Vocal Coach Reacts to Sheldon Riley 'Not The Same' Australia Eurovision 2022 

This is a self-penned song about his struggles growing up queer and diagnosed with Asperger's (on the Autism Spectrum). This is also the first time in about 4 years he will be singing without a face covering, which he uses to feel comfortable performing on stage, so it's a big moment for him outside of the song as well.

He's aspergers - we mask - its not as much a gimmick as a representation of his childhood , the fact he can take that mask off at the end shows his journey. He can be himself. This wasn't my fav at Australia Decide but it makes me cry every time because this is my childhood too, and my daughters. I've never seen us representated by one of our own and not played for laughs and written by some well meaning relative etc.

Poland and Australia both are my favorites. Absolutely loved them. ❤🇦🇺❤🇵🇱❤

Haters are gonna hate! Some people are saying he has a wobbly voice, and this is just a meh ballard. One thing the haters have to realise is that this young man has vocal prowess, and no matter what staging he gets, his voice will pierce yr soul. My winner! Love from Sweden.

Sheldon has for years envisioned Eurovision in his dramatic homemade styling, epic emotion, and exceptional vocals. Maybe this is his year 💜

I think this is AMAZING. He wrote this song himself so he can sing and emote it however he wants. It is all real.

I love this, the music is so intense, his vocals are GREAT, and the lyrics are quite relatable, since I was bullied in my childhood as well. I love. this and the juries will love it too

Poland and Australia are both so stunning

His voice is heavenly 😍. 12 pts to Australia 🇦🇺🇦🇺

I've been waiting for this reaction!! I'm so glad you liked it. The lyrics are specifically about his experience as an autistic person, but they can relate to so many things :) The mask is his trademark, but also (in the context of this song) represents what many autistic people do everyday: masking. Therefore, it is very symbolic he takes it off at the end as a symbol of "unmasking". To those in the comments who say the emotion is fake: check your privilege. The trauma autistic people hold from living in a neurotypical society runs deep. He is being authentic. I, as an autistic person, am proud that Sheldon is representing our country and community on the world stage. He will do us ALL proud.

I absolutely love this entry! It's my number 1

Let's hope he'll do as good as he deserves. I feel like people usually don't vote for Australia just because they're not in Europe :(

My absolute FAVOURITE so far! Well done Australia!🇦🇺🔥

i know ethnicity shouldn’t really matter in eurovision but im really happy to see an asian representing a country. im happy to know that there are other asians out there doing their thing because i dont see many where i live. good luck Sheldon. love from a fellow asian living in Sweden ❤️

Sheldon should have won 🏆 his voice and song .. Magic

It´s my fave so far. I wanted Sheldon since years to go to eurovision. Now he goes.

As a former Dutchman living in Australia I have hope for many years that we could be part of this amazing thing called Eurovision not to win but to be included, and the songs and acts we sent son far have been pretty good but this year is an OMG year.

I can totally relate to this song as I'm sure a lot of people can. Cried the first time I heard it and then again at Australia decides. His performance was amazing!

Ive followed this artist for a few years.. He is totallu bringing the stage on fire🔥 He is so good live.. Also the singer has mask because of Asperger.

I LOVE SHELDON FROM SO MANY YEARS AGO... HE'S A REALLY HARD WORKING ARTIST! HE DESERVES TO WIN THIS EDITION, ABSOLUTELY!

He has one of the best voices ever!! I just love everything about this song and Sheldon ❤️❤️ he should've won❤️❤️

Thats the winner of this year without a doubt…. I’ve known sheldon riley since 2018 when he appeared first on voice of Australia

He broke down crying at the end of his winning performance, it was very emotional.

Sheldon Riley is simply amazing two seasons of the Voice Australia and One season of America's Got talent and Eurovision. He is simply amazing.

My winner so far 😍🇦🇺

Hes honestly amazing, wouldn't be surprised if top 3

Waiting for this review and you said what I think! I love how he perform and his voice since The Voice Australia. Really rooting for TOP3 in Turin. For me his song is very personal but it represents near everyone with struggles, pushing away from other people, bullying and I feeling this song so strong. For me everything is so perfect, staging, avangarde fashion and reveal.

my winner this year! 12 points from Germany!!!!

Yesss!!! You have to take a look at Sheldon's The Voice Australia & America Got Talent Performances too tho... he's a video worth as his performances are always so powerful. Love him since I saw his The Voice Australia Performances and followed his career since and as he got revealed as a participant on Australia's national selection for Eurovision I screamed haha and now he won, this is so amazing. My first place so far!!!

Sheldon puts his heart and soul into every song he sings!

