Eurovision Song Contest rep for Ukraine, Oleksandr Ponomaryov wants to do Ukraine proud
Ukraine, mainly associated in the West with the Klitschko brothers and soccer star Andry Shevchenko, has another chance this spring to gain some recognition in the world. For the first time ever, Ukraine will participate in the famous Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Latvia.
With Russia taking part in the contest for what will be the sixth time, Ukraine seemed to be lagging behind. That was until last year when the Ukrainian National TV channel UT-1, a member of European Broadcasting Union, was granted the right to broadcast the 2002 Eurovision finals from Tallinn, Estonia. According to the terms of the contest, this was necessary in order to enable Ukraine to take part in competition this year. Since that broadcast, the “Eurovision campaign” in Ukraine has begun in earnest.
The people leading the way include the head of the International Relations department at UT-1, Pavlo Gritsak, and the head of the Association of Music and Entertainment Programs on UT-1, Olena Mozgova. The announcement that Mozgova’s husband, singer Oleksandr Ponomaryov – “the golden voice of Ukraine” – would represent the country instantly caused quite a stir and generated skepticism, with talks centered mainly around the lack of transparency in the selection process. Ponomaryov obviously made it into the contest thanks to nepotism. But according to Ponomaryov, it wasn’t all that easy.
“The country that takes part in such a contest for the first time isn’t insured against making a mistake,” he began. “There are enough cases when the performers chosen by people’s votes didn’t do well at the contest. And I want Ukraine to be properly represented at Eurovision so that nobody need be ashamed of it.”
Actually, according to the terms of the selection process for Eurovision, the song may be selected by open voting or by jury, or the broadcasting TV company organizer may introduce its own contestant, as in Ukraine’s case.
And though choosing a performer instead of a song for the musical contest seems a bit weird, it’s a reminder that Eurovision is not only about music, but politics, too. For some countries (such as Ukraine), it’s a rare chance to bring homegrown talent and music to a massive worldwide audience.
“I want people who criticize me on Ukrainian music Web sites to understand that I represent not Olexander Ponomaryov, but Ukraine,” Ponomaryov said. “It’s sad that instead of supporting their country, those critics have formed public opinion against this. Such talk offends me and has impeded my preparations,” he added.
Claiming that singers taking part in the contest should be experienced professionals, Ponomaryov himself fits this qualification. A singer, poet, composer and arranger, the 29-year-old Ponomaryov started his professional singing career 10 years ago. He is the only person to have won the “Zolota Zharptitsa” (Golden Bird of Fortune) prize as best singer of the year six times, and he also holds the title of “Honored Artist of Ukraine.” Ponomaryov has recorded four albums and even established a career in music production.
And it seems that securing the spot as a contestant wasn’t such an easy job in the first place.
The Eurovision committee was choosing between Ukraine and several other countries hoping to be represented in Riga. Mozgova together with Gritsak personally met the organizers and did their best to persuade them that Ukraine, truly a European state, should take part in the contest.
Another crucial moment was the song selection process. Having studied the Eurovision format, Ponomaryov and his group decided on a cheerful, rhythmic song with English lyrics. In order to arrive at such a song, the CFC Consulting together with UT-1 announced a country-wide song-writing contest, the winning song to be sung by Ponomaryov. A total of 54 songs were submitted, including one by Maltese composer Philip Vella, whose song took second place at Eurovision 2002. But the choice was made in favor of “Hasta la Vista,” written by Israeli composer Tsviyka Pik, famous as the author of “Diva,” which won first place at the Dana International Music Festival in 1998. Lyrics for “Hasta” were written by Pik’s ex-wife, Israeli poet Mirit Shem-Ur.
Pressed for time, Ponomaryov recorded the song in the From Morning Till Evening recording studio in just two days and shot the video for it at his own dacha in half that time.
A Ukrainian Internet site (www.euro-vision.com.ua) was launched to keep the home audience and whoever else might be interested (the site has both Ukrainian and English versions) informed on all the possible news about Ukraine’s participation in the contest. UT-1, in its turn, began broadcasting a program of past contests called “Echoes of Eurovision,” showing Thursdays at 10:10 p.m.
Though the song has been on the Internet since March 20, Ponomaryov tried to promote himself further in Europe by appearing as a guest in the Latvian national Eurovision finals, and has recently visited Cyprus for the same reason, prompting a return visit by Greek Cypriot Eurovision participant Stelios Konstantas.
The finals of the 48th Eurovision Song Contest will take place on May 24 at Riga’s “Skonto” Olympic Center with a record number of contestants – 26. The contest will be hosted by Reynard Cowper, lead vocalist of the band Brainstorm, and Marie N., the Latvian winner of Eurovision 2002. Ponomaryov is set to arrive in Riga on May 19 with supporters Pik, Shem-Ur, Vella, flamboyant Russian showman Philip Kirkorov and (who else?) the Klitschko brothers.
