In the run-up to Vidbir 2017, Ukraine’s national selection for Eurovision, a wave of hype surrounded TAYANNA and her song “I Love You”. But when push came to shove in the final on Saturday evening, it was pop-rock band O.Torvald who emerged as the winner with “Time”.

Working dark and edgy staging and an alternative look that included plenty of tattoos, they brought the dirt and grit to contrast TAYANNA’s poise and elegance. The jury may have ranked them second behind TAYANNA, but their second-place finish with televoters (to TAYANNA’s third place) gave them the edge.

O.Torvald — “Time”

And by edge we mean the thinnest of edges.

The result was determined by the combined votes of the jury (50%) and the televoting public (50%). As in 2016, the end result was actually a tie — Tayanna and O.Torvald both received ten points. However, power to the people! In Ukraine televoters decide the winner and therefore O.Torvald will sing on the Eurovision stage!

TELEVOTING RESULTS

1 point — Illaria

2 points — Rozhden

3 points — Salto Nazad

4 points — Tayanna

5 points — O.Torvald

6 points — Melovin

JURY RESULTS

1 point — Salto Nazad

2 points — Melovin

3 points — Rozhden

4 points — Illaria

5 points — O.Torvald

6 points — Tayanna

COMBINED RESULTS

4 points — Salto Nazad

5 points — Illaria

5 points — Rozhden

8 points — Melovin

10 points — Tayanna

10 points — O.Torvald

What do y’all think of the results? Did your favorite win?

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Hi
Hi
7 years ago

How can Ukrain always have bad songs. But always be in the topp. If a nother land have there song, they shoukd be last.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
7 years ago

I know I am late with my opinion on this (and that is because I hadn’t followed the Ukrainian contest as much as I have been following MLT, EST, SWE, FIN, HUN and DEN)… …I have listened to the top 3 finishers in UKR for the FIRST time, and I must say I have no problem with the outcome. There will be a pretty decent hard-rock tune at ESC (although I wished the Hardkiss tried again, but maybe it will be all the better for them to take a year off), amid several ballads, a couple of pop tunes and… Read more »

Hi
Hi
7 years ago

O M G. This is so bad!

Sal
Sal
7 years ago

I wanted Salto Nazad to win but I think I actually more wanted Tayanna NOT to win as we have already enough boring-ass ballads this year so I’m happy,

AngieP
AngieP
7 years ago

@Hersi I just had the same reaction! I just got back to 2005 when they had this strange entry! Nevertheless, they are not going to win again (and maybe they don’t want to). @Calli “Similar to Minus one but much better?” For me that song was the best song of its kind I’ve ever heard in Eurovision. (together with Turkey 2010) @Rock Me The Turkish entry in 2010 was way better! I agree! This song for me is by far the best rock entry in Eurovision! (as far as I remember watching the contest) @Robyn Gallagher I totally agree! The… Read more »

Riva
Riva
7 years ago

@Colin
Isn’t it slightly incorrect to state that voters/juries were for exactly one act? I can understand that when you see clear leader with a huge gap behind him, but taking last ESC the pts were 361 vs 323 (something around 14% and 13% from pot of vote points, as televote is incalculable), making not that clear one-wanted act but two.

Rita
Rita
7 years ago

They were one of my faves. Glad they did it!

Héctor
Héctor
7 years ago

O.Torvald had a really strong and spectacular performance, this will place high with the televote in May.

While I’m happy Tayanna didn’t win and I also like ‘Time’, I preferred Melovin all the way. At least, he won the televote and a spot on my playlist. Hope he comes back another year.

bulgariastan
bulgariastan
7 years ago

Now that I look deeper into the results, in intrigued. Salto Nazad was ranked ahead of Tayanna in the semi by the jury, yet ended last in jury. Illaria had the third highest televoting perecentage of a qualifier, and ended last. Hmm.

rOBBED TAYANNA
rOBBED TAYANNA
7 years ago

@Hersi that’s true, then Ani came back a few years later and got 2nd so, TAYANNA, we are waiting for you 🙁 <3

rOBBED TAYANNA
rOBBED TAYANNA
7 years ago

I WILL NEVER GET OVER THIS ;( ;( ;( Tayanna will always be the winner in mine and everyone else’s hearts

Sash Animenkos
Sash Animenkos
7 years ago

For those who shout to get rid of the juries:
JUST REMEMBER WHY THE JURIES WERE INTRODUCED!!!!
(or you are maybe too young to remember that)
the juries were introduced to smooth down neighbour voting.
and in national selections they help to smooth down fanbase voting, which was exactly the case with Melovin.

vlvikin
vlvikin
7 years ago

sunstroke project and o.torvald can wake me up after tens womens ballads. Thank you Ukraine and Moldova.

