Sea of Flags Eurovision in Australia for over 30 years, to choose a performer and they eventually picked Mauboy. Her appearance would mark the first time Australia has been represented at Eurovision and she would become the first solo artist from a non-European Broadcasting Union country to perform as a guest. However, Mauboy is not the first Australian to perform in the contest as Olivia Newton John, The New Seekers and Gina G have previously taken part as competing acts representing the United Kingdom. Mauboy told Fairfax Media that she planned to use her Eurovision exposure as a way in to tour Europe.
Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 Sweden entered the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with "La voix", performed by Malena Ernman. Ernman was the winner of the Swedish song contest Melodifestivalen, which serves as Sweden's selection process for Eurovision. Ernman represented Sweden at the first semi-final of the Contest on 12 May 2009, where she qualified to the final of the Contest after receiving 105 points, placing 4th in a field of 18 competing entries. At the final she performed 4th on stage. At the close of the voting she had received 33 points, placing 21st of the 25 competing