Yess been waiting for this reaction! He is my winner at the moment

It's been 4 years that I was waiting for him to go to Eurovision and finally it's time !! And honestly Sheldon has for me one of the best voice and vocals I have ever heard

This year is Australias year ! 🇦🇺

Easy top 5. Love this song so much. Might vote for it in the finals.

You are amazing! I was waiting for your reaction and I am so happy that it's finally here. I am a huge Sheldon's fan and can't wait to see this performance at Eurovision. Hope he will win because he deserves it.

His voice is great.

The first time I heard Australia's entry this year which was the National Final performance, not the studio version I was instantly drawn in like last year and 2020 with Gjon's Tears from Switzerland. Hearing Sheldon sing I felt every word he said and that's before I even read that he'd written the song himself about having Asperger's which I relate to having a cousin with that and my sister being autistic as well. Sheldon's song showcases him growing up gay in a religious family being moved from house to house and how he felt he didn't quite fit in school being bullied and things so, of course, the emotion Sheldon showed when singing was real because the song was personal to him even though the message can be interpreted with other things too naturally. This out of all the National Final songs was my favorite although the others were good within themselves I'm glad this won first and foremost. Having known Sheldon from the Voice before I knew his vocals would be good here. I also understood the importance of the mask being art as the man said recently in a Eurovision interview. Some people might want Sheldon to take that off earlier to connect with him more but I get why the reveal happens when it does because it's Sheldon accepting himself of course. Yes, the performance to some might've seemed overdramatic but as I previously mentioned the song was personal to Sheldon hence the crying. If people have followed Sheldon's career they'd know he's quite dramatic in his performances anyway. My male vocalist of the contest so far this year is divided between Sheldon, Ochman, Mahmood, and Nadir from Azerbajain. Jury wise this song might have a five-way split between Poland, the UK, Italy, and Azerbajain which it would do better in than televoting although I'd hope other countries showed their love for Australia like with Dami Im in 2016 and if a country who'd never won Eurovision did or one that hadn't for a long time it would be a nice change than something like Sweden again for instance. Whatever happens, I look forward to Sheldon's Eurovision performance and hope the staging proves fruitful so Australia makes it into the top 10 because this song deserves to be there in itself overall.

My definite favorite from all the entries. I totally see Australia as a potential winner 👍🏼 Amazing song, vocal performance.. outstanding really. Plus he is not a regular man which is definitely a + when it comes to Eurovision votes hahah. I have a feeling this will be the winner if they don’t give it to Ukraine due to their sad situation atm:(.

My winner full stop 12 points from the UK.

He was on The Voice AU twice and he is exceptional. He was even more incredible the 2nd time round he did it and then AGT did him dirty so. LOVE HIM.

For context Apparently it’s about his struggle with Asperger growing up. Love this song

Australia is back ! I loved "Tonight again", "Sound of silence" and "Don't come easy" and "We got love" was nice. I feel like everybody loves "Zero gravity" but me and about Montaigne's songs, I liked "Don't break me" but "Technicolour" not so much. Wait a minute; did he manage to deliver those last notes while he was crying?

It was a good one indeed. Such an emotional performance. ♥️

As an Australian I will be fully behind this song. Wow. Wow. Wow. Incredible.

Stunning performance

Sheldon Riley is INCREDIBLE. What a strong song for Australia

I agree with you, maybe even my favorite this year!

Absolutely underrated artist! His time is coming 🙏🏼💜

I'm polish, I find Ochman a great vocalist. But I'm all for Sheldon from the bottom of my heart. His voice melts me every time. If he doesn't win this one then it's rigged, eot ✌️

Lovely reaction. You sum up pretty much all my feelings on this song here. I also love the emotion in his performance and i will die on the hill that it is a Good thing. This song is written and arranged to be emotional and I am okay with that emotion coming out in his performance of it, especially because this is the first time he has shared this song in full with a proper audience and that might have come into play as well. And this song and the story behind it is deeply personal to him so the emotion is justified. In my opinion, anyway. Good luck to him in Turin! I'm keen to see how the performance evolves for the Eurovision stage.

Australia is my first place this year (they have been in my top 10 since they started to compete in Eurovision), and this year I don't think any country can take their first place.

He was bullied growing up, he talks about it a lot. We so love Sheldon. Australia is behind you Sheldon

I love Sheldon and relate to these lyrics so much xx

I was so looking forward to your reaction to this. I knew you would love this 😊 great video

I love it! Thank You so much!

Winner❤Sheldon is my absolute favourite, soo much emotion, passion, fragility everything in one performance! I have been following him over years and his voice is unique

I was wondering when you would review this one. Perfect timing!

