Ukraine

Blast from the past: Ukraine 2010

We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today we look back at Alyosha‘s “Sweet people”, the Ukrainian song in 2010. Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest The first Ukrainian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest was “Hasta la vista”, sung by Olexandr Ponomariov in 2003. Already a year later, the country had it’s first victory with Ruslana and her “Wild dances”. Ukraine is the only country that always reached the final so far. Ukraine managed to win the contest even three times already: with Ruslana, in 2016 with Jamala and her “1942” and in 2022 with Kalush Orchestra’s “Stefania”. Evrobachennya. Ukrayina-2010 Vasyl The road that lead to “Sweet people” being the Eurovision song was quite a complicated one. In December 2009, Ukrainian Television announced that the artist representing the country was selected internally. It was the 28 years old singer and performer Vasyl Lazarovych who got the job. The national final Evrobachennya. Ukrayina was held on March 5. Vasyl sang a total of 5 songs. The winning song was “I love you”, written and composed by Brandon Stone and Olga Yarinich. However, a storm of criticism came up, especially about the idea of giving only one artist the chance to perform. 20 songs After 10 days, Ukrainian broadcaster NTU decided to have a new national final. “I love you” was now one of 20 songs. Vitaliy Kozlovskiy sang “”I-L@VE?” Vasyl Lazarovych sang “I love you”, 24 pts, 7th SH and BB sang “Ne zhurys” OIeksiy Matias sang “Angely ne umirayut”, 32 pts, 3rd Zaklyopi sang “Anybody home?” 23 pts, 8th Ivan Berezovskyi sang “No doubt”, 21 pts, 10th Stereo sang “Ne shkody s uma”, 22 pts, 9th Irina Rosenfeld sang “Forever”, 29 pts, 6th Shanis sang “Lechu k tebe” Max Barskih sang “White raven” Vladyslav Levytskyi sang “Davay, davay!” Miya sang “Vona” DaZzle Dreams sang “Emotional lady” Masha Sobko sang “Ya tebya lyublyu”, 36 pts, 2nd Zlata Ochnevich sang “Tiny island”, 30 pts, 5th Mira Gold sang “Crazy lady” Natalia Valevska sang “Europe”, 31 pts, 4th Juliya Voice sang “Zavyazhi mne glaza” El Kravchuk sang “Fly to heaven”, 21 pts, 10th Alyosha sang “To be free”, 36 pts, 1st A new song Accusations of plagiarism were made about the winning song “To be free” immediately after the contest. Also, it was said to be published already in 2008. While NTU wanted to investigate this, the final deadline of submitting a song was so close that NTU decided that Alyosha could sing another song in Eurovision: “Sweet people”. Alyosha Olena Oleksandrivna Kucher, known as Alyosha and later by her real name, Olena Topolia, is a celebrated Ukrainian singer, songwriter, and composer. Born on May 14, 1986, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, she grew up in a hardworking family; her father was a traffic officer, and her mother worked at an aviation plant. From a young age, Olena was passionate about music, singing in school choirs and attending the “Youth” music studio. She later graduated from the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts with a degree in Pop Vocal. Olena’s career began to take off after she won the international competition Yalta 2006. In 2010, she gained worldwide attention when she represented Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Sweet People,” . Olena quickly became a prominent figure in the Ukrainian music scene. She has written and composed many of her own songs, as well as for other artists. Over the years, Olena has released several successful albums, such as A World Outside Your Door and Tocka na karte. In 2023, she returned to Eurovision as an interval act, performing a duet with Rebecca Ferguson. That same year, she started performing under her real name, Olena Topolia, marking a new chapter in her career. Sweet people The song “Sweet people” was composed by Alyosha, alongside Borys Kukoba and Vadym Lisitsa. It was written in response to environmental concerns, carrying a strong message about the negative impact of human actions on the world. The lyrics call for awareness and responsibility, warning about the destruction caused by pollution and the need to protect the planet for future generations. At the Eurovision Song Contest, “Sweet People” represented Ukraine after the forementioned last-minute change from Alyosha’s original song, “To Be Free,” due to plagiarism accusations. In the grand final, Alyosha delivered a powerful performance of the ballad in Oslo, Norway. The song finished 10th out of 25 participants, scoring a total of 108 points. “Sweet People” stood out for its emotional message and Alyosha’s strong vocal performance, gaining widespread recognition across Europe.

