After several weeks of silence induced by the Russian invasion of the country, Ukraine’s broadcaster Suspilne has uploaded an Instagram post in which they state they are preparing for Eurovision 2022.
Ukraine is set to be represented by Kalush Orchestra. The official Eurovision channel has subsequently uploaded the group’s Vidbir 2022 performance to its account. The group was chosen after a chaotic national final that saw the initial winner Alina Pash and her songs “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” forced aside.
Ever since the start of the war, the broadcaster has understandably remained silent about its participation. Millions have fled the country, including people in the country’s capital Kyiv. Eurovision 2016 winner Jamala is among the Ukrainians to seek refuge elsewhere in Europe.
Russia’s bombing of the Kyiv Television Tower made televisions go dark across the capital – and that prompted doubts surrounding the country’s participation.
Ukraine intends to participate in Eurovision 2022
In an Instagram post shared on Saturday evening, the public broadcaster stated the following:
“Ukraine is preparing for participation in Eurovision 2022.
For the group Kalush Orchestra, Eurovision is very important. At the same time, the band is focused on the situation in our country. They became more active, volunteered, enlisted in the territorial defence and called on everyone to help Ukraine and asked everyone watching this video to speak about the war and to ask [our allies] to close the skies in our country so that Russian bombs would not kill people anymore.
Everything will be Ukraine! Everything will be Eurovision! ❤️🇺🇦”
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Kalush Orchestra member currently employed in territorial defence
With the post, Kalush front rapper Oleh Psiuk confirmed that one of the other members of the group is currently employed as part of the territorial defence of the country. The rapper did not specify which member of the group.
“Eurovision is very important to us but the life of our family and friends is even more important. So now we are doing everything possible to help our country. One team member of our band is fighting in the territorial defense in Kyiv. I have established a volunteer organization. We are helping people to find accommodation, move, find medicine. Our country has united to the maximum.”
“All my friends and people I know keep helping one another, and we are all fighting as one cohesive mechanism. So I would like to ask you and urge everyone who can hear me to help us, speak up about this problem. Earlier, it seemed to be so far away from me on TV when I watched war films, but actually it’s not. When you wake up to explosions and you do not know if your girlfriend is still alive, you understand that it’s all very close and it should not be happening in 2022.”
“I want to ask each of you who is registered in social media, who can go outside and speak up about this. We really need you to spread information and we need help to close the sky. Please help us close the sky, whoever can influence this. If the person who can influence this hears me, please do it. Let’s make the world peaceful in 2022.”
This year we can’t name Eurovision the Eurovision Song Contest but the Eurovision Song Concert allowing the same representatives participate in the contest next year for example so they can compete?
ESC isn’t going to be a song contest this year. Sad for the rest of the contestants without any chance to win even if they haven’t sung yet.
I hope that Eurovision won’t turn out to be an event supporting Ukraine.
EBU must keep the contest clear from politics
it is not about politics. It is about millions of human lifes
They can support ukraine, I have no problem with that, in fact I encourage it. I just don’t think votes are the right way to go about it. Otherwise they could have kept russia in and gave them zero points. Either way is symbolic but essentially meaningless in the scheme of things.
It actually saddens me that people may choose to use their votes as an act of solidarity. I get it, I do, but I personally believe that they have a legitimate chance of winning. Rap is the furthest from my type of music possible, but I still think there is something unique in this song and I think they deserve a chance to prove they deserve the win. Side note, I hope Stefanie is okay and gets to watch them on the night.
I’m really sad for the other contestants. They don’t have any chance.
Well that’s the other side isn’t it? If someone is also deserving of the win, and I can think of a couple, we’re also taking away their deserved moment that they worked so hard far. Solidarity is so important right now, I just think there’s better ways to show it.
Agree
Maybe a fundrising fest this year and let the party sleep till next year? I don’t know. I’m sad bacause I don’t think it’s fair for the others.
The London preparty and others like it could donate proceedings?
Better to give votes to the hottest guy or the trashiest “bop” or ironic votes to acts like Serhat that can’t sing to save their life. Those are better, those are not saddening decisions. But solidarity votes? Those are filthy and sad and ruin the contest. Seriously, read your own comments. You are insane.
