As Europe comes to terms with the shock news that Ukraine will sit out Eurovision 2015, influential Ukrainian producer Timofey Nagorny is offering his assistance to help Kyiv participate next year in Vienna.
Hours after state broadcaster NTU made the announcement that it was taking a break, Nagorney told Russian-language newspaper “Komsomolskaya Pravda” that he would help creatively and financially if Ukraine will have him.
“If NTU cannot organize the selection, I am willing to do it for them,” he said. “I am ready to pay all the expenses for the preparation of the act, who will be able to represent Ukraine at the international competition. I do not even have to like the candidates. I can’t guarantee Ukraine first place, but the top ten I can guarantee.”
That’s not hot air. Narogny was the man behind Mika Newton, who, in 2011, took an OK song all the way to fourth place at Eurovision in Düsseldorf. He helped dream up the magical staging that featured Kseniya, the world’s most famous sand lady.
For Nagorney, this is about a lot more than putting on a good show.
“I believe that Ukraine should participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. Our country should give the world some positive news beyond the battlefield. And if you make a good show, choose a serious song, it will not look vulgar and out of place [in light of the situation in Ukraine]. Before disclosing such a decision, [NTU should have] thought things over, weighed them, and most importantly, consulted with the people.”
Could this signal the start of a comeback for Ukraine? We’ll keep our fingers crossed…
Mika Newton at Eurovision 2011
Photo: Eurovision.tv (EBU)
@Cathal: Shake it off, Taylor Swift!
Ask some Swedish songwriters and producers
Charles you must be russian.
@Rayman: No one would have ever expressed concern about Bosnia back in 1993 because we had no internet yet or ways to access background stories as easy as we can today … therefore comparing whatever we would have felt in 1993 Bosnia with today’s Ukraine is a completely different story. I see nobody seriously understanding the concern NTU is expressing about Ukraine by not wanting to participate next year … I only see everybody crying out desperately for Ukraine to be in it for their selfish desperation for entertainment … And that I find sickening. If Bosnia was in the… Read more »
Oh PLEASE accept this order Ukraine!!!! PLEASE!!! 🙂
Charles, I don’t know if you would’ve written the same about Bosnia & Herzegovina during the 90’s, but nevertheless they still participated. I think it’s, in a way, important for a country to keep participating in something like this during a national crisis. It’s a way of being visible for the rest of the world; you’re not just an abstract number or a bunch of letters or something that is far away, you’re there, represented by a song like everyone else. I also think of Azerbaijan, a country many probably didn’t know about before their debut in ESC 2008. After… Read more »
Sounds like an offer you can’t refuse. Hopefully Nagorny knows how much the total expenses are before offering to pay the whole thing. Besides I think it’s even better now that he just don’t want it to be out of place.
She still keeps her title of the hottest and the cutest Eurovision girl for me. She looks even more magical with those wings. Anyway, that’s not the point I assume. 🙂 It’s a nice offer. However I don’t believe the Ukrainian tv doesn’t have enough money to take part. They probably want to punish Russia even more, and hear more booing next year. These are politics, I don’t want to see Eurovision fans to get involved. I politically support Ukraine as my country has had a similar conflict with a neighbor (also involving Russia). But I still think there are… Read more »
NTU what says for it??
I think NTU should consider this offer. Nothing Nagorny has proposed is in poor taste. In particular, one should note the part about *consulting the people* of Ukraine before embarking on such a venture. If it turns out that the Ukrainian people want their country to be represented in this contest, then would there really be a problem? As far as his “guarantee” of top 10, he’s being a little bit silly. “Angel” would probably not have attained top 5 without the sand artist, and the contest could stand to do without gimmickry on that level. @D: Where did you… Read more »
Wow, what an incredible guy, if he wants to do it, fine…but I still think Ukraine should stay out because of their situation
Great news!
For those people who are worried about if Ukraine had to host Eurovision… well, is not the first time that the winner don’t host Eurovision. Is not an obligation, just an option.
The Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, Monaco…
I hope that we will see Ukraine at Eurovision 2015. They send almost every year good and beautiful female singers with great song.
This would be fantastic, and he did well with Mika. I hope they let him do it, as finance is now not a problem. The only problem I have is what if they won? It would be terrible, but hey it’s unlikely, even considering Ukraine’s past success in the contest. Let him try! It’s a long time till May NTU.
