Ukraine’s First National TV channel has announced judges who will be selecting the Ukrainian representative in the Eurovision song contest that will take place in Kyiv on May 9, 11 and 13 in 2017.
The judges will include Eurovision 2016 winner Jamala, music producer Kostiantyn Meladze, and singer and composer Andriy Danylko (better known as his drag stage persona Verka Serduchka), who represented Ukraine and came second in Eurovision 2007.
“It is a big honor and responsibility to be one of the judges at the national selection process,” Jamala said to First channel, commenting on her participation on the judge’s panel.
The singer says she feels both flattered and scared since the hopeful contestants are likely to include her colleagues, whom she sees on a regular basis.
“I definitely know I will be objective since it is my principle to always speak the truth,” she said, adding that she believes Ukraine will manage to select a deserving candidate.
According to First National TV channel, more than 500 applications have been submitted to represent Ukraine in Eurovision 2017, although the deadline is not until Jan. 15.
Kostiantyn Meladze is tasked with going through each audio and video in the applications and will then invite those who make the cut to the second stage of the selection – an audition.
Successful audition candidates will then proceed to the semi-finals carried out on Feb. 4, 11 and 18. The final will take place on Feb. 25.
Just like in previous years, the process will be broadcasted live and the audience will get a chance to participate by sending text messages in support of their favored candidates. The sum of the points given by the judges and audience will determine the winner of the national selection, which will be announced live, straight after the final.
Andriy Danylko, better known as his drag stage persona Verka Serduchka, is also among the judge’s panel to select Ukraine’s Eurovision contestant for 2017. In this photograph Serduchka sings “Dancing Lasha Tumbai” during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 final in Helsinki, Finland, 12 May 2007. (AFP / SVEN NACKSTRAND)
Kyiv is expected to host thousands of tourists and Eurovision fans in May 2017, as it prepares for the contest.
In an article published on the official Eurovision website on Dec. 13 the Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, Jon Ola Saand, spoke about the positives of having the song contest held in Kyiv.
“Kyiv has the infrastructure that is sufficient for the Eurovision Song Contest. It has an international airport, it has a lot of good hotels in different price categories,” he said
Saand also said that a suitable venue has been found that is not only good for the show, but for the press center and delegation too. The contest will be held in the International Exhibition Centre, located on the left bank of Kyiv.
“…we saw this as the ideal combination of location and space,” the executive supervisor said.
Russian rumours
It has certainly not been easy for Kyiv since Jamala’s victory in Eurovision 2016, with some claiming that Ukraine is not capable of hosting the show due to its lack of finances.
The rumors started after an article from German tabloid Bild was misinterpreted and disseminated by dozens of Russian media sources.
The Bild article, published on Dec. 3, looked at different perspectives of holding the show, mentioning that Russia (who came third in Eurovision 2016) might be alternative if Ukraine pulls out since Australia, who came second last year, is too far away from the European countries making up the majority of participants and audience of the show.
The Bild article did not directly quote anybody from the European Broadcasting council or show any evidence that Moscow was officially considered as a back-up plan.
However many Russian news websites referred to the Bild article, quoting European Broadcasting Corporation as a source.
Ukrainian singer, activist and winner of Eurovision 2004, Ruslana was quick to dispute the rumors.
Ruslana of Ukraine performs during the semi-finals for the 49th Eurovision Song Contest at Abdi Ipekci Sport Salon in Istanbul, 12 May 2004. (AFP)
“Being a member of the Eurovision 2017 organisational committee I can absolutely officially say that Ukraine is fully prepared to host Eurovision,” she said in a Facebook post on Dec. 4.
“Firstly, I am speaking as somebody who already organized the contest before and secondly as an organizing member (of Eurovision 2017) who has access to all the necessary information.”
Ruslana reassured that there are no financial issues since the government provided a budget of Hr 450 million ($18 million using the exchange rate at the time of apportion), which covers all the needed expenses and moreover exceeds many budgets in the previous years, including the one of Kyiv in 2005.
“I think all the worrying and frenzy are elements of blackmail initiated externally with political or other intentions.”
“I do not see any substantial reasons to worry,” she added.
Ukrainian Finance Minister Oleksandr Danyliuk also rejected the rumors, saying that it is “absolutely fake information.”