Who said I liked that way of voting for the hottests, the funniest, etcetera? In fact I despise it. I want a song contest, only a song contest. Who said solidarity votes are filthy? Me? Are you insane? Don’t put words in my mouth I haven’t said.
I’ve expressed my opinion which is as valid as yours. If you don’t like people thinking what you don’t like… that’s not very democratic.
I’m not waisting my time fighting.
But you never had a song contest that all the votes went exclusively for the best music, you always had a bunch of votes that are given for completely unrelated reasons. So, are you deeply saddened every year? That’s Eurovision, people vote for all sorts of reasons. It was always like that.
The difference is that this year people aren’t voting for all sorts of reasons but more likely for one. If winning ESC is going to make ukrainians be happy for a moment, great, God knows they deserve to be happy, but we still are allowed to be sad for the lack of choices of the other contestans, aren’t we?
Whatever. I literally never said that. I personally vote for the best song and package. I know people vote that way and I don’t like that either. Chuck bloc voting in for good measure. But if you’ve read pretty much any comment here, which clearly you haven’t, the debate is all about solidarity voting. Now go play elsewhere child.
I think this is important for ukrainians and not just eurofans. This song is being used on twitter, tiktok, youtube, facebook as a background music in whatever military video you see in social media. Try using the hashtag #ukraine on Twitter you will find different kinds of videos like a ukrainian farmer towing a russian tank and the music is Stefania. Their song became synonymous with fighting for their country instead of just aiming to win eurovision
true
Now imagine Putin annexes Ukraine before May. So Russia will participate then ?
imagine there will not be any russia at that time
We are way past those thoughts after it became clear that the Russian army is mostly a big joke that lacks basic combat tactics and strategy. Ukraine will be fine. Russia will hopefully become North Korea for at least a couple of decades.
No, because ESC is actually a contest between EBU broadcasters and artists chosen by them (sometimes with the help of their viewers). The Russian broadcaster is no more eligible to participate in this year’s contest, and they wouldn’t have time to catch up with preparation work if they were suddenly (and VERY unlikely) re-invited either. They hadn’t even chosen an artist or a song. It’s very simple.
Showing solidarity with Ukraine is not about you making them win Eurovision. That wouldn’t stop the war, the pain people are feeling. Solidarity is helping refugees, being actively anti-war, etc, IT IS NOT winning contests if you’re not the best. Give Kalush Orchestra the biggest applause of the night if you will, but please vote for the quality of the songs – and if for you that’s Ukraine then vote for them, but be honest.
Agree
If the contest was to be held in coming days, sure they would have won even with a back up video.
But who knows what will happen in 2 months.
I just heard on the news that they intend to perform with their live on tape only. Understandable, of course.
So, every year the media criticises the contest for being political especially biased towards some countries a big example U.K. ( even this year we have a really strong song but there are the usual negative comments that it will end up bottom, sorry but any other country Space man would be declared a strong contender, but UK should be happy for 15-20 place, sorry utter crap) or more favourably Italy (since return nearly always in the top 10, their song this year is mediocre, but it’s hilarious reading some of the comments overhyping it. If U.K. sent something similar… Read more »
Should they win, the runner-up should probably start scoping out venues for ESC 2021.
They should withdraw out of respect for their country’s victims and hardship . What ? NO ????
Maybe. Try to imagine this situation: People being killed, at the same time their national broadcaster transmitting Eurosong (which is a fun event, not a concert of classical music).
Or try to imagine people having next to nothing but their pride right and looking forward to something, no matter how small it might seem, in which to channel their pride.
no we want to participate.
For all of the “this is a contest” / “Ukraine shouldn’t win” people, DO NOT forget that Ukraine may not exist if Russia wins this BS war. This may be the last time any of us see ANY entry from Ukraine. WE MUST SUPPORT UKRAINE IN EVERY WAY.
First of all I hope the contestants will make it safe and sound in Turin to show the world Ukrainian pride is strong. Now I think people will probably get behind this. Could be a landslide or not. But I don’t think the juries will let this win. Sure it would be unfair to other songs. It would be interesting to see how televoters would react to Bosnia in 1993 (the juries put it 18th or something). This is the second time in the history of the contest a war takes place in Europe. Let’s see how Europe reacts ..
