The final of Vidbir 2024, the Ukrainian preselection, took place on February 3rd, with alyona alyona and Jerry Heil emerging victorious with their song “Teresa & Maria.” They had been the favorites in the betting odds. Their performance and song earned them 10 points from the jury, placing them second in the rank. Then, the audience gave them 723,297 votes, which added 11 points, bringing their total to 21 points.
At ESCplus, we continue to get to know each representative of Eurovision 2024 in depth. This time, we head to Ukraine to learn about these two acclaimed artists who have earned a solid reputation through their work.
Who are alyona alyona & Jerry Heil?
Aliona Olehivna Savranenko, known artistically as alyona alyona, is a famous Ukrainian rapper and songwriter born in Kapitanivka, in the Kirovohrad region. She graduated from the Pedagogical University as a psychologist and preschool teacher. Before dedicating herself to rap, she worked as a kindergarten teacher in a small village called Baryshivka near Kyiv.
Yana Oleksandrivna Shemayeva, known artistically as Jerry Heil, is a Ukrainian YouTuber, singer, and songwriter born in the city of Vasylkiv. She speaks Ukrainian, Russian, and English fluently. She studied music at the R. Glier Music Institute and at the Kyiv Conservatory. She ventured into the music world in 2012 when she started sharing vlogs and covers on her YouTube channel under the pseudonym Jerry Mouse. She later changed her stage name to Jerry Heil and began uploading covers of international bands like Twenty One Pilots, as well as Ukrainian bands like Okean Elzy and The Hardkiss.
Her breakthrough came in 2019 with the release of “Okhrana Otmeyena,” which earned her the prestigious Jager Music Award and the YUNA Award. This success paved the way for the launch of her debut album, “Ya Yana.” Before winning Vidbir in 2023, she competed twice, in 2020 with “Vegan” and in 2022 with “When God Shut the Door”.
“Teresa & Maria” the Ukrainian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024
Their song “Teresa & Maria” is written in Ukrainian and English and speaks about the strength and resilience of women, using two prominent female figures, Mother Teresa and the Virgin Mary, as symbols. The lyrics reflect the struggles and challenges women face throughout their lives, highlighting the importance of finding happiness and purpose despite adversity. It was written to remind people that we are all capable of reaching great heights and that “all divas were born as humans,” emphasizing that we all start small and that it’s our actions that define us.
Lyrics of «Teresa & Maria»
Ukrainian
Dzhere-dzhere-dzherelo probyva sobi shliakh,
shcho by shcho by ne bulo, svit na yiyi plechakh
mani-mani-manivtsi zvyvysti, skeliasti
ale znai: v tvoyiy rutsi tvoye vlasne shchastia
Davai, mala, palai
I’m not holy, I’m alive
Z namy Mama Tereza i Diva Maria
Bosi, niby po lezu, ishly po zemli
With us mama Teresa, Diva Maria
All the Divas were born as human beings
Z namy Mama Tereza i Diva Maria
Bosi, niby po lezu, ishly po zemli
With us mama Teresa, Diva Maria
All the Divas were born as human beings
Navit shche zmalia my shukaly shliakh
ta zhyttia – petlia, niby dlia tykh khto padaie
Na svoikh plechakh shche male divcha
nese z boliu chan i vbacha, shcho to vada ye
Znovu ne taka, to nadto miaka,
odiah na kistkakh, holiaka chy to pid vinets
De tvoie dytia? Shcho tvoie zhyttia?
Ta roky zh letiat! I zatiam: skoro vzhe kinets
I khai khtos khoche aby my zlamalys
khai buva v tobi zariadu ne po likot, a po palets
I khai khtos khova za posmishkoiu nenavyst i zazdrist,
koly ty puskayesh v sertse hniv dobra y liubovi zamist
Ale v nebi ye sviati, yikh nohy bachyly tsyu zemlyu, znayesh,
tviy ternystyi shliakh same tomu ye ne daremno
I khai bude duzhe strashno y temno i chasom ne lehko,
ta z toboyu zavzhdy budut z neba sliduvaty predky
Z namy Mama Tereza i Diva Maria
Bosi, niby po lezu, ishly po zemli
With us mama Teresa, Diva Maria
All the Divas were born as human beings
Z namy Mama Tereza i Diva Maria
Bosi, niby po lezu, yshly po zemli
With us mama Teresa, Diva Maria
All the Divas were born as human beings
English
Spri-spri-spring carves its way,
No matter what, the world is on her shoulders
Pa-pa-path is winding and rocky
But you should know: your own happiness is in your hands
Come on, little girl, light up
I’m not holy, I’m alive
Mother Teresa and Diva Maria are with us
Barefoot, as if on a blade, they walked on the ground
With us mama Teresa, Diva Maria
All the Divas were born as human beings
Mother Teresa and Diva Maria are with us
Barefoot, as if on a blade, they walked on the ground
With us mama Teresa, Diva Maria
All the Divas were born as human beings
Even when we were little, we searched for a path,
And life is a loop, as if for those who are falling
On her shoulders, still a young girl,
She carries a burden of pain, seeing it as a flaw
Again not as she should be, or too tender,
Clothes on her bones, naked or going down the aisle
Where is your child? What is your life?
But the years are flying! You should be aware: the end is near
And may someone want us to break
May there be energy in you not the elbow-deep, but the finger-deep
And may someone hide hatred and envy behind a smile,
When you let anger into your heart, instead of kindness and love.
But there are saints in the sky, their feet have seen this earth, you know,
That’s why your thorny path is not in vain
And though it may be very scary and dark and sometimes not easy,
But you’ll always have your ancestors following you from heaven
Mother Teresa and Diva Maria are with us
Barefoot, as if on a blade, they walked on the ground
With us mama Teresa, Diva Maria
All the Divas were born as a human beings
Mother Teresa and Diva Maria are with us
Barefoot, as if on a blade, they walked on the ground
With us mama Teresa, Diva Maria
All the Divas were born as human beings
Ukraine’s participation in Eurovision
Ukraine has been part of the Eurovision contest since 2003, debuting with Oleksandr Ponomariov and his song “Hasta La Vista,” which only managed to reach the fourteenth place. The following year, Ruslana with “Wild Dances” stormed to victory with 280 points, marking the country’s first win.
In subsequent editions, Ukraine continued its impressive track record, reaching two second places with Verka Serduchka and her “Dancing Lasha Tumbai” (2007), and Ani Lorak with “Shady Lady” (2008). Zlata Ognevich, with “Gravity,” secured third place in Malmö 2013. In 2016, after missing the previous year’s contest, Jamala with “1944” took home the crystal microphone, despite not being the jury’s or the televoters’ favorite, marking Ukraine’s second victory.
Except for 2015 and 2019, Ukraine has participated in every edition and has always reached the final. Out of its 20 participations, it has placed in the Top 10 twelve times. Its worst result was in Kiev 2017 with O.Torvald and their song “Time,” achieving only the twenty-fourth place with 36 points.
Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, has hosted Eurovision twice, in 2005 and in 2017. The country’s complex situation prevented Eurovision from being held in Ukrainian territory for the third time following Kalush Orchestra‘s victory in 2022. Consequently, the 2023 edition was held in Liverpool (United Kingdom), organized by the BBC, where the duo Tvorchi achieved 243 points and an impressive sixth place.