TRANSCRIPT
Zaachariaha Fielding, one half of the duo Electric Fields who represented Australia in Eurovision, is already practicing their next song.
The vocalist and his collaborator, producer and keyboard player Michael Ross, joked it's called "You got it wrong" and is aimed at the voters who knocked them out in the song contest's semi-finals.
In a press conference after the event the pair said they were still "buzzing".
“We did a killer performance and we felt like rock stars. And it was... that audience, I'll tell you. It was absolutely giving, they were just giving. And you could take from that. It's going to be a memory that will be embedded with us for the rest of our lives. We can write about these things. We're creative people.”
Australia was knocked out alongside Iceland, Moldova, Poland and Azerbaijan.
Host country Sweden has automatic entry to the grand final, as do the countries known as the Big Five.
That's France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Ten other countries have made it through to compete in Malmö Arena on Saturday ((11 May)).
But while Electric Fields missed out on a grand final spot, their song One Milkali marked a historic moment for Eurovision and for Australia.
One Milkali means "one blood".
The song incorporated lyrics from the Yankunytjatjara [[yun-kun-jarra]] language, from the Anangu peoples in South Australia's A-P-Y Lands, where Zaachariaha Fielding grew up.
The language is listed as endangered with only a few hundred remaining speakers today.
It's the first time an Australian Aboriginal language has appeared on the Eurovision stage since its inception in 1956.
Within the official three-minute time limit, the spectacular performance also featured Garwa and Butchulla musician Fred Leone on the yidaki ((sometimes called the didgeridoo)) - another Eurovision first.
They are landmarks Fielding has not missed.
“I think for Anangu and blackfullas back home, we made history at the same time as being rock stars. And just for Australia and blackfullas back home to see that - I want them all to experience it. So just hopefully next year, and in the next twenty years for Australia, (and the music) that represents, just floodgate it with the non-Indigenous culture and the Indigenous culture, and embrace that Australia's very multicultural.”
These two Australian women travelled to Malmö and told SBS News they saw Electric Field's preview show.
VOXPOP 1: "It was fabulous, the crowd went off (went wild) last night. So I think... Zaachariaha is so engaging on stage. And the ending of it? Oh, fabulous, yeah it's great."
VOXPOP 2: "Also in the street today, we were walking down the street and we heard people talking about 'milkali love' and they turned around and asked, 'do you know what it means? One blood.' So it's really nice that the message is going out there.”
Eurovision organisers are desperate to keep the focus on messages of unity.
The theme of this year's competition is "United by Music" which last year was announced as the permanent slogan going forward.
It's a message that feels aspirational in a competition plagued by political divisions and heightened security fears as Israel - one of this year's most controversial contestants - ramps up its assault on southern Gaza.
After Tuesday's semi-finals, organisers rebuked Swedish singer Eric Saade for wearing a Keffiyeh on his wrist while performing.
The Palestinian-born singer was not competing but wore the scarf, which is symbol of solidarity with Palestinians, during the opening act.
The European Broadcasting Union has said it regrets Eric Saade chose to "compromise the non-political nature of the event".
The contest has strict rules banning political content or propaganda.
But when it comes to another war, raging in Europe, this fan Victoria says Eurovision is the perfect place to draw attention to the cause.
“For Ukraine this is a big platform. I'm very into cultural diplomacy, and I think this is the place where you can state your mind freely, openly, and for the world to listen.”
Russia was banned from the competition in 2022 over its invasion of Ukraine.
This year, calls for a similar ban of Israel over its invasion of Gaza were unsuccessful.
Instead, security has tightened around the event in preparation of pro-Palestinian protests, with particular focus on Israeli contestant Eden Golan.
A member of Norway's competing act Gaate, which made it through to the finals, acknowledged there's a place for protest.
Magnus Boermark:
“There should be demonstrations, people should voice their opinions, people should boycott - but for our sense, for us it means, it boils down to those three minutes of music really that's a completely non intellectual experience and when you don't think anymore you just experience, you don't judge, you don't divide, that stuff goes away and we need to foster those moments where we experience that together.”
As Australian duo Electric Fields head home, Zaachariaha Fielding has a message for countries, including Australia, who want to compete in future events.
The singer says it's been a chance for him to see what Australia looks like on the world stage.
“We don't believe in states but whoever's state that is: incorporate the blackness. Because Australia has black history, so do the fundamental thing right and do - just stick to your truth and your honesty, and I feel like one day you may win Eurovision.”
Electric Fields is not the first Indigenous act to represent Australia.
Yorta Yorta and Gunditjmara star Isaiah Firebrace represented Australia in 2016, while Kuku Yalanji singer Jessica Mauboy took the stage in 2018.
But Zaachariaha Fielding wants Australia to do more than congratulate itself for the success of Indigenous acts at Eurovision.
“And Australia at the same time needs to check its psyche, and at the same time look at how 'flavour-ish' we are, and how clever we are, and have a moment. Because I'm glad that we're here in Europe, but I also know that we have, in our country, work to do.”
While Electric Fields may not have made it through to the finals this time, another creative contest awaits one of its members back home - this time in visual art.
Zaachariaha Fielding has been nominated with his father Robert Fielding for the prestigious Hadley's Art Prize - worth $100, 000 - for the best portrayal of the Australian landscape.
Meanwhile for the 16 countries remaining in Eurovision, the show in Malmö must go on.
Eurovision's grand final extravaganza will be held this Saturday ((11 May)).
In Australia, you can watch it live on Sunday morning, at 5am Australian Eastern Standard Time on SBS or SBS On Demand and then at 7.30 pm during prime time on SBS.
