Alina Pash

After an intense night in Kyiv, a three-piece jury and the Ukrainian public decided that Alina Pash should represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2022 in Turin with “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors”.

Eight finalists took the stage tonight at the Centre of Culture and Arts of the National Aviation University in Kyiv. Competing in perhaps the strongest line-up that the Ukrainian selection has ever seen since its revival in 2016, Alina Pash emerged as the winner. She managed to overcome other star-studded acts, including Wellboy and Kalush Orchestra

The show followed a similar format to the earlier Vidbir concept started in 2016. Until last year, Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne collaborated with commercial channel STB. After Eurovision 2021, their collaboration fell through. For Vidbir 2022, Suspilne combined forces with the production company Friends Pro, which previously produced the local adaption of Operacion Triunfo

Half of the votes were given by a three-piece jury panel consisting of Jamala, Tina Karol and Yaroslav Lodygin. After each act sang on the stage, they gave a review on the song and the performance. The public at home determined the other half of the results. 

Cloudless were allowed to perform a second time following technical problems during their first run. Later on during the show, the scoreboard did not work. This forced the jury member Yaroslav Lodygin to write the scores down in Frank Naef Eurovision 1990 style — a sheet of paper and a pen. 

Vidbir 2022 results

Jury results

  1. Alina Pash – 8 points
  2. Wellboy – 7 points
  3. Kalush Orchestra – 6 points
  4. Our Atlantic – 5 points
  5. Barleben – 4 points
  6. Roxolana – 3 points
  7. Michael Soul – 2 points
  8. Cloudless – 1 point

Televoting results

  1. Kalush Orchestra – 8 points
  2. Alina Pash – 7 points
  3. Wellboy – 6 points
  4. Roxolana – 5 points
  5. Barleben – 4 points
  6. Our Atlantic – 3 points
  7. Cloudless – 2 points
  8. Michael Soul – 1 point

Combined result

  1. Alina Pash – 15 points
  2. Kalush Orchestra – 14 points
  3. Wellboy – 13 points
  4. Roxolana – 8 points
  5. Barleben – 8 points
  6. Our Atlantic – 8 points
  7. Cloudless – 3 points
  8. Michael Soul – 3 points

Vidbir 2022 performances

Alina Pash – “Tini zabutykh predkiv” (“Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors”) (WINNER)

Cloudless – “All be allright”

Michael Soul – “Demons”

Barleben – “Hear My Words”

Our Atlantic “Moia liubov” (“My love”)

Kalush Orchestra – “Stefania”

Roxolana – “Girlzzzz”

Wellboy – “Nozzy Bossy”

Who is Alina Pash? 

Alina Pash will definitely bring some flair to the contest. The title of her song is a reference to an extremely famous 1960s film about the culture and spirit of her home region. The Transcarpathian-born “Bitanga” hitmaker has been topping fan wishlists for several years.

She was one of the young Ukrainian artists to appear on the Tina Karol collaboration album Молода кров (Young blood). She has received international criticial acclaim too. Most recently, Alina won a Music Moves Europe Talents Award (a successor of the EBBA Awards) at Eurosonic Noorderslag, following in the footsteps of alyona alyona. 

Did your favourite act win tonight? Will you root for Alina Pash with “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” at Eurovision 2022 in Turin? Let us know in the comments down below!

266 Comments
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Bibi
Bibi
2 years ago

The sound and the voice are interesting, but especially after reading about the controversial voting, sorry but I just would not like it to win (please respect personal opinions). I think: 1) It uses 1944 emotional (also using the crying) and controversial flavour using ancestors and again with a stronger Ukraine-Russia conflict scenario knowing that ESC countries will support that (no comments about the war per se, but about the intentions and how countries vote); 2) It uses Russian Woman mix of traditional sounds with rap with English words related to power, group’s unity, write your own history (“we are… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Bibi
Art
Art
2 years ago

Looks like Russian trolls invaded the wiwi especially this article. The directions were clear. Yesterday everyone loved it.
How’s this political? Is she singing about politics because I sure don’t see that being mentioned here.
Too bad if some of you can’t separate history, emotions, hope and genetic code from …politics
It’s a masterpiece… goosebumps every time I play it. Just divine.

Darren
Darren
2 years ago
Reply to  Art

Calling people “Russian trolls” because they dislike the song or are pointing it out for being political is just a lazy attempt at censorship.

If you can’t see how it’s political and what Ukraine is doing here then you are incredibly naive.

Ana
Ana
2 years ago
Reply to  Darren

And people being downvoted for simply saying that they love the song is not censorship? Gosh people here are toxic as f*k. Go deal with whatever it is that makes you so bitter and uptight, buy a d*ldo or something, there are valentines day discounts somewhere I’m almost sure. Don’t come here to steam out your bitterness.

