With Go_A, you never run out of surprises. After their Eurovision 2020 song “Solovey”, we are all waiting for their next bid for the contest in 2021. Disco? Trance? Traditional? They can do whatever, whenever.
Initially, Go_A front-woman Kateryna Pavlenko suggested that the band were finalising one song to be released sometime in February. However, when they released their latest single “SHUM”, the group reposted stories on Instagram detailing that it would be their Eurovision 2021 entry, sending Eurovision fans into a spiral of confusion.
UA:PBC‘s delegation ended the confusion on Instagram, replying to a fan that “SHUM” wouldn’t be the group’s song for Rotterdam.
And now Ukrainian public broadcaster UA:PBC has revealed that the selection process will work a little differently than the group seems to have thought. The broadcaster has revealed that a five-person panel is going to determine Go_A’s Eurovision effort. And there will be more than just one song on the table.
Jury to select Go_A’s Eurovision 2021 song
The jury to select the entry includes Ukrainian stars and established music industry experts. Former Vidbir judges Jamala and Yevhen Filatov are there, as well as Vidbir musical producer Ruslan Kvinta. Here’s what the full jury looks like.
Jamala – singer, winner of Eurovision Song Contest 2016
Yevhen Filatov – producer, leader of The Manaken band
Ruslan Kvinta – music producer, composer
Yaroslav Lodygin – member of the Managing Board of UA: PBC in charge of television
Dmytro Khorkin – member of the Managing Board of UA: PBC in charge of radio
According to the song selection rules, Go_A will present at least two songs for the jury selection. Each jury member will evaluate each submitted song. Points from the jury will be combined into a final ranking. The song with most points from the jury will win the selection and will represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2021.
However, if two or more songs get an equal number of points, the winning song will be decided by the majority voting of the jury (more than 50% of the jury members). One jury member can vote for a song only once.
UA:PBC states that in a press release that the results will be announced by 10 March.
Why is UA:PBC taking this step suddenly?
After fan questions on their Instagram, the official account of the UA:PBC delegation to Eurovision answered that the procedure was all part of the rules they had established for their entrant for 2021.
Two of these rules were noted by the broadcaster as:
1.4. The public broadcaster determines the song of the Participant, which will represent Ukraine at the contest (after this – the Selection), and establishes the rules for the Selection.
2.6. The Jury listens and evaluates the Songs during the meeting (in person or remotely) within 1 (one) working day after the submission of the Songs by the Participant.
What do you think about this process? What are you expecting from Go_A? Let us know in the comment section down below!
Ukraine must be a tough country for artists. It’s always some kind of trouble, or limitation hussle they put on the Eurovision artist. Let them decide which song they want to defend! Go Go_A! They were my #1 last year.
I see a few people freaking out over a jury making this choice, but all internal selections are chosen with jurys. Just because the jury has been revealed here and has gotten the label ‘jury,’ it’s bad? I don’t get it.
I’m seeing three people named Bob, Bonny and Berta with VERY similar comments here one after another..
I’m sure whatever song jury pick its gonna be amazing, cos Go_A already chose their best 2 (?) songs
I don’t really worry about that, the only thing I want from them to release it as soon as possible, I just can’t wait lol
whatever song jury will pick im sure it’s gonna be epic cos Go_A make an amazing music,
they already picked their best songs for jury ,
so I don’t worry about iternal selection in this case
Seems like Go_A wanted to release their song in February, but no matter how good the song was, the broadcaster UA:PBC wants to have a final say what the song will be and demands at least two or more songs so they can be the ones on charge? Quite pushy if you ask me
Did you read the article it mentioned that there are certain rules the band and broadcaster have to follow? So they must have a contract signed. Why are you looking for drama where there isn’t one? Think logically they have this internal process, and then they release the song in February (which is before the March 10 date mentioned in the article).
Did you read the article yourself? Seems like you’re the one causing drama here.
There were new rules added (by the broadcaster) for 2021, and perhaps Go_A were in mindset that the rules were same as in 2020. Kateryna has also been talking as they’re planning on doing one song and one song only, which would be their entry for 2021
The final of Vidbir is normally during february, so again a song in march, ok for the moment we will have 24 out of 41 songs maybe more at the beginning of march, so now it’s a new contest between delegations of who will be the last to reveal his song…… a little bit tiring…… you have the songs give us the songs and stop with this “hype” it doesn’t work, especially the internal selections you have months and months to work on your songs, so why wait until the last minute, it’s ridiculous. A good song will remain a… Read more »
I’m just like everybody else upset that there’s no public vote but I actually have faith in this jury. We got Filatov who’s very familiar with Ukrainian folk/electronic music since his a music producer of Onuka. We got queen herself Jamala. Kvinta isn’t that bad either since he has been the one to select songs for past few national selection. I’m not sure why we have two board members tho I just hope that they don’t go against the music professionals.
This is unrelated but isn’t Samantha Tina going to release her song soon cuz she said in January and the months almost over :/
Allegedly, she denied these rumours.
It is said, however, that her song will most likely be presented on the 12th of February during a show or something like that.
Something seems a little fishy to me. Very strange set up, no mention of how many songs or where the songs are coming from. Seems like GO_A are being pushed by the broadcaster what they want, especially with 2 managing directors on the panel! And why behind closed doors? Ukraine usually like to put on a show.
I don’t think we have anything fishy here. Ukrainian public broadcast is pretty liberal. There might be a few things in play. The broadcaster might not have enough money to stage or a even arrange a public vote (as usual). They might be saving up money for the big contest. They had jury panels for JESC selections but there was online voting. But the big thing I’m hoping for is that the broadcaster is go for the WIN.
Well, this is the most transparent internal selection process I’ve seen so far. Usually, broadcasters who go internal don’t give this much detail with their process.
Not a fan of this jury selecting the song. I would advise Go_A to put forward two of their most edgy songs. They have shown with Shum that they have the capacity to do something different – I would hate for them to give the jury a chance to select something really tame, which the jury inevitably will do.
Usually I’d share your fears, but this the Ukrainian juries we are talking about. People who picked Solovey last year in the selection which had some pretty decent ”safe” songs as well (Horizon, Bonfire, Get Up). Paired with Go_A’s impeccable style, I am still positive this will turn out good. I am also hoping for an original song such as Solovey or Shum.
Fair point Colin, Ukraine has a history of thinking less safe than a lot of countries. I am just a little uncomfortable about the need for a jury? You have decided to like the artist enough to let them have another go, why not trust just their musical integrity to pick something they believe in? I think my fear comes from really liking Shum – it feels quite different from what we usually hear in Eurovision – I would hate for the final song they send to revert more back to a safer tune – they did that with Solovey… Read more »
Gosh this year is going to blow all the records for most amount of sonsgs released in march. It feels like it will be atleast 29/36 out of 41.
God, if true, it’s going to be such a glut of songs being dropped. I bet you you there’s going to be a fight for attention where they don’t get as many views as they could have if the releases are more spread out.
Ukraine: I have an uncomfortable question for you? Why no public vote?
I think you got John’s comment wrong.
He is not asking why they don’t organize a national selection, but rather, why they let the jury decide instead of the people, basically what Israel did this year.
Hate to break it to you but all internal selections are made by internal juries, like this.
The f?