Electronic duo, Tvorchi, have won Vidbir 2023, with their song Heart of Steel, and will presumably represent Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool.
Despite both Jerry Heil & Krutь being the clear favourites to win, Tvorchi, who hadn’t really been in the picture much at all, prior to the live show, pulled off a surprise win with their song Heart of Steel at Vidbir 2023.
It is presumed that they will be invited by UA:PBC to represent Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest in the next few days, but as recent history shows us, this may not necessarily be the case. It must be kept in mind Vidbir 2018 was time a Vidbir winning song represented Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest, and it is possible the same may happen.
The show, itself, was presented by Timur Miroshnychenko, Zlata Ognevich and Kateryna Pavlenko and lasted a little over 4 hours, although 40 minutes of this was a repeat of a documentary about Kalush Orchestra. Intervals included Zlata Dziunka, Jamala and Verka Serduchka. The show was broadcast from a bomb shelter at the Maidan Nezalezhnosti underground station in Kyiv.
The full results of Vidbir 2023 are as follows:
- Tvorchi – Heart Of Steel (19 Points)
- KRUTЬ – Kolyskova (18 Points)
- Jerry Heil – When God Shut The Door (17 Points)
- FIINKA – Dovbush (13 Points)
- Demchuk – Alive (12 Points)
- 2Tone – Kvitka (9 Points)
- Moisei – I’m Not Alone (7 Points)
- Oy Sound System – Oy, tuzhu (7 Points)
- Tember Blanche – Ia vdoma (5 Points)
- Angelina – Stronger (4 Points)
Analysis by Benjamin Windibank
Heart of Steel was my 9th place out of the 10 songs in Vidbir 2023, so obviously a disappointing choice for me. Unlike the other songs, however, it only makes implied references to the war in Ukraine, so perhaps it was chosen as something far more escapist than the other entries on offer. The two favourites Kolyskova & When God Shut the Door were both very obviously and blatantly about the war, which may have acted in them underperforming. Let’s not forget that every single fan poll seemed to have When God Shut the Door, not only as the favourite, but by far the favourite, with the eurovisionworld.com poll giving her 50% of all votes.
I believe if UA:PBC do send Tvorchi to Liverpool then it would be extremely unlikely for Ukraine to make the Top 10, let alone win again. However, if there is one positive to note, Ukraine getting a poorer result, will silence those who claim “Eurovision is political” and that Stefania only did well because of the war.
Analysis by Tadeusz Cisłak
Did anyone miss hip-hop at Eurovision? I hope someone did, because it will at least give this song some purpose. Heart of Steel is a spiritual brother to Time – both of them come from genres with great potential, but instead decide to stick in the realm of annoying mediocrity. Fortunately Ukraine has a guaranteed final spot, because this could have very well spoil their perfect qualification record. This song will find a few fans in Liverpool, however I won’t be one of them.
Honestly, I don’t think anything of Vidbir 2023 was a winning material… There were interesting songs, but there weren’t really good songs. My favourite was Tember Blanche, and their song was slightly weaker Snap.
