new representative! After three weeks of competition, Polish public television (TVP) this evening broadcast the grand final of Szansa Na Sukces-Eurowizja Junior 2023, the selection process which for the fifth year in a row has chosen Poland’s representative at Europe’s most famous children’s contest.
Maja Krzyżewska has finally won and will take over from Laura Baczkiewicz on 26 November at Junior Eurovision 2023, where she will try to achieve Poland’s third victory with the song “I Just Need A Friend”.
You can listen to the song below:
After making it through the heats, these are the five finalists in contention to win this evening’s final:
- Leon Olek
- Daria Malicka
- Filip Robak
- Gracjana Górka
- Maja Krzyżewska
The format has thus repeated, for the fifth consecutive year, the path with which they have achieved so many good results in recent years, from Viki Gabor’s victory in 2019, to Alicja Tracz’s decent ninth place in 2020 or Sara James’ silver medal in the 2021 edition.
In addition, the gala also served to recall Blanka’ s career as Poland’s representative at Eurovision 2023, as well as Laura Baczkiewicz ‘s time at Junior Eurovision 2022 with “To The Moon”, as they both attended the grand final as guests.
MORE ABOUT THE WINNER
Maja Krzyżewska is 12 years old and, like the other finalists, has already participated in the sixth edition of The Voice Kids. During the auditions, she turned two seats in the dark and chose Cleo’ s team. She herself jokes about the end of the world, stating that living in a small town, which is Suwałki, does not help to fulfil dreams and develop talent, so participating in talent shows is a great experience for her. She says, by the way, that if you want something very much, you can overcome ”all obstacles”.
Maja’s parents say that she is a quiet, modest and somewhat shy girl, but that it is on stage that she really brings out her potential. She is at her best in lyrical pop, but admits that she can sing anything because she loves to do it.
Despite a successful start on The Voice, the singer is still herself, but she has gained more confidence, which she sees as a big change. Now, after becoming the winner of Szansa Na Sukces-Eurowizja Junior 2023, she will represent Poland at Junior Eurovision.
THE GRAND FINAL
During this evening’s grand final, broadcast live, the five finalists underwent two rounds. In the first round, each of the contestants performed a cover song similar to the one they performed in their respective heats. These were the songs that we were able to listen to again:
- Gracjana Górka – “Flowers” (Miley Cyrus)
- Leon Olek – “Dance Monkey” (Tones and I)
- Daria Malicka – “Snap” (Rosa Linn)
- Filip Robak – “As It Was” (Harry Styles)
- Maja Krzyżewska – “Photograph” (Ed Sheeran)
After the performances, this was the decision of the jury and the public votes:
In the second round, Leon Olek and Maja Krzyżewska, the two most voted finalists, returned to the stage with a brand new song, “I Just Need A Friend”, nominated to represent Poland at Junior Eurovision:
- Leon Olek – “I Just Need A Friend”
- Maja Krzyżewska – “I Just Need A Friend”
Also, unlike in the semi-finals, the audience played a key role. In this final gala, viewers could choose via phone call and/or SMS their ideal candidate to represent Poland in the children’s contest, as the final decision was left to the televote, who decided Maja Krzyżewska to become the winner of the evening.
POLAND AT THE JUNIOR EUROVISION SONG CONTEST
Poland’s first participation in Junior Eurovision dates back to 2003 as one of the founding members of the festival. However, despite their ambitious recent track record, Katarzyna Zurawik with “Cos mnie nosi” did not make it past the last position.
After more than ten years of absence due to poor results, the Polish delegation returned to the festival in 2016 and since then they have enjoyed a golden era at Junior Eurovision with two consecutive victories: in 2018 by Roksana Węgiel with “Anyone I Want To Be” and the following year with Viki Gabor and “Superhero” as hosts. In addition, in 2021, Sara James fell just short of her third win in Paris with “Somebody”.
Last year, Poland was represented in Yerevan by Laura Bączkiewicz and “To The Moon”, achieving a decent – albeit insufficient – tenth place with a total of 95 points.
JUNIOR EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2023
On Sunday 26 November, Junior Eurovision 2023 will be held, the 21st edition of the children’s contest in which European artists between the ages of 9 and 14 will compete for the mini crystal microphone. The Palais Nikaïa in Nice will be the main stage for this year’s edition.
Public broadcaster France Télévisions will organise the festival again two years later, as it did in 2021, following Lissandro’s brilliant victory in Yerevan with “Oh Maman!
Under the slogan Heroes, the French broadcaster wants to create a unique experience for the participants of the 21st edition of Junior Eurovision, as well as to convey an explosion of happiness under a corporate identity with paint, chalk, gunpowder and fireworks as protagonists.
A total of 16 countries will participate in Junior Eurovision 2023, the same number as last year, including the return of Germany after a year’s creative break. It will therefore be the first edition of the contest to feature the entire Big Five.
Contrary to the withdrawals of Kazakhstan and Serbia, 2023 will be Estonia’ s first edition of the contest, as ERR had been the only Baltic broadcaster not participating in the children’s competition until now.