Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Encyclopedia
Ukraine competed at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, with the seventh Ukrainian entrant selected by a national final held by Ukrainian broadcaster Natsionalna Telekompaniya Ukrainy (NTU)
.
After a number of changes to dates for the national final, the contest finally took place on 8 March 2009, where 14 songs competed to represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2009 in Moscow
, Russia
. The final winner was Svetlana Loboda
with "Be My Valentine".
On 20 January, a total of 63 entries were submitted to NTU. However, changes to the format for the contest were announced at the same time. Two semi-finals were to be held on 7 and 8 February, featuring 20 songs in total, possibly held at the Sports Palace in Kiev
, where the 2005 Eurovision
was held. This was yet again changed on 21 January, where it was revealed that now only one semi-final will be held on 8 February, which will not be held at the Sports Palace.
The semi-final was held internally by NTU to select 15 entries to compete in the final. After the semi-final, it was reported that the performer Anastasiya Prikhodko and her manager claimed that neither the National Television Company of Ukraine
(NTCU) nor the National Jury had used trustworthy methods to choose the contestants for the final. Prikhodko's interpretation of the rules was that in the semi-final, she had been entitled to perform something different from their Eurovision entry song. In fact, Paragraph 4.3 of the Rules of Eurovision Song Competition issued by the NCTU on 31 October 2008 stated literally:"On 8 February 2009 on the improvised stage set in the NTVU studios, the 30 semi-finalists perform their competition songs live." On the grounds of the paragraph, the Jury disqualified Pryhodko for performing a song from her repertoire of the times of the Star Factory
TV show called "Vsyo dlya tebya". The national final, to be held on 8 March, was temporarly suspended by a national arbitration committee due to the protest filed by Prikhodko. However, the national final went ahead on 8 March at the Ukraina Palace in Kiev, where the winner was decided by a 50/50 mix of jury vote and public televote. Prikhodko later entered the Russian national final
on 7 March, winning with "Mamo
" and will represent the home country at the contest.
Svetlana Loboda
won the national final with the song "Be My Valentine". The song will be performed at Eurovision as "Be My Valentine! (Anti-Crisis Girl)".
Svetlana performed with a number of other entries in the 2009 contest at two international events: on 17 April the Ukrainian entry performed at the UKEurovision Preview Party at the Scala
in London
; she also performed on 18 April at the Eurovision Promo Concert in Amsterdam
, the Netherlands
, along with entries from 22 other countries.
coming second in the final of the 2008 contest, Ukraine will have to compete in the second semi-final of the contest on 14 May 2009. Svetlana will perform 17th in the running order of the semi-final, following Albania
and preceding Estonia
.
Svetlana released news on her performance at Eurovision that she would perform on stage with a large mechanical device known as the "Hell Machine", appearing somewhat like a cog
. The device would descend and rotate from the top of the stage, and to be accompanied by embedded lights.
The song qualified for the final where it finished 12th with 76 points.
National Television Company of Ukraine
National Television Company of Ukraine is the national television broadcaster in Ukraine. It is state-run, and operates the television channel Pershyi Nazional'niy, the only Ukrainian TV channel that has a coverage over 97% of Ukraine's territory. It is the only state-owned national channel. Its...
.
After a number of changes to dates for the national final, the contest finally took place on 8 March 2009, where 14 songs competed to represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2009 in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. The final winner was Svetlana Loboda
Svetlana Loboda
Svitlana Loboda is a Ukrainian singer and composer. Loboda represented Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 and finished in 12th place with 76 points.-Early life:Loboda was born in Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR...
with "Be My Valentine".
National final
The selection process began with an open call for songs by NTU for the contest, with a deadline for entries set at 16 January. After this deadline, the original plan was for the broadcaster to assemble a seven-person jury to access the entries. Between 21 and 23 January, this jury would have selected 30 songs to perform in an untelevised semi-final, to be held on 1 February behind closed doors. From these 30 songs, 15 of them were to qualify for a televised final to be held on 22 February 2009.On 20 January, a total of 63 entries were submitted to NTU. However, changes to the format for the contest were announced at the same time. Two semi-finals were to be held on 7 and 8 February, featuring 20 songs in total, possibly held at the Sports Palace in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, where the 2005 Eurovision
Eurovision Song Contest 2005
The Eurovision Song Contest 2005 was the 50th Eurovision Song Contest, which was held at the Palace of Sports, Kiev, Ukraine. The winner was Greece's My Number One, written by Christos Dantis and Natalia Germanou and performed by Swedish-born Greek singer Elena Paparizou, who scored 230 points,...
was held. This was yet again changed on 21 January, where it was revealed that now only one semi-final will be held on 8 February, which will not be held at the Sports Palace.
