Picture source: Spotify

On Saturday 17 December, we will finally have the first selected entry for Eurovision 2023. Reigning champions Ukraine are set to be first out the gates, choosing their act through selection show Vidbir 2023.

Following the release of all ten competing songs, we asked you to vote for your favourites.

We counted a total of 1,980 votes and now it’s time to reveal the results.

Jerry Heil is a favourite to win Ukraine’s Vidbir 2023

It wasn’t a particularly close race. Jerry Heil stormed to victory in our poll, picking up over one third of the vote — 38.08% specifically, which is 754 votes.

Her entry “When God Shut The Door” looks at the spirit of the Ukrainian people during war. At times she’s deterministic, suggesting there’s little free will and that external forces are guiding all action. But the track also speaks about how after the bad times, the good times will always return.

Second place goes to KRUT and her bandura, a traditional Ukrainian string instrument. Having previously finished in third place at Vidbir 2020, many fans seem to think she could go all the way this time around. In our poll, she was awarded 412 votes — 20.81% of all those cast.

In “Kolyskova”, KRUT sings about the life of a baby during war. Starting with the classical Ukrainian lullaby “lyuli-lyuli”, which also features in Kalush Orchestra’s “Stefania”, she describes the situation of a mother trying to put her child to sleep as predators stalk the country.

Taking the bronze medal in our poll is FIINKA. The Vidbir newbie is making some waves with her upbeat folk track. “Dovbush” secured 199 votes in our poll (a 10.05% share).

Only two other acts earned more than 100 votes. Rounding out the top five are OY Sound System and TVORCHI.

Full results: Who should win Ukraine’s Vidbir 2023?

  1. Jerry Heil – “When God Shut The Door”– 754 votes (38.08%)
  2. KRUT – “Kolyskova” – 412 votes (20.81%)
  3. FIINKA – “Dovbush” – 199 votes (10.05%)
  4. OY Sound System  – “Oy, tuzhu” – 154 votes (7.78%)
  5. TVORCHI – “Heart Of Steel”– 134 votes (6.77%)
  6. Angelina – “Stronger” – 80 votes (4.04%)
  7. 2TONE – “Kvitka” – 73 votes (3.69%)
  8. Moisei – “I’m Not Alone” – 67 votes (3.38%)
  9. Tember Blanche – “Ia vdoma” – 55 votes (2.78%)
  10. DEMCHUK – “Alive” – 52 votes (2.63%)

Total votes: 1,980

Vidbir 2023: Show details

The show takes place inside Kyiv’s Independence Square metro station, which is now a bomb shelter. It will be hosted by Zlata Ognevich (Eurovision 2013), Kateryna Pavlenko (Eurovision 2021 as part of Go_A) and Timur Miroshnychenko (Eurovision 2017 host).

Vidbir 2023 starts at 16:00 CET, and you can watch the show live on the Eurovision Ukraine YouTube channel.

Once all ten acts have performed and the jury have given their comments, the show will take an hour long break from 18:00 CET. The public will be given time to vote whilst a documentary about Kalush Orchestra’s Eurovision 2022 victory is broadcast. The results show will then start at 19:00 CET.

The jury panel consists of Jamala (Eurovision 2016), Taras Topolia and Julia Sanina (Vidbir 2016 as part of The Hardkiss).

Do you agree with the poll results? Is Jerry Heil your winner of Vidbir 2023? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

49 Comments
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Neila
Neila
1 year ago

Goes without saying that Ukraine has discovered a secret with modernised music entangled with ethnic motives. That’s how I see Jerris song. And it is gorgeous! In fact I never came across a Ukrainian artist that doesn’t deliver creativity or beautiful vocals. However, this year I hope to see more diverse music with something we haven’t seen recently/before.. Jerris song is nice, but not for me this year.

Go_A stan
Go_A stan
1 year ago

Is it just me or are there major Tini Zabutykh Predkiv-vibes coming off Jerry Heil’s song? I wonder how much it’ll rub off on WGSTD. Does this mean we’re getting a winner or do we have another scandal on our hands?

