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.

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In the Spotlight: Søren Torpegaard Lund

Tomorrow the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in the Wiener Stadshalle in Vienna . 15 countries compete for a spot in the final. One of them is Denmark, represented by Søren Torpegaard Lund But who is he? Let’s give him a spotlight Danish singer and musical theatre star Søren Torpegaard Lund is quickly becoming one of the most exciting names in Scandinavian entertainment. With a background deeply rooted in theatre and a growing catalogue of heartfelt pop songs, the Danish artist combines emotional storytelling with impressive stage presence. In 2026, his journey reached a new milestone when he won Dansk Melodi Grand Prix and secured the ticket to represent Denmark at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. Early Life and Education Søren Torpegaard Lund was born on 23 December 1998 in Gudme, a small town on the Danish island of Funen. From an early age, it was clear that performing would play a major role in his life. As a teenager, he already appeared in short films, while musical theatre became his true passion. After completing secondary school, Lund decided to fully dedicate himself to the performing arts. Between 2016 and 2019, he studied at Den Danske Scenekunstskole in Fredericia, one of Denmark’s most respected performing arts academies. There, he earned a bachelor’s degree in musical performance and developed the versatile style that would later define both his music and theatre career. Dansk Melodi Grand Prix Debut Lund first entered the Eurovision spotlight in 2023, when he competed in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix with the emotional ballad “Lige her”. Although the song did not qualify for the final round, his performance stood out thanks to his warm vocals and sincere delivery. Eurovision fans quickly took notice of the young performer’s theatrical charisma. Following the competition, Lund released an English version of the song, titled “In a Perfect World”, introducing his music to an international audience. Later that same year, he released “Stor Kunst”, his first original single as a songwriter. The track, created together with Tim Schou, showcased a more contemporary pop sound while still maintaining the emotional depth that characterizes his work. In 2024, Lund continued building his musical identity with releases such as “De ting, jeg hvisker” and “En dreng som mig”. The latter originated from the Danish musical Matador, in which Lund also starred on stage. In October 2024, he released his debut EP Øjesten through the Little Yellow House label. A Rising Star in Musical Theatre Alongside his recording career, Lund has become a familiar face in Danish musical theatre. Shortly after graduating, he landed roles in several major productions, including Oliver!, Grease, Dirty Dancing, Kinky Boots and Jersey Boys. One of his most notable performances came in 2022, when he played Tony in West Side Story at the Copenhagen Opera House. The role further cemented his reputation as one of Denmark’s most promising musical theatre talents. Audiences also praised his portrayal of Daniel Skjern in the successful stage adaptation of Matador. It was during this production that he performed “En dreng som mig”, a song he would later officially record and release. His work in theatre has not gone unnoticed. In 2021, Lund received the prestigious Reumert Talent Prize, honoring exceptional emerging performers in Danish theatre. He later appeared as a featured soloist during Denmark’s nationally televised Christmas celebrations and at Queen Margrethe II’s 50-year jubilee concert. Outside the theatre world, Lund has also made occasional television appearances, including a guest role in the crime drama Sommerdahl. As an openly queer artist, he has become an important voice for visibility and representation in Danish entertainment. In 2024, he received a nomination for “Artist of the Year” at the Danish Rainbow Awards. Road to Eurovision 2026 After his first Dansk Melodi Grand Prix experience, Lund openly expressed his wish to return to the competition with a song he had personally helped create. That ambition finally became reality in 2026. Competing with the upbeat pop track “Før vi går hjem” (“Before We Go Home”), Lund delivered one of the evening’s most energetic performances during the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix final on 14 February 2026. Both the jury and the televoters embraced the performance, leading him to a surprise victory over strong favourite Sissal. Denmark’s entry is massively popular and currently ranked third with the bookmakers. The question is not whether Søren will qualify for the final — the real question is: just how far can he go once he gets there?        

