Martin Österdahl: “We try to help Ukraine as much as possible”

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Executive supervisor Martin Österdahl, and the executive producers of Eurovision 2022, Simona Martorelli and Claudio Fasulo have confirmed that Ukraine will compete at the Eurovision Song Contest despite the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

We are desperate about the situation in Ukraine like everyone else. And I’m sorry for our colleagues and lots of fans in Russia who are now not allowed to celebrate Eurovision. We are in very close contact with the Ukrainian delegation and we try to help them as much as possible through this tough time.

Ukraine will prepare the live-on-tape recording, in case they don’t make it to Turin in May. According to the Italian broadcaster Rai, Ukraine is planning to record the video somewhere near the border instead of the capital Kyiv.

Broadcaster UA:PBC find Eurovision very important and currently they are focused to help their country. In an interview with Reuters, Oleh tells that he has formed a 20-strong volunteer group to supply medicines and help people flee the war, while one of the Kalush Orchestra members is serving in the territorial defence unit.

Eurovision is very important to us but the life of our family and friends is even more important. So now we are doing everything possible to help our country. One team member of our band is fighting in the territorial defense in Kyiv. I have established a volunteer organization. We are helping people to find accommodation, move, find medicine. Our country has united to the maximum. All my friends and people I know keep helping one another, and we are all fighting as one cohesive mechanism. So I would like to ask you and urge everyone who can hear me to help us, speak up about this problem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiEGVYOruLk

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates related to our favorite contest!

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Ukraine: The Kalush Orchestra will compete with live on tape video, except the war is over by May!

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We had a significant last minute development recently. According to many websites, Ukraine will compete in Eurovision 2022, with the live on tape video of the Kalush Orchestra, unless the war ends by May, when the band will be able to go to Turin to sing live on stage. Orchestra reported on the issue:

Despite the fighting, the KALUSH Orchestra will record their performance in a safe place, which will be sent to the organizers of the song contest, and in case of our victory over the occupiers by May, our delegation will go to Italy and sing live all over Europe!

Thus, after yesterday’s confirmation by the Italian organizers that Ukraine will take part in the contest, despite the Russian invasion, now the way of participation of the Kalush Orchestra has been clarified. In the next few days, the Ukrainian band will have to videotape the live on tape video of their participation and send it to the EBU.

Simona Martorelli (Rai’s director of international relations) said in a statement on Monday (March 14th) that Ukraine’s public television would normally take part, while she was also impressed by their compliance with all the deadlines.

The Ukrainian delegation has confirmed its presence and so far has met all the deadlines. It is also preparing to make the backup video of the show, which is requested by all delegations in case the delegation or part of it cannot be presented in Turin.

With Stefania constantly dropping their odds on bets and being the first favorite to win, the Ukrainians seem to have thought of every detail to ensure their presence in Turin, despite the Russian invasion of the country, for three weeks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiEGVYOruLk

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates related to our favorite contest!

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Ukraine: It is official! Despite the invasion, the country will be present in Turin!

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The Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Turin from 10 to 14 May could not be unaffected by the war. Russia has already been excluded, and despite the rumors and the difficulties, the Ukrainian delegation will be there, as the Italian organizers confirmed earlier. Read more

Ukraine: Jamala will be a special guest at Selecţia Naţională 2022!

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On Saturday February 5, the national final of Romania, Selecţia Naţională 2022, will take place in order to decide the country’s representative for Eurovision 2022. During the competition some artists competing in Eurovision this year, will perform their songs. These are:

  • Albania – Ronela Hajati
  • Bulgaria – Intelligent Music Project
  • Czech Republic – We Are Domi
  • Estonia – Stefan
  • Moldova – Zdob și Zdub
  • Montenegro – Vladana
  • North macedonia – Andrea

However, there will be another special guest, according to the official Facebook page of the national final, and that will be Jamala, the winner of Eurovision Song Contest 2016.

The artist, a refugee from the conflict in her homeland, will perform her winning song “1944“, which managed to bring the contest to Kiev in 2017, live on TVR this Saturday.

Eurovision 2022: Ukraine and Italy at the top of the betting tables!

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The favorite column of many of you is back, as the betting analyzes for the 66th Eurovision Song Contest are here again.

With the puzzle of the 40 songs that will participate in Eurovision 2022 being half completed, we will take a look at the odds of the betting companies regarding the chances of victories of each country in this year’s competition.

In any case, these returns reflect trends and are based on what we know so far in relation to the participation of each country.