I guess it’s obvious Ukraine wins this year, probably both jury and viewers votings. I was wondering how to solve this situation to be fair for all contestants for whom it must be very demotivating to participate in a contest in this circumstances. At first I thought maybe Ukraine shouldnt participate as a regular contestant and could be granted a special guest status and perform in the Grand Final in interval Act together with other Ukrainian artists (like Ruslana and Jamala who are known from their public invilvement). But excluding Kalush from the comprtition would also be unjust for the… Read more »
it is the only winner worthy song anyway…
I think that is wise. Offer them a Special Guest status as the situation in Ukraine will in no doubt affect the public and jury votes so if they do win it will raise questions with the public and bring the apolitical nature of the contest into disrepute. I respect fullheartedly the guys from Kalush Orchestra but, the situation in Ukraine has become too big to simply ignore anymore.
The notion that Ukraine shouldn’t be allowed to enter international events because their participation may somehow affect the chances or sensibilities of other competing entries seems very unfair and effectively constitutes a further punitive action against a country that is under attack. If Ukrainians are able to enter international events, and represent Ukraine, I can only see that they should receive our full support to do so. Juries, judges, televoters, and other competitors can make up their own minds about that – and how they would wish to be received if they were in Ukraine’s position.
I concur, I want a fair contest and not a one sided event where it’s so obviously tipped to go in one country’s favour. I want all other 39 countries to have their chance to do well and not to just show up to lose.
What is it a fair concours? There are so many factors in a song music that has nothing to do with music… that’s life. I do not like jurors voting Sweden year after year just because it’s Sweden, but I have to live with that…
I totally agree with Liam! this is not about excluding the Ukrainians but to providing equal treatment to all contestants, who obviously are in a way worse position. they are preparing themselves very hard and put a lot of effort knowing that it won’t be appreciated because of the political situation. I agree that Ukraine should take part in all possible contests and competitions but there is a difference between competitions when public decide and those ones where only your own work and talent plays a role. For example, let’s say football championship. the result is determined only on the… Read more »
Yes, but music is not football. Football is a sport, a game, and like in any other game, it is talent and luck what matters. Music is an art, and like in with any other art, you cannot analyse it independently from its cultural, social, political and historical context.
so if it’s art let’s keep it as art and make the best song win, regardless the political situation.
You just cannot take an artistic piece (of any kind of art) out of its political situation.
If you say so..
Would you like Dustin the Turkey won Eurovision only because political situation regarding Ireland ? (just hypotetically). I am not comparing Kalush to Dustin, it’s just an example.
For me it should be a song contest. This kind of attitute you presented make a lot of confusion and that’s why people perceive it as “politicized”.
It’s a mix of both. The Guernika stands out as one of the most important Spanish paintings ever. Would it be so if it was not an assignment from the Spanish Republic to Picasso, in the middle of the Spanish Civil War? Probably not. It would be another Picasso’s painting (which is already saying a lot, but not that much). Stefania happens to be a good song anyway, maybe not a winning song in another situation, but it is probably in the current one (unluckily, I am sure Ukraine would prefer having business as usual and not winning).
I agree with you but what is the point for other artist to participate then???? every year there are favourites, but it is never 100% sure… you wait until very last part of voting to see who wins in the end. But this si the first year the winner is known many weeks before the contest, even before some acts have been chosen. It is very unfair for the artists. Whats their role at this contest? Being just a background to Kalush? all of them are heading Turin knowing that no matter what they won’t compete with Ukraine on equal… Read more »
They should be allowed to compete as equal. If they win, they are the winners and no one else is. I don’t think the runner up would accept that anyway.
I understand your point but the attempt of annihilating a neighbour country in Europe is something that is just too outrageous. Pregnant women and children dying. Families disappearing under bombs. I personally want to take every opportunity to be political and outcast criminal Putin. I really hope Ukraine beats the record of points and I’ll keep my phone line busy to that effect. Join me.
Also, if ukraine wins big maybe the news will get to russia and maybe the russians that follow only the kremlin propaganda might start to think that something is off with their government.
Lastly, I don’t think we would be taking anything away from the other contestants. We would still get to hear their beautiful music and have a great get together in Italy. There really aren’t any loosers in eurovision even if we sometimes think so.