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Eurovision 2026
Anja Kroeze

In the Spotlight: Søren Torpegaard Lund

Tomorrow the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in the Wiener Stadshalle in Vienna . 15 countries compete for a spot in the final. One of them is Denmark, represented by Søren Torpegaard Lund But who is he? Let’s give him a spotlight Danish singer and musical theatre star Søren Torpegaard Lund is quickly becoming one of the most exciting names in Scandinavian entertainment. With a background deeply rooted in theatre and a growing catalogue of heartfelt pop songs, the Danish artist combines emotional storytelling with impressive stage presence. In 2026, his journey reached a new milestone when he won Dansk Melodi Grand Prix and secured the ticket to represent Denmark at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. Early Life and Education Søren Torpegaard Lund was born on 23 December 1998 in Gudme, a small town on the Danish island of Funen. From an early age, it was clear that performing would play a major role in his life. As a teenager, he already appeared in short films, while musical theatre became his true passion. After completing secondary school, Lund decided to fully dedicate himself to the performing arts. Between 2016 and 2019, he studied at Den Danske Scenekunstskole in Fredericia, one of Denmark’s most respected performing arts academies. There, he earned a bachelor’s degree in musical performance and developed the versatile style that would later define both his music and theatre career. Dansk Melodi Grand Prix Debut Lund first entered the Eurovision spotlight in 2023, when he competed in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix with the emotional ballad “Lige her”. Although the song did not qualify for the final round, his performance stood out thanks to his warm vocals and sincere delivery. Eurovision fans quickly took notice of the young performer’s theatrical charisma. Following the competition, Lund released an English version of the song, titled “In a Perfect World”, introducing his music to an international audience. Later that same year, he released “Stor Kunst”, his first original single as a songwriter. The track, created together with Tim Schou, showcased a more contemporary pop sound while still maintaining the emotional depth that characterizes his work. In 2024, Lund continued building his musical identity with releases such as “De ting, jeg hvisker” and “En dreng som mig”. The latter originated from the Danish musical Matador, in which Lund also starred on stage. In October 2024, he released his debut EP Øjesten through the Little Yellow House label. A Rising Star in Musical Theatre Alongside his recording career, Lund has become a familiar face in Danish musical theatre. Shortly after graduating, he landed roles in several major productions, including Oliver!, Grease, Dirty Dancing, Kinky Boots and Jersey Boys. One of his most notable performances came in 2022, when he played Tony in West Side Story at the Copenhagen Opera House. The role further cemented his reputation as one of Denmark’s most promising musical theatre talents. Audiences also praised his portrayal of Daniel Skjern in the successful stage adaptation of Matador. It was during this production that he performed “En dreng som mig”, a song he would later officially record and release. His work in theatre has not gone unnoticed. In 2021, Lund received the prestigious Reumert Talent Prize, honoring exceptional emerging performers in Danish theatre. He later appeared as a featured soloist during Denmark’s nationally televised Christmas celebrations and at Queen Margrethe II’s 50-year jubilee concert. Outside the theatre world, Lund has also made occasional television appearances, including a guest role in the crime drama Sommerdahl. As an openly queer artist, he has become an important voice for visibility and representation in Danish entertainment. In 2024, he received a nomination for “Artist of the Year” at the Danish Rainbow Awards. Road to Eurovision 2026 After his first Dansk Melodi Grand Prix experience, Lund openly expressed his wish to return to the competition with a song he had personally helped create. That ambition finally became reality in 2026. Competing with the upbeat pop track “Før vi går hjem” (“Before We Go Home”), Lund delivered one of the evening’s most energetic performances during the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix final on 14 February 2026. Both the jury and the televoters embraced the performance, leading him to a surprise victory over strong favourite Sissal. Denmark’s entry is massively popular and currently ranked third with the bookmakers. The question is not whether Søren will qualify for the final — the real question is: just how far can he go once he gets there?        

Read More »
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