Every day until December 24, we’re stuffing your stockings with a new Eurovision poll and asking you to address important issues like which national selection you are most looking forward to and who had the best comeback this decade (among other things). Consider this our advent calendar for 2015. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, you can let us know your thoughts each and every day by casting your vote and sounding off in our comments section. So after you’ve mailed your Christmas cards, have a look at what we have wrapped up for you today…

Day 12: Ukraine at Eurovision

The Ukrainian public broadcaster NTU has decided to collaborate with private channel STB for its Eurovision 2016 comeback. Details on the National Selection keep flowing in and things in Ukraine are moving very fast. In fact, live auditions are taking place in Odessa and Lviv this weekend. As NTU searches for its next Eurovision act, let’s have a look at its previous ones.

Ukraine debuted in 2003 and has reached the final every time, finishing in the Top 5 five times. They’ve brought hamster wheels, drag queens, and even sand ladies. No wonder they always make an impact. But which of their entries is your favourite? Vote in our poll and leave us your specific rankings in the comments box. You can vote for as many songs as you like, but you can only vote ONE time.

2003: Oleksandr – “Hasta La Vista”

For their debut the Ukrainians chose Oleksandr with the song “Hasta la Vista”. He and his very energetic dancers hoped to reach the stars with their space theme. Unfortunately his “turquoise is the new black” approach didn’t work and he finished 14th.

2004: Ruslana – “Wild Dances”

In 2004, Ruslana, the leather-clad girl from Kyiv, graced the stage and performed the “Wild Dances” of her song title. The dancing, the song, the loin cloths, the flames, the Carpathian folk — it all came together to secure victory.

2005: Greenjolly – “Razom Nas Bahato”

What goes up must come down, as we saw when Ukraine hosted the contest in Kyiv the following year. The host country sent Greenjolly with the song “Razom Nas Bahato”. The gangsta-themed staging and frenetic performance didn’t impress and they finished miles behind Helena Paparizou in 19th. Poor Ruslana…

2006: Tina Karol – “Show Me Your Love”

In 2006 Ukraine got back on track with Tina Karol. Opening with the lyrics “Hi baby, here I am!” she owned the stage with her white-and-red dress and some major attitude. During her upbeat song she asked people to “show her their love”. Obviously they did, handing her seventh place.

2007: Verka Serduchka – “Dancing Lasha Tumbai”

Eurovision legend Verka Serduchka traveled to Helsinki in 2007 — and we’ve never looked at tin foil the same way again. Singing in English, German and gibberish, he worked it with his eccentric dancers, who also looked ready-to-bake. He managed to reach second place, giving Ukraine their second best result ever.

2008: Ani Lorak – “Shady Lady”

Despite the song title, Ani Lorak wasn’t shady at all — she was shining. She sang and danced with her boys with conviction and sensuality, and made us all love her (and her light box). She gave Ukraine second place for the second year in a row.

2009: Svetlana Loboda – “Be My Valentine (Anti-Crisis Girl)”

And then came Svetlana Loboda, who brought an oversized wheel and a red dress that didn’t really cover much. The result was a series of jokes about a stripper in a hamster wheel. Svetlana asked Europe to “be her valentine”, but it wasn’t a match. She placed 12th.

2010: Alyosha – “Sweet People”

Following that outré performance in Moscow, Ukraine decided to change their style by sending, for the first time ever, a ballad. Alyosha came to Oslo with “Sweet People,” which was all about the threat of nuclear holocaust. Good choice: she managed to take Ukraine back to the top 10.

2011: Mika Newton – “Angel”

Building on the 2010 recipe, Ukraine sent Mika Newton to Düsseldorf. Lady sang “Angel” while wearing a pair of wings and standing in a lot of steam. And then there was the completely unrelated lady drawing with sand. She kept up Ukraine’s winning tradition, finishing in fourth place.

2012: Gaitana – “Be My Guest”

In 2012, Gaitana arrived in Baku with an exotic dress, a headpiece and trumpeters with exposed abs. She invited us to “be her guest”, but folks didn’t want to stick around. The colourful performance was only good enough to secure 15th place.

2013: Zlata Ognevich – “Gravity”

Carried on stage by a giant and eventually placed on a rock, Zlata sang about dreams and love in a magical, mystical and ultimately uplifting performance. According to her song she felt like a butterfly. The results suggest she was right, as she flew all the way to third place in the contest.

2014: Mariya Yaremchuk – “Tick-Tock”

Mariya Yaremchuk resurrected the hamster wheel and dragged out a very strong wind machine for her performance of “Tick Tock,” a song about love and time. Dressed in dark blue and flirting non-stop with her sexy dancer, she managed to take Ukraine to the right-hand side of the scoreboard, ultimately finishing sixth.

What is your favourite Eurovision entry from Ukraine?

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31 Comments
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oxyk
oxyk
8 years ago

my favs are: Zlata Ognevich, Gaitana, Alyosha, Verka Serdyuchka.
Ruslana and Ani Lorak had a blast but it isn’t something I’d like to listen again.
I strongly dislike Gryndzholy, Svetlana Loboda, Yaremchuk as I believe they should not be allowed to represent our country with such lame performance.

Yuri Kus
Yuri Kus
8 years ago

1.2013
2.2010
3.2004
4.2008
5.2007
6.2014

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
8 years ago

Any song from 2008-2011.
What a great run from the Ukraine!

Richard
Richard
8 years ago

Love Ukraine, my favourite Eurovision nation and Ani, Verka, Ruslana and Svetlana, along with most of the others, are the reasons why.

SpirK
SpirK
8 years ago

@mawnck I think the production needed some time to place the sand (and whatever needed for her to draw) on stage.

mawnck
mawnck
8 years ago

Whether Jamala is amazing or not, she wouldn’t have made the final with that histrionic squawkfest of a song, and Zlata’s Cuckoo thing was just plain bad. I have no idea whether there was any vote-fixing or not, but Ukraine sent their best act in 2011. The song itself certainly wasn’t worthy of 4th place, but Mika sang the hell out of it, looked fabulous while doing it, and the arranger and (of course) the sand artist did the rest. By the way, did anyone ever find out why there was that LONNNNNNNNNG pause before Mika’s song started at the… Read more »

SpirK
SpirK
8 years ago

1. 2010: My second favorite of the year. Fantastic performance and moving, real lyrics. 10/10
2. 2011: Excellent performance, excellent song. 9.7/10
3. 2004: Worthy winner. One of the best folk pop songs in the contests. 9.3/10
4. 2013: Creative song, big voice. 9.1/10
5. 2008: Big voice, great dance song. 8.5/10
6. 2006: Also a great dance song. 7.5/10
7. 2007: Guilty pleasure!! 7.0/10
8. 2009: Guilty pleasure #2! 7.0/10
9. 2014: Nice and hearable after the transformation! 6.7/10
10. 2012: Big voice, OK song. 6.0/10
11. 2003: OK song. 5.0/10
12. 2005: Not my cup of tea. 4.0/10

Hugh
Hugh
8 years ago

Just as an aside on that, Ukraine isn’t scandal free either. The amazing Jamala was robbed of the Ukraine’s spot in 2011 for Mika Newton with many, many questions hanging over the cleanliness of the process.

Jonas
Jonas
8 years ago

We all know that Azerbaijan are known cheaters who stole their 2011 victory, but about the Russian victory back in 2008 too. In my opinion, Ani Lorak for Ukraine had the far superior song – and I am incredulous that a bland, insipid and unmemorable dirge from Russia could actually beat it – especially considering the result was solely based on televotes. What with the all the recent scandal about Russia systematically doping their athletes for the Olympics (and other events), I wouldn’t put it past them to cheat when it comes to Eurovision.

Maybe I’m paranoid, though. Blame Azerbaijan.

Foxreyna
Foxreyna
8 years ago

Zlata definitely

Steven
Steven
8 years ago

This svetlana hate is giving me a rash

Ronnie
Ronnie
8 years ago

I think 2014 was their best entry. For some reason I find the 2013 entry to be really overrated. The only reason I was wowed in 2011 was because of the sand artist. Loved 2008, 2007 and 2006 and 2009 are my guilty pleasures.

I can't believe!
I can't believe!
8 years ago

Ani Lorak deserved to win in 2008 and she’s simply the best.

Redfox
Redfox
8 years ago

Ukraine is always strong! They are talented. I wish they sent Haydamaky, then my life would be complete!

Hippo
Hippo
8 years ago

I always look forward to Ukraine and they usually put in a great effort. Sweet People was my favourite and apart from hasta la vista and greenjolly they’ve all been great.

Leaf
Leaf
8 years ago

2003 – Found it catchy then, kinda silly now ….. The entire performance I waited for Arnold to appear and be all “Hasta La Vista Baby”. 2004 – I just love me some Ruslana. Staging was on point, singing was on point and the energy was over the top. A 10/10 for me and a deserved winner of 2004. 2005 – “Razom Nas Bahato” sounded decent in the studio version, but LIVE It was too messy and very much not Eurovision-ish. Loved the instrumental but the rest was kinda messy. 2006 – “Show me your Love” was an ultimate favorite… Read more »

#12points
#12points
8 years ago

Alyosha’s voice is so powerful, she was maybe the singer in 2010.
Her song was the best rock-ballad in ESC history. Too underrated!

Marcus (Day One)
Marcus (Day One)
8 years ago

Gaitana!! Be My Guest has to be my favourite song ever. I know people don’t like it but whenever I hear the song i Smirk just a little and start singing. Buut Ukraine always send good entries (except maybe 2003/5) and could have won in 2007 and 2008 however in 2008 Armenia, Greece and Ukraine could have all won and if it was just one of these songs competing in 2008 they would have won. And 2007 Molitva won with 34 points extra I think and the YUgolsav Block added 35 points. I’m not saying Molitva was an unworthy winner… Read more »

Hugh
Hugh
8 years ago

2007 – Dancing Lasha Tumbai, Verka Serduchka. In 2007 I kind of resented this song cos I was absolutely on #teammolitva, so much so that I was #teammoltiva before hashtags were even a thing. But in time I have come to appreciate and… now I love it maybe even more than Moli…well as much as Molitva. 2012 – Be My Guest, Gaitana. The horns give me life. The distorted synth gives me breath. The shriek gives me adreneline to dance with my shirt off in a sweaty club at 3am, pash the guy who has taken one too many pills… Read more »

D
D
8 years ago

1) 2013
2) 2011
3) 2004
4) 2010
5) 2012
6) 2006
7) 2007
8) 2014
9) 2008
10) 2009
11) 2005
12) 2003

Peyton
Peyton
8 years ago

Definitely my favorite country in Eurovision!! I voted for 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 as my favorites 🙂

sopon
sopon
8 years ago

Tina, Verka, and Svetlana by far

Fenistil
Fenistil
8 years ago

I totally love “Sweet People”, it’s so dark, emotional and has important message. Ruslana and Verka Serduchka were also amazing but I guess I’ll never fully understand what everyone sees in “Gravity” and “Shady Lady”, especially the second one. Great staging, maybe. Ukraine has always been perfect at that.

WTF
WTF
8 years ago

Ukraine 2007 has got to be the guiltiest pleasure in ESC history, just too damn catchy…

Österrike
Österrike
8 years ago

Ukraine is not my favourite country due to the notorious lack of decency. My favourites are 2007, 2013 and 2014.

In 2009, 2011 and 2012 I wondered how the could have even qualified with so much silliness

Jerome
Jerome
8 years ago

I just love Alyosha and her song “Sweet People” from 2010. My favourite that year and my favourite from Ukraine. A very, very powerful message combined with a dark, sombre soundtrack with great vocals. I understand how other entries like “Shady Lady” (my second favourite from Ukraine), “Wild Dances” and “Gravity” are more popular amongst fans, but I really wish that this song received just as much attention. I hope I’m not the only one who feels this way. Most of Ukraine’s entries are great btw.

EF0912
EF0912
8 years ago

My Top
1: 2009
2: 2014
3: 2008
4: 2007
5: 2004
6: 2010
7: 2013
8: 2006
9: 2011
10: 2012
11: 2003
12: 2005

Stu
Stu
8 years ago

I can never get enough of Tina Karol.

PP
PP
8 years ago

mistake 11. 2005 not 2015

PP
PP
8 years ago

For me if we look all in complete (song, stage performance, vocal..)
1. 2008
2. 2011
3. 2013
4. 2014
5. 2007
6. 2010
7. 2004
8. 2006
9. 2003
10. 2012
11. 2015

cheesecake
cheesecake
8 years ago

I loved Verka and Mariya.
Welcome back Ukraine.