Malmö Messages: yesterday’s pressconference

photo: EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett Yesterday, after winning the tickets to the final, the 10 winners headed to the winners’ pressconference. We of Eurovision Universe were present at this press conference. Cyprus Silia Kapsis said it was a huge opportunity to be here. She was super proud and super happy. About her country of birth, Australia, she said she was proud as well that the Australians showed their culture. It was her goal to make her country proud and after this, to grow as a pop artist. Serbia Teya Dora said it was crazy; the rehearsals, the performance; it was all super exciting and she was happy. She wants to make her country proud and give the best she can, with the best placement. She loves it that so many people watched her performance. And about Konstrakta, who was in the introduction film, she loved her amazing energy. Lithuania Silvester Belt thanks the audience. To all the bullies from the past he has a message: “I know you are struggling. And to the little boy I was: I love you so much”. The biggest challenge this week was sleeping. About singing in the Lithuanian language he said: “only Lithuanians wanted me to sing in English. Everybody else said I should sing in Lithuanian.” Ireland Bambie Thug said they are completely dissociated after this succes, but also that they are super proud. They have a small team and they are en independent artist, yet they reached this. And also, they are the first non binary artist in the contest. Bambie revealed that they met the rules of the EBU: texts like Ceasefire and Free Palestine were not allowed, so Crown The Witch was the only text left. On the question what made them special, Bambie answered “What makes me special is that I’m a queer”. Ukraine Alyona Alyona explained that she and Jerry Heil raised fund to rebuild Ukrainian schools. She called for donation. Half of the money is there, but you can donate via United24. “Children are our future”, Alyona Alyona stated. Jerry also stated that it was great to be in Malmö now. It was a super possibility to say thank you for your help. And yes, they felt pressure, because they felt Ukraine expected something from them. Croatia The performance was way better than the rehearsals. Before going on stage, Baby Lasagna tried to empty his mind, but before him Poland performed; that song got stuck in his mind. About his first place in the odds he said that odds are just numbers, it’s not over ’til it’s done. He felt comfortable in Malmö as Eurovision is, in his opinion, the next level of professional, with all the sound- and camerawork. The energy to him was fine. Slovenia Raiven said she was grateful. She was unsure about the result and doubting all the time. That meant going to the final was a huge surprise for her. When it comes to making music and visuals she went with her instinct. “The staging is really me, and I am very satisfied with it”, she said. About the fact that she was called Eurovision’s opera diva, she said that it is great to hear that people checked her background. Finland It was our own Kal (!!) who had the opportunity to ask windows95man a question. Due to the lyrics of the song “No rules”, Kal was interested to know which of the many rules of Eurovision had to go in his opinion. “More nakedness! For everybody!”, windows95man replied without any hesitation. Windows95man also told that he got help in preparing for the show. Before the show the men do some physical exercises. Portugal Iolanda from Portugal thinks that music can be whatever you like. She wrote the song in her grandmothers house. Her message is that you can do a lot with not so much money. She designed the act with the stage director and the choreographer. She also added that she believes music connects. Luxembourg “I nearly had a heart attack”, Tali explained, “It was brutal, but the camera was approaching and I thought…. maybe”. In Tali’s opinion Eurovision is a beautiful contet that unites. She was thrilled and was hoping to inspire other countries to return to Eurovision. “Music is my life, my therapy, my everything”, Tali stated.

Malmö Messages: orange light, cats and more demons

Even after the lunch break, there were new and fresh rehearsals, with even one, or perhaps two, favorites for the final victory taking the stage. We started with Ukraine. Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil sing for that country about Teresa & Maria. They bask in orange light. Alyona wears a high ponytail and a wide silver-gray coat, Jerry has her hair loose and wears a beige-like dress. We also see Jerry standing on some sort of wooden stump. Both ladies perform both individually and facing each other. Because Ukraine is currently in fifth place for a final victory, this is an entry to pay extra attention to. The Polish Luna sings “The Tower.” Luna tries to rectify the mistakes she made in the past; she shows that in the music video. Anyone who watches the video carefully might recognize this story in her current performance. She wears a white top with red dots on the shoulders. Here again, a demon emerges, in this case, one from the past. Luna stands on two towers, between which she later stands. As she does so, she is dressed like the demon. The moon is depicted in the graphics. Croatia was long number 1 with the bookmakers. Baby Lasagna is now number 2 with “Rim Tim Tagi Dim.” In the same traditional clothing with puffed sleeves that we already know from him, Baby Lasagna appears on stage. The act is a fine-tuning of what we have already seen during the Croatian pre-selection. At the end of the act, we see three dancers dressed as cats. An entry to keep a close eye on. in collaboration with Eurovision Artists.