Top 5

We have had a reversal of the scene in the last few days in the betting tables. Italy, which has been at the top for almost a month, has seen Ukraine overtake it. The war between Russia and Ukraine led to a rising betting rally for Ukrainian participation, which since last week has a new representative, the Kalush Orchestra.

Any victory of either Ukraine or Italy almost quadruples the money of the one who bets on them. In any case, the difference between them is marginal, as you can see in the photo below.

In third place is Sweden. The level of Melodifestivalen 2022 songs may be indulgently mediocre by most fans, yet the Scandinavian country is in the Top 3. The duel of Cornelia Jacobs and Anders Bagge is the one that brings the Swedes to the top three.

Greece is fourth. A few days before the release of the Greek participation, the Mediterranean country is still in the top four. Thus, Greece starts with the best conditions in view of Turin. At the moment, Greece’s victory in Italy is offered at odds of 15.5.

Switzerland completes the top five. The Central European country is an unknown X so far, as it has not announced the artist who will represent it in Turin. Nevertheless, the very good performance of the last few years foreshadows the bookers that the Swiss are preparing something strong for Eurovision 2022.

Top 10

In the rest of the Top 10 you will find four countries that have already chosen the song and their representative in the 66th Eurovision Song Contest and a country that many believe can be the pleasant surprise of this year: the United Kingdom .

In sixth place is Poland. Krystian Ochman and the song “River” may have been in the Top 3 until the Polish national final, but in recent days they have seen their winning odds rise, slipping down the betting tables.

Seventh place for Norway and the Subwoolfer, who a week after their victory in MGP 2022 remain firmly in the top ten. Eighth is Australia, which is the big loser of the last days. Sheldon Riley may have been considered as the favorite of the Australian national final and have confirmed the predictions, but his appearance on Saturday brought Australia down from the Top 3 to eighth place.

Ninth is Finland. The Rasmus confirmed the title of favorite by prevailing in the UMK final and climbed in the betting tables, with the Scandinavian country being now in the Top 10. In the tenth place is, as previously mentioned, the United Kingdom, which will soon reveal more details about its participation.

Conclusions

A lot can change in the next three months. The odds, of course, will go through various ups and downs. With just 21 of the 40 songs available, it’s extremely early to draw any conclusions. Information about the stage presence and of course the appearances at the PalaAlpitour in Turin can change everything at the tables of the betting companies.

Can the Kalush Orchestra give Ukraine its third victory in the competition? Tell us in the comments.

 

Finland: Broadcaster Yle states they won’t participate if EBU allows Russia’s participation in Turin!

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The developments regarding Russia’s participation in Eurovision 2022 and the rest of the countries’ reactions are truly rapid. Following the statements of the public broadcasters of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands, the broadcaster of Finland (Yle) also asks the EBU not to allow the participation of Russia, while going one step further, stating that in case Russia’s participation is eventually allowed, then they are not going to send their own representative to Turin!

Russia’s attack on Ukraine runs counter to all the values ​​represented by Yle and other European broadcasters. Yle has always defended western democracy, the rule of law, freedom of expression and human dignity. Yle can not take part in an event where Russia, which has blatantly attacked these values, can use one of Europe’s best-known brands to promote its own interests. We hope the EBU will act in accordance with its values.

Yle

Finland is due to select its representative for Eurovision 2022 tomorrow, Saturday, February 26th.

For the countries that have already spoken up against Russia’s participation in Eurovision 2022, you can refer to our previous article.

We remind you that the EBU, at the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, stated the following:

The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political – cultural event that unites countries and celebrates differences through music. EBU members in both Russia and Ukraine have pledged to attend this year’s event in Turin and we intend to welcome them and let artists from both countries participate in May. Of course, we continue to monitor developments closely.

EBU

What will the EBUs reaction be after the pressure it’s receiving from several of its members? What will the final decision on Russia’s participation in Eurovision 2022 be?

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments!

Eurovision 2022: After Sweden, four more countries take a stance against Russia’s participation in Turin!

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The EBU‘s response about Russia’s participation in Eurovision 2022 did not satisfy Norway, Denmark, Lithuania and the Netherlands which, after Sweden, ask the EBU to reconsider its decision and not allow Russia to participate in the competition.

Following the request of the Ukrainian public television for expulsion of the corresponding Russian from the EBU, the latter in a statement underlined the apolitical nature of the competition and that it has no authority to punish its members (public radio and television), for acts committed by governments of their countries.

