Ukraine

[Gavster]

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A shockingly boring song from a usually outlandish Ukraine. I can't see this doing well at all. It will surely qualify purely because of all the support they can count on from their buddies! But looking at the group, I can't be sure... they are in a strong group!

What possessed them to pick a song suitable only for someone's wake?

[Beanie]

Is the chorus the worst in Eurovision history? I'd have it up there with Bye Bye Baby....woeful. Little bits are good, big bits are shit.

[MickeyPaul]

The more songs I listen to for this year, the better Spain becomes. And that's one of the worst in history. This is definitely a contender for 'funniest of the year'.

[Gavster]

Originally Posted by MickeyPaul

The more songs I listen to for this year, the better Spain becomes. And that's one of the worst in history. This is definitely a contender for 'funniest of the year'.

no Mickey, funniest of the year goes to Serbia!

[Beanie]

Im on Ukraine at 100/1.

No seriously, I am!

It looks almost certain now that they are having a new national final this Friday, and selecting a new song, because they have put a new ESC head in and he doesnt like Vasyl's song either. For a country with their history, and given that they can see all the competition layed out in front of them, this price looks well worth a punt in the dark.

Still plenty of big prices around for anyone that fancies it!

[Beanie]

A bit more clarification(although this is all just how I see it):

Back in December the old head of the Ukrainian broadcaster selected Vasyl to be the Ukrainian act for this year - by the sounds of it they were good mates.

Then they asked for songs to be submitted, got 5 of them, and the national final selected the one that is their current entry.

Since then, reaction has been very negative, and the old president of the broadcaster has left, and the new one doesnt fancy having his predecessors choice forced upon them.

Therefore he seems to have decided that they should have a new final this weekend, and the word is that they have asked for auditionees and have contacted major producers etc asking for entries.

Problems -

a) there are rules that would seem to suggest this is illegal. Rules state that that broadcasters must notify the EBU of national finals by the 31st Jan, but there are precedents where this has been allowed(Greece 04 I've seen mentioned but would need to check.)

b) Vasyl and his management (who are understandably not happy!) may make a legal challenge, which would mean it would be very unlikely Ukraine would be able to compete with that hanging over it. That said this is Ukraine and things wont necessarily follow the traditional legal process!

c) They have until the meeting of EBU heads on 22nd, 23rd March to finalise their entry - a very tight turnaround, and the broadcaster has already suggested that it may not have the money to do it and need some other broadcaster to step in.

So lots of problems, but I see it like this: the new head of the broadcaster seems 100% against having the current song as their entry to Eurovision, and would probably rather withdraw than go with the previous regimes choice. And the EBU will do all that they can to prevent Ukraine withdrawing - they dont want to lose a country this close to the contest, certainly not a country considered a big Eurovision nation.

So despite the problems, I think they will make it happen.

In that case the prices are very good imo- its an open and fairly weak contest, and they can see all the ballads, and know what would be needed to grab attention. Ukraine have a great record and if they were still to release their song and no one had any idea of what it was then they would be about 25/1.

News was reported widely on esctoday, oikotimes, escforum etc a few days ago - not helped since then by a lack of a statement from the broadcaster but people in Ukraine are writing today on Eurovision forums that they think a new national final this friday is 95% certain...

[Gavster]

Ok i've been reading some Ukrainian websites. The current singer will not be singing - that is confirmed as far as I can tell. He, along with is recording company are pissed big-time with the new TV boss.

There is definitely another final happening this Friday. They have to have the song selected for EBU by Sunday (I think).

This could however, result in an official withdrawal as Vasyl will not be singing - period!

[Beanie]

Yes, very uncertain as to whether it will happen - looks like the new final will but the week after will be interesting!

My gut feeling is that a new entry is slightly more likely to happen - lets call it 60/40, based on nothing more than the fact that the important people here probably want it to happen. After that, any new song is at a disadvantage as the selection process is going to be hectic, and so that has to be built into the price, which as I say I think would be 20/1 or 25/1 with a full pre planned process.

So 80/1 at Will Hill is perhaps still worth a tickle - beyond that the prices look about right.

[Beanie]

Now confirmed on Ukrainian TV - 20 finalists to be revealed tomorrow. Friday night - presentation of all the songs. Saturday night - final.

Im impressed that they have managed to get it all together in such a short space of time.

Also worth noting that Vasyl will take part in the final - which is good news in terms of hoping that he wont kick up a fuss. I'd have expected him to boycott and take up his challenge legally(which he could still do of course, but this makes it more unlikely) so perhaps there has been some sort of deal struck.

Now just the EBU hurdle to overcome...

[squallsquall]

great research guys! please keep us posted on what happens

[Gavster]

Originally Posted by squallsquall

great research guys! please keep us posted on what happens

All down to Beanie that one!!

[Beanie]

List of the 20 finalists - I think they will be shown throughout the day on tele so hopefully we will have some videos up tonight:

1 Zaklyopki
2 Iris
3 Alesha
4 Zlata
5 Vitaliy Kozlovskyi
6 Brats
7 Natalia Valevska
8 Vasil' Lazarovich
9 Dazzle Dreams
10 Maria Sopho
11 EL Kravchuk
12 Matias
13 Mia
14 Ivan
15 STEREO
16 Yulia Voice
17 Vladislav
18 Irina
19 Maks Barskih
20 Mira Gogol

[Beanie]

Does appear to be a few previews kicking around, cant listen to them just now tho as Im stuck at work...general reception doesnt seem to positive though, bar one or two bright spots, and its not guaranteed that they will be picked in such a hectic process.

[Gavster]

New longer video

You Tube

You Tube

1. Vitalij Kozlovskij
2. Vasyl Lazarovych
3. Band Zakliopky????
4. Oleksіy Matіas
5. ???
6. ???
7. Iryna Rosenfeld
8. Shanis
9. Max Barskyh
10. WTF???
11. ???
12. Da Zzle Dreams
13. Masha Subko (needs a pluck)
14. Zlata Okhnevych (good one) (girl in white with dancers)
15. 10 dollaa me show u gud time
16. Nataliya Valevska (good one) (blond in red with dancers)
17. ???
18. Fuck off!
19. ???
20. think i missed one.... oh well I'm not listening again!

That's all I can find out at the moment. Lots of unknowns by the looks of it.

[Beanie]

I saw pictures - the hottest one has been getting decent reviews for both her song and her voice, so Im probably most hopeful of her - which one is that gav, and idea? Natalya?