Milkshake Man
{{Short description|2025 single by Go-Jo}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Milkshake Man
| cover = File:Go-Jo - Milkshake Man cover art.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Go-Jo
| album =
| English_title =
| released = 25 February 2025
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Synth-pop
| length = 2:52
| label = {{hlist|Chugg Music|Rix Records}}
| writer = {{hlist|Marty Zambotto|Amy Sheppard|George Sheppard|Jason Bovino}}
| producer = {{hlist|Jason Bovino|George Sheppard|Marty Zambotto}}
| prev_title = Cry About
| prev_year = 2024
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|_08I6mjHSLA|"Milkshake Man"}}}}
{{Infobox song contest entry | embed=yes
| song = {{flagicon|Australia}} "Milkshake Man"
| image =
| caption =
| year = 2025
| country = Australia
| artist = Go-Jo
| as =
| with =
| language = English
| composer =
| lyricist =
| place =
| points =
| place_semi = 11th
| points_semi = 41
| clip =
| prev = One Milkali (One Blood)
| prev_link = One Milkali (One Blood)
| prev_year = 2024
| next =
| next_link =
}}
}}
"Milkshake Man" is a song by Australian singer and songwriter Go-Jo. It was written by Go-Jo alongside Amy Sheppard, George Sheppard, and Jason Bovino. The song was released on 25 February 2025 and {{esccnty|Australia|y=2025|t=represented Australia}} in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. It entered the charts in Sweden, Lithuania, and Iceland.
Background and composition
Milkshake Man was written by Go-Jo alongside Amy Sheppard, George Sheppard, and Jason Bovino, all current or former members of the band Sheppard, which competed in the first edition of Eurovision – Australia Decides in {{Esccnty|Australia|y=2019|t=2019}} with "On My Way".{{Cite web |date=2025-02-25 |title=Go-Jo to represent Australia at Basel 2025 with 'Milkshake Man' |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/go-jo-representing-australia-basel-2025 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Eurovision.tv |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}{{cite web|first=Lisa |last=Bird|url=https://escxtra.com/2025/02/25/go-jo-to-represent-australia-at-eurovision-2025-with-milkshake-man/|title=Go-Jo to represent Australia at Eurovision 2025 with 'Milkshake Man'|access-date=2025-02-26}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/2025/02/26/global-viral-pop-sensation-go-jo-to-represent-australia-at-this-years-eurovision-song-contest-in-basel-switzerland/|title=Global viral pop sensation Go-Jo to represent Australia at this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland|date=26 February 2025|website=SBS.com.au |publisher=SBS|access-date=30 April 2025}} The song, characterised by synth pop sounds,{{cite web|first=Simon |last=Collins|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/music/eurovision-2025-manjimup-singer-turned-milkshake-man-go-jo-set-to-shake-up-this-years-songfest-c-17847229|title=Eurovision 2025: Manjimup singer turned Milkshake Man, Go-Jo, set to shake up this year's songfest|website=PerthNow|date=2025-02-25|access-date=2025-02-26}} aims to be a "motivational push" for the listener, encouraging them to discover "the most colourful version of themselves and feel confident".{{cite news|first=Dee|last=Jefferson|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/feb/26/go-jo-australia-eurovision-contestant-2025|title='There's no better feeling': TikTok star Go-Jo to represent Australia at Eurovision 2025|website=The Guardian|date=2025-02-25|access-date=2025-02-26}} In addition to its positive message, the lyrics play on subtle double entendres, suggesting more daring and provocative nuances behind the playful and light-hearted facade.{{cite web|first=Roy |last=Moreno|url=https://en.euromix.co.il/2025/02/25/australia-go-jo-to-perform-milkshake-man-at-eurovision/|website=Euromix|title=Australia: Go-Jo to Perform "Milkshake Man" at Eurovision - Eurovision 2025|date=2025-02-25|access-date=2025-02-26}} The song contains some lyrics in French, which Go-Jo said was included due to his French nationality.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/sbs-picks-viral-tiktok-pop-star-and-stream-dream-gojo-for-2025-eurovision-song-contest/news-story/ed883620a2d62a78557bf4360ee4927d|title=SBS picks viral TikTok pop star and stream dream Go-Jo for 2025 Eurovision Song Contest|date=26 February 2025|first=Kathy|last=McCabe|website=news.com.au|access-date=13 March 2025}} "Milkshake Man" samples "Greensleeves", which is a chime commonly used by ice cream vans in various countries.
