We will update this article with the TikTok and our reaction as soon as we get it.
Today the rehearsals for Eurovision 2024 start in Malmö. Countries rehearsing on Day 1 include Cyprus, Serbia, Lithuania, Ireland, Ukraine, Poland and Croatia. The fifth to rehearse today is Ukraine’s alyona alyona and Jerry Heil.
alyona alyona and Jerry Heil’s first rehearsal
The next to take to the Eurovision 2024 stage at Malmö Arena in Malmö was Ukraine’s alyona alyona and Jerry Heil. Ukraine will be competing in this year’s competition with alyona alyona and Jerry Heil’s entry “Teresa and Maria” following them winning national final Vidbir 2024.
Following alyona alyona and Jerry Heil’s first rehearsal, a clip of what went on was posted on the official TikTok account of the Eurovision Song Contest. The clip showed the duo before and after they took to the Eurovision stage for the first time, as well as giving us some insight into how well their first rehearsal went.
What did we learn about Ukraine’s staging?
alyona alyona and Jerry Heil are kicking it up a notch compared to their Vidbir staging, as per the official Eurovision live blog. With wind machines, a big prop, and artists emerging out of nowhere this performance is a Eurovision Bingo player’s dream. Jerry Heil climbs a rocky slope during the performance, greeted by the wind machines along the way, followed by alyona alyona emerging from stage right for the rap interlude. Both their outfits have something very modern but also almost medieval about them, especially the pauldron Jerry Heil is wearing. Her otherwise flowing dress, the shadowy figures on the LEDs, and the backing vocals make this performance into something very ethereal yet powerful.
What we thought of Ukraine’s first rehearsal
After Ukraine’s first rehearsal, Rory gave his initial thoughts on the snippet that we saw.
Who are alyona alyona and Jerry Heil?
alyona alyona is a singer and rapper from Ukraine. In 2019 alyona alyona kickstarted her music career with her debut album “Pushka”. The album was followed on by an EP entitled “V khati MA”. Since 2019 alyona alyona has released music regularly, often alongside other artists. One artist alyona alyona has released music with on a few occasions is Jerry Heil. Jerry Heil accompanies alyona alyona on the Eurovision song “Teresa and Maria”.
Jerry Heil first came to prominence in 2012 for her YouTube channel, which has amassed over 34 million views in the last 12 years. In 2019, she kickstarted her music career with her first single “Okhrana otmjena”, which featured on her first album entitled “Ya yana”. Jerry Heil participated in Vidbir for the first time in 2020 with her song “Vegan”. In 2022 Jerry Heil later returned to Vidbir with the song “When God Shut The Door” in the hopes to represent Ukraine in 2023.
alyona alyona and Jerry Heil’s Eurovision song “Teresa and Maria” was written by Aliona Savranenko, Anton Chilibi, Ivan Klymenko and Yana Shemaieva
Ukraine’s Eurovision Journey
Ukraine is one of the most successful countries to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. The country has scored eight top-five placements, with an extra four top-ten finishes. Ukraine won the Contest three times – in 2004, 2016 and 2022 respectively. Ukraine made history for being the first ex-Soviet country to win the Contest more than once.
In 2023, TVORCHI represented Ukraine as co-host entry in Liverpool with their song “Heart of Steel”. The duo finished in 6th place, scoring 243 points – of which 54 points came from the jury, whilst the remaining 189 points came from the televote.
What do you think of “Teresa and Maria”? What are your thoughts on alyona alyona and Jerry Heil’s staging from the photos we have seen? Let us know your thoughts! Also, be sure to follow “That Eurovision Site” on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok as we prepare for Eurovision 2024!
News Source: That Eurovision Site / Eurovision.tv
Photo Credit: Corinne Cumming / EBU
Rory Gannon