🇺🇦 Road to Malmö: Ukraine

photo: UA:PBC We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Ukraine. Alyona Alyona Aliona Olehivna Savranenko, known professionally as Alyona Alyona, is a groundbreaking Ukrainian rapper and songwriter, born on June 14, 1991, in Kapitanivka, Novomyrhorod Raion, Kirovohrad Oblast. With a background in education, holding two bachelor’s degrees and experience as a kindergarten teacher, she transitioned from teaching to pursue music full-time. Gaining attention with her debut video for “Rybky” in October 2018, Alyona Alyona’s career quickly ascended. Her first album, “Pushka,” released in April 2019, showcased her storytelling prowess and unique approach to rap, earning her acclaim as “Ukraine’s most unlikely rap star” by Vogue. Alyona Alyona’s impact extended internationally with her signing to Def Jam Polska in 2020 and winning the Public Choice Award at the Music Moves Europe Talent Awards in 2021. Jerry Heil Yana Oleksandrivna Shemayeva, known as Jerry Heil, is a versatile Ukrainian singer, songwriter, and YouTuber, born on October 21, 1995, in Vasylkiv, near Kyiv. Her musical journey was shaped by her studies at the R. Glier Kyiv Institute of Music and the Kyiv Conservatory. Adopting the stage name Jerry Heil at 15, she launched a YouTube channel in 2012, covering songs and sharing vlogs, which caught the attention of notable musicians, including Sviatoslav Vakarchuk from Okean Elzy. Signing with Vidlik Records in 2017, Heil’s debut EP, “De miy dim,” marked her professional entry into music. Her career further blossomed with hits like “Okhrana, otmyena,” leading to her debut album “Ya, Yana.” Heil’s distinctiveness continued with her engagement in Vidbir, notably winning Vidbir 2024 alongside Alyona Alyona with “Teresa & Maria” for Eurovision 2024. Fluent in multiple languages and a committed vegan, Heil’s personal and artistic choices are closely intertwined, reflecting her unique identity and values in the music industry. Vidbir Vidbir is the name of the Ukrainian national selection. The contest this year contained 11 entries. One of them was added in a late stadium as a wildcard, as a winner of an online election. One former Eurovision participant was among the contestants: Mélovin. The singer presented the song “Dreamer” and was the runner up of the contest. Following the completion of the performances, the Diia app (an app especially for the Ukrainian diaspora) experienced a malfunction, which caused the voting period to be prolonged and resulted in the postponement of the results announcement to February 4. Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest In 2003, Ukraine debuted in the contest. Already one year later, the country had its first victory: Ruslana won the contest with “Wild dances”. Ukraine won again in 2016 with Jamala‘s “1944” and in 2022 with Kalush Orchestra and “Stefania”. Ukraine never failed to reach the Grand Final, reaching the top-3 on no less than 6 occasions. photo: EBU The Bookmakers It looks like Ukraine is gonna be succesful: in the betting odds Ukraine is currently the 3rd country in chances to win the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest. The song This is the song:

