The running orders for the two semi-finals of Vidbir 2018 have been revealed.
Today in the Ukrainian capital city Kyiv, the draw to determine the running orders of the Vidbir 2018 semi-finals took place. The artists had been split up into the two semi-finals by organisers beforehand.
The running orders are as follows:
Semi-Final One (10th February)
- Constantine Dmitriev
- Serhiy Babkin
- Laud
- Kazka
- The VYO
- Kozak System
- Vilna
- pur:pur
- The Erised
Semi-Final Two (17th February)
- Ingret Kostenko
- Mélovin
- Julinoza
- Tayanna
- Kadnay
- Yurcash
- Mountain Breeze
- Illaria
- Dilemma
Several of the competing artists have taken part in previous editions of Vidbir. Illaria, Mélovin, and Tayanna all made it to the final of the 2017 edition, while Pur: Pur were finalists of the 2016 edition.
The competing songs will be revealed at a later date. However, Mélovin has revealed that he will sing “Under the Ladder”, which was released yesterday. Tayanna will perform “Tick Tock”, after her original submission “Kvitva” was disqualified for being performed before September 1.
The two semi-finals of Vidbir will take place on February 10 and 17, with the grand final on February 24. The winner will represent Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal. This is the third year that Vidbir will select the Ukrainian Eurovision representative. It was first used in 2016. The winner of that edition, Jamala, also went on to win the Eurovision Song Contest with her song “1944”.
Source: UA:PBC
Ukraine first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2003, when Oleksandr Ponomariov performed “Hasta la vista”. The following year Ruslana brought the country their first win with the song “Wild Dances”. It was a feat that would be replicated in 2016 by Jamala with her song “1944”; her emotionally charged song scored a record 534 points to take victory in Stockholm. Last year O.Torvald represented the country on home soil with the song “Time”. The group finished in 24th place, Ukraine’s worst result at the contest to date.