The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political – cultural event that unites countries and celebrates differences through music. EBU members in both Russia and Ukraine have pledged to attend this year’s event in Turin and we intend to welcome them and let artists from both countries participate in May. Of course, we continue to monitor developments closely.

EBU

However, this response did not satisfy Sweden, which, through SVT CEO Hanna Stjärne, asked the EBU to reconsider its decision on Russia. Today, four more broadcasters have been added to the list, those of Lithuania, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands.

Lithuania‘s general director of public television, Monika Garbaciauskaite, said in a statement today that she would soon raise the issue of Russia’s participation with the EBU. Norwegian public broadcaster has also just released a statement taking a clear stance. In a similar climate, the Danish public television informed the EBU that it is opposed to Russia’s participation in Eurovision 2022 and so did the dutch one AVROTROS a few minutes ago.

However, we have also had statements from the television of Finland, which, although they state that it is the responsibility of the EBU to make any decision regarding Russia’s participation, emphasize that they are closely monitoring the issue and will take a position on it soon.

Eurovision 2022 artists have also started taking a stance against Russia’s participation in Eurovision 2022, as this year’s representatives of Latvia, Citi Zēni, have also personally asked the EBU not to allow the country that started a war in Europe to take part in the competition.

https://twitter.com/citi_zeni/status/1496959252925014017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1496959252925014017%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Feurovisionfun.com%2F2022%2F02%2Feurovision-2022-CEBCCEB5CF84CEAC-CF84CEB7CEBD-CF83CEBFCF85CEB7CEB4CEAFCEB1-CEB4CEB1CEBDCEAFCEB1-CEBACEB1CEB9-CEBBCEB9CEB8CEBFCF85CEB1CEBD%2F

We are awaiting with interest the reactions from the other members of the EBU, but also for the final decision regarding Russia’s participation in Eurovision 2022.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all developments!

Russia is welcome at Eurovision 2022, says EBU | Sweden’s SVT asks to review this decision!

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The EBU in its statements today, immediately after the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine, stated that Russia remains welcome at Eurovision 2022.

Russia is welcome in Eurovision 2o22

Following the EBU’s statement that Russia remains open to the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, the SVT CEO of the Swedish public service broadcaster called on the EBU to reconsider.

The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political cultural event that unites countries and celebrates differences through music. EBU members in both Russia and Ukraine have committed to participating in this year’s event in Turin and we intend to welcome and let artists from both countries participate in May. Of course, we continue to follow developments closely.

EBU

Sweden is asking EBU reconsider its decision

Speaking to the GP, Hanna Stjärne, CEO of SVT, shared her thoughts on the EBU statement, noting:

The EBU needs to rethink. I sympathise with the basic idea of ​​Eurovision as an apolitical event. But the situation in Europe is extremely serious, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It crosses all boundaries. We have called on the EBU to change and will follow developments closely.

SVT

SVT is the first broadcaster to comment publicly on whether Russia should be able to compete in Eurovision 2022, following the invasion of Ukraine this morning.

Ukraine demands expulsion of Russia from the EBU

Earlier, Ukrainian public television asked the EBU to suspend membership of the Russian Public Television Association. Specifically they state:

key values ​​of public service broadcasting;
ensuring freedom of speech and information; free formation of points of view;
development of intercultural dialogue;

In a letter to the President of the European Broadcasting Union, Delphine Ernotte, the Chairman of the Board of Suspilne Mykola Chernotytskyy called on the EBU to:

We recognize that the process of terminating or suspending EBU membership requires careful consideration by the EBU Executive Board and referral to the EBU General Assembly. In the meantime, we call on the EBU to respond now to the unacceptable situation caused by Russia with the support of its essentially state broadcasters that are members of the EBU.

You can read the full letter here.

Should the EBU choose to suspend its membership from Russia, this will be the second time in 12 months that a broadcaster has lost its membership of the EBU. In July 2021, the Belarusian public broadcaster was suspended as a member of the EBU for failing to fulfill its obligations of freedom of expression.

In the top 3 of bets is Ukraine, except for the top 20 is Russia

While all of the above is happening, Ukraine has risen again in betting, despite the replacement of Alina Pash with the Kalush Orchestra. At the moment it is in the third place, in contrast to Russia which is in a continuous descent in the last hours, as a result of which it is in the 21st place at the time of writing!

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments!

 

Ukraine: Detailed results of Vidbir 2022!

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A few hours ago, the Ukrainian broadcaster,  Suspilne, published the detailed results of Vidbir 2022, which was the Ukrainian national final for Eurovision 2022 in Turin!

