During the March holidays our beloved pop singer worked with tripled effort. On the eve of the holiday, renowned Israeli composer Tzvika Pik, author of the “Viva,” which won the Eurovision to extravagant Dana International few years ago, came to Kyiv. Oleksandr Ponomariov chose Mr. Pik’s new song, “Hasta la Vista,” for his Eurovision debut in Riga on May 24. This is a lively and amusing song in English with a frolic refrain, “Everything is fine!” Let’s hope Oleksandr has made the right choice. In fact, Eurovision is a contest of songs. However, honestly speaking, the singer’s victory (which we naturally wish him) would become a serious trial for Ukraine, strange as it may seem: every next contest is held in the winning country. Thus, we would have to erect a new concert hall in Kyiv meeting world acoustic standards. Alas, our main scene, the Ukrayina Palace, doesn’t answer these requirements. However, all this is a long-term outlook. Meanwhile, musicians, arrangers, Tzvika Pik, and Ponomariov himself are working indefatigably at the Z ranku do nochy [From dawn to dusk] Studio. Time is pressing: both audio and video versions of the song along with plus and minus soundtracks must be presented to the Eurovision organizing committee before March 20. A friend of Ponomariov, Ukraine’s most popular video producer, is working on the video for the song.
By the contest’s conditions, the song is to be new and never broadcast before the contest. It is meant to be a surprise for the audience. The jury defines the best song by the total amount of votes for it (by telephone, internet, or voting cards of the audience). Recall that one cannot vote for the singer from his own country. The Ukrainian UT-1 television channel will broadcast this prestigious international contest, so we will have a chance to feel the competition’s tension. A Ukrainian delegation of 25 persons headed by renowned composer Yan Tabachnyk will go to Riga to support our contestant.
