Mans Zelmerlow

Feb 3, 2020

Very large text size London: It's been five years since Mans Zelmerlow stormed Eurovision with the essential ingredient required to triumph at the joyous orgy of kitsch and glamour: a seriously good song. But his leather pants and smile didn't hurt either. Eurovision's favourite son is en route to Australia to help select which local artist represents the country in the Netherlands this May and believes the iconic contest that catapulted ABBA to global fame is changing for the better. "It's becoming more contemporary and accepted every year, and more songs make the charts and have a life outside the Eurovision bubble," Zelmerlow says. Eurovision winner Mans Zelmerlow is coming to Australia to help select the next contestant for the song contest. "Sure, the kitsch factor still needs to be there. Let's have old women baking bread or a man running around in a giant squirrel wheel, but ideally only three or four of those acts. There will always need to be some kitschiness but what we really need is more fantastic songs." Advertisement Australia first competed at Eurovision when Zelmerlow won the trophy in 2015 but a one-off novelty entry quickly turned into a semi-permanent presence and Australia nearly stole the trophy when former X Factor winner Dami Im came in second in 2016. Dami Im's stunning performance landed her in second place at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest. Credit:AP "I promise you Australia will win within five more years," Zelmerlow insists. "You've had great songs every year since 2015 and Eurovision is so much about having a good song, as well as a good story behind the artist and a great performance on the night. "There's no problem with bias for Australia, either. Everyone likes Australia. It's a bit the same with Sweden - nobody is angry with Sweden!" Zelmerlow will sit on a jury on the Gold Coast this Friday and Saturday and - in conjunction with a public vote - will help determine whether established artists such as Vanessa Amorosi, Casey Donovan and iOTA or emerging talent Mitch Tambo, Montaigne, Didirri, Diana Rouvas, Jack Vidgen, Jordan-Ravi and Jaguar Jonze represent Australia at Rotterdam. Loading "I think Europe might be in the mood for up-tempo," he suggests. A household name in Sweden before winning Eurovision with the dance hit Heroes, Zelmerlow brought the house down when he hosted the show the following year with comedian and television presenter Petra Mede. The 33-year-old is now juggling recording duties with a burgeoning television career in Sweden, as well as in Britain where he lives with his wife, English actress Ciara Janson, and two children. He would "love" to compete in Eurovision again but would have to be certain he could get through Melodifestivalen, Sweden's notoriously competitive selection process, and have the "perfect" song and staging. "It's been such a great stepping stone and has made so many dreams come true for me, so it's always great to come back to Eurovision, whether you're competing or not," he says. "Who would turn their back on so much fun and an audience of 200 million people?"