National Finals Reaction: Vidbir 2023

This is just my reaction thread from Twitter but packaged more neatly. I'm going by running order here. If it reads weird it's because this is my live reaction to the song as it progresses.

1. Moisei - I'm Not Alone

Singing about Christmas for a song contest in May, so true. The instrumentals are kinda cool, it does get a bit repetitive though.

Yeah, no wow moment, but pretty solid.

2. OY Sound System - Oj, Tužu

Woah, some MEAN synths in the back.

OK, these instrumentals are insane. I'm kinda speechless.

I do worry though about how it would be performed; it'd probably flop if the concept isn't clear enough. There's also a lack of coherency in the song I'm afraid.

3. Demchuk - Alive

OK, this already screams western European, Swedish or otherwise. Yea, very much giving Estonia. Men with guitars and all that.

Not gonna lie, for someone with such a unique jacket, I expected something with a bit more flavour??

4. Jerry Heil - When God Shut The Door

Disclaimer: I haven't actually heard the vegan song.

That beat tho??? But I agree that "I fell on the floor" is a hilarious line. Great vocal range for sure though.

Eurovision winner? not really, but still very nice with lots of variety throughout. Also with that title I think I expected something edgier than this.

5. Fiinka - Dovbuš

???

Can we call it folk-trap? I'm kinda vibing with this NGL. That said I'm still not the biggest fan of trap in general.

Tempo change??? This better have some crazy staging.

I'm more confused than anything else after that.

6. Krutь - Kolyskova

Ooh, great vibes.

Спи спи спи!! Excellent instrumentals as well.

Yea, this is up my alley; also 3/4 gang rise up!!

Yea I don't know what the lyrics are saying beyond спи x3 but this is great. Love that ending too.

7. Tember Blanche - Ja Vdoma

It's cute, but NGL the "ja ja ja" gets a bit annoying after a while.

I do like how the instruments build over the course of the song.

Večornyci outsold though.

Yea, again, cute, but most likely not gonna win; not Vidbir and certainly not ESC.

8. Angelina - Stronger

Interesting instrumentals.

"I thought that you were something real, but now I know that you are fake" man, and I thought Swedish lyric writing was bad.

Duže švedśka I'm afraid, brings nothing new to the table musically.

9. 2tone - Kvitka

Certainly an interesting take on a tried and tested genre.

Doesn't mean it's creative though, it's just Ukrainian language transplanted onto a grunge(?) song.

Yea, sorry, but this is screaming bottom half of Vidbir rankings, never mind Eurovision.

10. TVORCHI - Heart Of Steel

I don't really know what to say or think about this. It's really neither here nor there; nothing particularly standing out, nor are there any wow moments.

Doesn't sound very "Ukraine at ESC" which could be a good thing or a bad thing.

Yeah, I'm just surprisingly neutral with this.

Overall comments:

Kinda meh. Tember Blanche let me down a little. If you want something stand-out then go for Krutь or Jerry Heil. I'm still not sure whether i like Fiinka or not, but at least it's different. Oj Tužu could be really good if they stage it properly.

Here's my reactions in tweet form, as well as my final top 10: