Ukrainian Eurovision Contestants Express Disappointment over Lack of Support
Here's a Fresh Spin:
Ukraine's Ziferblat, Reps at Eurovision 2023, Slam Fellow Contestants' Indifference:
Let's face it, life's a bitch sometimes, and that's never more true than at the Eurovision Song Contest. Yea, that annual over-the-top musical spectacle where countries battle it out for the title of Best European Act. Case in point? Ziferblat, the Ukrainian representatives this year have a bone to pick with their fellow contenders.
According to Valentin Leshchynskyi, the guitarist for Ziferblat, the Eurovision crowd ain't showing much love for Ukraine's ongoing struggle with the war. Sure, there's some empathy in the air, but it feels like they're going through the motions, asking questions for small talk's sake.
Leshchynskyi claims that participants from other countries are living in a different reality. Only Lithuania and Portugal have shown genuine support, expressing their personal solidarity with Ukraine.
But here's the kicker: There are supporters of Russia at the contest, though Leshchynskyi didn't spill the beans on which countries we're talking about.
This year's Eurovision is set to rock Basel, Switzerland. The first semi-final's on May 13, the second on May 15, with the grand finale on May 17.
Now, while Eurovision's official rules ban political discussions, the Russian contest, Intervision, is taking place at the Live Arena in Moscow on September 20. Looks like Russia's got their own spin on the Eurovision vibes, eh?
In the past, Ukrainian groups at Eurovision have faced restrictions on political discussions, but it seems this time around, it's all about following the flag policy to maintain a respectful environment during the event.
Oh, and just in case you're wondering, Ziferblat ain't the usual Eurovision group - it's not even a commonly used term in this context. So, they're probably not the most popular kid on the Eurovision block, but that's a story for another day.
- Despite the rule prohibiting political discussions at Eurovision 2023, Russia is organizing an alternative contest called Intervision at the Live Arena in Moscow on September 20.
- Ziferblat, Ukraine's representatives at Eurovision 2023, have expressed criticism towards the other contestants for showing somewhat apathetic support for Ukraine's ongoing struggle with the war.
- In an interview, Valentin Leshchynskyi, the guitarist for Ziferblat, revealed that only Lithuania and Portugal have shown genuine solidarity with Ukraine among the participants.
- There are supporters of Russia at Eurovision 2023, but Ziferblat's Leshchynskyi did not disclose which countries these supporters are from.
- Eurovision 2023 is scheduled to take place from May 13 to May 17 in Basel, Switzerland, and Ziferblat, being less popular and not the usual Eurovision group, may struggle to gain mainstream attention.