Sood
Sood
1 year ago

TVORCHI by far the best, and actually would be a decent winner.
On other hand Jeri’s song is catchy but given the context of the song which is blatantly obvious it will just be considered an audience pity trap.

Preston wiginton
Preston wiginton
1 year ago

Meanwhile Jerry Heil can not pay rent for her apartment in Boston. Why did she go to America and live a princess life while her fellow Ukrainians are suffering in Ukriane?

Mr X
Mr X
1 year ago

Is this true ?

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
1 year ago

Not being able to pay rent and living a princess life doesn’t really go together.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
1 year ago

I can’t believe that the first national final of the season will air tomorrow night! Eurovision season has well and truly started. Whatever the outcome will be tomorrow, can we all agree to be behave better? I don’t want to see hissy fits if your favorite song doesn’t win.

Philip Holmgren
Philip Holmgren
1 year ago

I am rooting for Krut! 😉

Leifh
Leifh
1 year ago

I absolutely love ?????’s song, even if it does make me ?? every time I listen to it.

Leifh
Leifh
1 year ago

That should say Krut in Ukrainian..

Mariia
1 year ago

She will not sing good live

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
1 year ago
Reply to  Mariia

We’ll see tomorrow

Esc addict
Esc addict
1 year ago

Not my first choice, I would prefer Tvorchi but anyway, is it me or there’s less and less people voting in the wiwi polls? Or maybe it’s because the NF season has not really start yet…I don’t know, even for the jesc poll there was not many people.

S10
S10
1 year ago

Tvorchi or Jerry would be my 2 picks. Their songs are the only ones that have stuck with me.

Héctor
Héctor
1 year ago

Oh, so are we gonna make it political again? I guess there comes the winner. The song is enjoyable but I don’t want another massive pity televote.

Mr X
Mr X
1 year ago
Reply to  Héctor

Maybe the winner tomorrow but not in May.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago

I’m judging only by this one picture here, but I hope the performance at Vidbir will be more Jerry Heil than Madonna/Self Esteem/Jean Paul Gautier.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

Yes. Just a small thing, obviously.

Thallo
Thallo
1 year ago

Jerry’s song is the perfect balance between unique, bonkers and mainstream. I really think it could land Ukraine a solid result and strike a chord with the public and juries.

Not to mention, the staging possibilities for this song are endless. Jerry is visually very interesting, her style is great and she has an amazing personality. I couldn’t think of a better representative!

Thallo
Thallo
1 year ago
Reply to  Thallo

I didn’t realise WGSTD was such a controversial song. I thought the majority of people also liked it. Did people change their minds when we saw she was a runaway favourite?

The songs that are equally hated as much as loved always do well at ESC. So it’s a good sign for Jerry actually! Remember the hardcore stans and hate TOY, Fuego, 1944 and SloMo had?

Mr X
Mr X
1 year ago
Reply to  Thallo

To mention 1944 together with these three other one it´s a big risk….

Zanoni
Zanoni
1 year ago
Reply to  Thallo

Not sure if ‘bonkers’ is what I want for a song with a serious subject.

raylee
raylee
1 year ago

god also shut a door for me and i’m still waiting for him to open another one

Tul
Tul
1 year ago
Reply to  raylee

Three months ago you said: “onragts to the future vidbir runner up for participating esc , make sure you will get too many pity votes”

https://wiwibloggs.com/2022/08/17/ukraine-vidbir-2023-submissions-russian-language/273150/#comment-1299030

And then you said: “EWW next”

https://wiwibloggs.com/2022/08/17/ukraine-vidbir-2023-submissions-russian-language/273150/#comment-1299018

Ron
Ron
1 year ago
Reply to  Tul

What the.. just couple hours ago raylee’s comment was -20 and Tul’s +33

raylee is manipulating the votes here?

