Former Eurovision stars Verka Serduchka, Jamala, Go_A dominate judge selection for Eurovision 2024

Voting is underway for Ukrainians to determine the three jury members for next month’s National Selection contest for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 – and former Eurovision acts are leading the way, NV reports.

Ukrainians can select from among nine Ukrainian celebrities who they would like to judge the 12 artists that will compete for the right to represent Ukraine in Malmo, Sweden this May.

Read also: Bookmakers favor Ukraine’s second-place odds in Eurovision 2024, UK leads for victory

Andriy Danylko, better known as Verka Serduchka, looks like a sure bet to become a judge after receiving 43% of the votes so far. Though Danylko finished second at Eurovision 2007, his act has become among the most popular in the event’s history.

Eurovision 2016 winner, Jamala, is in second place with 23% of the vote, while Go_A frontwoman Kateryna Pavlenko is in third with 10.38% of the vote. Go_A finished fifth at Eurovision 2021.

UPDATE: Serhii Tachynets, the lead singer of the rock band Bez Obmezhen, has moved into third with 12.71% of the vote.

Read also: Diia voting picks ANKA as 11th finalist for Ukraine’s Eurovision 2024 national selection

Along with Ruslana and Kalush Orchestra, Jamala is one of three Ukrainian Eurovision winners. She has regularly served on the jury for the national selection since winning in 2016. She reflected on the experience, noting that it is always a responsibility and that it is especially challenging to judge the work of colleagues.

“The competition is always super stressful and exciting, especially since the participants are almost always my colleagues, with whom I share the stage with, or have very good relations,” wrote Jamala. “Nevertheless, we choose a song. Yes, the song!!! The song you feel — it's fire!”

“I always root for quality Ukrainian music, and I always perceive the Selection as a great concert,” added Jamala. “I would really like to see an outstanding representative at Eurovision 2024. Thank you to everyone who is choosing me. This means a lot to me.”

As of now, over 550,000 Ukrainians have voted for the jury composition for Eurovision 2024.

The voting continues in the Diia app.  Anyone aged 14 and over can enter Diia, select the Surveys section, and vote for your favorite candidate.

The final of the National Selection for Eurovision 2024 will take place in Ukraine on Feb. 3, with 11 finalists participating. They have already presented their songs and are actively preparing for their performances.

Eurovision 2024 will be hosted in the Swedish city of Malmö following last year's international contest victory by singer Loreen. The semi-finals will take place on May 7 and 9, with the grand final at Malmö Arena on Saturday, May 11.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine