So we've got our first song for Eurovision 2023. But the song itself is only a fraction of the story here. Because despite suffering heavy bombing overnight, the Ukrainians still held Vidbir, their national selection show, deep underground in a city centre metro station that has been used as a bomb shelter since the beginning of the Russian hostilities. Indeed, so close were they to the tracks that you could hear the trains passing through every now and again.
The event itself though was slightly more impressive than the songs, though. Some solid but unremarkable songs from Jerry Heil, Krut and OS Sound System that all had a distinctly Ukrainian folksy rave edges were narrowly beaten by this somewhat less than local feeling piece of soul-tinged electropop. But having said that, their show was great, and it seemed like a popular choice on the metro concourse, so you can't begrudge them their win.
One suspects, though, that this is going to test the theory of those dreary bores who have been rattling on about how Ukraine could send anything next year and win. If you're that convinced, you can still get 3/1 on them, so you won't be remotely scared to bung a ton on them for an easy win. Free money, right? But really, the only winner tonight was Ukraine itself, showing an indomitable spirit in the face of adversity the kind that few of us can even imagine. And for that they can only be applauded.
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