Darren
Darren
2 years ago
Reply to  Ana

Didn’t downvote anyone, so maybe you should direct your anger at yourself and use your own advice regarding the purchase of a d*ldo, like you’re not even funny

Alex M
Alex M
2 years ago
Reply to  Art

Not only Russian trolls but also Kalush’s fanclub. They think that Alina deserves to be hated for everything Suspilne did wrong in the end of the show.

Eoghan Downey
2 years ago

Love this song. One of the contenders for me.

zach
zach
2 years ago

wow reading through the comments it sounds like some of y’all hate this lol

zach
zach
2 years ago

this is the first that gives me potential winner vibes, i’m captivated by it

UaleWonka
UaleWonka
2 years ago

Absolutely stunning song! I just love how modern and folkloristic it is. I also love how Alina performs the song. I think this will qualify and end up in top 10.

Sesil
Sesil
2 years ago

So songs with a political message in Eurovision are only ok when Ukraine does it, alright, got it

Magistr
Magistr
2 years ago
Reply to  Sesil

from germany? are you sad because your moscow friends will be unsatisfied?

Sesil
Sesil
2 years ago
Reply to  Magistr

No, I’m not from Germany, and no, I don’t support Russia. But I do support the idea that Eurovision should not be political but these type of songs muddy the contest. Both opinions are not contradictory. Ukraine is playing a dirty game lately and I’m just expressing my dissatisfaction with the fandom that seems to encourage these type of songs lately.

Darren
Darren
2 years ago
Reply to  Magistr

Sesil is right though.

Ana
Ana
2 years ago
Reply to  Sesil

Were you also angry at the Albanian entry from 2019? Or the Israeli one from 2009? Why only when Ukraine sending a song there are those people who yell “onLY uKrAine Is aLloWed To bE pOlItiCaL”

Matija
Matija
2 years ago

Agree

Matija
Matija
2 years ago

I agree, but will we listen to the history of Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest every year, I’m tired of it, no offense. Every year, politics interferes with the result and placement of Ukraine, which should be stopped once and for all. Personally I don’t like the english part, I hope that changes. The song itself is authentic and nurtures that folk, folklore undertone, the part in english ruining the song in some way.

Magistr
Magistr
2 years ago
Reply to  Matija

dont vote for it

Darren
Darren
2 years ago
Reply to  Magistr

Calm down @Magistr jeez
Spamming every comment is really not going to help you sell it.
Calm your t!ts

ete sech
ete sech
2 years ago

This one’s got big first Ukrainian NQ vibes

Magistr
Magistr
2 years ago
Reply to  ete sech

check odds

Agent 008
Agent 008
2 years ago
Reply to  Magistr

odds literally do not matter at all, sweden is always so high even though the last years sucked and last year maneskin was third at odds

Agent 008
Agent 008
2 years ago

horrible song

pluma
pluma
2 years ago

Dont like it at all, sorry

Matija
Matija
2 years ago
Reply to  pluma

Me too

:::
:::
2 years ago

The odds love it, the fans love it. I wouldn’t be surprised if this wins or at least manages to reach the top five in Turin.

PP77
PP77
2 years ago
Reply to  :::

She lost televote. Odds are so overrated , because they know, that juries will push Ukraine so high in points ( i predict result like Australia with juries 2016)

Ffs
Ffs
2 years ago

I dislike it too

ESCforever
ESCforever
2 years ago

The songs were great, and the winner is deserved, but I wonder if Alina will make it into Turin this May. Not only there was a mess with televote results yesterday – first they announced that Our Atlantic gets 2pt and Cloudless 3pt, then they announced the opposite plus 4pt for Barleben, then again they said that indeed OA gets 2pt, Barleben gets 3pt and Cloudless 4pt. What adds more conspiracy is that in this very moment (after announcing 3pt) the overall results on screen disappead and have not appeared again. Also, this paper that host Timur hold all this… Read more »

Ana
Ana
2 years ago
Reply to  ESCforever

Just a question. If they were going to falsificate the results in favor of Alina, why didn’t they do it like 5 minutes before going live? Like, why did they even had the “real” results on that paper or any paper if the plan was always to let Alina win? It just sounds silly, they had plenty of time to print whatever paper with whatever numbers needed for their desired result. Why did they have to improvise on live TV? It just sounds silly. They probably messed up the voting and were not sure what are thew real results. Just… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Ana
esc1234
esc1234
2 years ago

There is something extremely fishy here. Many people argue (including the Kalush orchestra) that they manipulated the results in order to send Alina, which can be proven by the fact that Timur changed the results he himself announced MULTIPLE times and the video circulating on twitter with the girl bringing the envelope not allowing filming of the paper. Ukraine often politicizes the contest, sending a song about the lost ancestors AT THIS TIMING, its not a coincidence. I am sure we will have more news the next days since Kalush orchestra said they will follow legal actions against the broadcaster.

alex8
alex8
2 years ago

I do like the song (except the spoken part) but the whole performance is such a…bait and there’s something really fake about her. Maybe my intuition is wrong

Donnie
Donnie
2 years ago

Go-a, we will miss you so much! The perfect example of now ti mix tradition and contemporary sounds.
This year entry for Ukraine is musically poor but the lyrics leverage the national identity. So, considering the current situation in Ukraine, this will work as it worked for Jamala a few years ago in a very similar scenario. So I would not be surprised at all if the song should win. But let’s hope politics for once will stay out of the competition!

