Eurovision 2023 Poland profile: ‘Solo’ by Blanka

Image credit: Magic Mars

Poland in the Eurovision Song Contest

Poland made their Eurovision Song Contest debut in 1994 and have participated in the Contest 25 times. They failed to qualify for both the 2000 and 2002 Contests (under the competition rules at the time), and also took a break from participating in 2012 and 2013. Their best result remains debut entry ‘To nie ja!’ by Edyta Górniak, which finished in second place in 1994. In 2022, Ochman entry ‘River’ finished in 12th place.

2023 Entry: Blanka - ‘Solo’

• Blanka will compete 9th in semi-final 2

• My Eurovision Scoreboard ranking: 31st

• Odds to win ranking: 24th

(Rankings as of 18 April 2023)

About the artist

Blanka Stajkow, 23, wrote her first song at 14-years-old and followed up by moving to the USA with her mother for the next four years to focus on her career. The singer/model, who is half-Polish and half-Bulgarian, would perform at open mic sessions across Los Angeles and New York, including club ‘The Bitter End’ where Lady Gaga launched her career.

However, it was modelling that got Blanka her first big break after she appeared on Polish reality show ‘Top Model’. She released her first single ‘Better’ whilst on the show, and was signed by Warner Music Poland the year after.

Image credit: Magic Mars

About the song

‘Solo’ is written by Blanka together with Bartłomiej Rzeczycki, Julia Sundberg, Maciej Puchalski, Marcin Gorecki, Maria Broberg and Mikolaj Trybulec.

Trybulec was a co-writer of Poland's 2022 Eurovision entry ‘River’ by Ochman and Lake Malawi’s ‘Friend of a Friend’ for Czechia in 2019. He also co-wrote Spain’s Eurovision entry for the 2020 cancelled contest ‘Universo’ by Blas Cantó, and has worked with The Netherlands’ 2019 Eurovision winner Duncan Laurence.

The pop number, sung entirely in English, is about a one-sided relationship, representing Blanka’s belief that “sometimes it’s worth being alone and that’s OK... we can get to know ourselves better and see that the other person may not be the best for us”.

How Blanka was selected for Eurovision

Blanka won Poland’s Eurovision national final show ‘Tu bije serce Europy! Wybieramy hit na Eurowizję!’ (‘The heart of Europe beats here! We choose the hit for Eurovision!’), at Transcolor Studio in Szeligi, to earn her spot in Liverpool. She came first in the jury vote and second in the televote to take the competition.

Poland will compete in semi-final 2 on May 11 (European time) in Liverpool.

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