For the third year running, Poland’s broadcaster, Telewizja Polska, elected for a national final in the form of Krajowe Eliminacje, i.e. National Qualification. The show was hosted by veteran journalist and Polish Eurovision commentator, Artur Orzech. The winner was determined 50/50 between televoters and a jury of 5 industry specialists including last year’s winner, Kasia Moś.
The show opened with Måns Zelmerlöw performing an extended remix of his Eurovision winner, We Are The Heroes. Artur reminded the audience that Portugal won after 50 years of trying, which should give Poland hope given it has never bettered its second place for its first ever entry in 1994.
There were 10 entries, which had previously been selected by TVP:
1. “Sunflower” by Pablosson
This was a cheerful 1990s style party song.
2. “Why Don’t We Go” by Marta Gałuszewska
Marta is a former winner of The Voice Poland and sang a cheerful beach-style dance song.
3. “Błysk (Skin)” by Maja Hyży
This was a very Polish mid-tempo pop song both in language and style.
4. “Krakowiacy i Górale” by Future Folk
Referring to people of Kraków and the mountains in southern Poland, this was an unusual fusion of dubstep and traditional folk elements from the region with a 1980s feel.
5. “Delirium” by Isabell Otrębus
The favourite before the contest, this modern dance song seemed to suffer performance issues despite interesting futuristic themed staging.
6. “Light Me Up” by Gromee feat. Lukas Meijer
Gromee (Andrzej Gromela) is a Polish DJ specialising in alternative dance music. This song is a collaboration with Swedish singer, Lukas Meijer. The song is something of a soft rock/ dance fusion, a little in the style of JOWST, Norway’s 2017 entry.
7. “Don’t Let Go” by Happy Prince
This was a modern ballad, a little inspirational and a lot contemplative.
8. “Nie chcę Ciebie mniej” by Saszan
This song is the kind of angst ballads that were popular in Poland in the 1990s, which may also have suffered some technical problems.
9. “Love Is Stronger” by Ifi Ude
This was a very different, idiosyncratic, new age ballad, with shades of Tori Amos and Björk.
10. “Momentum” by Monika Urlik
Monika is a previous finalist from The Voice Poland and sang a classic inspiring Eurovision ballad.
While SMS votes were being cast, entertainment was provided by Blue Café, which represented Poland in 2004, with the song Buena. Kasia Moś revised her entry from 2017, Flashlight.
The jury’s points were delivered separately but then recombined to usual Eurovision scoring (1-7, 8, 10 and 12). The jury placed Happy Prince first, followed by Ifi Ude and Gromela. The public voted more heavily for Gromela, which was sufficient to see the song win narrowly by 20 points from Monika Urlik.
As such, Poland will be represented in Lisbon by song number 6, “Light Me Up” by Gromee feat. Lukas Meijer. You can watch it here.