Amar pelos dois
Amar pelos dois
1 year ago

Jerry ist a lovely person but her song sounds like a medley. I prefer Krutb and FIINKA for Liverpool.

Neila
Neila
1 year ago

I feel that Jerry Heil song follows the same pattern including modernised music with some ethnic elements. I guess they found a magic secret and hold on to it ?? It goes without saying that it is nice, I don’t know if I ever came across a Ukrainian artist that goes into the world without something outstanding to show from vocals to instruments. But I think I’d like to see something more exceptional this year.

mrjeffster
mrjeffster
1 year ago
Reply to  Neila

A lot of contemporary Ukrainian music incorporates both these elements.

Polegend Godnova
1 year ago

i don’t like this type of song. it’s unlistenable on its own and needs the visuals of a live performance in order to work.

Zanoni
Zanoni
1 year ago

It’s certainly the most polarizing entry. Probably also the most disliked in addition to the most liked.

Zanoni
Zanoni
1 year ago
Reply to  Zanoni

But I guess it has its stans.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
1 year ago

Probably an unpopular opinion but had Illaria entered Unbreakable into Vidbir rather than the JESC selection and sang it herself, I think it would be my clear winner.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago

An interesting phenomenon I’ve read from multiple people is that Krut’s song grows on you, while Jerry’s falls off after awhile. Same with me. I thought that WGSTD was the right choice at first, but now I’m heavily leaning towards Kolyskova. That’s also who I think the juries will go for. However, the televote will likely go for Jerry, since there’s this first impact. As stated by others, I also don’t mind the message of her song, and I do like humanitarian (or even political, if that’s what you think they are) messages at ESC, as long as they are… Read more »

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

The Moldovan 2020 selection was such that I’d put most of those songs below all ten of these from Vidbir 2022 (fall edition). In that crowd, Prison really stood out as profesionally made and at least presentable. So, from an objective musical standpoint, picking it wasn’t the wrong call. However, from a subjective standpoint, I’d rather see Tudor Bumbac or Sasha Letty win with something ”so bad it’s good” than give it to a slick product from a man as deplorable as Kirkorov.

Vivian
Vivian
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

Lol Ralph Siegel is only capable of writing dumpster fire entries these days which would represent San Marino at best, I would really not count on him haha

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Vivian

Funny enough, I was watching the 90s contests recently, and wasn’t too keen on any of the Siegel’s entries. However, I consider Crisalide from 2013 to be outstanding, and robbed of the finals. I haven’t heard any of his even more recent songs, so I can’t comment on them. But from a human standpoint, I know nothing of Siegel (which includes nothing bad either), while Kirkorov is just an awful person.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

Not even 1994?

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

By the way, if you want to judge Ralph Siegel as a person… there is always the sad story of Luxembourg 1980 to consider.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

Ok, that one is kinda cute and fun, even if 3rd place is still much.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

Do you think 1999 deserved third?

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

I have it as 9th, and keep in mind that I find 1999 the weakest year of the 90s by a big margin. The song has a nice melody and I appreciate the harmonies, even if the structure gets quite repetitive. I also find the lyrics too pandering to the hosts.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Vivian

Bernd Meinunger gets the credit for lyrics, though.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

There’s a Ralph Siegel musical running in Germany at the moment, called ‘N Bisschen Frieden. He produced it himself.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

Oh, dear. It only started in October, maybe it got bad reviews. Ticket-holders have been asked to contact an insolvency administrator. It was supposed to be on until the end of the year. Poor Ralph.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

I agree. Several of these entries do have merit, Kolyskova and WGSTD included. I merely mentioned my current preferences. I rated both entries over a 7.

apollinischesprinzip
apollinischesprinzip
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

I actually prefer krut to stefania and shum 🙂

Sabrina
Sabrina
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

“Kolyskova” has grew on me a lot too. And after reading the lyrics, it became my choice in Vidbir, because I believe it’s very delicate on how it addresses the same theme as Jerry’s song. Still very curious about how Fiinka will do though.