29 January 2014

Eurovision 2014: Ukraine: Tick-Tock

Mariya Yaremchuk

The Ukraine was one of the first nations to choose its 2014 song for Eurovision and after a national final where 20 participants presented their entries, Mariya Yaremchuk was announced the winner - amidst some controversy. The official result put her song Tick-Tock at the top of both the jury and the viewer vote. However, some of the other contestants have complained that phone lines were blocked for their songs while Ms. Yaremchuk's remained open.

 

As one has come to expect, it's not unusual to witness some controversy with the selection of a few of the former Eastern bloc entries, but it seems that Eurovision is currently stuck with Tick-Tock.

Mariya Yaremchuk is easy on the eye in a Rihanna kind of way, but unfortunately, not as easy on the ear. Sung in English, Tick-Tock comes with a heavy Russian accent and some out of tune caterwauling that could liven up your local feline population.

Cats aside, the song is very much a carbon cut-out of the Eurovision-style of dance Europop: An easily remembered title that is repeated frequently over a drumbeat backing. Even the presentation, with three muscle-bound male dancers, seems to have been pulled from the Eurovision 101 handbook for beginners.

It's a shame, really. I anticipated so much better from the Ukraine, based upon past performances. Just last year, Zlata Ognevich's far superior Gravity placed third, but I don't see this one doing nearly as well. It will, no doubt, qualify from the semis - with some help from its neighbours and a possible sympathy vote - but a Top 10 placing seems highly unlikely. Of course, this is all dependent on the quality of the rest of the contenders.

What do you think?



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