Jerry Heil

©EBU/Alma Bengtsson About Quick Facts NameYana Oleksandrivna Shemayeva Born21 October 1995 Nationality🇺🇦 Ukrainian National SelectionVidbir 2024Vidbir 2020 In Eurovision2024 Malmö SongTeresa & Maria (& Alyona Alyona) Biography Yana Oleksandrivna Shemayeva, widely recognized by her stage name Jerry Heil, is an accomplished Ukrainian singer, songwriter, and YouTuber, born on October 21, 1995. Shemayeva’s early years unfolded in Vasylkiv, located on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, where her parents are engaged in private trading. Her musical education spanned notable institutions, including the R. Glier Kyiv Institute of Music and the Kyiv Conservatory, where she honed her skills. Initial Steps At 15, Heil adopted her stage name, initially choosing Jerry Mouse after the famous cartoon character, before switching to Heil based on an arbitrary American surname she encountered online. She humorously reflects on the origin of her stage name as “moronic.” In 2012, Heil ventured into the digital world by launching a YouTube channel, where she shared vlogs and song covers, earning acclaim from fans and musicians alike, including Okean Elzy’s lead, Sviatoslav Vakarchuk. 2017 marked a turning point in Heil’s career when she signed with Vidlik Records, embarking on a professional journey with the guidance of the label’s founders and leading to the release of her debut EP, De miy dim, in October 2017. Her audition for X-Factor Ukraine in 2018 saw her progressing through the competition, though she did not win. This experience fueled her return to music, releasing singles including “Kava” and “Postil,” with the latter featuring her first music video. 2019 was a pivotal year for Heil, previewing her hit single “Okhrana, otmyena” on Instagram before its official release, which quickly became a sensation in Ukraine. Her debut album Ya, Yana, followed, showcasing her songwriting and performing prowess. Heil’s engagement with the Eurovision Song Contest began with Vidbir 2020, where her entry “Vegan” reached the final. She continued to participate in Vidbir, finishing third in 2023 with “When God Shut the Door” and winning Vidbir 2024 alongside Alyona Alyona with “Teresa & Maria,” setting the stage for their Eurovision 2024 representation. The song reached a 3rd place in the Grand Final of the contest. Heil is multilingual, proficient in Ukrainian, Russian, and English, and chooses to perform primarily in Ukrainian. A committed vegan, her lifestyle reflects in her personal and professional choices. In August 2018, Heil faced legal challenges over copyright infringement related to her use of “Believer” by Imagine Dragons. The ensuing dispute with Komp Music Publishing, a licensee of Universal Music Group in Ukraine, led to a temporary removal of her YouTube channel. However, through negotiations facilitated by AIR Music, the fines were reduced, and an agreement was reached, allowing Heil to continue her musical endeavors online. Entries Teresa & Maria (with Alyona Alyona) Country🇺🇦 Ukraine Year2024 LanguageUkrainian LyricsAlyona SavranenkoYana Shemaeva MusicAnton ChilibiIvan Klymenko Backings– Results Semi Points: 173Position: 2Running order: 5 Results Finals Points: 453Position: 3Running order: 2 https://youtu.be/d4N82wPpdg8?si=80O_WxaIGjRlRCYv

Alyona Alyona

EBU/Alma Bengtsson About Quick Facts NameAliona Alehivna Savranenko Born14 June 1991 Nationality🇺🇦 Ukrainian National SelectionVidbir 2024 In Eurovision2024 Malmö SongTeresa & Maria (& Jerry Heil) Biography Aliona Olehivna Savranenko, known professionally as Alyona Alyona, is a distinguished Ukrainian rapper and songwriter, born on June 14, 1991. Originating from Kapitanivka, Novomyrhorod Raion, in Kirovohrad Oblast, Savranenko is a holder of two bachelor’s degrees, one of which she earned from the Gregory Skovoroda Pedagogical State University of Pereiaslav. Prior to her music career, she dedicated herself to teaching, initially working at kindergarten. After four years in the education sector, Savranenko stepped away from teaching as her music career began to take off. Alyona Alyona at Haldern Pop Festival 2019, Germany Alyona’s journey into rap began in the mid-2000s, initially performing under the stage name Alyona Al.kaida. Her quest for a broader audience took a significant leap forward when, under her now-familiar moniker, she released her debut music video for the song “Rybky” in October 2018. This was followed by a second, professionally directed video for the same song later that month, and then by the video for “Holovy” in November, which achieved one million YouTube views within its first month. Further releases included the music videos for “Vidchynyai” and “Zalyshayu sviy dim”, the latter symbolizing her departure from her hometown, Baryshivka. Her career saw rapid expansion in 2019, marked by the release of her first album, Pushka, in April, featuring a mix of previously released and new songs, including a notable collaboration with Alina Pash on “Padlo” . Alyona Alyona’s unique approach to music and storytelling garnered her praise as “Ukraine’s most unlikely rap star” in that month’s Vogue. She continued to make her mark with performances at major festivals, such as the Sziget Festival in Budapest, and contributions to significant projects, including writing the lyrics for “Vilna”, performed by Tina Karol and Julia Sanina for the soundtrack of the Ukrainian film Viddana. In 2020, Alyona Alyona signed with Def Jam Polska, further solidifying her international presence. The following year, she received the Public Choice Award at the Music Moves Europe Talent Awards contest and participated as part of the Ukrainian jury for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. Her most recent achievement includes winning the Ukrainian preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 alongside Jerry Heil with their song “Teresa & Maria,” highlighting her continued influence and success in the music industry. The song reached a 3rd place in the Grand Final of the contest. Entries Teresa & Maria (with Jerry Heil) Country🇺🇦 Ukraine Year2024 LanguageUkrainian LyricsAlyona SavranenkoYana Shemaeva MusicAnton ChilibiIvan Klymenko Backings– Results Semi Points: 173Position: 2Running order: 5 Results Finals Points: 453Position: 3Running order: 2 https://youtu.be/d4N82wPpdg8?si=pWldnZODF4xrJByN

