We all sat in awe as Italy’s Vincenzo Cantiello racked up the points for his Junior Eurovision 2015 ballad “Tu Primo Grande Amore”. His number beat amazing songs like Sokal (Belarus), Nisi Sam (Slovenia), I Pio Omorfi Mera (Cyprus), Diamonds (Malta) and most amazingly Planet Of The Children (Bulgaria).

Ukraine may have won our Junior Eurovision poll, but the support for Bulgaria was prominent in the comments section. You really loved Krisia, Hasan and Ibrahim, and it was clear to see!

bulgaria-jesc
Krisia Todorova from Bulgaria rocking the stage at Junior Eurovision 2014

On the night of Junior Eurovision my family and I watched the show and rated each song. Bulgaria came 1st within our family, while Italy came 13th. Looking through various tops on YouTube didn’t help either, as Italy rarely reached anyone’s top 5, while Bulgaria was the dominant song in first place.

Many people are shocked at Italy’s win. It’s not the case that Vincenzo’s song was bad, it’s just that there were SO many good songs on the night. Bulgaria really shone, but its running order draw seems to have hurt it. It may be the biggest reason as to why Italy beat Bulgaria to first place.

Regardless of why Krisia came second, I still believe she deserved to win, just like the Junior Eurovision press.

Firstly, Krisia delivered amazing vocals on the night, even though she had been suffering with a cold for the majority of the week. She overcame the thing that brought her down in order to go up the scoreboard at JESC 2014.

 

hasan ibrahim
Hasan & Ibrahim accompanied Krisia Todorova on piano at JESC 2014.

Second, the twins Hasan and Ibrahim, who played the piano during the performance, were amazing. They synchronised their piano playing, and always stayed in time with each other. There’s a real twin connection there y’all!

Finally, the subject of the song was more fitting for JESC. The song talked of being a superhero or a princess, taking a slightly more junior tone than Italy’s lyrics of first love and finding the one!

Krisia Bulgaria Junior Eurovision 2014 final
Many people will look back and decide that Bulgaria was the real winner of JESC 2014.

I think many JESC fans will hail Bulgaria the real winner of JESC 2014, but Vincenzo will be the one in the history books. Alas, we will have to see Bulgaria take the title another time. And trust me, if they bring another Krisia, it’ll be imminent.

You can watch Krisia Todorova’s performance of Planet Of The Children below:

Photo: junioreurovision.tv (EBU)

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Sundari
Sundari
9 years ago

If Vincenzo was competing for Bulgaria, Slovenia or any other of the smaller countries, his song would not have made the top 10!

VVI
VVI
9 years ago

Totally agree. I’m sorry for Krisia. I really loved Krisia and Ula. <3 Adorable, vocally perfect. Maybe the best of JESC ever!
Greetings from Germany

mimipet
9 years ago

It is really pity that Krisia, Hasan and Ibrahim did not win!
It is simply one of the many times that shows all of us how every time win not the most deserved, maybe there are some games behind the official face of the EV, who knows!
However Kids you were great and you did a great performance!!!

Eva
Eva
9 years ago

Vincenzo sang well, but certainly the song could not compare with the Bulgarian entry… Krisia’s song was powerful and the performance was genuine, vulnerable, memorable… Of course, and unfortunately for old Europe, there are always politics involved with these competitions, when it should be about what is the best. I really like this about America and California, where I live… here there is a prevailing spirit of “may the best entry win” and this is what has made this country so great in so many aspects… Europe will be a much better place, when its peoples start seeing that the… Read more »

Alex
Alex
9 years ago

…either that or they just didn’t care for the entry as much? Accusing a kids’ jury of being “tactical” and conspiratory is a bit silly.

theclearwinner
theclearwinner
9 years ago

San Marino Gave exactly 0 tactical points to Bulgaria. It’s just impossible to give 0 points to a favourite song out of 16 songs. That’s so tactical from EBU, San Marino had only jury vote.
The ”kids jury” gave only 4 points to Bulgaria and 12 to Italy which was completely tactical again.
Bulgaria was the clear favorite by far, even way before the JESC night, even after that.

Alex
Alex
9 years ago

Charles, I recommend you listen to Bulgaria’s song. There’s nothing even remotely cheesy about it, and you might well appreciate it.

If I had to guess, it seems more likely to me that Italy won televote and Bulgaria won jury vote. But the split results aren’t released, so there’s no way to know in reality.

Thiago
Thiago
9 years ago

I wanted Bulgaria to win too. But Europe had spoken and Europe selected Italy as the winner. Unless the contest was rigged, this would suggest Italy deserved to win and not Bulgaria. How can we discredit the decision of the people?

Charles
Charles
9 years ago

I’m giving the same opinion I’d give if we were discussing for instance why the Netherlands should have won instead of Austria … Wiwibloggs presumably wanted Bulgaria, my neighbour’s dog wanted Armenia, some homeless on the street wanted Russia or Ukraine … etc etc etc The list of preferences and favouritism goes on and on. But they all have one thing in common: they only express the preference of one individual and one individual’s own opinion can never be translated into a winning in a music contest. It would never be because I prefered NL to Austria that NL would… Read more »

Alex
Alex
9 years ago

I can’t remember Italy’s song at all, admittedly. It was still a really good performance, though – his vocals were on point. Vincenzo deserved his victory. Krisia didn’t sound as good as some of the other entrants that night, but the comparison is unfair because she was sick. She did seem to have stronger vocals during jury rehearsal, but again, when you’re sick, it’s really quite hard to sing well. Nonetheless, she still sang quite well, and Bulgaria’s song was easily the best one of the night. My preferred winner would have been Malta, and if this were a contest… Read more »

Lolilly
Lolilly
9 years ago

Italy’s song was overwhelmingly boring. It Just was not an attractive, fun, childish song. It sounded too mature for JESC.