The semi-final was held internally by NTU to select 15 entries to compete in the final. After the semi-final, it was reported that the performer Anastasiya Prikhodko and her manager claimed that neither the National Television Company of Ukraine
National Television Company of Ukraine
National Television Company of Ukraine is the national television broadcaster in Ukraine. It is state-run, and operates the television channel Pershyi Nazional'niy, the only Ukrainian TV channel that has a coverage over 97% of Ukraine's territory. It is the only state-owned national channel. Its...
(NTCU) nor the National Jury had used trustworthy methods to choose the contestants for the final. Prikhodko's interpretation of the rules was that in the semi-final, she had been entitled to perform something different from their Eurovision entry song. In fact, Paragraph 4.3 of the Rules of Eurovision Song Competition issued by the NCTU on 31 October 2008 stated literally:"On 8 February 2009 on the improvised stage set in the NTVU studios, the 30 semi-finalists perform their competition songs live." On the grounds of the paragraph, the Jury disqualified Pryhodko for performing a song from her repertoire of the times of the Star Factory
Star Factory
Star Factory is a Russian television show aired on Channel One since 13 October 2002. The show is the Russian version of the Endemol format Operación Triunfo....
TV show called "Vsyo dlya tebya". The national final, to be held on 8 March, was temporarly suspended by a national arbitration committee due to the protest filed by Prikhodko. However, the national final went ahead on 8 March at the Ukraina Palace in Kiev, where the winner was decided by a 50/50 mix of jury vote and public televote. Prikhodko later entered the Russian national final
Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Russia was the host of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, held in the Russian capital Moscow, after Russia's win in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008...
on 7 March, winning with "Mamo
Mamo (song)
"Mamo" is a song by Ukrainian singer Anastasiya Prikhodko, was Russia's entrant at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, held in the Russian capital of Moscow...
" and will represent the home country at the contest.
Svetlana Loboda
Svetlana Loboda
Svitlana Loboda is a Ukrainian singer and composer. Loboda represented Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 and finished in 12th place with 76 points.-Early life:Loboda was born in Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR...
won the national final with the song "Be My Valentine". The song will be performed at Eurovision as "Be My Valentine! (Anti-Crisis Girl)".
| Draw | Artist | Song | Points | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lenara | "Flash" | 12 | 9 |
| 2 | Goryachiy Shokolad | "Kiss" | 13 | 8 |
| 3 | Tetyana Bryantseva | "Sweet and Sugar Baby" | 5 | 13 |
| 4 | Denis Barkanov | "You Are My Love and Pain" | 19 | 5 |
| 5 | Zaklyopki | "Time Is Up" | 22 | 2 |
| 6 | Natalia Volkova | "Gush" | 16 | 6 |
| 7 | 4 Kings | "Tearin' Up My Heart" | 10 | 11 |
| 8 | ANA | "You're Like A Paradise" | 4 | 14 |
| 9 | Svetlana Loboda Svetlana Loboda Svitlana Loboda is a Ukrainian singer and composer. Loboda represented Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 and finished in 12th place with 76 points.-Early life:Loboda was born in Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR... |
"Be My Valentine" | 28 | 1 |
| 10 | GODO | "Zagadaymo Bazhannya" | 11 | 10 |
| 11 | Alexandеr Panayotov | "Superhero" | 22 | 2 |
| 12 | Ira Poison | "You Free Me" | 22 | 2 |
| 13 | Kishe | "Midnight" | 8 | 12 |
| 14 | Tori Joy | "Smile" | 18 | 6 |
Promotion
After winning the national final, Svetlana released the promotional video for "Be My Valentine! (Anti-Crisis Girl)", which will be shown around Europe before the contest.Svetlana performed with a number of other entries in the 2009 contest at two international events: on 17 April the Ukrainian entry performed at the UKEurovision Preview Party at the Scala
Scala (club)
Scala is a nightclub in London, England, near King's Cross railway station.-History:The Scala was originally built as a cinema to the designs of H Courtney Constantine, but construction was interrupted by the First World War and it spent some time being used to manufacture aircraft parts, and as a...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
; she also performed on 18 April at the Eurovision Promo Concert in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, along with entries from 22 other countries.
At Eurovision
Despite Ani LorakAni Lorak
Karolina Miroslavivna Kuiek, , popularly known as Ani Lorak , born 27 September 1978, Kitsman, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union, is a famous Ukrainian pop singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, and former UN Goodwill Ambassador...
coming second in the final of the 2008 contest, Ukraine will have to compete in the second semi-final of the contest on 14 May 2009. Svetlana will perform 17th in the running order of the semi-final, following Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
and preceding Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
.
Svetlana released news on her performance at Eurovision that she would perform on stage with a large mechanical device known as the "Hell Machine", appearing somewhat like a cog
Cog
Cog may refer to:* A part of a gear system* Cog , a small sailing vessel* A tenon that extends all the way through another piece of wood, in joinery* The evil robots in Toontown Online...
. The device would descend and rotate from the top of the stage, and to be accompanied by embedded lights.
The song qualified for the final where it finished 12th with 76 points.