🇺🇦 Jerry heil & Alyona have won vidbir 2024

Jerry Heil & Alyona will represent Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö with their song “Teresa & Maria. The duo will perform in the first semi-final. The song is a massive hit in Ukraine as it has been the number one hit single in the country for weeks! It’s notible as we can see that in the televote score. This is the result: Three time’s the lucky charm, as it’s not the first time Jerry Heil has took part in Vidbir. She tried to represent her country in 2019 with “Vegan” but she ended last. Last year she entered the compitition with “When God Shut The Door” where she ended up in third place.

🇺🇦 Who is going to represent Ukraine?

Ukraine will select their song for Eurovision tonight. Out of 11 songs, a jury and televoters will select a winner. Vidbir, as the name of the contest is, will be hosted by Timur Miroshnychenko, Julia Sanina and Vasyl Baidak. The show starts at 17.00 and you can watch it here, here, on Youtube, on Youtube with English comments, and on Youtube Eurovision channel with English comments. nr Title Artist(s) 1 Lalala Yaktak 2 Keeper Ingret 3 Slavic English Nazva 4 Palala Anka 5 Endless chain Drevo 6 Teresa & Maria Alyona Alyona & Jerry Heil 7 Dreamer Mélovin 8 Time is running out Skylerr 9 Place I call home Ziferblat 10 Tsunamia Yagodi 11 Glasss Nahaba Ingret also took part in 2018 (semifinal).Jerry Heil became 6th in 2020.With “Under the ladder”, Mélovin represented Ukraine in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest. The year before he was 3rd in Vidbir.

🇺🇦 Blast from the past: Ukraine 2020

We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today: Go_A, who were supposed to represent Ukraine in the 2020 contest but did so a year later. We keep an eye on the, lesser known, 2020 entry. Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest Ukraine is one of the most succesful countries in the Eurovision Song Contest so far. With three victories since it’s debut in 2003, three more top-3 positions and not a single failure to qualify, this country holds a special record. Already in 2004, it was Ruslana who managed to get the first place in the contest. In 2016, Jamala brought the victory home again. It was in 2022 when Kalush Orchestra broke all the Eurovision records existing. And who does not remember Verka Serduchka, Ani Lorak, Svetlana Loboda and the group we are talking about today, Go_A? photo: UA:PBS Vidbir The Ukrainian national final is called Vidbir. There had been a lot of controversy about Vidbir in 2019: the winner, Maruv, had performed on Crimea after it had been occupied by Russia in 2014. Also, Maruv had planned several performances in Russia. In the end, for this reason Ukraine withdrew. A new rule in the 2020 is that only artists who had not performed in Russia after 2014 were allowed. Also, artists who had traveled to Crimea after that year without permission from the Ukrainian authorities, were not accepted. 16 songs entered two semifinals. Six songs were allowed to the final, where televoters and a jury chose the winner. The jury members were Andriy Danilko (Verka Serduchka!), Tina Karol and producer Vitaliy Drozdov. These were the songs, entering the final: “99“, sung by Krutь, 9 pts, 3rd “Vegan“, sung by Jerry Heil, 2 pts, 6th “Solovey“, sung by Go_A, 12 pts, 1st “Horizon“, sung by David Axelrod, 5 pts, 5th “Call for love“, sung by Khayat, 9 pts, 2nd “Bonfire“, sung by Tvorchi, 5 pts, 4th Go_A Go_A is a Ukrainian folktronica band formed in 2012. The band’s name fuses the English term “Go” with the Greek letter “Alpha”, representing the start of all things. Thus, their name signifies a “return to origins.” The ensemble features Kateryna Pavlenko on vocals from Nizhyn, Taras Shevchenko [uk] handling keyboards and percussion from Kyiv, Ihor Didenchuk [uk] of Lutsk (who is also part of the rap group Kalush), and Ivan Hryhoriak from Bukovyna. Their songs are performed solely in Ukrainian. Formed from a serendipitous 2012 meeting between Taras Shevchenko, a skilled keyboardist (unrelated to the renowned poet), and folk singer Kateryna Pavlenko, Go_A has swiftly become an emblem of contemporary Ukrainian music. Their initial offering, “Koliada” (Коляда), was soon overshadowed by the nationwide success of “Vesnianka” (Веснянка). This track ruled Ukraine’s 10Dance chart for six weeks and earned them the “Discovery of the Year” title by Kiss FM radio. Their debut album, “Idy na zvuk” (Follow the Tune), launched in 2016, fortified their reputation, incorporating the hit “Vesnjanka”. A special Christmas collaboration with Katya Chilly, “Shchedryi vechir”, marked the end of the year. Eurovision 2020 beckoned next. Chosen to represent Ukraine with “Solovey”, the pandemic’s shadow caused a cancellation. Undeterred, Go_A returned in 2021 with “Shum”, clinching fifth place overall, but a noteworthy second in public votes[9]. Adding to their laurels, band member Ihor Didenchuk, with rap group Kalush, triumphed in Eurovision the next year. In 2023, post their European tour, Go_A graced Eurovision again, performing “Shum” alongside Ukrainian musical legends during the flag parade. They further joined Duncan Laurence’s emotive “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. From traditional roots to global acclaim, Go_A epitomizes the spirit of modern Ukraine, harmonizing history with today. photo: EBU Solovey “Solovey” is the song by the Ukrainian band Go_A. Selected as Ukraine’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2020, the track became synonymous with Go_A’s unique fusion of electronic music with traditional Ukrainian sound. The title “Solovey” translates to “Nightingale” in English, and lyrically, the song tells the tale of a young woman’s complex feelings towards a man, using the metaphor of the nightingale’s song to express deep emotions. Musically, “Solovey” incorporates the band’s signature blend of powerful vocal techniques, inspired by Ukrainian folklore, with contemporary beats and rhythms. Kateryna Pavlenko’s voice, with its distinctive timbre, rings out clear and strong, capturing the listener’s attention from the outset. COVID19 Due to the COVID19 pandemic, EBU, host organizers NOS/NPO/AVROTROS and the city of Rotterdam had to decide to a cancellation of the contest. That also meant that Go_A could not represent Ukraine in the 2020 contest. On the evening of the Grand Final, 16 May 2020, a show from a studio in Hilversum, Netherlands, was broadcast: Europe Shine A Light. Go_A was part of this show. Ukrainian broadcaster UA:PBC however supported Go_A to be the 2021 representants in the contest. Their song “Shum” reached a 5th place in the Eurovision Song Contest. Go_A at a home session during the pandemic.