Oleksandr Kravchenko
Oleksandr Kravchenko
7 years ago

Unlike ballads, rock songs have much more space for creative staging. And we all know that Ukraine is very good at staging. I am sure Ukraine has made one of the best choices ever for a host country and will show the best show ever)))
And you know what? some people just don’t accept O.Torvald because they were such huge fans of Tayanna and Melovin. But once they recover from this fandom, they will appreciate O.Torvald’s song.

Mil
Mil
7 years ago

@Oxana
I pity you for your embarrassment. As a Ukrainian, I voted for them (and for Tayanna).
And I can’t understand people who call it “shouting fest”. I didn’t know there are many rock bands whispering on stage.
I agree though that Yevgen, the lead singer, should work on his vocals more.

Oxana
Oxana
7 years ago

I would be happy if next year jury will be removed from the process. also i’d like to see current jury panel taking responsibility for their “choices” in semis and in final. they pushed Otorvald with that terrible song, with ugly voice and abcent vocal manners for apparent reason. and to make it easier they eliminated strong singers in semis. would it be money or desire to make fools from Ukrainians. We can do better that failed mix of Rasmus-bon Jovi-Linking Park. it’s not a rock, it’s cheap pop with ugly sound from 1990-2000s. as Ukrainian I’m ashamed for this… Read more »

Daniel_2017
Daniel_2017
7 years ago

Did the televoters get their pick in ANY of the national finals which had jury and televote? This is weird… I think only Lindita managed that – winning the televote and actually win the whole selection

Blair Sinclair
Blair Sinclair
7 years ago

Ukraine obviously don’t want to host the show two years in a row. This song can’t be called ‘rock’ or anything else – it’s just a shout-fest.

Suzy samoueil
Suzy samoueil
7 years ago

I don’t think I can figure out this song hmmmmmmmmm

Magpie
Magpie
7 years ago

Is this going to break a curse with the Australian televoters? The outlook does not look so good.

Nickc
Nickc
7 years ago

Tatiana was sick, and she did not spend much effort on staging, possibly thinking it is in the bag. I guess sometimes it is not meant to be.

Nikos
Nikos
7 years ago

YESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!! Finally a great alt rock song to enjoy at Eurovision. This is definitely my #1 now and will probably stay there 🙂

Hugh
Hugh
7 years ago

Going in, this wasn’t on my radar, but during the NF I enjoyed this more than any other song, to my surprise – so, yay?

Definite yay for a lil bit more musical diversity in Kiev though. Maybe even a YASS.

Azaad
Azaad
7 years ago

He brings variety, although out of the screaming female balladeers Tayanna was the best with a song she actually self composed. But Ukraine always do poorly with male acts (hence why they’ve sent women exclusively in this past decade) at least for Ukrainian standards so at least we won’t have the logistical mess of Odessa 2018.

Griffin
Griffin
7 years ago

Finally the streak of screamg ballad ended, i’m so glad this win. Hft

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
7 years ago

Oh I really don’t understand this.
How could juries have placed this second? I understand the public not minding it but the juries? Oh dear.

Hersi
Hersi
7 years ago

If ILLARIA’s song had better staging (like she did in the SF) she could’ve easily won. idk who it was that decided to totally ruin the staging of her song.

cheesecake
cheesecake
7 years ago

I’m heartbroken that we won’t hear “I Love You” in Kiev. But WOW I did not expect it to be because of the televote, I thought the jury was gonna screw Tayanna over.
Well, “Time” is okay. At least some other genre.

Denis
Denis
7 years ago

I am a fan of rock music but I’m not a fan of this song. It’s nothing special! Well performed and all but doesn’t grab my attention.
If it had to qualify it would just barely made it ..
Good luck!