Easpag
Easpag
9 years ago

Deven, I won’t even bother arguing how broken your logic is.

Nevyana
Nevyana
9 years ago

The song (Bulgaria) Krisi, Hassan and Ibrahim was the best! She really is a a children! She has a message to the whole world! She has a vision! She reaches every heart! These children are the winners!

Deven O'Kearney
Deven O'Kearney
9 years ago

@Bledar, I agree with you, Europe preferred Vincenzo over Krisia, Hassan and Ibrahim. The other comments are offensive in saying that Bulgaria deserved to win over Italy. Italy was clearly better than Bulgaria. So I agree with you. 😀

Thiefo
9 years ago

I agree all the way through Liam, Krisia was amazing and deserves special recognition because she managed to deliver great live vocals even though her voice wasn’t 100% recovered… I’ve said it before, in my opinion Italy was good too, but wasn’t a winning song, and the performance, even though good as well, wasn’t that impressive, if I’m being honest I was more impressed over Federica’s vocals. I recognize Vincenzo has a very powerful voice and he deserves recognition for that, but her song wasn’t that great and looking at the whole package, I wouldn’t have voted for Italy. Now,… Read more »

Bledar Leka
Bledar Leka
9 years ago

Italy was much better than Bulgaria in my opinion. Vincenzo had great vocals all the way through, not the case with Bulgaria. She’s in my top 5, but here is my top 5:

1: Malta
2: Italy
3: Belarus
4: Bulgaria
5: Cyprus

Now saying that Bulgaria should’ve won and saying that Italy didn’t deserve to win is quite offensive in my opinion. Europe preferred Vincenzo. Get over it! Gosh…

joey
joey
9 years ago

@Deven, I know it’s just your stupid stupid opinion, but saying it is a big fan wank is just too offensive, not for my liking but for others, for sure!!!! Ugh!!!! Bulgaria deserves to win, if not for all her troubles!!!!

Deven O'Kearney
Deven O'Kearney
9 years ago

If I’m honest, I thought that Bulgaria’s song was just a big fan wank. I knew that if Malta didn’t win, it was all for the taking for Italy. I was right. But by 12 points. That could have made all the difference between a genuinely good song winning and a cardboard song that was just one big fan wank winning Junior Eurovision. I’m sorry if I am being harsh, but I am just stating my opinion.

Maximilian
Maximilian
9 years ago

Hasan and Ibrahim were great too. They are so talented and their mother is so lucky because her two sons were in the jesc at the same time. Maybe we can see them in the ESC one day who knows :). I am not sure but their origin is Turkish.

Britz26
9 years ago

Italy don’t deserve to win. Bulgaria deserves it MUCH more!

bavarson
bavarson
9 years ago

You are pure idiots. Bulgaria had many fans before JESC in Malta, in this case the startup order has no meaning.

Daniel
Daniel
9 years ago

Before the contest, I never wanted to listen to Italy’s song and I instead listened to Bulgaria’s. I watched the contest with my family and my young little cousin was singing Julia’s “Around” though she isn’t good at Dutch! For me, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Malta, Sweden, San Marino, Belarus or obviously Bulgaria should have won. I like Cyprus and her song was AMAZING but it is a dance song and it had no dancing and the only thing I liked about Italy’s was his voice but I’ve said before and I’ll say it again, his song SUCKED!

Nikos
Nikos
9 years ago

I have to agree. I was shocked too when I saw that Italy had won and I went through all the live videos on Youtube the next day and still dont get it. But as we know this is Eurovision, our favorites dont always win which is fine.

joey
joey
9 years ago

Now Planet of the Children is my most favorite JESC song ever!!!! It will be in my heart and playlist forever!!!

Marco
Marco
9 years ago

I don’t agree, for me Italy was a worthy winner. Of course, Bulgaria’s song was nice too, but to me it seemed almost a bit “artificial”. Krisia sang well, but there wasn’t much naturality about the whole presentation. The piano-playing twins and all those flickering and twinkling kitsch-things in the background just underlined my (personal) impression. In Vincenzo’s performance, however, no such diversion was needed, there was just a boy who obviously enjoyed singing and did so with great passion and joy, yet in a simple and natural way. You deserved it, Vincenzo!

D
D
9 years ago

This is like ESC 2009 all over again, and Krisia is the Ani Lorak of JESC (not because of musical style but because of results). Krisia is the deserving winner obviously, and I still don’t like Vincenzo’s song. I’d love for Bulgaria to host if Italy declines, which I feel like they might, but I doubt Bulgaria will have enough money to host JESC considering they’re still struggling to find funds to simply participate in ESC this year.

PP
PP
9 years ago

She didn t sing very well , yes she was ill, but she didn t deserve first place, Italy, Belarus, Malta and even Ukraine for me was better that night.

real winner
real winner
9 years ago

This song could have won the adult ESC. Amazing song. This is the real winner, Italy wasn’t in my top 10

littleowljrn
littleowljrn
9 years ago

It was probably the best JESC song ever.

Iliyan
Iliyan
9 years ago

Yes, Italy has won this JESC, but “Planet of the Children” will stay the most lovely song in this Competition! With world wide support! Every thing in this live you can buy, but people’s love you couldn’t! RESPECT Krisia!

dragvision
dragvision
9 years ago

And especially because rai dont want host a junior eurovision.

Steph Parker
9 years ago

Ummm, synchronizing piano playing isn’t a music twin thing but an essential part of playing piano in a group. Even though they are excellent piano players.

Easpag
Easpag
9 years ago

Completely agree.