From Eastern Europe with rubbish Eurovision entries

So we already know that Dima Bilan is representing Russia at Eurovsion this May, but what about the Ukrainian and Belarusian entries? Well, they are disappointingly mediocre for the country that won the competition two years ago, and current reigning champion of the Junior contest. Ukraine holds an Idol/ X Factor style contest, in which each week one act is eliminated until there is a winner. This year the victor was Tina Karol [right], with the nice but forgettable ‘I’ll Be Your Queen’. It has just been reworked, with new lyrics, and the new title 'Show Me Your Love', but it hasn't improved much. After Ruslana’s epic ‘Wild Dances’ and Greenjolly’s anthemic ‘Razom Nas Bahato’, the song is just too bland, and distinctly lacking in anything Ukrainian.

The Belarusian selection is a bit strange, but then again, so is Belarus. Viewers vote by telephone for their favourite song during the national final, held in the Belarusian capital Minsk. The results are revealed, but then an ‘expert’ judging panel takes about 2 weeks in private to choose a winner from the top 3 songs. It is widely believed that the winning act is basically the one that pays the most money for the privilege. This year, the winner, as chosen by the judges, had also won the televote by a significant margin. Polina Smolova’s ‘Mama’ is quite rocky. It should be really good, but it just isn’t. It’s a bad 1999 Britney B-side sung by a girl [right] who looks like she should be in “From Minsk with Minge” rather than the Eurovision Song Contest. Also it’s one of those songs that’s in English but you can’t tell. Perhaps last year’s Belarusian entrant, the fabulous Angelica Argubash, has left me with high expectations. Incidentally, the Belarusian song that won Junior Eurovision 2005 was utter shite, even for Junior Eurovision. I think it won because it had a keyboard on a spring.

Since Belarus failed to qualify for last year’s final, and Ukraine, the host country, placed near the bottom of the scoreboard, both will have to compete in this year’s semi-final. I doubt either will make it through to the final, and the bookies seem to agree. Now that all the national selections are over, the first betting odds have been published for Eurovision 2006. Both Ukraine and Belarus are at 50/1 to qualify, however I am quite confident, and hopeful that Russia, at 25/1 will fare better. Left click to download:

Download Tina Karol - Show Me Your Love (Ukraine)

Download Polina Smolova - Mama (Belarus)

The best site for Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian Eurovision is http://www.esckaz.com/

Never Never Let You Go

The demo version of Dima Bilan's song for the Eurovision Song Contest is being streamed on his official site. The quality is really bad at the moment, so it's best that we reserve final judgment until the final, CD quality version is presented next week. Never Let You Go sounds like it has potential, although it is nothing compared to Not That Simple, the song with which Dima Bilan came second in the 2005 national selection. It is a rousing-ish ballad, with the line "bone on my bone". I think it could do quite well, definitely qualify for the final. The video is due to be shot on the 19th March in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

The selection of Dima Bilan to represent Russia is quite interesting considering the anti-Chechen sentiment in Russia at the moment. Dima (real name Viktor Belan) is not from Chechnya, but from Karachayevo-Cherkesskaya Respublika, an autonomous republic just to the West, but there is general animosity towards people from the caucuses and Russian Muslims. They are the favourite targets of Russia's booming skinhead gangs, such as St. Petersburg's 'White Patrol'. Despite this, there are a number of non-Slavs in Russian show business, namely Alsou - a Tatar from Tatarstan, Zemfira - a Bashkir from Baskorostan, and Oskar - a gay Chechen.

The download below is courtesy of the Eurovision Kazakhstan site.

Never Let You Go

Official stream

Smash!!!11!one

For a number of years Smash!! were huge among Russian girls. The duo consisted of cousins Vlad Topalov [blonde hair] and Sergey Lazarev [black hair], who sung primarily in English, and had a song in French and even one in Russian. Their music, while nothing particularly ground-breaking, was solid pop. Back in the early years following the traumatic collapse of the Soviet Union, the pair were members of the long running childrens' group Neposedi, along with a certain Lena Katina and Yulia Volkova. A number of rumours continually followed Smash!! throughout their short career; usually relating to them being gay, although they firmly denied they were bumming each other. Another rumour claimed that Sergey was the father of Yulia Volkova’s baby, despite the two singers being cousins.


The duo released two hit albums - Freeway in 2003, and 2 Nite in 2004, but later in the year Sergey and Vlad went there separated ways, with the former launching a successful solo career, firmly sticking to the old Smash!! formula. Sergey's album "Don't Be Fake" (all songs are in English) was recorded in London last year, and is a good listen, if a little too ballad-orientated. Vlad is currently working his solo album, which is due out at some point in 2006.

www.sergeylazerev.ru

Download 'Real Thing' by Smash!!

Download 'Freeway' by Smash!!

Download 'Eye of the Storm' by Sergey Lazarev

Download 'Lost Without Your Love' by Sergey Lazarev

Unofficial site with all of Smash!! and Sergey's mp3s

We've got a neeeeew layout!

As you should have noticed, RusskiPop, like those old bints on 10 Years Younger, has had an extreme makeover! (Yes, I am that Anastacia look-alike with the unplaceable accent). I hope you like the new design; it took a lot of trial and error (with an emphasis on error), but I am pretty happy with the result. I would love to here your thoughts and suggestions, so e-mail me at russkipop@googlemail.com

But back to business! Russia has finally announced its entrant for this year's Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in the Greek capital Athens. Channel 1 has selected popular Caucasian singer Dima Bilan [right], who, at last year's national selection, narrowly missed out on representing his country. The song he performed last year, It's Not That Simple, was later translated into Russian and became a big hit. This year the Russian entrant was chosen by internal selection, however the song is yet to be heard, although Channel 1 have described it as a "dynamic ballad" and "Lady Flame" is the rumoured title. Being a Dima Bilan fan, Russkipop is obviously very pleased with the choice and hopes he is given a decent song. Click here to read what we said about Dima back in July.

www.dimabilan.com

Download Kak khotyel ya [Rapidshare]

It's Not That Simple (Eurovision 2005 Russian selections runner-up)

Ty dolzhna ryadom byt' (Russian version of above)