How quickly times change. It might only seem like yesterday that we were in Kyiv, getting ready for Eurovision itself. But now, Ukraine looks to try and wrestle back the Eurovision crown. Tonight saw the first semi-final of Vidbir 2018, their selection for Lisbon.
Nine acts performed, but only three would take a spot in the final. The three qualifiers were: LAUD, The Erised and VILNA!
As always with Vidbir, results were decided by a 50/50 split of the jury vote and a televote. You can see the full results below, as well as a link to each act’s performance:
VIDBIR 2018 — JURY VOTES
9 points – LAUD, “Waiting”
8 points – Serhiy Babkin, “Kriz tvoyi ochi”
7 points – Constantine, “Misto”
6 points – PUR:PUR, “Fire”
5 points – The Erised, “Heroes”
4 points – KAZKA, “Dyva”
3 points – VILNA, “Forest Song”,
2 points – The YVO, “Ng’a-Ng’a”
1 points – Kozak System, “Mamai”
VIDBIR 2018 — COMBINED VOTES
There’s some serious discrepency in those votes, y’all! The final result saw a three-way tie on 12 points, but it was VILNA with “Forest Song” who qualified, after taking the full 9 points on the televote.
Also in tonight’s show, we saw the first live performance of “Lie to Me” by Mikolas Josef since he was selected as the Czech Republic’s act. Sporting glasses and a backpack, Mikolas worked the stage and got the audience on their feet.
Next week’s show seems a number of returning acts take to the Vidbir stage, including TAYANNA and Melovin.
What did you think of tonight’s show? Do you think that the right three acts qualified for the final? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments section below!
lol another “Human” copycat
I didn’t hear Human at all.
I really like the pre-selection in Ukraine, different genres and styles, quite good performances, but come on, it takes about 5 hours to know the results!
I think second semifinal will be harder, and not all returnees will advance (Talking about MELOVIN, TAYANNA and ILLARIA)
My personal favorite based on the studio cut is ILLARIA (even if I love Tayanna and Melovin).
I hope ILLARIA goes to Lisbon with this folk-current song.
Vilna needs to win Vidbir!!! I want her song at Eurovision so much ?? how dare those juries play favourites again. Vilna has a great song and it would do amazing at eurovision. It’s better than Laud, better than The Erised and better than Tayanna this year! At least the televote got it right
I hope Tayanna wins this!
She won’t because her song is awful I’m afraid
Only finalist I heard was Vilna. Definitely dig it – kinda reminds me of Slovakia 2010 with that back to nature vibe.
Definitely The Erised on the head of all the above, that there is a pick. Stylish and as always at a high level. The contestants were lucky that they did not take their “Run” song, everyone would already sit and nervously smoke on the sidelines. It’s a pity! Chris, I think they are worthy of your attention and a separate article. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwxslasUWyI
I like “Heroes” much more than “Run”. And my favorite song of the band is “Pray” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ5L63MkrAY
Illaria will hopefully be the dark horse this year <3 She deserves it after all these attempts and this is her best attempt yet!
Illaria can not be a dark horse because she is already known as one of the strongest participants. This title is more suitable for Ingret or Julinosa.
You have to listen to the live performances, half of the songs tonight sounded nothing like the studio version. Most of them just flopped and the best example of it would be Kazka.
It’s quite sad that none of the songs in Ukranian made it to the Final.
Vilna’s song was the only song of this semi I’ve listened to before this night, and I’m glad she made it through (although the “spirit” line reminds me of “Faded” by Alan Walker… and the “Hella-hella-hey” of Külm 🙂 ).
I did’nt listen to the non-qualifiers, but the other two qualifiers are pretty good too! How does Ukraine have such high production in their songs?
Now waiting for SF2 with the two lions: actually, both Tayanna’s song and Melovin’s (but specially Tayanna’s) make me glad they weren’t selected last year :D.
Happy The Erised team made it. Good support and she was fiiine.
Can’t say it was really fulfilled performance though.
Hopefully Constantin will decide to have a comeback once.
At least the top 3 of the televote qualified despite the Juries voting strangely.
I can’t wait for Tayanna next week, her song is just brilliant and fun.
LOL Riva what are you doing on wiwi 😀
How about they get rid of this ridiculous jury? Verka is in the jury for the 3rd year in a row, Jamala for the second. How about some diversity? These ones obviously have their own favorites. I expect them to rank low both Tayanna and Melovin in the next semifinal, as they shamefully and undeserving did last year…. Shame!
I think Danylko already openly said behind the stage that Tayanna is his favorite this year.
Tayanna was the judges favorite last year, they ranked low only Melovin. Many consider that the strange vote of the judges at NF1 this year is due to the fact that they want to remove strong competitors for the Tayanna. Fortunately, the audience corrected the injustice and chose the three strongest songs of the evening.
STB had a contract for 3 years to organize the national selection, so it is possible that next year the TV channel will be replaced as well as the whole jury.
I haven’t been following ukrainian selection, but I think all three qualified songs are nice. My favorite by far is Vilna’s. Jury must be kidding to place it so low. I’m glad that “Forest Song” will go on and take the “hella hella ye!” void that Etnopatsy’s elimination left on my heart!
For reals. Vilna was easily the best tonight and the jury vote was ridiculous. Seriously, the Ukraine should just replace them with an international jury or go 100% televote.
Obviously the best 3 songs qualified. The other 6 were not good.
I liked all 3 qualifiers. “Waiting” is catchy and well performed. “Heroes” has a modern sound and the interpretation was really good. “Forest song” has sth atmospheric and folk I like.
I can’t believe the juries are playing favorites AGAIN. Serhiy Babkin is a nice guy, but giving him 8 points for that song? Come ON. Vilna gave the best performance of the night, and I’m glad the Ukrainian public saw that. However, I’m most excited for Ingret next week. I hope her song and performance are amazing since she’ll be up against fan favorites TAYANNA and Melovin
> first live performance of “Lie to Me”
Didn’t he lipsync?
But I guess that fits the title of the song…
That wasn’t lipsync (at least his main vocals weren’t lipsynced, backing vocals could be) – his voice sounded too flat and nasaly for it to be lipsync.
I loved “waiting” from laud. Definitely in top 10
I loved “waiting” from laud. Definitely in top 10
I’m sad the jury killed Vilna. At least she made it through the final. I would love to see her in Lisbon !
I loved “waiting” from from laud. Definitely in top 10
I loved “waiting” from Laura. Definitely in top10
The three songs are kind of weak, but at least one “hella hella ye” qualified tonight lol
jury did their best to sabotage VILNA and Erised (and will do the same in the Final)
How were they sabotaging The Erised with a 5 out of 9. And you’ve listened to what the jury had to say about Vilna.
Wasn’t a fan of The Erised or Vilna but they were definitely better on the night than Constantine and Jamala’s friend/The Maneken’s produced song (Serhiy Babkin).
“First live performance” of Lie To Me? lol more like second or even third if we count that accustic performance. But yeah – the first isn’t easy to find (even I can’t find it again – but it is somewhere on youtube)