3 weeks Ago By Yahoo Lifestyle
Longtime fans of the Eurovision Song Contest know that there are a few main rules when it comes to performing on the world’s biggest stage . Songs must be original and no more than three minutes in length, performances can only feature a maximum of six people on stage, and lead vocals must be performed live. Australia’s latest Eurovision entrant Go-Jo , whose real name is Marty Zambotto, has since discovered a handful of lesser-known rules while preparing for this year's competition in Basel, Switzerland.
The singer, songwriter and producer tells Yahoo Lifestyle he’s had to “scrap” a few ideas for his performance of ‘Milkshake Man’ after learning what is and isn’t allowed on stage. “I can tell you two things. You're not allowed liquid on stage, and you’re not allowed animals,” he shares.
“I think [these rules] have been around forever, and it kind of makes sense. I mean, liquid is pretty messy, and I feel like with all the electronics and stuff, it probably makes a lot of sense.” RELATED: Speaking of on-stage disasters, Go-Jo admits he won’t be watching Will Ferrell’s 2020 film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga until after the competition, so he doesn’t see everything that could possibly go wrong.
“I've been told to watch it so many times. My girlfriend's been trying to get me to watch it, but I'm just like, I'll watch it after. I'm just gonna watch it and be like, ‘Thank god I didn’t do that’,” he remarks.
Advice from Australia's former Eurovision entrant In the lead up to the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, Go-Jo reveals he’s been in touch with Australia’s 2023 entrant, Voyager , for some advice. “I had a FaceTime with Danny [Estrin] and he gave me some good words of wisdom,” he shares. “He was just like, it's going to be chaotic, just make sure you take your time.
“I also asked him, ‘If there's anything you could have told yourself before you went into the competition after experiencing it, what would it be?’. And he said to me, ‘I noticed you have low notes in your song, just make sure you nail those parts’. Which makes sense because as a performer, when you go low, it's very vulnerable to hit shake.
” What is the meaning behind 'Milkshake Man'? Go-Jo adds that while ‘Milkshake Man’ has made him a “giant thirst trap” around the world, the song has a “whole deeper meaning” than its sexual innuendos. “When I was making the song, we definitely leaned into both worlds, but it always stayed on the deeper meaning of self-expression. When I was growing up, I always felt misunderstood, and as I got older, I started to get more comfortable in my own skin,” he explains.
SHOP: “I remember thinking, I just want to write a concept about that. And then the ‘Milkshake Man’ is me as a mascot of self-expression and being like, I accomplished this. And now this is an ability that we all have in us that just needs to be unlocked.
” The Eurovision Song Contest is held from Tuesday, 13 May - Saturday, 17 May 2025 in Basel, Switzerland (CEST) with SBS’s exclusive broadcast LIVE and in prime time from Wednesday, 14 May – Sunday , 18 May on SBS and SBS On Demand. Want the latest lifestyle and entertainment news? Make sure you are following us on Facebook , Instagram and TikTok and don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter..
