Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Ukraine returns with Vibdir to choose their entrant for Tel Aviv 2019 Eurovision. The line up features several familiar names from twice runner up Tayanna to Kazka, Laud, Letay and Brunettes Shoot Blondes. Two semifinals will send half the entries the final. Semi-final one: The Hypnotunez - Hey!  (jury 1+televote 1) 2 LIVE Letay - Myla moya  (2+3) 5 LIVE Vera Kekelia - Wow  (4+2) 6 LIVE ЦеШо (Tsesho) -  Hate  (5+6) 11 LIVE Yuko - Galyna Galiana  (8+5) 13  FINAL Maruv - Siren song  (6+8) 14  FINAL Brunettes Shoot Blondes - Houston  (7+7) 14  FINAL Bahroma -  Назавжди-Навсегда (Forever-Forever) (3+4) 7 LIVE Semi-final two: Ivan Navi -  All for the love  (4+4) 8 LIVE Anna Maria -  My road   (5+7) 12   FINAL Kazka - Apart   (7+5) 12   FINAL Кira Mazur -  Dykhaty  (1+1) 2 LIVE Laud - Dva dni (6+3) 9 LIVE Khayat - Ever  (2+6) 8 LIVE ...

  Ukraine also has its national final for Eurovision song contest 2018 in Lisbon tonight. Vidbir has six entries running after two eliminatory semifinals, among them last year's runner up Tayanna with her hysterical attempt of mixing Wild dances and Fly with me  and televote winner Melovin with his straightforward pop song (I think it's the first time I see an artist start the song standing my the microphone centre stage and moving to the piano for the last part of the song - usually it's the other way round!). Could it be the case here, too, that the moral winner gets the ticket a year after with an inferior song? Or will it be Kadnay with their more of a show than a song act with some crazy dancing? Or will Vilna's wilderness conquer hearts of the televoters? Actually it sounds even a bit Lappish or is it that it simply samples all native folks heritage globally? Might be quite a clever choice?                    ...

Ukraine has its second and last semifinal tonight. Among the acts last year's runner up Tayanna, who decided to go all for it and poses in her underwear in the video turning in the sexy while yelling out her song. Last year's televoting winner Mélovin is in, too, but doesn't maybe make such an impact this year. Last year's 4th Illaria is also here and could beat all the rest this time, maybe? the rest in offer is all sort of sounds from dance to rock. But unforgettable. Dilemma is kinda fun, and Mountain Breeze's song not yet available....  Jury-televote 50-50 will send three acts to the final. Ingret - Save My Planet Mélovin - Under the Ladder (jury 8 + televote 9) 17 Julinoza - Hto ya? Tayanna - Lelya (9 + 7) 16 Kadnay - Beat of the Universe (7 + 8) 15 Yurcash - Stop Killing Love Mountain Breeze - I See You Illaria - Syla Dilemma - Na Party

Ukraine will have two semifinals (February 10 and 17) before the final and the line up features quite a few familiar names looking for a revenge: for example last year's runner up Tayanna and televoting winner and 3rd placed Melovin are in, as is 4th placed Illaria . Kadnay also tried last year but missed the final while Pur:Pur placed 4th two years ago. Constantine Serhii Babkin Laud Kazka The Vyo Kozak System Vil’na Pur: Pur The Erised Ingret Kostenko Melovin Julinoza Tayanna Kadnay Yurcash Mountain Breeze Illaria Dilemma

Yawn. In a Million years I wouldn't have thought this could happen. That's the first reaction. Not really, lol. For a change it's a worthy winner and was one of my faves in Melodifestivalen.  Sweden wins with Mariette the OGAE Second chance contest for the 16th time. Add nine 2nd place sand one 3rd places and that leaves us only six Swedish participations that didn't land the Top-3. The lovely surprise is Italy's second place. Paola Turci 's anthem for loving yourself Fatti bella per te is Italy's third second place (added to two wins and one third place).  Check out the full results after the jump.....

Pictured is Ukraine's national flower sunflower Ukraine had a long selection process in various stages to find out who will do the honors on home soil in Kyiv in May. First there was an online wildcard submission already from September. Auditions were held all over the country and other entries were picked by submissions. In the end we had 24 songs for the semifinal, and then six for the final. It all ended with a tie. O.Torvald was both jury's and televoters second, while Tayanna won the jury but was only third with televoters where Melovin took the victory. And then it was declared O.Torvald's Time is the winner. O.Torvald is a rockband that has been together in various formations since 2005. The current members are Yevhen Halych (vocals, guitar), Denys Myzyuk (guitar, backing vocals), Oleksandr Solokha (drums), Mykyta Vasylʹyev (bass) аnd Mykola Rayda (piano, DJ). Only the first two are original members. They have already released six albums and one EP, and h...

The hosting nation's national final takes place tonight. After three semifinals six songs have made it this far. Last time Ukraine won and hosted they got the worst result to date (19th) with their rap anthem, will they go with something strange this time again? Salto Nazad would somehow continue that tradition and just like I did like Razom nas bahato I adore O, mamo! as well! It's catchy, groovy, fun and a bit weird. The choreography bit is insane, in a good way. Perfect! Then we have Melovin with his gimmicky eye and a pop tune that isn't bad at all. O.Torvals offers some quite decent poprock, Illaria some strangely titled sugary pop ballad that could have played in some American elevator some 30 years ago and no one would have noticed, Tayanna delivers a song from Lara Fabian songbook and finally Rozhden offers some groovy jazzy pop that is pleasant but who would pick up the phone and vote for it come May? I'm team #SaltoNazad! Watch here from 18.00 CET ...