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.

Picture of Martijn

Martijn

See all contributions

Related news
Eurovision 2026

Road to Vienna: Luxembourg

Road to Vienna: Luxembourg We cannot wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna Therefore, we take a closer look at one of the contestants each day. Today, we highlight Luxembourg. Eva Marija: Luxembourg’s Voice for Eurovision 2026 Eva Marija Kavaš Puc, born on December 24, 2005, in Luxembourg, grew up in a multicultural Slovenian family. Inspired by Eurovision at a young age, she began learning violin early and later studied at the Conservatoire de Luxembourg. Her training in violin, vocals, piano, and bass shaped her versatile style, blending classical, jazz, and contemporary pop. From Young Performer to Songwriter By her early teens, Eva Marija was already performing live and writing her own songs. Her music focuses on emotional storytelling, authenticity, and personal reflection. She later moved to London to study songwriting, expanding her artistic vision and international influences. Music Releases and Artistic Growth Eva Marija debuted with “When 2 Lovers Meet” (2021), followed by “Toxic Trait” (2023) and later singles like “TIME TO GO” and “Sweet Child” (2025). Her sound evolved into a more mature, introspective pop style, earning her recognition in Luxembourg’s music scene. A Promising Future in Music Representing a new generation of artists, Eva Marija combines strong musical training with authentic songwriting. As she prepares for Eurovision, her steady growth and artistic focus position her as one of Luxembourg’s most promising emerging talents. Mother Nature:  A Journey of Growth and Self-Discovery “Mother Nature” by Eva Marija explores personal growth and the path toward self-discovery. The song reflects how life evolves from simplicity into complexity, showing how challenges help shape identity and emotional maturity. Nature as a Symbol of Healing Nature is at the heart of the song’s meaning. It serves as a metaphor for renewal, balance, and inner strength. Just like the natural world, emotional healing is portrayed as a gradual and instinctive process. Letting Go and Finding Balance A central theme is learning to let go of doubt and emotional burdens. The song highlights acceptance, self-trust, and the importance of reconnecting with oneself to find inner balance. An Uplifting and Hopeful Message With its calm and introspective tone, “Mother Nature” delivers a positive message of renewal and self-acceptance. Eva Marija encourages listeners to embrace change and find strength through both vulnerability and connection to nature. Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest Luxembourg has a storied history in the Eurovision Song Contest, participating 38 times since its debut in 1956. The country has won the contest five times: in 1961 (Jean-Claude Pascal‘s “Nous les amoureux”), 1965 (France Gall‘s “Poupée de cire, poupée de son”), 1972 (Vicky Leandros‘ “Après toi”), 1973 (Anne-Marie David‘s “Tu te reconnaîtras”, and 1983 (Corinne Hermès‘ “Si la vie est cadeau”). After a 31-year hiatus, Luxembourg returned to the contest in 2024.​ The Bookmakers Currently sitting 18th with the bookmakers, Luxembourg looks set for another Eurovision final — but could it climb even higher?

Read More »
April 21, 2026 No Comments
Eurovision 2026
Anja Kroeze

Road to Vienna: Luxembourg

Road to Vienna: Luxembourg We cannot wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna Therefore, we take a closer look at one of the contestants each day. Today, we highlight Luxembourg. Eva Marija: Luxembourg’s Voice for Eurovision 2026 Eva Marija Kavaš Puc, born on December 24, 2005, in Luxembourg, grew up in a multicultural Slovenian family. Inspired by Eurovision at a young age, she began learning violin early and later studied at the Conservatoire de Luxembourg. Her training in violin, vocals, piano, and bass shaped her versatile style, blending classical, jazz, and contemporary pop. From Young Performer to Songwriter By her early teens, Eva Marija was already performing live and writing her own songs. Her music focuses on emotional storytelling, authenticity, and personal reflection. She later moved to London to study songwriting, expanding her artistic vision and international influences. Music Releases and Artistic Growth Eva Marija debuted with “When 2 Lovers Meet” (2021), followed by “Toxic Trait” (2023) and later singles like “TIME TO GO” and “Sweet Child” (2025). Her sound evolved into a more mature, introspective pop style, earning her recognition in Luxembourg’s music scene. A Promising Future in Music Representing a new generation of artists, Eva Marija combines strong musical training with authentic songwriting. As she prepares for Eurovision, her steady growth and artistic focus position her as one of Luxembourg’s most promising emerging talents. Mother Nature:  A Journey of Growth and Self-Discovery “Mother Nature” by Eva Marija explores personal growth and the path toward self-discovery. The song reflects how life evolves from simplicity into complexity, showing how challenges help shape identity and emotional maturity. Nature as a Symbol of Healing Nature is at the heart of the song’s meaning. It serves as a metaphor for renewal, balance, and inner strength. Just like the natural world, emotional healing is portrayed as a gradual and instinctive process. Letting Go and Finding Balance A central theme is learning to let go of doubt and emotional burdens. The song highlights acceptance, self-trust, and the importance of reconnecting with oneself to find inner balance. An Uplifting and Hopeful Message With its calm and introspective tone, “Mother Nature” delivers a positive message of renewal and self-acceptance. Eva Marija encourages listeners to embrace change and find strength through both vulnerability and connection to nature. Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest Luxembourg has a storied history in the Eurovision Song Contest, participating 38 times since its debut in 1956. The country has won the contest five times: in 1961 (Jean-Claude Pascal‘s “Nous les amoureux”), 1965 (France Gall‘s “Poupée de cire, poupée de son”), 1972 (Vicky Leandros‘ “Après toi”), 1973 (Anne-Marie David‘s “Tu te reconnaîtras”, and 1983 (Corinne Hermès‘ “Si la vie est cadeau”). After a 31-year hiatus, Luxembourg returned to the contest in 2024.​ The Bookmakers Currently sitting 18th with the bookmakers, Luxembourg looks set for another Eurovision final — but could it climb even higher?

Read More »
April 21, 2026 No Comments
© 2019 – 2026 Eurovision Universe / eurovisionuniverse.com

Maintained in cooperation with IT-M.art

Follow Us: