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Eurovision, as you may be aware is in Liverpool this year. Eurovision season (as it were) begins on Saturday as Ukraine host their national final – Vidbir. Recent renewals have attracted more controversy than Mahmood Al Zarooni with first-past-the-post in 2022 and 2019 failing to represent Ukraine at Eurovision. Indeed, as far as I’m aware, ‘Stefania’ was the first song to win Eurovision without winning its national final (obviously some countries don’t host these and select their song internally within the broadcaster). Notably, in 2022 and 2019 the winning artists had breached Vidbir rules by performing in Russia and/or Crimea without the requisite permission from the authorities.
For 2022, Vidbir has had further developments. Songs in Russian are forbidden (which makes things a bit awkward for 20% of the population for whom Russian is the mother tongue – but Ukraine have been trying to marginalise the language ever since 2014 so this shouldn’t be entirely surprising).
As for the national final, well things look pretty competitive (remember Ukraine have a very good record in recent contests which extends far beyond the ‘sympathy’ vote garnered last year). The favourite (though I’ve yet to see any odds on Vidbir specifically) will be Jerry Heil’s When God Shut The Door. This is the most overtly political song in the lineup but, musically, it’s solid Eurovision fare. Limitations are exposed with the English lyrics which make the odd grammatical mistake but the emphasis and message is, nevertheless, abundantly clear. Certainly there are echoes of Jamala’s ‘1944’ which won the contest in 2016.
The main challenger is Krut’ with her entry of Kolyskova. You would hope this would mop up jury votes and its a pretty beautiful piece for Eurovision standards – certainly less poppy than When God Shut The Door but arguably just as powerful. The temptation (within Ukraine) to submit a song in the native language may be of further assistance on Saturday. Both songs, in my view, would be likely qualifiers for the Grand Final in May. Regardless, Ukraine gets automatic qualification as the ‘hosts’.
The final is on Saturday at 3pm UK time (https://eurovisionworld.com/national/ukraine/vidbir-2023) and you can check out the songs here in the unlikely event you are as obsessed with the contest as myself.
It should also be noted that Ukraine has opened at a range of 7/4 & 2/1. They are already candidates to become the first back-to-back winners since 1994 but can’t be recommended as a bet in the absence of the rest of the field. Spain announce their shortlist on the 19th and Albania host their final on the 22nd though the Albanian songs are not being released beforehand unlike previous years.
My son is a Eurovision nut
I have already listened to “When God Shut The Door” at least 4 or 5 times
Its a pretty catchy tune..
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Eurovision is hugely political, always has been.
Eurovision addicts are in denial about this but, if political sympathy is still as strong, it really doesn’t matter what the quality of the opposition is because Ukraine will win again.
Chezza did make this point last year – but was ignored by a few to their financial detriment!
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"When are the tickets on sale TKF?
We are thinking of going up for the day anyway so would be a bonus to land a ticket or twoGaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Yeah.. Its more for my lad.. I’d be fine if they sell out quick
Would be a life time opportunity thing though
my bank account is quivering at the thought of itGaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Of course, in future years there is a way to guarantee Nathan and Nathan Jnr can attend – have the Hughesmeister as an integral part (preferably the vocalist) of a TRF ensemble/band/group/whatever entry.
Chezza will be lyricist and draft one of the lyrics to “Putin Your Mind Up” is already in advanced production – it’s a winner.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I’d rather the Wogan/Norton job
Nathan jnr plays the violin though, he’s gone up two grades in about 8 years so I don’t fancy his chances..😂Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Tbf, Nathan would be excellent in the Wogan/Norton role.
But like most fathers, he’s being too hard on his offspring.
Nathan Jnr is clearly a string instrument Store, likely to be a highly-progressive late developer and just the sort who could pick up a few decent violin handicaps en route to eventual – and inevitable – Grade 1 glory at Eurovision.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"re Tickets they haven’t announced a date yet but I’d imagine it would be after the New Year now. My advice, having spoken to people who have attended before, is you are best of aiming for the jury shows rather than live broadcasts. Tickets are cheaper and much easier to access. Of course demand is probably going to be at an all time high this year but that’s your best shot (same applies for the jury shows for the semis).
Obviously Chezza and I differ over the extent of Eurovision’s political nature. Or perhaps more accurately the UK’s unpopularity having a significant influence on results. Ukraine are going to have a good entry, probably better than last year but I couldn’t back them until we’ve an idea of the field. I’d rather take Evens or so when there’s less uncertainty if nothing else looks like a sure winner.
There is undeniably a political nature to it but as I said at the time, it’s no coincidence that we took it seriously, entered a good song and did well. The UK was not significantly more or less popular as a country in 2022 compared with recent times.
“Obviously Chezza and I differ over the extent of Eurovision’s political nature. Or perhaps more accurately the UK’s unpopularity having a significant influence on results.”
I am always happy to be corrected by future events, sir!
Terry Wogan used to comment – even predict – certain countries always giving each other maximum points, two nations with Roman Catholicism as their national religions did it for years, and that’s just one such example.
And the UK didn’t exactly fly in the competition in the immediate post-Brexit years.
Plus the Ukraine win by the length of the Crimea last year.
This year?
We’ll see.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Ah, Wogan.
We now go to the Portuguese vote.
Dix points goes to… Spain
‘The Iberian Peninsula will explode!’
Huge shock in the Ukrainian final, anyone taking the short prices has probably done their dough.
I doubt many people saw that result coming! The song is OK I guess, sounds a bit like something Bobby Brown would do. The staging was very good which probably helped.
Agree with Richard88 as I said much the same last year. Politics does play a part in Eurovision, but it’s not the only factor. A good song will perform well wherever it’s from as Sam Ryder proved.
I think last year Ukraine could have entered anything and won, but I don’t think this song is a shoo-in for 2023 at this stage.
Albanian National Final tonight (8pm UK Time). Didn’t catch the Semis so not sure how strong the field is, but will report back after tonight.
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