Ukraine faces difficult circumstances where survival is a daily struggle for countless people. But as we have seen time and time again, Russia’s war will not stop Ukrainians from raising their voice.
On Monday Ukraine’s state broadcaster Suspilne announced that it had received a total of 384 song submissions for Vidbir 2023 — its national selection for Eurovision. The submissions come from a total of 299 participants. The longlist of acts will be published by the end of October.
The final will take place on 17 December in Kyiv’s Independence Square metro station. Metro stations are quite deep in Kyiv, and have served as bomb shelters throughout the war. Now they will welcome music as Vidbir brings Ukrainians together again.
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Ukraine receives 384 Eurovision song submissions for Vidbir 2023
While there were no doubts about Ukraine participating in Eurovision 2023, many raised questions about the process by which they would select their song and if Ukraine would hold their national selection, Vidbir. Eurovision Ukraine’s Instagram page, @suspilne.eurovision, has been constantly active and they announced in August that it was accepting applications. The application period closed two days ago.
Dmytro Shurov (better known as Pianoboy) is the music producer of this year’s Vidbir. Speaking to Suspilne, Dmytro said that despite ongoing Russian aggression and the general state of anxiety, the national selection will proceed as scheduled. He pointed how impressive it was to receive so many entries in light of the profound challenges Ukrainian artists face. Many are abroad or volunteering with the war effort and humanitarian relief. Many are, no doubt, facing the emotional low point of their lives.
As ever, Eurovision fans are looking forward for the next song from Ukraine. In recent years their entries have enjoyed huge success at home, and won over plenty of fans abroad. Ukraine’s past two acts, Go_A and Kalush Orchestra, mixed traditional music with a modern sound. The presence of some traditional instruments brought authenticity while the dynamic stage shows and songs made the audience dance or weep (as we saw in Turin). Considering this, Eurovision fans might wonder if Ukraine will follow a similar recipe this year.
One thing is certain: the song that will represent Ukraine will carry a strong message. Dmytro stated that some of the songs are still in their demo versions and some are just “the cry of the soul of people who do not even plan to be artists.” Some of the submitted songs speak about life in bomb shelters, emigration, grief caused by the loss of relatives, and people’s faith in Armed Forces.
He concludes by saying that the number of song submissions is a vivid example of people’s attitude towards constructiveness and hope.
A committee will now evaluate the songs to decide who will make it into Vidbir, and the selection of the perfect song will be tough. While Ukraine must focus on a song with a strong message, it must also avoid political topics so it doesn’t violate Eurovision rules. That means any messages will likely be delivered through metaphor, or on topics broad enough to be read through an ambiguous or multi-faceted lens. Producers will probably screen the participants more closely than in 2022, to avoid repeating a drama on the scale of Alina Pash, the initial winner of last year’s Vidbir.
In May 2022, Kalush Orchestra delivered an emotional and powerful moment on the Eurovision stage, bringing victory to Ukraine. Their win will be acclaimed and celebrated by the United Kingdom this year, as Ukraine is not able to host the show as Russia continues to wage war, attacking both civilian and military targets. The BBC has promised that this edition of Eurovision will celebrate Ukrainian music and culture. The host city, Liverpool, is the birthplace of John Lennon, the composer of one of the greatest peace anthems ever written, “Imagine”.
What kind of song would you like to hear representing Ukraine next year? What former Vidbir artists you would like to see again?
They are in the middle of a fricking war. Billions paid with taxpayer money from Europe and United States well spent (read the last two words as sarcasm).
So what? We should just die and not do anything in life?
I hope Armenia will send a song about the ongoing war in Armenia (surprise for many).
A political song, what could go wrong? Apart from being disqualified.
Ukraine = best country of Eurovision !
Well that’s debatable!
Facts
Love how every single comment that predicted a Ukrainian victory got immediate downvotes here in Wiwibloggs, while such comments almost always got approval in the Eurovision Fans Facebook Group.
And I still don’t get answers on why Eurovision fans on Wiwibloggs and Eurovision Fans Facebook Group are like two-worlds apart.
Does having your comment validated really that important? They are just numbers which are easily manipulated if one so inclined.
So much great stuff comes from National finals obviously but it is also full of generic, average pop. The war in Ukraine is first and foremost a tragedy but in the context of Eurovision Vidbir could give us some great acts that are poignant and special. Again in the context of Eurovision people’s sympathy towards Ukraine may benefit them but it’s an opportunity to hear something away from the Eurovision formula, so struggling with why some are so quick to complain.
And ofc all will be political and allowed, it’s ukraine, it’s already been done they can do it one more time
What a waste of resources. They know they will win nevertheless, so why not use the money for some other things… I dunno… War?