We remind you that the voting results of the national final depend on the televoting (50%) and the jury (50%). Each member of the jury gives points ranging from 1 to 8, where 1 is the lowest score and 8 is the highest. The voting results of the viewers are formed as a percentage of the votes, which amounts to 100%, with the subsequent conversion of the votes to points from 1 to 8.

The detailed voting of the jury is as follows:

Tina Karol:

  • Michael Soul – “Demons” – 1 point
  • Roxolana – “GIRLZZZZ”  – 2 points
  • Cloudless – “All be alright” – 3 points
  • Our Atlantic – “Moya lyubov” (My love) – 4 points
  • Barleben – “Hear My Words” – 5 points
  • Alina Pash – “Tini zabutykh predkiv” – 6 points
  • Kalush Orchestra – “Stefania” – 7 points
  • Wellboy – “Nozzy Bossy” – 8 points

Jamala:

  • Cloudless – “All be alright” –  1 point
  • Michael Soul – “Demons” – 2 points
  • Roxolana – “GIRLZZZZ” – 3 points
  • Wellboy – “Nozzy Bossy” – 4 points
  • Our Atlantic – “Moya lyubov” – 5 points
  • Kalush Orchestra – “Stefania” – 6 points
  • Barleben – “Hear My Words” – 7 points
  • Alina Pash – “Tini zabutykh predkiv” – 8 points

Yaroslav Lodigin:

  • Cloudless – “All be alright” –  1 point
  • Barleben – “Hear My Words” – 2 points
  • Kalush Orchestra – “Stefania” – 3 points
  • Michael Soul – “Demons” – 4 points
  • Roxolana – “GIRLZZZZ” – 5 points
  • Our Atlantic – “Moya lyubov” – 6 points
  • Wellboy – “Nozzy Bossy” – 7 points
  • Alina Pash – “Tini zabutykh predkiv” – 8 points

The overall score of the jury is the following:

  • Cloudless – “All be alright” –  5 points– correspond to 1 point
  • Michael Soul – “Demons” – 7 points– correspond to 2 points
  • Roxolana – “GIRLZZZZ” – 10 points– correspond to 3 points
  • Barleben – “Hear My Words” – 14 points– correspond to 4 points
  • Our Atlantic – “Moya lyubov” – 15 points– correspond to 5 points
  • Kalush Orchestra – “Stefania” – 16 points– correspond to 6 points
  • Wellboy – “Nozzy Bossy” – 19 points– correspond to 7 points
  • Alina Pash – “Tini zabutykh predkiv” – 22 points– correspond to 8 points

The total votes of the public:

  • Michael Soul – “Demons” – 1,239 votes – 1 point
  • Our Atlantic – “Moya lyubov” – 1,605 votes – 2 points
  • Barleben – “Hear My Words” – 2,740 votes  – 3 points
  • Cloudless – “All be alright” –  3,410 votes – 4 points
  • Roxolana – “GIRLZZZZ” – 5,034 votes – 5 points
  • Wellboy – “Nozzy Bossy” – 5,646 votes – 6 points
  • Alina Pash – “Tini zabutykh predkiv” – 19,535 votes – 7 points
  • Kalush Orchestra – “Stefania” – 31,634 votes – 8 points

Kalush Orchestra will represent Ukraine in Turin with the song ”Stefania”. You can listen to their entry here:

 

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding Ukraine’s participation in Eurovision 2022.

 

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Ukraine: The thriller ends | Kalush Orchestra goes to Turin!

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This year’s thriller with the Ukrainian participation in Eurovision 2022, has just ended. According to the country’s public television official announcement, the Kalush Orchestra will eventually represent the country in Turin after the withdrawal of national final winner Alina Pash from the process.

It may have been a whole week since the end of Vidbir, the national final for Eurovision, but Ukraine has only managed to find a representative today. The forced withdrawal of Alina Pash, since according to the complaints, she presented fake entry certificates for her trip to Crimea in 2015, brought a domino of developments with the final result that the Kalush Orchestra took over the representation of the country in the competition.

The Kalush Orchestra with their song Stefania took second place in Vidbir 2022, but having received the most votes from the audience. On Thursday (17/2), the Ukrainian public television addressed a request to the band, to replace Alina Pash in Eurovision 2022.

We remind you that the Kalush Orchestra had denounced the process after their defeat in the national final, claiming that these were the real winners.

Do you think that Kalush Orchestra’s Stefania is a better choice for Ukraine in the contest than Alina Pash?