Participant(s): Maria Yaremchuk
Song: Tick - Tock
Writer(s): Mariya Yaremchuk, Sandra Bjurman
Composer(s): Mariya Yaremchuk
Broadcaster: NTU
Social media:  

Introduction

As one of the earliest countries the Ukraine held its national pre selection in December 2013. Out of 20 songs, Maria Yaremchuk could achieve the highest points and therefore she is going to represent the Ukraine in Copenhagen this year.

Maria, whose original name is Marija Nazariwana Jaremtschuk, was born in Czernowitz (Western Ukraine) in 1993. She is the daughter of the famous Ukrainian actor and artist Nazar Yaremchuk, who died when Maria was only two years old. After school Maria studied circus and vaudeville at the Kiev Municipal Academy. She was a finalist in the TV project “Voice of the Country”. In 2012 she made a 3rd place in the New Wave Contest in Jurmala, Latvia, where she represented her country. One year later she entered the Ukrainian national final called “Evrobachennya” and came 5th with the song “Imagine”.

Now Maria is going to represent the Ukraine with the song “Tick Tock” on an international stage in Copenhagen. The first version of the song sounded a bit unglamorous and therefore it has become a total make over. We can often see that songs change completely from the first stage to the final version to bring the sound to an international format with winning chances.

Due to the fact that the Ukraine has always been qualifying for the grand finals, a big pressure will last on Maria’s shoulders. The Ukraine is one of the most successful countries in recent history with seven Top 10 positions since 11 years! The song has some mystic elements and a catchy chorus, a modern arrangement. The song reminds a bit of the Armenian entry “Boom Boom” in 2011 by Emmy, who did not make it into the final. With a good choir and choreography this one might do well.

History

Participations: 12

Debut: 2003

Biggest success: 1x 1st place “Wild Dances” by Ruslana, 2x 2nd place 2007 “Dancing Lasha Tumbai” by Verka Serduchka, 2008 “Shady Lady” by Ani Lorak, 1x3rd place in 2013 “Gravity” by Zlata Ognevich, 1x 4th place, 1x 7th place, 1x 10th place

The Ukraine is participating for the 12th time at the Eurovision Song Contest. Like no other country the Ukraine belongs to the most successful countries in recent history. The debut year has been back in 2003 when “Hasta la vista” by Olexandr reached a 14th rank.

Only one year later Ruslana enthused Europe with her “Wild Dances”, she won the ESC immediately with her sweeping energy. After that Kiev hosted the 50th anniversary contest – a wonderful show indeed. In that year the “Orange Revolution” took place in the Ukraine. Having the Eastern European countries in the ESC has been criticised a lot in those years as other Western European countries suffering from low ranks, but it has brought wonderful songs with a lot of new inspiration to the contest. So it’s a truly benefit to open the contest to more and more countries.

This year there will be 37 countries participating in Copenhagen. At the end East and West is almost half – half concerning the voting. Luckily the Ukraine is mostly shaping up very well, out of eleven participations there were seven Top 10 entries! The Ukraine never failed in qualifying for the grand final, while other countries struggle with their qualification. There were striking songs like “Dancing Lasha Tumbai” by Verka Serduchka in 2007 (2nd), “Be my Valentine” by Svetlana Loboda in 2009 (10th) and “Angel” by Mika Newton in 2011 (4th).