I always loved Sheldon I've been following him since he was in The voice.

Wow, this is my favourite thus far 😍 So much feeling and such a talented performer! Oh Georgina your nails are so spring-y 🥰

I would like to see some tweaking of the lyrics but overall very impressed. There’s a journey from being ashamed of not being the same to celebrating it. Love the staging and the lonely feeling created by the fans and the lighting, The outfit and the big reveal created such a moment that people will remember.

I have been a fan since The Voice Australia! He is so raw and emotional. Wonderful!

Sheldon is an Aussie favourite. You should check out his The Voice Australia audition from a few years ago. He’s had lot of pain in regards to being accepted for who he is, this song reflects that. Also, his dad made most of his costumes on The Voice (Australia) from memory.

Omg, made me cry...is like I felt his pain...amazing, extrodinary, outstanding❤❤❤

He’s absolutely brillaint, followed him on the voice Australia. Sheldon riley. He sings a cracking cover of boy George’s do you really want to hurt me. Watch it Georgina abs do a video xx

Always BRILLIANT ANALYSIS!

You know it's Georgina's favourite when she stops pausing each line and just lets the song play to the end like at 5:09

Incredible voice! The winner in advance!😘

Not ashamed to say that made me cry. Absolutely shook

It's about not fitting in at school. The reference to his father is just that his father wants him to fit in, so he lies to him and says he does. Then gradually he finds other people who are also "not the same". I expect nearly all queer ppl can relate. As a nerd, I relate too.

This woman always makes me smile.

Sheldon is a brilliant singer his voice gives you goosebumps it’s just brilliant I love him

12 points from Spain to Sheldon for such an amazing performance but also for being so brave. The song really touches the heart

impeccable interpretation, what a vocal support and what a connection with emotions, wow (Chanel my winner😜💃❤️)

OMG HES ON THERE?! Lol Ive watched him many times on the voice, love him, he never won :(

Great voice...great song

Amazing song along with Poland! My 2 favorites so far by a long distance from the rest. France will join my top 3 in a few days.

Poland and Australia best this year on this time

SHELDON IS JUST ON ANOTHER LEVEL!!!!!!!!!!

This is such an amazing song & performance! Easily my winner this year.

I think this was really underrated within the competition: a rather strong performance with lot's of heart. It was also somehow rather natural and honest like Dutch performance which I also liked. Maybe it suffered bit as "all men are crying dadly this year somehow" as Austrian commentator claimed. Although, I would not call it reall crying. On the other hand I did not get it why Spanish and Swedish acts scored so high. But that is normal at ESC: Sweden is always up and some scores are strange.

He’s such a sweet person

Sheldon rylie! Is amazing xx from down under x u should see the performances he did on the voice with our golden girl delta goodrem x best x

It’s so funny when all these vocal couches on RU-vid pretend they haven’t seen the video they are reacting for before recording 😂😂😂

If you are wondering why he is so emotional when he takes his mask off, its because he doesn't normally take his mask off when performing (last time he did I know of was 4 years ago). It's a safe guard for him, and him taking it off in the song was more of a symbolism for him being fine with who he is "not being the same". Love from Australia 🇦🇺

I lov Sheldon😍🥰🤩😘🤯💋

awesome Sheldon..🇦🇺

If your a vocal coach you’ve heard of or seen Sheldon Ryley before now so stop acting surprised. You know he is amazing!!!!!

This is competing with Brividi but I like this one more so far... And I'm Italian.

YAYAYAYAYAY GO AUSTRALIA #1

This is long overdue for him.. he was on The Voice Australia twice (made the finals) and American's Got Talent.

I liked your video.

Much better than the wolf song. Outstanding!!!

Uuhhh, Georgina has got the brividis ahah. For me it's 9/10, epic voice, awesome performance, huge respect for the whole package really, tremendous surprise Australia has here. My only critic is the chorus lyrics which are a bit the same, pun intended 😅

my current Top 2. either him or Chanel from Spain could take the trophy

First time watching any of your videos -- I liked your reaction.

I remember him from America's Got Talent.

1. Australia 2. Poland..... 5. Italy .... 11. Norway

If Australia wins Eurovision they have to nominate a European co-host, who stage it on their behalf. Eurovision will never be hosted in Australia unless there is a change to this rule.

Reacción en la final al elegir los participantes a San Marino fue nuestra canaria Cristina ramos representante de San Marino pero no quedo .Quiero reacciones a su canción heatless Gamesa desde Tenerife

All for Sheldon. He is amazing!