IlI
IlI
2 years ago

This isn’t my type of music, sorry!

Lorena
Lorena
2 years ago

I have to say I absolutely love this song. My winner so far was Brividi, but I think Songs of forgotten ancestors is even better. Congratulations to Ukraine!

Tayyeb
Tayyeb
2 years ago

This isn’t that great, I don’t see why people are enjoying this as much as they do. Very difficult to say what I’d rate this, maybe 3.5/10. Minus vote me if you must, but some of us just don’t enjoy this.

Kalla
Kalla
2 years ago

No surprise that Alina won, and I don’t mind she did at all, there are some really good qualities about the song, maybe needs revamping to bring it all together a bit better. I hate to sound like a conspiracist, but I do question the jury’s motives, some of there scores are very questionable! Especially as a third of the jury was the producer of the broadcaster. Felt very sorry for Roxolana, she definitely didn’t deserve to be that far down the score board! It did seem Alina’s biggest competitors were underscored by the jury to protect her in the… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Kalla
Matt
Matt
2 years ago

She looks like a drama queen also I didn’t understand animal sounds at the beginning of the song. Overhyped 5.5/10

Darren
Darren
2 years ago

Fans are going to start overhyping this though and jumping on the bandwagon, like this is the most artistic form of art ever.
Jamala shouldn’t have won in 2016, this shouldn’t win either and I suspect the apparently apolitical but actually really political fandom will lap this up.

Tayyeb
Tayyeb
2 years ago
Reply to  Darren

Jamala had a good song back in 2016, but just because that worked doesn’t mean this will. This is a messy song and it’s very annoying.

Darren
Darren
2 years ago
Reply to  Tayyeb

You underestimate Eurovision fans and anything that attempts to politicise Eurovision or make Russia look bad.
This could win. I wouldn’t be surprised

Last edited 2 years ago by Darren
Darren
Darren
2 years ago
Reply to  Darren

Haven’t heard their song yet, so right now I can’t say.
But come back when they reveal it and I’ll let you know what I think.

After all, this competition is supposed to be about the actual song.

Kisses xo

Garbo
Garbo
2 years ago

Nope. Not the only one 😛

Garbo
Garbo
2 years ago

I don’t get the hype with this song! I really don’t like it, especially the English parts. I much preferred Wellboy and Kalush, but that’s just my taste. Good luck to Ukraine.

Ted
Ted
2 years ago

Go A were going to be a tough act to follow. But liking the ethnic vibes! That one stands out.
Not my style but I like it. This will qualify . See you in the final.

Last edited 2 years ago by Ted
KarmaLeon
KarmaLeon
2 years ago

For me Ukraine chose the winner of esc 22 yesterday

PP77
PP77
2 years ago

Ok song. In ESC final deserve from 6 to 10 place. Because politics it will be in TOP 3 ( same result with juries like Australia 2016)

Ria NL
Ria NL
2 years ago

I like this great song very much, goed Lucky for Alina and Ucraine

Justin
Justin
2 years ago

Hello, like every year, I hesitate to listen to the musics before the contest… Has someone once tried not to listen to the music until Eurovision in May and can tell me advices or comments ? thanks !!

Veronika
2 years ago
Reply to  Justin

Yes, Justin, exactly! I am Ukrainian and every year I am listening only to my native song, cause I want to be surprised by the others! This year I also heard the Italian Brividi before as I’ve gained some strong connections with Italy, but I love listening to all of the songs for the first time in May, during the contest. Like this I define for myself for the first time the songs I like more or less, compare them.. and feel myself a part of something big and special. For me it’s easy not to listen to the songs… Read more »

Justin
Justin
2 years ago
Reply to  Veronika

Thanks for you POV 😀

Justin
Justin
2 years ago
Reply to  Veronika

Maybe I’ll do that. I also feel it would be more surprising, just like the first contests I watched ^^

Solo
Solo
2 years ago

I remember Anastasia Prikhodko – Mamo (Russia) – Eurovision 2009. 

Darren
Darren
2 years ago

It’s emotional, it’s patriotic, she looks stunning and I love the general aesthetic of the performance.