Ukraine will have all my votes. Showing that the world is with Ukraine is much more important than going on with eurovision as usual.
L o L
Would be much much better to donate this money to refugees or army if we all want to support and show solidarity with Ukraine. In Eurovision we can all show our sympathies, but it would be fair if everyone vote for the best song, as it should be.
Personally, I don’t want Ukraine to win, ‘Stefania’ is somewhere in the middle of my ranking, but I can see this happening this year ,as a form of solidarity.
Ukraine will win for sure and deservedly they should. Every opportunity for solidarity with Ukraine should be welcomed. Both jury and public voting will see Ukraine run away with it. So be it , Europe supports them. Let’s all hope this invasion ends before Eurovision in May, we just don’t know if it will but we all hope it will. The contest is 8 weeks away and the thought of fighting until then is devastating for everyone. 🙁 Not good news.
If Ukraine wins, it will be the most politic thing that have ever happened to Eurovision. Their song is top 10 material at best.
I don’t think people are ready for the VAST amount of televote points Ukraine will receive. It will definitely break some Eurovision records.
However, Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors would’ve been the absolute perfect choice. I can’t even imagine how epic it would be on stage in Turin given the circumstances. Such a missed opportunity. But on the bright side, Stefania is also a great song, it’s just not as epic as Alina Pash’s song.
Very glad Ukraine will be with the rest of Europe that night.
Stefania is a great song mixing and showing folk and Ukranian culture. What Esc is about. Worthy of winning if it happens.
Exactly. It is a song worth of a victory depending on who you ask, but if it doesn’t it is ok too. Just let them be and show their culture and language that are being erased under foreign bombs.
I feel deeply sorry for the people of Ukraine but this has no quality and is certainly not winning material. It has already been decided they will win. It could not host if it won, who would risk their lives going to Ukraine. Given the war, they should just withdraw
I’ll let Suspilne decide that for themselves.
Totally agree! The media has turned them into martyrs and heroes. When your country is in such a mess the last thing you want is to participate in a fluff fest.
I wonder if Jamala agrees with that, or if that’s how she sees her winning song.
Sympathy or not, I hope for this song to win because I like it!! 😀 I choose songs based on my taste, not sympathies!
What is more credible? This poster Jay or the odds, which says this will win? Hmmm
you all are heartless wtf i am appalled. a country is getting bombed and you are here chit chatting about how this country will steal the spot of your favourite off-key diva. grow up.
I said ages ago that they will win because of the continuous brainwashing . Its a political contest NOT a song ontest anymore .
Correction: It never was just a song contest.
I love Eurovision because is not just a song contest. I learn so much about History, Geography, Politics and that’s why I adore it.
you should be reading books about all the above subjects not watching a “song contest”. Unless you’re 9 of course.
I also do. I watch movies on those subjects as well. It is compatible, do you know?
OK child whatever
ESC are a song festival. Is this the best sonf this year ? No. People are gonba vote for them becuse its war ther(and i feel sorry for them. Its awful) thats not fear for the other contry.
Are you sure it is not you who have been brainwashed?
ESC helped revolution in Portugal. Neigboring countries exchange points every year. Also, it’s a very pro LGBTQ+ contest which , for some right-wingers, is political on itself. Life is political and that’s completely fine, cuz politics exist to improve wellbeing of the world (apart from making people fight or finding legal ways to steal money for state’s budget, ofc) Remember when Russia said that 2014 winner was a political statement, cuz Conchita was a drag character? That’s because it’s a pro trans form of art. So, is this political? Partially, yes, cuz the rights of those people are in such… Read more »
I would frame this message. Bravo.
I find a bit sad the general mood about Ukraine here. We have had countries that quitted because they were bored (Slovakia) or because we are too gay (Turkey, Hungary). The fact that Ukraine wants to participate literally risking their lives on it it is admirable and shows enormous respect for our contest. Let’s face it, the average taste of the eurovision fan is conservative and tends to prefer ballads or pop songs. Rap, outside our bubble is the hottest genre in 2022 so u have to admit people likes it. Stefania also brings a cultural element that is very… Read more »
Slovakia didn’t just quit because they were ‘bored’. Slovakia realized how corrupted this whole Eurovision game is, always favouring the ultra-privileged countries & neglecting the struggling ones, and they decided they were not OK with being trampled. That’s all!.
