In 2016, Elina Ivashchenko brought Eurovision 2006 star Tina Karol to tears with his rendition of Jamala’s “1944” during the final of Ukraine’s version of The Voice Kids. Now the singer might well find herself on the Eurovision 2020 stage with her own song “Get Up”.
Elina Ivashchenko isn’t new to Ukrainians. The 17-year-old’s star has been rising for several years: she won both The Voice Kids and the all-Ukrainian singing contest Black Sea Games. In 2019, she successfully auditioned for the tenth series of X Factor Ukraine.
Elina Ivaschenko sings Eurovision 2020 song “Get Up”
Noted as one of the strongest vocalists in the tenth series of X Factor Ukraine, Elina easily reached the final of the show. In the competition’s final, every single contestant was asked to sing an original song for the first time. It was then that the songstress sang her Eurovision effort “Get Up”.
Bringing a classic Eurovision ballad and showcasing her vocal capabilities, Elina hopes that she will be able to represent her country in Rotterdam. However, she will first have to win Ukraine’s Eurovision selection Vidbir, which will be held in February 2020.
What do we know about Ukraine’s selection for Eurovision 2020?
In a welcome turn of events from last year, when private broadcaster STB wanted to pull the plug, Vidbir will once again return to the television screens across Ukraine. Last year, its final ended in drama and confusion when Eurovision participating broadcaster UA:PBC announced that it would not be sending Vidbir 2019 winner MARUV to Tel Aviv. This led to protests from fellow competitors, resulting in the country eventually having to withdraw from the competition.
Besides Elina Ivashchenko, no other big Ukrainian name seems to be in the game yet. Electro-folk band ONUKA, one of the interval acts when Eurovision was held in Ukraine in 2017, have stated that they are not interested.
Artists and groups have the opportunity to apply for the national selection until the 25th of December. However, the lack of stars so far might also be due to a new rule in the selection. After the situation that erupted during Vidbir 2019, the Ukrainian broadcasters STB and UA:PBC announced that the participants in the Ukrainian national selection for Eurovision 2020 are not allowed to have performed in Russia in the five preceding years.
During the Ukrainian national final for Eurovision 2020, Elina Ivashchenko will at least face one familiar face. One of the judges of the Ukrainian version of X Factor, Andriy Danylko, will also be one of the judges of the preselection. Danylko represented Ukraine as the drag act Verka Serduchka in 2007 and finished as the overall runner-up in the competition behind Serbia’s Marija Serifovic.
Should fellow X Factor star Georgiy Koldun represent Belarus at Eurovision 2020?
In the superfinal of Ukraine’s X Factor, Elina Ivashchenko will sing against Belarusian star Georgiy Koldun. His name might sound familiar to Eurovision fans, although he has never participated in any of the infamous Belarusian audition rounds.
It is his younger brother, Dmitry Koldun, who represented the Eastern European nation back in 2007 with “Work Your Magic”. This Philipp Kirkorov-penned song is still the most successful Belarusian effort to date, finishing sixth.
Commenters on social media have suggested that the 43-year-old qualified geography teacher and X Factor Ukraine superfinalist Georgiy Koldun should be given a chance to represent Belarus at Eurovision 2020. With his smoky voice and joyful charm that has appealed to both young and old, Georgiy is said to be the perfect candidate to bring Belarus back to left-hand side of the Eurovision scoreboard.
What do you think about Elina Ivashchenko’s song “Get Up”? Do you want her to represent Ukraine? Who else do you want to participate in Vidbir 2020? Do you think Georgiy Koldun should represent Belarus in 2020? Let us know all your answers to these questions below!
I think this would be the right decision for Ukraine to return to the old recipe for success – to send a beautiful girl with a magnificent voice and a strong ballad. Yes, this is not a victory, but a place in the top 10 after the last three years is quite good.
Just a vocal show-off… Would place top 10 because Ukraine, but next.
I do not like this song. It has no rhythm or catch. It will not win. Her English is awful. She does not enunciate the correct sounds.
i dont think she can win with this song but participating is already a step into the right direction – not many acts won at their first appearance but came back another time with a masterpiece… her voice id beyond INCREDIBLE
Total jury bait.
You could have worded the title better, I thought this was their entry for Eurovision 2020 already XD.
I would love if alyona alyona would compete in vidbir this year.
Big names that were seen at the auditions also
Jerry Heil
Katya Chilly
Fo Sho
Sonya Kay
Katya, Sonya and Fo Sho are amazing artists .
I think Vidbir this year gonna be very competetive, also Sergey Babkin ( Vidbir2018) confirmed his participation
I adored Katy’s Chilli on the voice! She should have won
Some names who applied their entries (spotted on auditions)
Jerry Heil
Katya Chilly
Sonya Kay
Gurt [O]
Navka
U:LAV
Ingret
Jazzforacat
Iryna Kulshenko (ex. panivalkova)
Shozha
David Axelrod
Yuriy Kanalosh
Ilchy
and with released songs now
On i Ona – Voda
Shy – Fool (Maruv one of songwriters)
Fo Sho – Blck Sqr
CHEEV – Oberigati
RUBTSOVA – Break Away
Havana feat. Yaar & Kaiia – Big Love
Vanotek & Myata – Take Me
ENDZHL – Ta Mala
FIINKA – Hruba
OHITVA – Wonder
Masha Mo – Stay
I want Tayanna or Kazka for Ukraine this year!!
I really want Tayanna to win Vidbir one day!
Elina has stunning voice but the song is nothing special for me, i think its time for Kazka to represent Ukraine in Eurovision, their music and style is absolutely magical and unique
also I have endless respect to Kazka for openly supporting local LGBTQ along with others big artists like Jamala, Tayanna and etc.
Wait, so Vidbir artists can just release their song any time they like? Ok fair enough I guess haha. It would happily qualify in Eurovision based off the jury vote alone, although the bland lyrics really turn me off it and I don´t think it could crack the left hand side. Her voice is incredible both in a technical and practical sense. So I do think it is unfortunate to be wasted on something like this. That being said, if this is the bar for Vidbir 2019 then it is set high. Kiss away all worries that the Russian rule… Read more »
Its Ukraine. Are you suprised haha? I prefer what we do in Sweden. Each week there are 7 new songs to look forward to. More exiting:)
You guys should write an article about a possible Vidbir participation for Kazka with their new song “Palala”. They liked a bunch of comments referring to potentially representing Ukraine in Eurovision 2020 on their YouTube video.
I’m sure like 100% Palala is Kazka’ entry for Vidbir, they also have recorded English version of the song ( Nobody like you) and now filming a very scandalous clip for this song, can’t wait to watch it
As for me, Palala is a mediocre song, even weaker than their past songs for national selections.
probably with Kazka and Khayat on board Elina has no chances to win, but i can see this song qualify for final easily