Liverpool live: rehearsals on coronation day

Today, king Charles III will be crowned. You can follow the coronation live on YouTube. However, because you visit our site we think you will be more interested in the Eurovision Song Contest. In that case, you are in the right place! Today is the day of the last few rehearsals. We saw the Big 5 and Ukraine today. Also, the decision will be made today which country performs where in the final. photo credits: EBU/Corinne Cumming/Sarah Louise Bennett/Chloe Hashemi Germany As we only get to see some pictures, it is hard to say whether there is any change or improvement. On the current pictures, the triangle structure behind the band is more visible and notable. Furthermore, it gives the same impression. Germany is currently 15th at the bookmakers. Not a top position, but at least much higher than the last few years. France Also for France there are no differences. La Zarra is still standing on a high structure with the long black rug on it. France is currently strongly on the 3rd place in the betting odds. There are even people who talk about the French song as the potential winner. So who knows…. Italy Marco Mengoni has returned to perform on stage and has changed his outfit. He is no longer wearing the silver vest he wore on Thursday. Instead, he is now wearing a longer silver vest that gradually fades from silver to black, giving it an ombre effect. To create a cohesive look, sparkles have been added to one side of his leather trousers. Italy is currently number 8 at the bookmakers. Ukraine According to eurovision.tv, the graphics are working well in the act. Note that this is their opinion, we have to judge for ourselves. Also, they mention something about the timing that goes perfect. Again, let’s wait and see. Not that we don’t trust TVORCHI in this, but we haven’t seen it ourselves. The bookmakers say the Ukrainian entry would end up in 4th place, which would be a great score for the country. Spain No changes whatsoever in the Spanish act. Still she is wearing the white platforms and the stage is almost red during the whole performance. It is said that she vocally does well. All we heard so far is that this is true. Spain has a 5th place at the bookmakers, which would be a wonderful score for Spain for the second year in a row! United Kingdom Also no changes in the act like it was at the first rehearsal is noticed. Still the graphics with the split head. What the people of eurovision.tv noticed, again for what it is worth, is that she had more energy in this performance. The United Kingdom is 10th at the bookmakers. That would be top-10 twice in a row for the UK, and it is quite a high score for a host country. In collaboration with Eurovision Artists