Juracius
Juracius
7 years ago

@Alex M

By the way, “I fell sick” is a pity excuse. No artist should ever use it.

+100

Racal
Racal
7 years ago

Finally some good pop/rock music at Eurovision! Great entry from Ukraine, as usual. And I love the fact that they are not afraid to try new things and send a lot of different genres every year.

Colin
Colin
7 years ago

Does anyone find some irony that the manner how O. Torvald won tonight in Ukraine is the exact same way the reigning champ Jamala won the whole Eurovision; second in both jury and televoting. Jury wanted Tayanna, and the public was for Melovin.

Alex M
Alex M
7 years ago

@Mil
You probably should watch an interview with Meladze just after the show. He said “She fell sick BECAUSE she was very nervous”. So if she was THAT nervous before the national final, how nervous she could get at the Eurovision itself?
This man also criticized Melovin for his youth and lack of stability for such an emotionally hard event. Yet he gave maximum points to a woman who just can’t sing her song.
By the way, “I fell sick” is a pity excuse. No artist should ever use it.

Mil
Mil
7 years ago

@AlexM
No, you are wrong. Meladze said Tayanna fell sick yesterday and they were worried that she wouldn’t be able to sing.

Here comes carlo
Here comes carlo
7 years ago

An excellent winner

Abel
Abel
7 years ago

@ Music is the key – And so glad I love You Did not win! Horrible song! If a woman loves me, to yell I LOVE YOU to me in a desperate manner, is NOT the best way to get my attention This is my opinion too, it took me some time to put the finger on it, after I was asking myself why do I hate so much this performance, but I’ve found the answer. Her attitude is not right. All men and women who love and want him/her to share the feeling or to come back, must know… Read more »

Zebb
Zebb
7 years ago

Have checked few entries. Like everything went wrong…
I’ve heard cracking shouting from the lady that still has got top jury scores. Melovin buried by juries, Illaria destroyed by garbage staging (where’s that purest beauty we saw before?) and alter rock with pot of issues winning in the end. Well, song has got some merits and fills the moto, but not sure if in a good way. Groovy Kadnay could made it better, afm 🙂
Another show this year when juries went wrong a lot.

Amor A.
Amor A.
7 years ago

You realise that a lot of the favorites are not winning their national selections?

crlltm
crlltm
7 years ago

really cool entry, I like variety! I can say it might be a dark horse of contest.

Rock Me
Rock Me
7 years ago

Sounds like Turkey 2010.Just worse.

Endru
Endru
7 years ago

Kasia Mo? was the best tonight!

ds
ds
7 years ago

It is obvious for everyone that no country will get the win twice in a row so major potential nomenees decided to wait it out till next year

tania
tania
7 years ago

this evening jamala’s song “zamanyly” was the best. instead i would have sent her to eurovision one more time. neither tayanna nor o’torvald or anbody else impressed me.

Tusán
7 years ago

Oh my god! This year every single country screws it up. Eurovision 2017 is a capital MESS so far.

irada
irada
7 years ago

Tayanna has oldfashioned song. While she was choosing clothes I thought she is as like as Angelica Agurbash from Belarus. It`s cheap solution. I`m very happy because O. Torvald won. They were my favourite because I love rock music:)

Alex M
Alex M
7 years ago

Meladze said that Tayanna wasn’t sick, she was nervous.

eurovision6
eurovision6
7 years ago

Cant believe Ukraine failed to send Tayanna, huge dissapointment..

Darren
Darren
7 years ago

Would have to agree with the people saying that this year is weak. It kind of is, but there are still a few more countries to reveal their entry. It reminds me of 2010 when a lot of the songs sounded the same, with the exception of two or three, and we got a surprise winner that year (Germany). Maybe we will have a surprise/Underdog winner this year too? Maybe a country that hasn’t won yet (Hungary, Armenia, Poland ahem..Australia, wouldn’t be much of a surprise though) or a country that hasn’t won in a long time (Belgium, Italy, France,… Read more »

chicken kyiv???
chicken kyiv???
7 years ago

Spasiba Ukraiyna!

Mil
Mil
7 years ago

@Mar
Tayanna was sick, that’s why her voice cracked.