In my opinion they could not care less and it showed in the quality of their songs, and that was when they cared to show up, sorry. But let’s no divert from the topic.
Horehronie was a great song that fully deserved to qualify for the Grand Final. That performance is still among the most watched.
That’s your opinion and I respect it.
Telemóveis was also a great song, very watched as well. It did not make to the Final. But Portugal had won the ESC a couple of years before. Therefore, it is not a matter of the rest of Europe not liking Portugal, not even not liking Telemóveis. It is just other songs liked people better to the point of voting for that specific song and not another one. As simple as that.
Then what is the point of making a parody of contest this year ? Just deliver the trophy to Ukraine and make ESC 2022 a fest music show for peace in that case.
The best would have been to make Ukraine participate but without taking part to the vote/rankings arguing that anyway there is no way Ukraine will/can host ESC 2023 even if by some miracle Putin decides to stop the war tomorrow.
This will on contrary serve the Kremlin propaganda saying how ESC, EBU, EU is fake, corrupted and rigged.
Slava Ukraini!
Heroyam slava! 💙 💛
I support Ukraine with all my heart but I can not stand how some country can participate, sing, dance, be part of the festival’s joy while in their country someone is attacking them. Please, God, let this war end soon!
Ivan I heartily agree with your first phrase & last sentence but respectfully disagree with the rest. Fortunately I have not experienced anything like a war so I am not speaking from experience, however I have family members who lived through WW2 who have said that taking part in everyday life & joyful events help tremendously when you are at war. Events like Eurovision will remind Ukrainians that there is more more to life than bombs dropping & the senseless murder of innocents. It will also give them pride in Ukraine & a reason to continue fighting. It should be… Read more »
First of all, all my prayers whith Ukraine, but it must be very sad for the rest of delegations to have worked hard and dont’ have any chances to win because of the russian dictator’s war.
It would be bad cause the other countries also have worked a lot to win 🙁
I’m sure they will be there in Turin. Being present and visible at this huge stage will be really important to Ukraine.
The problem is that if this sing wins – deserved or not – anybody who didn’t support it will claim it won due to sympathy.
I predict the juries will shoot it down.
I’m afraid the juries too will be under a sort of pressure this year. Will any national jury dare to give zero points to Ukraine even if they don’t like the song? If they do, they might risk to be blamed for not showing enough solidarity with Ukraine.
It is a song contest not a sympathy one. I feel so sad for the people of Ukraine but this song deserves bottom 5
This will not be a claim but just reality. Rap never did well at ESC and how on earth if GO-A didn’t win last year would this song win without the tragic events Ukraine is living now ?
2019, Soldi? 2nd place & even Sertab had a bit of rap in her 2003 winner. The first rap song in ESC was one of the UK’s best results in the last 30 years. In 2011 Greece came 7th overall, & 3rd with televote, & Georgia came 9th. Both contained rap parts. In 2017 Hungary 2017 came 8th with some rap & 7th in televote, & Romania came 7th overall, 5th in televote with rap in half the song. Czech Republic 2018 contained rap & came 6th overall & 4th in televote. In 2021, we had Italy, (1st), Finland (6th),… Read more »
I am with you. Sometimes I think people here believe music is maths or any other exact science? Music is not a science, it is an art so it gets influenced by its context.
We can’t dictate the reasons why people will vote for a song. Some will vote because of sympathy. Some will vote because the song is good. Heck, they may vote because of how attracted they are to a singer. No matter how you vote, someone will be upset about your choice.
Vote however you want to! Or, don’t vote at all. It’s not mandatory.
Eric Saade almost won Eurovision with a terrible, cringy song just for being a hot twink. Like, is that a better reason to throw points at someone than solidarity and support for a nation at war?
So now you’re saying it was ok to vote for a 3-minute headache of a ‘song’, just because there was “glass breaking on stage”, but it’s not ok to vote for Stefania because Ukraine is being erased? Woooow…
I misunderstood you then… What were you trying to say?
If Eric was a twink I wonder how would you describe Michael from Israel?