The writing process began when Go-Jo went to Brisbane for a writing camp for two days with Sheppard and Jason Bovino and they wrote around ten songs{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8MAh5SJBR0&t=114s|title=Go-Jo on Living Off The Grid, Shout-Outs from the Prime Minister and a Potential Erika Vikman Collab|date=15 May 2025|publisher=Mysteries of the EuroVerse|website=YouTube|time=1:54|access-date=17 May 2025}} which Go-Jo described as "...one of the funnest sessions we've ever done".{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd3ary4ZrL0V=136s|title=Go-Jo (Australia 2025) on "Milkshake Man" and songwriting London Eurovision Party 2025|author=Deban|date=14 April 2025|website=YouTube|publisher=Wiwi Blogs |time=2:16 |access-date=30 April 2025}} The bridge for Milkshake man was taken from a second song that had been written during this time and then added to Milkshake Man and this also gave the song an impact with the breakdown that follows the bridge. Go-Jo has commented that the ideas for Milkshake Man "...came to me when I was on the couch, I was just saying things, the original line started with "I'm in love with the Milkshake man...".{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd3ary4ZrL0|title=Go-Jo (Australia 2025) on "Milkshake Man" and songwriting London Eurovision Party 2025|author=Deban|date=14 April 2025|website=YouTube|publisher=Wiwi Blogs |time=3:05 |access-date=30 April 2025}} To gain a deep voice when recording the lowest parts of the vocals in Milkshake Man Go-Jo stayed up extra late so that his voice would be "more croaky".{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd3ary4ZrL0|title=Go-Jo (Australia 2025) on "Milkshake Man" and songwriting London Eurovision Party 2025|author=Deban|date=14 April 2025|website=YouTube|publisher=Wiwi Blogs |time=3:15 |access-date=30 April 2025}}
Music video
The music video for Milkshake Man, directed by Josh Harris, was made available to coincide with the single's release through Go-Jo's YouTube channel. In the video, the singer, along with two women,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_08I6mjHSLA |title=Go-Jo - Milkshake Man {{!}} Australia 🇦🇺 {{!}} Official Music Video {{!}} #Eurovision2025 |date=2025-02-25 |last=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=2025-05-27 |via=YouTube}} is busy making milkshakes inside a traditional ice cream truck, while the atmosphere is charged with a festive energy and strobe effects.{{cite web|language=sv-SE|first=Johan |last=Alexed|url=https://popmuzik.se/176513/go-jo-milkshake-man/|website=popmuzik.se|title=Go-Jo - Milkshake Man|date=2025-02-25|access-date=2025-02-26}}
Promotion
To promote "Milkshake Man" before the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Go-Jo spent eight weeks in Europe and travelled to fifteen countries leading up to the Song Contest in May.{{cite web|date=10 May 2025 |title=🇦🇺 GO-JO - MILKSHAKE MAN (LIVE PERFORMANCE) // Australia Eurovision 2025 // Live from Basel! 🇨🇭 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBfSCrtZ6BI |website=Youtube |publisher=Eurovoxx |time=5:26 |quote="...we have travelled to fifteen countries this whole six weeks."|access-date=11 May 2025 }}{{cite web |author=heyimgojo|date=4 April 2025|url=https://www.instagram.com/heyimgojo/p/DJMN1x6tZv7/?hl=en&img_index=2 |website=Instagram|publisher=heyimgojo |title=[Untitled] |access-date=8 April 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250507233718/https://www.instagram.com/heyimgojo/p/DJMN1x6tZv7/?hl=en&img_index=2 |archive-date=7 May 2025 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/whats-on/article/almost-time-eurovision-song-contest/dlgq7ob51
|title=Get ready to sh-sh-shake it good... it's almost time for the Eurovision Song Contest!
|date=23 April 2025
|work=SBS
|access-date=28 April 2025
}} During this time Go-Jo performed the song at the Amsterdam, London and Madrid Eurovision pre-parties.{{Cite news|
url=https://eurovisionfun.com/en/2025/04/spain-emmelie-de-forest-and-other-major-artists-at-prepartyes-2025-in-madrid/
|title=Spain: Emmelie de Forest and other major artists at PrePartyES 2025 in Madrid!|date=3 April 2025|work=eurovisionfun|access-date=28 April 2025}}
It was first announced that he will be performing at Eurovision in Concert 2025 held at AFAS Live Arena in Amsterdam on 5 April 2025.{{cite news|date=2025-03-15|last=Granger|first=Anthony|url=https://eurovoix.com/2025/03/15/eurovision-in-concert-go-jo-and-abor-tynna-join-the-line-up/|title=Eurovision in Concert: Go-Jo, Melody and Abor & Tynna Join the Line-Up|work=Eurovoix News |access-date=2025-03-22}} He then participated in the London Eurovision Party 2025 on 13 April 2025 held at Here at Outernet.{{cite news|date=2025-03-21|last=Farren|first=Neil|url=https://eurovoix.com/2025/03/21/united-kingdom-six-more-artists-confirmed-for-london-eurovision-party-2025/|title=United Kingdom: Six More Artists Confirmed for London Eurovision Party 2025|work=Eurovoix News|access-date=2025-03-22}} and then at PrePartyES 2025 on 19 April 2025 held at {{ill|Sala La Riviera|es}} in Madrid.{{cite web |date=2025-03-21 |last=Hernández |first=José García |url=https://eurovision-spain.com/el-australiano-go-jo-viene-a-la-prepartyes-2025/ |title=¡Batidos para todxs! El australiano Go-Jo viene a la PrePartyES 2025 |trans-title=Smoothies for everyone! Australian Go-Jo is coming to PrePartyES 2025 |work=Eurovision Spain |access-date=2025-05-02 |language=es-es}} Following the Eurovision pre-parties, Go-Jo further promoted his participation in Italy, Estonia, and Latvia.{{cite news |date=2025-05-01 |last=Granger |first=Anthony |url=https://eurovoix.com/2025/05/01/go-jo-promotes-eurovision-participation-in-latvia/ |title=Australia: Go-Jo Promotes Eurovision Participation in Latvia |work=Eurovoix News |access-date=2025-05-02}}
