboriginal culture. The duo sing in three separate languages these are Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara, as well as English. Zaachariaha is originally from Mimili in Australia and is the oldest of nine siblings. Michael Ross is originally from Adelaide, before the Electric Fields project he took part in The X Factor Australia in 2013.
In terms of releasing music, Electric Fields first featured on songs for artists in Australia, their first feature being “No Other High” with Touch Sensitive in 2017. In 2016 the duo did release an EP entitled “Inma”. Electric Fields took part in Australia Decides back in 2019 with the song “2000 and Whatever”, the duo ultimately finished in second place in the competition. It hasn’t just been music that Electric Fields have been involved in, the duo also released a documentary in Australia entitled “Voice From The Desert” in 2018. In the Spring of 2020 Elecrric Fields released a duet with Norwegian 2019 Eurovision representatives KEiiNO entitled “Would I Lie”.
Electric Fields’ 2024 Eurovision entry “One Milkali (One Blood)” was written by Zaachariaha and Michael themselves. zaachariaha and Michael also produced the track alongside Luke Million.
What are the issues with the selection?
Kittens – As this was an internal selection it’s harder to argue a bit, but Electric Fields have been almost universally beloved by Eurovision fans for a while, so I feel like they as a band were a great selection, and good to go with established performers. I just feel like the song was a bit lacklustre.
Daniel – I can excuse Electric Fields seeing as they are popular in the fandom, but they should stop it with the Australia Decides rejects, Australia has a really big and vibrant music industry and it’s high time SBS start utilising it rather than choosing from an ever dwindling pool of former national final participants.
Angus – I’m probably just saying this because I really liked the AD-alums we have gotten so far (and am holding out hope that Jaguar Jonze will appear on a Eurovision stage), but I don’t mind Australia internally selecting their entries that are popular with the fandom and did well on national TV. That being said, I do wonder whether the broadcaster focused too much on who they’re sending, and not enough on what the song is.
Was the song and act good enough to be in Eurovision?
Kittens – Good enough to be in Eurovision? Yes. Good enough performers? Yes. Song good enough to qualify? Hmm. We all knew when this came out it was borderline at best. I do think it really suffered somewhat from being too mid-tempo and not having a really distinctive ‘moment’ in the song to hook people onto.
Daniel – I think the song and performance was cursed with the adage of people having a fun time when it’s on, but not quite fun enough to get them voting for it at the end of the night, I do agree with what’s said above about needing a ‘moment’ – it’s consistently okay throughout, but in modern Eurovision ‘okay’ doesn’t get results.
Angus – Electric Fields are strong performers that could have easily qualified with a different song. I enjoy “One Milkali (One Blood)” quite a lot, but it is a song that simply failed to stand out this year, and would sadly have done so at most contests I fear. So I can really just echo what Kittens and Daniel have said.
Did the staging compliment the song and stand out?
Kittens – The staging for this was honestly a bit of a disappointment. I really wanted there to be some kind of object physically on stage for them to revolve around, but it was very plain and lacked much impact in the end. Zaachariaha’s dress was simply stunning but wasn’t really enough to attract the attention.
Daniel – It helped a little bit, but certainly not enough. I think if they had more to play with, then they could have certainly done a lot more. I really don’t like how Michael is standing behind the keyboard for the entire thing, it makes it feel like Zaachariaha featuring Michael when they’re a duo.
Angus – The opening, with all the colourful lights on Zaachariaha and the starry background was absolutely stunning, but the rest felt very bland. I do think the song was a tough one to stage, but overall this staging definitely wasn’t the right choice. Despite having dancers on stage and decent camera choices, if we ignore some absolutely atrociously timed and sluggish wide panning shots, the stage and arena ended up feeling very empty and lifeless even though it wasn’t.
Could this song have qualified if changes were made?
Kittens – You know, if I’d gone to an Electric fields concert and witnessed that performance, I would have had a great time. But that’s not what this is about. I genuinely think it was mostly the song that was the issue here, it just did not have enough punch to be truly memorable. The staging not really being impactful enough didn’t help, but it just needed the song to be so much more than what it was.
Daniel – Maybe if they had more than about $8 to work with. There is clear potential especially in the staging that was untapped on, I could see it having snuck through if it met that potential.
Angus – It’s easy to forget in this discussion that Electric Fields did almost qualify, being just 6 or 7 points (depending on tie break) away from showing up in the final. So even minor changes could’ve done the trick. Then again, I wouldn’t have expected the song to qualify so perhaps I am wildly off and this is the best this song could have done, at least on that particular night.
What are our outlooks for future contests?
Kittens – I really would like to see Australia go back to a public selection. Internal is good and when you have artists of quality that would like to go, I understand why it would be easier to go internal. I think there’s just so much momentum that builds around selection processes that you can capitalise on, and you get a real understanding of public opinion. This is particularly important when you are looking at televote only semi-finals where you need that momentum. Australia have been good in the past, and I’d love to see them return to their former glory.
Daniel – I saw an Australian singer named Cxloe open for Griff in Glasgow earlier this year. She was really good and I’ve become a fan. Send her. Failing that, lure Kiana back from the Swedes or bring back a national selection and put a decent budget behind it.
Angus – Send Jaguar Jonze, followed by whatever Australian indie or alternative act radio station triple j is really into at the moment. Australia has a really cool music scene but except for Montaigne and Voyager I feel SBS have played it way too safe, both during internal selections and when drafting for national finals. I am not sure either would be interested, but The Gardener and The Tree (Swiss-based but with Australian connections) should do well, while a band like Parcels are a shoe-in for a top 10.
Australia’s Eurovision Journey
The most recent country to debut into the Eurovision Song Contest, Australia debuted in 2015. Guy Sebastian represented the land down under with his entry “Tonight Again” in Vienna, where they placed 5th. Since their debut, they have participated every single year of the competition.
Australia internally selected Electric Fields to represent them in 2024 with the song “One Milkali (One Blood)”. The band ultimately failed to reach the Grand Final, placing eleventh in the first semifinal with 41 televote points.
What do think about our thoughts? Do you think Australia could have qualified? Let us know in the comments or on social media! Be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Bluesky as we prepare for Eurovision 2024!
Source: That Eurovision Site
Image Credit: Corinne Cumming EBU
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