We often pick up on the gimmicks used to give your song that extra push. Those things that make your average viewer sit up enough to pick up their telephone and wote for you. Occasionally, there are times when you might forget a singer is there, and concentrate on the sideshow. This happened in 2011 with the song by today's birthday girl Міка Ньютон/Mika Newton (née Оксана Грицай/Oksana Hrytsay). She took a song with a familiar title - Angel -...

A very high quality final produced by Suspline, as per usual but on way way too early! - Jury and televote decided the winner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv4Zp_FG0qg&pp=ygUJWmlmZXJibGF0

Who doesn't love a good thigh-slapper of a song. It's more than just plain old Schlager. A good old banger that will fill a dance floor, even if the lyric isn't the most profound in the world. A thigh-slapper with a killer stage show can be even better. Not all stage shows work, but this one does. It's from today's birthday girl Тіна Кароль/Tina Karol (née Тетяна Григорівна Ліберман/Tetyana Hryhorivna Liberman) and features a whole load of goings on. Maybe...

Ah, Ukraine and Eurovision—a match made in musical heaven. For 2025, Vidbir will once again be the country's trusty national selection process. It’s Ukraine’s go-to for picking the next big Eurovision act, and if you know anything about Ukraine’s Eurovision record (hello, 100% qualification to the final), you know this is serious business. Interactive The Ukrainian public broadcaster, Suspilne, has confirmed that Ukraine will compete in Basel, Switzerland, in May 2025. And for Vidbir fans, get ready—this year’s process is about...

As Russia’s war against Ukraine drags on into a third year it’s perhaps unsurprising that its influence is felt less in terms of voting sympathies. The shadow of war feels as strong as ever in their Eurovision selection. The conflict isn’t blatant here but the theme of humans being able to draw the strength of saints has a clear line to the superhuman stamina Ukrainian citizens are still being forced to conjure up. Alyona Alyona, one of the country’s biggest...

Only a charlatan or a stupid person would still claim that Ukraine are going to score well in this contest.  The reason why I am saying this is because it’s a well crafted song sung really well by Alonya Alonya (so good they named her twice) and Jerry Heil.   I’m writing this from the press centre so I have seen the performance and I must admit that this clouds the write up a little bit.  I love the...

A solid blend of Ukrainian and modern beats tells a compelling story of struggle and perseverance. The lyrics begin with imagery of a spring – the unstoppable force of life - making its way through obstacles. The chorus invokes Mother Teresa and the Virgin Mary as symbols of compassion, mercy, and maternal strength. Teresa & Maria stands out as a vibrant and meaningful entry for Eurovision 2024. It showcases Ukraine's rich cultural heritage while addressing universal themes of faith, hope, and...

Do you have parents from two completely different places? Is one parent from Ireland and the other from Cyprus, for example? It's great when you can benefit from two different cultures. It shows that this world isn't so big after all. They happen amongst Eurovision performers, and you can think of plenty. Today's birthday girl Гайтана/Gaitana (née Гайта-Лурдес Клаверівна Ессамі/Gaita-Lurdes Klaverivna Essami is of a rare mix of Ukraine and Congo-Brazzaville. Go on, name me someone outside of Gaitana's immediate...

After last night's hiccup, we all came back on Sunday to see how it was all going to play out. The phones and app was open until 7pm Local time with the jury vote being held over from last night. The delayed result was as follows. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT_SQm5W8mk This is going to be a favorite because it is a damn good song rather than any notion that Ukraine needs the votes.  This should rocket to the top of the charts.

Once again, despite awful conditions on the ground, Ukraine's broadcaster Suspline has managed to get a National final to the screens of Ukraine and Europe.  I still don't know how on earth they manage it! Unlike last year, the final does not seem to be in a bomb shelter but in an actual venue, and, as you would expect from Ukraine, high technical and production values came across on the screen.  Anyone who still has doubts they can do...