🇺🇦 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:

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Martijn

Weekly update

weekly update of this week It’s time for another weekly Eurovision update. This week brings news on national selections for 2026, Austria’s preparations to host, and a change in Eurovision leadership. 🇪🇸 🇨🇭 Spain and Switzerland gear up for 2026 Spain is already planning its Eurovision 2026 entry. Broadcaster RTVE has named Sergio Jaén as the Artistic Director of Benidorm Fest 2026. At just 23, Jaén has a strong Eurovision résumé – he even staged Austria’s winning performance in 2025. He will design the staging for Spain’s song at Eurovision 2026. Benidorm Fest’s semi-finals are set for 10 and 12 February, with the Grand Final on 14 February 2026. source: RTVE Melody 📷 Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU Switzerland has kicked off its search for a 2026 act. Swiss broadcaster SRF will accept song submissions from 4 August to 25 August 2025. Artists, composers, and producers can send in entries during that period. Switzerland will once again choose its Eurovision entry through a multi-stage process with audience and expert juries. The Swiss representative and song will be revealed in early 2026. source: SRF 🇦🇹 Austria announces Eurovision 2026 core team Host broadcaster ORF has unveiled the core production team for Eurovision 2026. Michael Krön, ORF’s chief producer, will serve as Executive Producer – the overall project leader. Stefan Zechner will be the TV Show Producer, a role he also held when Austria hosted in 2015. The team features several experienced members from Vienna’s 2015 Eurovision, ensuring continuity. With this core team in place, ORF is gearing up to deliver another world-class contest. source: ORF Core Team, 📷 ORF 🇦🇹 Host city race: Graz out, Vienna pushes forward Graz has pulled out of the host city race for Eurovision 2026. The Styrian capital decided not to bid due to budget shortfalls and a projected €29.35 million hosting cost. City officials couldn’t secure enough financial support from the regional or federal government. Vienna, meanwhile, is moving full steam ahead with its bid. The Vienna City Council officially ratified a resolution to back the plan, proposing the Wiener Stadthalle as the venue. Vienna boasts around 82,000 hotel beds and excellent transport links to welcome Eurovision guests. Other cities like Innsbruck remain in the running, and ORF will announce the 2026 host city on 8 August 2025. Martin Österdahl to step down as Eurovision supervisor The Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, Martin Österdahl, will be leaving his post in summer 2025. The European Broadcasting Union announced on 27 June 2025 that Österdahl is stepping down, marking the end of his five-year tenure. He has overseen Eurovision since 2020, guiding the contest through five editions and various changes. The EBU is expected to appoint a new Executive Supervisor before the 2026 season begins. That was it for this week, see you next week with another weekly update! Share

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