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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Susan Knox

New Zealand launch bid to join Eurovision Song Contest in 2024 after feeling 'left out'

New Zealand has launched a bid to join the Eurovision Song Contest next year.

Kiwi Beer Icons Yeastie Boys are leading the charge on the campaign, urging the competition to “open up and let NZ inside EU”.

The world’s smallest multinational beer company, founded in New Zealand and now also brewing in the UK, have taken it upon themselves to highlight why the country should be in the competition, poking fun at Australia’s inclusion in the contest and inviting fellow New Zealand pals to launch the first ever official unofficial Eurovision entry.

The official/unofficial single has been launched with Two Hearts, a Kiwi comedy pop-duo consisting of Laura Daniel and Joseph Moore, whose arena-sized concert shows have been performed in medium-sized theaters and comedy venues across NZ, Australia and the UK.

New Zealand has launched a bid to join the Eurovision Song Contest next year (© 2021 Chris Coulson)

‘Eurovision (Open Up)’ embraces everything that’s great about Eurovision, a gloriously camp banger that details the plight of the New Zealand people, encouraging the world to let them into the prestigious competition.

But it doesn’t stop there, together Yeastie Boys and Two Hearts have even gone as far as to create a petition so that the public can take part in righting the wrongdoing.

They might not get in this year, but the band are hoping to start a conversation and catapult New Zealand onto the world stage next year.

Speaking about the campaign, Yeastie Boys founder Stu Mckinlay said: “We've become big Eurovision fans since arriving here in the UK but we really miss having our own country to cringe at while simultaneously supporting unwaveringly.

"I was the youngest of five kids and whenever my older siblings went to gigs, I was too young to join them. Australia being in Eurovision, when New Zealand hasn't been invited, gives me the same vibes and I don't like it.

"New Zealanders grow up with a sense of social justice being very important and Australia being invited to Eurovision without New Zealand is like inviting someone to your wedding but not giving them a plus one.

The UK will be represented by singer-songwriter Mae Muller at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 (Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

"Everyone loves New Zealand and finds us cute and non-threatening and that makes us a sure thing for doing well in the public vote. I mean who really likes Australia?”

Meanwhile, this year, the UK is set to be represented by singer-songwriter Mae Muller at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 - which will be held at the Liverpool Arena - with the track I Wrote a Song.

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