I think Stephania is a very good song. I don’t get these comments about unfairness if they win… music is an art and, very much like the rest of the arts, you have to understand it in its social, political and historical context. Why Lili Marleen or Bella Ciao became so well known all around the world? Their historical context made two good songs into two great, unforgettable songs, known by everyone. Unluckily we are living a similar moment in history right now. Eurovision just cannot escape from that.
When Salvador gathered sympathy votes for his health condition and the fact that Portugal never won the contest after 400 participations, nobody complained. Now a European country is being exterminated but the Eurofans are horrified that it might gather too many sympathy votes. Are you people for real? That’s what’s on your mind now? That is the thing that you worry about?
Sorry, but I think Amar pelos dois is one of the best songs ever in Eurovision. I saw that festival with many non-Eurovision fans who did not know about his condition and it was the best song for all of them.
And as we all know your personal opinion is the ultimate truth of the entire universe. I know a lot of people who really dislike the song and especially his quirky weird as* presentation. And the song itself is far from remarkable if you care to listen to the early ESC editions. Sympathy votes were there for sure regardless.
Televote winning record of all time. But you and some people you know dislike it and that is indeed the ultimate truth of the entire universe?
Yeah, a televote record for sure. I heard the “Portugal never won” thing on the local news, not in some ESC fans blog. This thing was pumped into people’s heads to make the ultimate underdog win. And people fell for it. Yes, there are a lot of people who think the song is good by itself, but without the compelling story that it came with, it would not get as many votes.
If it was so easy, all never-winning countries would just have to copy that strategy…. But actually, the rest of the songs winning from 2018 so far were from countries that had already won the ESC. No, it is not that easy.
I was a massive fan of Portugal 2017 and I do not think he got sympathy votes back then. Don’t forget most people don’t care about Eurovision until the day of the shows and did not know about his heart condition.
It’s a shame that all these years later people can’t accept the fact that the song was great and it wasn’t some type of conspiracy or sympathy win.
I’m sure the reason people are so “worried” that Ukraine might win due to sympathy votes is the fact not many people like the style of music the song is lol. The Portuguese song had more people supporting it because it wasn’t a weird not very liked genre… Eurovision fans absolutely hate rap though, so that’s why the treatment is so different lol. I personally like Stefania a lot, as do many of my friends but we tend to like any genre so it’s understandable. How do you make people who only recognise pop or ballad songs as viable songs… Read more »
Eurovision fans are usually very conservative. I personally don’t mind rap much, but along with trap is the most popular genre of music in 2022, like it or not. And a rap song, with a cultural meaning behind would be a milestone for ESC like Lordi or Måneskin were.
It’s not fair that Ukraine win because of sympathy and empathy. The song is really NOT the best. I hope people and juries can see that or else we can cancel the whole thing! And also.. would they be able to host?? Come on!
How can you measure if it will win because of sympathy, or because the song is awesome? It was my #1 before the war and I was planning on voting for it. And now you will say it will only be a sympathy vote?
Same.. it was my n°1 before War and before seden/Portugal this week end. I think the song is great and deservingly could win. Every non eurofan i ve made listened to Stefania just loved it
Eeh, well if I remember correctly Ukraine ended up on top of the odds after the war had begun. I know they changed artist and song but still the song is absolutely not the best in my opinion. Just different, that’s all. And I think people feel sympathy that’s why it’s on top of the odds. Of course people do that. But I think it’s not okey to attend a competition when your country is at war. It just doesn’t feel right and not the most important thing to do when your people is dying and is in great need.… Read more »
Oh right, because in Eurovision always THE ABSOLUTE BEST song wins. There are a lot of factors to a winning entry, and political climate is one of them. The song BTW would be a worthy winner regardless the war.
In ukrainian news they wrote that Kalush will film their performance and send video to Eurovision. And in case it will be possible in May, they will go to the contest in person.
It’s a GREAT song and a worthy winner.
It’s a great song and they will fight for the win but I’m not sure they really are the best. What I fear is that if they win, we will never know if it is because it is deserved or if it is because of sympathy votes.
In any case, Ukraine sends another very good entry even if I found Alina Pash’s song much better.
War or no war, Ukraine would be top 3 in televote. The question is how juries will rank it.