War doesn’t mean Ukraine culture has to die out. They have every right to sing and perform and show they still exist, no matter how hard Russia tries to destroy them.
peeps here mad already? lmao 😀
They’ll win with whatever they send, Ukraine is Europe’s new darling and the war isn’t coming to an end anytime soon. Don’t @ me
Let’s ban Ukraine until the war is over
Lets ban you until you grow a heart.
Well said!
Whatever they pick they’re going going to win Eurovision 2023 so it’s not like it really matters.
Coal starts out as woody organic matter, dries out and carbonizes to form peat. Under heat and pressure it becomes diamond.
I would not be surprised if Vidbir offers us a masterpiece. Through pain, comes growth. Many masterpieces in history were inspired by tragedy.
Glad to see Ukraine is still full of creativity even in this awful time. Ukraine seldom disappoints, and given how strong their last two entries were, I have very high hopes for whoever defends Kalush Orchestra’s title!
Kiyv 2024 i guess
It will be in Poland and Ukraine collaboration
So many people saying “Ukraine is gonna obviously win bla bla bla” can y’all just chill with this? Getting really old now.
Ukraine will win Eurovision 2023 by default if the war is still going on.
How so?
Explain how
We had war for 9 years, did we win 9 times?
Unrelated but does anyone know what’s with Bulgaria?
Apparently BNT is no longer interested in Eurovision. They’re out for 2023, and not expected to come back anytime soon.
Yes I know that.. I’m talking about the fact that they have not officially withdrawn or something??
Are we all really surprised most songs are about shelters and bombing? Not really. It is very obvious Ukraine is now clearly aiming for another victory so that another country spend its money to host contest about Ukraine.
Nothing’s stopping other countries from sending songs about shelters and bombing too.
Given the circumstances, it obviously would have been unrealistic to expect sunshine and rainbows from them in Liverpool. But Stefania was a great song and would still have been a strong contender without the war; if they keep the theme but their entry is not as strong, it could become diminishing returns. Plus, after a year, the invasion is not likely to be as fresh on viewers’ minds even if it’s still going on by next May. Some might even be tired of hearing of it, harsh as it sounds.
So while the televote might once again skew towards Ukraine, I highly doubt it will skew as hard as it did in Turin.
Another upbeat song, please!
If Ukraine sent a sad song directly relating to the war I doubt they’ll stand a chance at winning again, which I’m sure they know. I’m sure the Vidbir judges will want to send another 1944-esque ballad whilst the public will vote for an upbeat song.
You must be joking. Don’t underestimate televote. They don’t need jury vote at all to win. They send song about war = they win again
Hungary sent a song about war a few years ago but they didn’t win.
Hungary wasn’t at war.
The song “Wars For Nothing” was about war.
“Waterloo” though on the other hand won as a song about a war. 🙂
I said they, not any country
You have to be particularly specific then.
Besides, “Stefania” wasn’t even a song made in response to the war itself when it was already out long before Ukraine was being invaded.
It doesn’t really matters since they were head and shoulders above everyone else with bookies even before they choose that song. Same thing as this year btw. And they won anyway. By a landslide. Now imagine if Stefania was about the war.
Bookkeepers are overrated.
It’s bot about bookies, but what everyone saw last year
This might be the first time ever we know the ESC winner before we even enter the new year?
“The rest is still unwritten…”
We have no idea how the juries will react to the Ukrainian entry.
The public vote will still probably skew in favour of Ukraine, unless there’s a standout act that can demolish the entire competition like Alexander Rybak or Salvador Sobral.
Again, they got enough votes to get 2nd place with only televotes. They needed like 15 votes from jury to win.
(Insert generic quote from toxic ESC fans on how they’ll win again because of the war even though nothing is certain)
I want to see Khayat!
And Tayanna. 🙂
Alina Pash ft Maruv – Shadows of forgotten Sirens pls 😉
This made me LOL. I dont know why grumpy wiwi readers dislike everything.
Yeah they dislikes everything – probably 10 y old kids or 90 yo people
Doesn’t Eurovision ban political messages in its rules? I recall something about that but who cares at this point
Not if it’s something personal to the person singing it. Guess what affects Ukrainians the most right now?
How do you check how personel someone feels about the song?
Political is a vague term open for debate.
They only use it when they want to ban that song anyway
Jamala won, it’s obvious they allow it when they feel like it
Because the song was subtle and doesn’t specifically mention anything particular in relation to Crimea’s annexation by Russia in its lyrics, unloke “We Don’t Wanna Put In”.
It’s literally about crimea invasion, just different one. You think it’s on accident?
I also hope one of them is Maruv. She also deserves a second chance
Hope one of them is Alina Pash. Give her a second chance