Why the band Antitela does not want to participate in Eurovision

Taras Topolya, the frontman of the popular Ukrainian band Antitela, revealed in a recent interview on the "(ДЕ)МОТИВАЦИЯ" ("(DE)MOTIVATION") podcast the reason why his group has never considered participating in the Eurovision contest. The musician stated that he is not ready to subject himself to the aggressive criticism that could arise in the event of a failure on such a large-scale stage.

Eurovision as a political contest

According to Topolya, although Eurovision is an important musical platform, for Ukraine the contest has long become not only cultural but also political. The leader of Antitela emphasises that the results are influenced not only by musical quality but also by the political situation. With each passing year, participation in the contest is accompanied by numerous political subtexts, making it extremely difficult for artists to take part.

Risks for well-known Ukrainian artists

Topolya noted that many successful Ukrainian artists avoid participating in Eurovision precisely because of the potential negative consequences. In the case of low results, for example, finishing 10th or 20th, an artist risks facing harsh criticism and severe accusations. In Topolya's opinion, established musicians with a high level of achievement do not want to subject themselves to such a risk, knowing that they could be "размазаны по грязи" (smear[ed] in the mud) for a poor performance.

For Topolya, participating in Eurovision is not just a musical competition, but also a test of an artist's reputation.