Ukraine is back at Eurovision and it’s going big. NTU and STB recently revealed the 18 acts who will compete in its national selection for Eurovision 2016 and it’s a smorgasbord of fabulous. A number of the acts have mega-watt star power, led by wildly popular and edgy band The Hardkiss. We are so ready to pucker up…
Ukraine’s national selection: The Rules
Today at a press conference in Kyiv, the selection’s musical producer Konstantin Meladze revealed more details about Ukraine’s selection process. Our partners from OGAE Ukraine were on the ground, and kindly supplied us with these details.
Nine acts will compete in each semi-final, but only three will advance to the grand final. This mean six acts will battle it out in the February 21 finale.
The voting system will be 50% jury and 50% televote. Interestingly, Meladze emphasised transparency in the voting process. He explained that all Ukrainians can vote — but only one time from each mobile card and phone number. The voting will commence after the last participant has performed and the public will have ONE HOUR to vote. That’s a long interval, y’all.
In the case of a tie, power goes to the people — the televote will overrule the jury vote.
Ukraine’s national selection songs
At the moment, we know six songs, from Anastasia Prikhodko, Swetlana Tarabarowa, Pur:Pur, Alloise, Vladyslav Kurasov, Viktoria Petryk, and Peaks of Kings. You can listen to all of them on the OGAE UK VK group.
wiwiblogger Antranig is in love with Anastasia’s entry “I Am Free Now”, writing that the song “feels personal and significant” and that Anastasia “appears ready to join the long line of fierce female divas who have done Ukraine proud.” You can read his full review here.
The hardkiss is the best!
Hardkiss is the best.
Seems The Hardkiss is the hot favorite in Ukraine.
From those so far Victoria Petryk and Svitlana Tarabarova are good, Svitlana more so – could do well being the only one not in English (so far) but could use a bit more power towards the end.
The HARDKISS have to win!