[LMBTO] "Let Me Be The One" Eurovision Show 184 - "Four" More For Turin & The UMK 7...

Alina Pash won Vidbir last weekend with the anthemic "Shadows Of Forgotten Ancestors" - we all thought that we wouldn't have yet another Ukraine 2019, where the winner didn't get to go to Eurovision, mired in issues relating to Crimea...

Given what is happening at the moment, having any issues with entering Crimea is a factor for not being allowed to perform for Ukraine at Eurovision - having one of your team provide a questionable document to the broadcaster as a way of avoiding 'awkward questions' totally destroyed any chance that Alina had of singing in Italy in May.  Which is a real shame, as Ukraine had in its hands one of the best entries that we have had heard so far for Eurovision 2022...

A mix of the past and the present, the title referring to a 1960s movie that was all about the culture and history of Ukraine, with Alina indicating that the message of her song contributed to the unity of her people.  She is well known in Ukraine for her experimental songs that contain lots of artistic elements and musical influences within and that is what we were going to have for May.  'Shadows Of Forgotten Ancestors' had a distinctive sound, was lyrically very deep and meaningful and totally unique.  Alina has a very distinctive voice and yet totally listenable, the mix of Ukrainian and English was perfect and the visual elements of the entry on stage in Kyiv that showed her eyes and face made this an absolute stand-out. 

However, memories of 2019 come flooding back, as the issues with Crimea and music knocking heads re-emerges, as it did with Maruv - that was contractual restrictions, whereas 2021 was all about Alina physically going there.  Everything that has happened is all correct under Ukrainian law but so many questions yet again and I have to ask why UA:PBC didn't learn from 2019 and sort all of the admin out BEFORE Vidbir, not after?  For me, this entry shot straight in as my #2:

Slightly behind Mahmood & BLANCO, slightly ahead of Chanel - this entry was incredible and it is yet another blow to culture and music that Alina will not represent her nation, especially as I think that Ukrainian qualification was certain and perhaps even another top 5 was on the cards.  We shall see if Kalush Orchestra agrees to be Ukraine's artist instead but that already seems to be a case of 'butting heads' - whatever happens, whoever becomes that nation's artist, you will hear them on the show.  Talking about that, here is the Mixcloud:

And who was on the show...

Now there are three other songs that won their selection processes in the show...

We have already hit that time of the season where I want to do the entries full justice in my reviews.  I will therefore delay that until after March 12th, the date of the last National Finals and when all of the remaining 32 entries will get the LET ME BE THE ONE treatment!  Chances are that there will be another chance to chat about North Macedonia, Moldova and Albania as they are likely to have big revamps, so it will be a busy review season as always!

Pia Maria & LUM!X have been chosen as the Austrian artists for Turin but bar having the song title "Halo", we really don't know much else about them - of course, as LUM!X is a DJ and producer, 99% of his work will be done before Eurovision and there will be a huge weight on Pia's shoulders!  As for the rest of the show, it was great to play three more from Australia...

Great tracks by Charley ("I Suck At Being Lonely"), Andrew Lambrou ("Electrify") and Sheldon Riley (Not The Same") that appeared on this week's show - the final three acts will follow next week, just in time for 'Eurovision : Australia Decides' on Saturday February 26th.

Having the 'UMK 7' to play on the show was a real delight, given that Finland now has a National Final that is up there with Eesti Laul in my eyes!  That will be another show that will have my full attention in a week's time and it is yet another list of songs played in its entirety on LET ME BE THE ONE.  Just the favourite Eurovision entries to mention now...

And Gjon's Tears - "Tout l'univers" for Amalie, hope you both enjoyed hearing your favs on the show!

'Oh god, not him again' I hear you cry!  There is a reason for this picture of me wearing the Australian crown of Kate Miller-Heidke (sort of) on Jury Final night in Tel Aviv - one is that "Zero Gravity" will be one of the songs played on the show AND second that it relates to something I did for AussieVision recently...