laud vidbir 2018 semi final one winner

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

vidbir results sf1

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!

Read more Ukraine Eurovision news here

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Aguzarova
Aguzarova
6 years ago

lol another “Human” copycat

Alex M
Alex M
6 years ago
Reply to  Aguzarova

I didn’t hear Human at all.

Omar - Mexico
Omar - Mexico
6 years ago

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.

H5rre
H5rre
6 years ago

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

Sharon
6 years ago

I hope Tayanna wins this!

H5rre
H5rre
6 years ago
Reply to  Sharon

She won’t because her song is awful I’m afraid

Joe
Joe
6 years ago

Only finalist I heard was Vilna. Definitely dig it – kinda reminds me of Slovakia 2010 with that back to nature vibe.

Tatyana
Tatyana
6 years ago

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

Skimur
Skimur
6 years ago
Reply to  Tatyana

I like “Heroes” much more than “Run”. And my favorite song of the band is “Pray” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ5L63MkrAY

ESCWannaB
ESCWannaB
6 years ago

Illaria will hopefully be the dark horse this year <3 She deserves it after all these attempts and this is her best attempt yet!

Skimur
Skimur
6 years ago
Reply to  ESCWannaB

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.

DL
DL
6 years ago

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.

Phary
Phary
6 years ago

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.

Zebb
Zebb
6 years ago

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.

Marcus (Day One)
Marcus (Day One)
6 years ago

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.

Vlad
Vlad
6 years ago

LOL Riva what are you doing on wiwi 😀

Geo
Geo
6 years ago

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!

Vlad
Vlad
6 years ago
Reply to  Geo

I think Danylko already openly said behind the stage that Tayanna is his favorite this year.

Skimur
Skimur
6 years ago
Reply to  Geo

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.

Sabrina
Sabrina
6 years ago

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!

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
6 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

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.

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

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.

Circle of Bibles
Circle of Bibles
6 years ago

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

Polyna
Polyna
6 years ago

> first live performance of “Lie to Me”

Didn’t he lipsync?

But I guess that fits the title of the song…

West
West
6 years ago
Reply to  Polyna

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.

Nick
Nick
6 years ago

I loved “waiting” from laud. Definitely in top 10

Nick
Nick
6 years ago

I loved “waiting” from laud. Definitely in top 10

JeyDelRey
JeyDelRey
6 years ago

I’m sad the jury killed Vilna. At least she made it through the final. I would love to see her in Lisbon !

Nick
Nick
6 years ago

I loved “waiting” from from laud. Definitely in top 10

Nikos
Nikos
6 years ago

I loved “waiting” from Laura. Definitely in top10

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

The three songs are kind of weak, but at least one “hella hella ye” qualified tonight lol

Pavel
Pavel
6 years ago

jury did their best to sabotage VILNA and Erised (and will do the same in the Final)

DL
DL
6 years ago
Reply to  Pavel

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.

Pavel
Pavel
6 years ago
Reply to  DL

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).

West
West
6 years ago

“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)