Not a song I would listen to outside of Eurovision. But I suspect this will do well in Turin.
I do wonder is Ukraine going for a Jamala effect here? Especially considering the geopolitical tension in and around Ukraine at this very time?
The song sounds like a patriotic call to arms and that is surely not a coincidence.

Ana
Ana
2 years ago

I was rooting for Kalush and Roxolana. Roxolana didn’t sound good live at all, and Kalush, well they were ok but it indeed looked a bit all over the place and the chorus singer was shouting more than singing. So I guess a tighter performance would lead to higher points from the juries. As for the winner, I really think they should get rid of the English parts. Her English is not great and it almost sounds like JESC song where you sing a line in your native language and then sing a similar line in broken English. It doesn’t… Read more »

dolly
dolly
2 years ago

I agree with you this should be at the bottom of the betting

Mikel
Mikel
2 years ago

I don’t know why so many hype. Boring song with political message. I hope they don’t get a high score for their political situation, it’ll be unfair.

Chupacabra
Chupacabra
2 years ago

This is more arte than just a song… like the entry for Dora with Elis Lovric and the song “No War” or Terra from Spain. We realy need more of this at the ESC and less pink flamingos, dancing bananas, Lolitas and whatever. This is a TOP5 material… cong Ukraine!

Rob
Rob
2 years ago

My #1 so far.. Ukraine never dissapoints!

West
West
2 years ago

Another hypnotic and magical musical experience from Ukraine? Yes, please! (though that speaking part kinda bothers me).

Im so fab
Im so fab
2 years ago

If Russia really invades Ukraine, she should be disqualified. Eurovision is a contest about peace and countries that don’t respect that can stay out.

Flamant rose
Flamant rose
2 years ago
Reply to  Im so fab

So if Russia would invade Ukraine, Ukraine has to be disqualified? First of all, that is the most weird logic and second, if they would be invaded, Ukrainian people woulc have more urgent worries than their participation in Eurovision.

Yana
2 years ago
Reply to  Im so fab

You should be disqualify from here

Nils
Nils
2 years ago
Reply to  Im so fab

If Russia really invades Ukraine, this will be winning by a landslide.

Solo
Solo
2 years ago
Reply to  Im so fab

Ukraine is waiting for Russia, and it is not coming 🙂

Solo
Solo
2 years ago
Reply to  Im so fab

By the way, Belarus has been disqualified for hares and a fox, and Ukraine continues to sing political songs.

Mr X
Mr X
2 years ago
Reply to  Im so fab

In which world do you live ?

lol
lol
2 years ago
Reply to  Im so fab

oh ya ukraine should be disqualified for simply existing. it’s not like ukraine wants war. the stupidity of this is outstanding

Ytm
Ytm
2 years ago

It is very interesting if ukraine will participate eventually because of their coflict with russia
(And if ukraine will exsist by may?)

Richard
Richard
2 years ago

I much preferred Wellboy (love it) or Kalush to be honest, but Alina’s song is an interesting choice too. I like the funny animal sounds and the way it builds, but the rap makes me cringe and overall I’d like it to be a little less earnest and thought through. It reminds me of Russia’s song last year, but that had humour as well as packing an emotional punch, this feels a bit sterile in comparison. Ukraine are probably my favourite Euro nation, so I’m in critical friend mode here as I really want them to do well, especially with… Read more »

Ffs
Ffs
2 years ago

Awful

Mark
Mark
2 years ago

I think this will win Eurovision if you know what happens. The European people will support Ukraine.

Erik
Erik
2 years ago

Lol it was part of Russia during soviet rule. After that it has only been occupied. Not become part of Russia

Erik
Erik
2 years ago

Ah, Three judges and one of them collaborated with the winner? Biased? Yes.

But the song is cool.
I like it as always when Ukraine goes to their folk roots

Last edited 2 years ago by Erik
Pearli
Pearli
2 years ago

Good for them. Any person has right to do that if they feel treated unfairly.

Sandro Gonzalez
Sandro Gonzalez
2 years ago

All you guys at Wiwibloggs team,
Please make a YouTube video reviewing the entire Vidbir final. This was a really strong show and competition this year. Deserves being highlighted. Specially interested about your reactions to the final scoreboard top three.
I loved Kalush.

Last edited 2 years ago by Sandro Gonzalez
Fast Food Music Lover
Fast Food Music Lover
2 years ago

Is there any footage of the failed digital scoreboard in the internet? That sounds iconic!

Anyway, congrats Alina Pash. It’s a really strong, emotional song and I will not be surprised it does well in Eurovision.

ete sech
ete sech
2 years ago

Why though?

Jamie
Jamie
2 years ago
Reply to  ete sech

Apparently the winner was predetermined. Some participant said in the interview.

Last edited 2 years ago by Jamie
ete sech
ete sech
2 years ago
Reply to  Jamie

Thanks for the context and I think they’re right and entitled to do so 🙂