Newtown Neighbourhood Centre with the support of Dendy Newtown is once again calling on musicians, singers, filmmakers, would-be singers, people who were once in a band, songwriters who have only three chords but good intentions…quite frankly… anyone… to enter the Sydneyvision Song Contest 2011. This is the second year of this musical contest which matches suburb versus suburb to find the winning Song of Sydney.
Contest rules are simple. To enter, contestants must submit a video of an original song in which the name of a Sydney suburb features in the lyrics. This year can Denistone East rise to the challenge? Will someone sing the Song of Stanmore? The Ballad of Belmore? Strawberry Hills Forever? 14 finalists will be selected to be screened at the Sydneyvision Grand Final at the Dendy Newtown on 14 September where the winning song will be chosen.
There is only one other requirement. To maintain the high cultural standards set by the Eurovision Song contest which inspired this event, entrants are required to meet one of three rigorous requirements: The song must have at least one performer do one of the following:
- Wear sequins
- Wink shamelessly at the camera at some point
- Throw off one article of clothing while performing.
The last criterion is new to this year’s Sydneyvision. A study of Eurovision entries from 2004-2008 revealed a 63% clothing discard rate by performers, mostly vests, shirts or cloaks (no one removed a sock while singing). Organisers feel Sydney is ready to take on the Europeans in that crucial flung clothing category.
For too long Eurovision has had the field to itself. For half a century the world has watched French balladeers, Romanian heartthrobs and unicycle riding flute players from Lithuania in open-jawed amazement. Now Sydney is answering back.
For contest entry rules visit the Newtown Neighbourhood website www.newtowncentre.org or email projects@newtowncentre.org
* SydneyVision Contest Rules
* Sydney Vision Entry Form
Entries close 22 August 2011, so don’t delay. Finding that perfect musical rhyme with Brighton-le-Sands today.