The final of Vidbir (the Ukranian national final) will be broadcast live on Saturday 17 December from a bomb shelter in Kyiv
400 songs have been submitted to the Ukranian broadcaster from 299 artists. It is in not yet known how many songs will be presented in the Vidbir selection show. The final list of contestants is expected by the end of October.
Pianoboy, the Ukrainian music producer overseeing the selection of the Ukrainian entry, had this to say:
‘I would like this Vidbir to discover new outstanding creative names and make people feel touched and good about this music. I must say, which is quite unexpected for me, this job is based on psychology because you have to raise musicians from sort of a bottom, motivate them. A lot of musicians that you will hear at Vidbir, made a song to be heard at Vidbir probably because of this Vidbir and, again because of it, resumed doing music. I see my function in this and I am very happy about it.’