Even though they’re at the top of the betting odds, there’s no way Ukraine are winning this year. The song itself is not strong enough musically and there’s no way Eurovision can be held safely in Ukraine next year. Ukraine will definitely do very well with televoters but I highly doubt the juries will rate it highly and I imagine the juries will be able to put aside the conflict in Ukraine when they are evaluating all of the songs.
They are certainly winning. When was the last time the odds didn’t predict the winner?
Last year. Malta was favourite to win for months.
Eeh last year before the rehearsals. Remember Malta?
Well before the invasion it was not at the top it was fifth with only a few % and that’s a fact
I mean if they win it will be held in another country, just like if Australia wins it will also be held in another European city and not Australia.
Every year the song at the top of the betting odds wins. Every year.
No no
It is the song that is on top of the betting odds after rehearsals/semi finals.
Cyprus was on top for 2018, Bulgaria was on top for 2017, Russia was on top for 2016…
If you have not listened, I suggest you listen to Eurovision.legends podcast with Alma (BiH 1993). That would give you an idea how difficult it really is to attend ESC while your country is being invaded. My thoughts and prayers are with all Ukrainians.
If they are able to participate, it’ll be like Bosnia 1993 all over again.
I just hope EBU won’t end up expelling Ukraine in a few years because of debts or something… ?
I do hope Ukraine gets a voice at this year’s contest (especially since this is one of my fav songs), but can’t help thinking Eurovision feels quite silly compared to what’s happening right now… Good luck and all my support to them.
Psychologically, not having Eurovision would be the worst decision. It’s not healthy to only focus on the invasion 100% of the time. Eurovision is needed right now.
Stay safe friends! Slava Ukraini!
Heroyam Slava!
really hope so!
Europe is not going to close the skies because it would mean an actual declaration of war against Russia. For them, or anybody else, to keep asking for it is nothing but desire to drag the rest of Europe into the war. This said, all my support to the Ukrainian population suffering this senseless conflict bc of one mad man
That’s how our society works.
My “neutral” Sweden don’t want our people to get hurt. But we can send weapons to Ukraine and let their men die. We take care of the remaining refugee women and children.
No, it’s not a brave thing.
Time will tell.. we dont even know what will be the state of ukrainian broadcaster in May, nor if ukrainian could even vote. They (we) have way more things to Care about right now: winning the War (either diplomatically or militarily) and préventing more deaths.
What I Hope is that Kalush would be able to be in Turin or in vidéo during the final. Competing or not competing, i Hope Stefania will resonate in the ears of every one in Europe. This is an Anthem to humanity and Ukraine culture.
This song is a sure winner. The odds are never wrong.
Destiny has exit the chat
wow this is so weird. i hope they are safe. will they make it to Torino in time for the rehearsals? How easy will they be able to travel to Italy and rehearse before travelling to Turin? Also what is the state of the Ukrainian broadcaster after the Russian aggresion?
The EBU has to make a decision about the non-political nature of the contest. They can either continue to enforce the previous rules about content and behavior (for example like they did with Hatari in 2019) or they can just let the contest become a platform for anti-Russian sentiment. Because, I don’t see a scenario where Kalush performs (even on tape) and not says something on stage about the war.
Imagine bragging about politics in Eurovision when there is a literal war in Ukraine that is affecting all European countries and will aggect forever. Wow.
Well, during the Yugoslav wars in the 90s Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) was expeled (due to UN sanctions) but the sentiment of the competition was neutral, not bashing any country and it didn’t took any side in the conflict and it should be the same in this war too. There’s no place for politics in the song contest.
The war is a crime, it’s not politics. Politics is when you preach the regime or dont broadcast country’s performance because your prime minister doesnt like the other prime minister.
This war is no longer just a politics play. It’s just a greed of a sick man with twisted imperialist ideas.
Seriously hope they can make it.
Their song is a tune! And….their performance will be such a moment! A moment for freedom, a moment for national identity and sovereignty and a moment for Ukraine!
Bring it on! My winners!
I have so much respect for the Ukrainian delegation and Ukraine in general. Participating in Eurovision is great display of soft power, Ukraine showing the world that they’re still there and nothing with bring them down, along with being an event where they consistently do better than Russia.
I hope they can make it!! Would love to see them on stage in Turin. I have always liked their song.