Ukraine: UA:PBC reveals the 16 participants of Vidbir 2019
The Ukrainian national broadcaster UA:PBC has revealed the 16 contestants of Ukrainian national final Vidbir 2019.
The Ukrainian national broadcaster in collaboration with STB has chosen to stick with Vidbir as the country’s national selection format. The boadcaster released the names of acts who will be competing in this year’s national final. The names are:
- Brunettes Shoot Blondes
- Braii
- YUKO
- Freedom Jazz
- KHAYAT
- BAHROMA
- LETAY
- KAZKA
- TAYANNA
- IVAN NAVI
- ANNA MARIA
- LAUD
- ЦЕШО
- The Hypnotunez
- VERA KEKELIA
- KiRA MAZUR
Among the names are several familiar ones to the Eurovision family. First of all Tayanna who was contestant of the Urainian national finals in 2017 and 2018 with the songs of I love you and Lelya respectively. In these 2 participations Tayanna came 2nd behind O.Torvald and Melovin repsectively.
The national final is one of the most competitive as the group KAZKA, will be participating in this year’s national selection. Even though last year the group didn’t make it further then the semi finals with the song Dyva however the last months their song Plakala has gone international and become a hit in many radio airplays.
Other acts that we will see back in the national final are Brunettes Shoot Blondes who participated in 2016 with their entry Every Monday and LAUD who took part in 2017 with the song Waiting.
The Ukrainian national selection, Vidbir 2019, will consist of three shows which are all scheduled to take place in February 2019. Specifically the confirmed dates of the show are the following:
09/02/2019: 1st semi final
16/02/2019: 2nd semi final
23/02/2019: Final
The 16 acts will split up in the two semi final shows. The 2019 Ukrainian ESC entry and hopeful will be determined via public/jury deliberation. The jury consists of three members, the ESC2016 winner Jamala, Andriy Danylko known to fans as Verka Serduchka (2η place in 2007 with Dancing Lasha Tumbai) and the singer Yehven Filatov.
THE EUROVISION STORY SO FAR
Ukraine debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2003 with Oleksandr Ponormayov‘s Hasta la vista, and has won the competition twice in 2004 (Ruslana) and 2016 (Jamala). The country has hosted the contest twice in its majestic capital Kyiv in 2005 and 2017.
Ukraine is one of the most successful countries in the Eurovision Song Contest and has so far not missed out competing in the Grand Final while has been abcent only the 2015 edition. The country has made it 9 times in the top 10 during its 15 years of ESC participations, including 2 victories ( 2004, 2016), 2 2nd placings (2007, 2008), 1 3rd placing (2013) and 4th placing (2011).
In 2018 Ukraine was represented by Vidbir 2018 winner, Melovin with his entry Under the ladder, achieving a 17th place in the Grand Final.
