Ukrainian singer Melovin, the country’s entry at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon, Portugal, turned in a spectacular performance on May 10 to qualify for the grand final on May 12.
Melovin’s energetic rendition of his song “Under the Ladder” at the contest’s second semi-final wowed the audience: the singer sang while lying inside a piano, and then played the musical instrument on a raised platform, while the steps that led up to it erupted in flames.
Ukraine is one of only two countries always to have made it through to the final since the introduction of the semi-final system in 2004.
This year, Portugal hosts Eurovision, as Portuguese singer Salvador Sobral won the previous song contest, which was held in Kyiv, Ukraine in 2017.
Kostyantyn Bocharov, 21, performing under the stage name Melovin, shared his gratitude for his fans’ support in a Facebook post on his official page on May 11.
“Friends, we are in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2018! Thank you for your support! All our work and preparation is not over yet because on the 12th (of May) at the final we need to light the whole of Europe up,” his Facebook post reads.
The singer received a warm reaction from the audience and could not resist the urge to shout “Thank you, Europe.”
Along with Ukraine, other second semi-final performers from Norway, Serbia, Denmark, Moldova, the Netherlands, Australia, Hungary, Sweden and Slovenia qualified for the final.
Russian entry Yulia Samoylova, 29, and her song “I Won’t Break” failed to win enough votes to make it through to the final of the song contest.
Samoylova was also chosen as Russia’s representative for the Eurovision 2017 that took place in Ukraine. However, Ukraine’s SBU state security service banned Samoylova from entering Ukraine for three years because she had entered the Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory of Crimea illegally in June 2015.
Twenty-six countries will compete at Eurovision’s grand final – the 20 best semi-finalists will be joined by the Big Five – the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy – as they are the biggest financial contributors to the European Broadcasting Union, which produces Eurovision – and host country Portugal.
Eurovision Grand Final – May 12. 10 p.m. (GMT+3)
Free Watch Eurovision 2018 at Eurovision’s official website www.eurovision.tv or on UA Pershyi television channel, or online at their website at www.1tv.com.ua/live#ua,
or join the official Eurovision Fan zone to watch the final at the UA Pershyi telecenter (42 Melnykova St.)
