The Ukrainian act and song was chosen on February 3rd through their annual the selection show "Vidbir". The ranking of a jury (whose make up was chosen itself by a public vote) was combined equally with that of a national televote to find a winner. Although the songs were presented on the 3rd, the result was not announced until the next day due to technical difficulties. Going to Malmö is Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil performing the song "Teresa & Maria"
Aliona Olehivna Savranenko (aka Alyona Alyona) is 32 years old and before she found her footing in the Ukrainian rap scene she worked as a kindergarten teacher. She has 4 albums to her names and has reocrded collaborations with numerous Ukrainian figures such as Kalush, Aliona Pash and Jamala. Over the last 5 years she had been nominated for numerous music awards and was recently placed number 44 in a list of Ukraine's most influential women. Yana Oleksandrivna Shemayeva - professionally known as Jerry Heil - is 28 and started out in the music industry posting covers on her youtube channel. In 2017 she signed a record deal and then found herself on X Factor Ukraine, only getting as far as bootcamp.. Her most famous song is "Okhrana, otmyena" which won a Jager Music Award and a YUMA. Jerry participated in Vidbir twice previously in 2020 and 2022 coming third in the latter.
The staging is rather pared back compared to Ukrainian entries of yore. The set is black as are the outfits of the two performers. Around them are 4 backing singers and the background wall projects a stylised video of a woman shrouded in black flowing shiny fabric. Jerry starts centre stage by herself with an introductory verse before starting the chorus by this time joined by Alyona. They start singing outwards, back-to-back The chorus had a very familiar feel - almost slightly folkish - and the predictability of the way the note go low to high then back down again is very natural and unforced. Alyona Alyona's meaty rap adds an extra layer or rhythm and pace to a song that might come across as a bit plodding. The non-stop words seems to plow easily in a similar way to the rap parts of "Stefania". The song ends with a couple of chorus renditions to wind down to the end.
The parts Alyona Alyona does are great and is direct down the camera. The parts Jerry Heil does are well sung and the emotion is conveyed. However there is a lack of stagecraft between the two of them and this disconnect needs fixing. Yes, the stage was rather basic but other acts were able to conjure up some feeling using dancers and video techniques. If not, the song will otherwise feel like two people performing on the stage at the same time rather than a duet. Because of the song's message, I feel like this is not an entry that can be made better with a gimmick. The singers need to be somehow 'together' and make their parts feel cohesive. I need them to be interested in each others words in relation to the song. I'd like to see them singing to each other, maybe holding hands or even singing with their backs touching rather than just turning away from each other. This needs a lot of work but Ukraine has a depth of staging experience and I really hope they can turn this piece of jet black coal into a real diamond.
ARTIST - Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil
SONG - Teresa & Maria
WRITING/PRODUCTION CREDITS - Anton Chilibi, Ivan Klymenko, Aliona Savranenko, Yana Shemaieva
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