The song was also played by either Sheppard themselves or with a guest performance of Go-Jo himself during Sheppard's European Tour 2025.{{Cite web |title=Sheppard Setlist at Doornroosje, Nijmegen |url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/sheppard/2025/doornroosje-nijmegen-netherlands-4b59f7c2.html |access-date=2025-04-11 |website=setlist.fm}}
Eurovision Song Contest
{{main|Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025}}
= Internal selection =
On 25 February 2025, public broadcaster SBS announced that it had internally selected Go-Jo with the song "Milkshake Man" to represent {{esccnty|Australia|y=2025}} at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel. The single was made available digitally from the same day.{{cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/whats-on/article/who-is-representing-australia-at-eurovision-2025/dyd1e30jp|title=Global viral pop sensation Go-Jo to represent Australia at this year's Eurovision Song Contest|website=SBS|date=26 February 2025|access-date=2025-02-26}}
= Preparation =
Whilst staying in a hotel room in Estonia three weeks prior to Eurovision 2025, Go-Jo was rehearsing his vocals for the Milkshake Man whilst listening to the song on headphones and due to the song playing in his headphones he had been unable to hear people who had been knocking on the door of his hotel room in response to his singing.{{Cite news|url=https://www.aussievision.net/post/estonian-police-called-on-go-jo-as-he-rehearses-for-eurovision-2025|title=Estonian police called on Go-Jo as he rehearses for Eurovision 2025|date=27 April 2025|work=Aussievision|access-date=28 April 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDtt83Cl2wE&t=424s
|title=GoJo wants to Eat Kyle Esc 2025 Pt2 Livestream 26.04 + Sissal
|date=27 April 2025
|website=Youtube
|access-date=28 April 2025
|time=7:04
}} Then later on after he had finished singing, three police arrived at the door of his room whilst he was in a live stream with other Eurovision 2025 artists, Sissal, Kyle Alessandro and Klavdia. The police briefly spoke to Go-Jo in relation to the singing he had been doing earlier and then he returned to the live stream and spoke to the other Eurovision artists about what had happened.
= At Eurovision =
The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 took place at St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, and consisted of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 13 and 15 May and the final on 17 May 2025.{{cite web|date=2024-08-30|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/basel-will-host-eurovision-song-contest-2025|title=Basel will host Eurovision Song Contest 2025|website=Eurovision.tv|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=2025-01-28}} During the allocation draw held on 28 January 2025, Australia was drawn to compete in the second semi-final, performing in the first half of the show.{{cite press release|date=2025-01-28|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2025-semi-final-draw-results|title=Eurovision 2025: Semi-Final Draw Results|website=Eurovision.tv|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=2025-01-29}} Go-Jo was later drawn to open the second semi-final.{{cite web|date=2025-03-27|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2025/0327/1504478-eurovision-semi-finals-running-order-announced/|title=Eurovision semi-finals running order announced|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|access-date=2025-04-10}} Australia failed to qualify for the grand final.{{Cite web|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2025-second-semi-final-qualifiers|title=Eurovision 2025: The Second Semi-Final Qualifiers|website=Eurovision.TV|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|date=2025-05-15|access-date=2025-05-15}}
Track listing
Digital download/streaming{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/milkshake-man-single/1798151412|title=Milkshake Man – Song by Go-Jo|website=Apple Music|access-date=2025-03-22}}
- "Milkshake Man" – 3:04
Digital download/streaming – Jolyon Petch remix{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/milkshake-man-jolyon-petch-remix-single/1811449276|title=Milkshake Man (Jolyon Petch Remix) – Single – Album by Go-Jo|website=Apple Music|access-date=2025-05-02}}
- "Milkshake Man" (Jolyon Petch Remix Edit) – 2:42
- "Milkshake Man" (Jolyon Petch Remix) – 3:32
Charts
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for "Milkshake Man" ! scope="col" | Region ! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Format(s) ! scope="col" | Version ! scope="col" | Label ! scope="col" | {{Ref.}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="2" | Various
| 25 February 2025 | rowspan="2" | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | Original | rowspan="2" | {{hlist|Chugg Music|Rix Records}} |
|---|
| 2 May 2025
| Jolyon Petch remix |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest|state=collapsed}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest 2025|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Eurovision songs of 2025