Oh god ukraine I’m begging you please accept this offer, we eurovision fans (except Russians) can’t live without you in this contest!
@mark your wrong, there main excuse for no contending was financial issues.
I think no matter how hard everyone try to eradicate politics from Eurovision, it’ll always be related to Politics. And I think what this guy wants to do is sort of appropriate move to separate the involvement of political matters in Ukraine’s participation. Yeah it’s not gonna change anything, but you know, as Eurovision is a popular show in Eastern European countries, Ukrainians in general maybe still want their country to go to Eurovision despite the current situation. It will give them some sort of optimism amidst the tumultuous condition rather than thinking that their participation is an ignorant move… Read more »
It’s said all the time that Eurovision shouldn’t be about politics so what’s different now? I’m not saying it doesn’t influence the show (I mean the booing for Russia didn’t come from nowhere) but it’s not the shows purpose, nor should it be! If people from Ukraine want to be a part of next years edition of our favourite show, why shouldn’t they be allowed too? Especially when someone might have the money to finance their representation. It’s their choice and I respect whatever they choose. I’m also surprised of the comments that doesn’t want Ukraine to participate. They consistently… Read more »
Please Ukraine come back and show Russia you’re not just going to be pounded into submission.
Maybe NTU should have started a fundraiser or the other broadcasters pitch in to help Ukraine out.
I’m sure the BBC is swimming in money.
The EBU should help and not just give Greece special treatment.
Yay! Ukraine 2016.
GO UKRAINE GO! YOU CAN MAKE IT <3 WE NEED TO LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR INEVITABLE GODDESS ENTRY.
Mark – They withdrew mainly for financial reasons but political instability was cited as a minor cause as well.
I don’t mind this as long as he doesn’t forcedfully send Mika Newton.
There is a lot of songwriters, producers, record companies etc willing to do that
I don’t think that Ukraine will accept this offer. They withdrew because of political situation and not for financial reasons. The Ukrainian withdrawal is a statement that Ukraine is not in a good situation right now.
Wow this is great. And I don’t know why everyone hated “Angel”, it was in my top 5 for 2011 and one of my favourite entries ever :3
vvg – The EBU have stated that even if Ukraine won in 2013, they wouldn’t of been allowed to host in 2014 and either Sweden or Germany would’ve hosted instead. So I believe the same can be said if they decide to participate and happen to win this year.
No thanks stay home. Ukraine is divided into two pieces, hundreds of people are killed and there is no solution between the two sides yet.
That corrupt manager said “but the top ten I can guarantee.” This is so suspicious, i guess he will follow the tactic of Azerbaijan and buy votes. Ridiculous. Ukraine should not take part.
I agree with Pressman 😉
Hope this can be a solution for Ukraine’s participation. I think the situation in Ukraine is already as bitter as it can be for the whole country, so a participation in a big event like this, or in other international competitions can help the Ukranians forget about the war in their country for a while or the other way round, they can use the Eurovision to shout at the faces of Europe what is happening in their country thanks, in a big part, to the inutile European countries who can’t seem to live up to the expectancies that people put… Read more »
BUT THAT’S NOT THE PROBLEM!
Let’s say Ukraine wins the contest in 2015. Their job would be to host it in 2016. Good luck with that, when half of a country is at war with Russia, and with each other. You don’t know how it’s going to look one year from now… Maybe even the Western Ukraine won’t be safe at all… EBU simply doesn’t want to take chances. And while Ukraine is hiding behind financial problems, the real reason is clear to all of us.
YAASSS
This guy must be kidding … does he really think that by wasting his money, he’s gonna change anything? Or is there any desperation on his behalf just to see Ukraine in the competition to the point of guarantying a top 10 place? Does he even understand the seriousness of the situation in which Ukraine is? I thought desperate and lunatic fans who cry everyday for Greece ware crazy enough, but this insanity and ultimate will to keep Ukraine in the competition is beyond any rational understanding. Someone tell this guy to focus on his music, and leave behind the… Read more »
hopefully that’s the solution Ukraine needed – fingers crossed
Good idea Timofey 😀
I literally am so happy that I can’t breath. THANK YOU SO MUCH!