SBS has announced that, for the second year running, it will not be sending Eurovision contestant Montaigne to the Rotterdam event in May.
Montaigne will still compete in the competition, albeit remotely. In a statement, Josh Martin shared that Australia’s “unique challenge in being so far away from Europe” played a stake in the decision.
“We’re still in the middle of a global pandemic, and we have tried to overcome every obstacle to get from one side of the world to the other, but the challenges are just so big and so varied,” Martin continued.
“It’s very disappointing, particularly for Montaigne. But if we’ve learnt anything over the past year it’s that we are pretty good at adjusting and changing our plans under what are very challenging conditions globally.
“We’ll still be competing, and we’re planning on a very special and epic show.”
If Montaigne’s transcendental Mardi Gras performance of her competing song ‘Technicolour’ is anything to go off, Eurovision devotees are still in for a spectacle. Montaigne’s performance of the track was filmed in a studio in Eveleigh last month, under the strict supervision of Eurovision supervisors.
“I am sad to not have gotten the opportunity to perform on the big stage but grateful that I got to wear two years of Eurovision in a row, during a pandemic nonetheless, which is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Please, if you love Technicolour, send your douze points in for Australia!” Montaigne wrote on social media.
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This marks the second year running that Montaigne’s performance plans have been thwarted by the coronavirus pandemic. Last year saw the pop juggernaut serve up a soaring ballad, ‘Don’t Break Me.’
As far as Martin is aware, Australia is the only entry in the competition that won’t be performing live in the arena.
Coronavirus cases in the Netherlands have spiked in passing months, to a seven-day average of over 7,500 cases. Despite these rising numbers, Eurovision will allow a live audience of 3500 people per show. Which feels, uh, chaotic.
SBS will air the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest, hosted by Myf Warhurst and Joel Creasey, between May 19-23. In the meantime, relive Montaigne’s glorious performance of ‘Technicolour’ below.
Check out Montaigne performing her Eurovision 2021 song ‘Technicolour’ live at Sydney Mardi Gras:
