The excitement surrounding the Polish preselection for Eurovision 2025 has taken center stage, but not without controversy and surprise. Fans of Luna, who represented Poland at Eurovision 2024, were hopeful to see her again at this year’s preselection festivities. To their dismay, the popular artist confirmed on her Instagram account days ago she would not be participating. Luna expressed her disappointment at not receiving an invitation from Telewizja Polska (TVP), stating, "I will be there only in spirit, as I didn’t receive any invitation from TVP, for which I am very sorry," she lamented, urging her supporters to enjoy the event on Valentine’s Day, February 14.
Many were shocked by Luna's absence. She had been preparing for the event, even canceling her Valentine's Day plans, only to be left out of the lineup. Reflecting on her experience, she stated, "Until the last moment, I waited; I canceled all my Valentine's dates, but, well... I am with you all. I keep my fingers crossed for all the candidates. It’s going to be a wonderful day. I can’t wait.”
The preselection event has garnered significant attention, and along with it, the performance of the duo Sw@da x Niczos drew noticeable reactions. They performed their song "Lusterka" live on TVP, showcasing their Podlasie bounce genre and communicating through the language of Podlachia. The live performance, which began airing at 20:45, saw the duo confuse viewers momentarily when someone’s voice, not from the stage, reached the audience, leading to speculation about a potential production error. While it didn’t affect their performance, it certainly kept fans on their toes.
Before the performances began, TVP released detailed voting instructions for the audience on how to cast their votes for their favorite acts. The announcement stated, "This is the moment you can influence the outcome! Vote for your favorite according to the instructions and be part of the Grand Final of the Polish Qualifications!" Voting was to take place after all performers had presented, lasting for 20 minutes, with each SMS costing 4.92 PLN plus VAT.
The anticipation leading up to this event was palpable, with many viewers expressing their desire for transparency during the voting process. Comments flooded the platform where the voting rules were shared, with supporters voicing sentiments like, "We ask for transparency; we want a fair winner," and complaints about the high SMS voting costs, which were considered among the highest compared to other European preselection events.
Despite these challenges, excitement stayed high with expert opinions offering insights on potential favorites for the Eurovision 2025 representation. Maciej Błażewicz, from the blog "Dziennik Eurowizyjny," mentioned several contenders besides Justyna Steczkowska, seen as the audience’s favorite. He noted, "Among the dark horses, I would definitely mention the duo Sw@da x Niczos with 'Lusterka,' but Dominik Dudek with 'Hold The Light' and Teo with 'Immortal' also have good chances. The band Chrust and their song 'Tempo' are also performing well with the audience."
Błażewicz added another interesting observation as he emphasized the importance of song language diversity. He stated, “Songs where English words do not dominate have ranked high; Europe embraces variety, and we don’t always have to sing in English.”
With the competition heating up, the stakes for Polish representatives are higher than ever, and the upcoming performances are bound to be memorable. On May 13, during the first semi-final, Poland will compete to secure their place at the Eurovision Grand Final slated for May 17.
While fans await the announcement of the representative who will head to Switzerland, the debates around performance quality, transparency, and language inclusivity will continue to echo through the community. Will this year's preselection mark the moment for change, or will it follow the path laid before it? Only time will tell as Eurovision enthusiasts look on with anticipation.