Category: Russia

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Three members of the group Buranovskiye Babushki that represented the country at Eurovision, were blacklisted by Ukraine due to performances in Crimea and Donbas, reflecting ongoing cultural and political tensions. Three members of the Russian folk group Buranovskiye Babushki, who represented Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 and finished in an impressive second place with the song "Party For Everybody," have been added to Ukraine's blacklist of artists banned from performing in the country. Although recently reported by several news outlets, the decision was originally made in 2020. It is part of Ukraine's broader policy to block Russian artists who are perceived as supporting the Russian state's actions against Ukraine or who have performed in contested territories, as a means of upholding cultural and political security. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Another former Eurovision representative now on the list is Julia Samoylova, who represented Russia at Eurovision in 2018. Samoylova had originally been selected to represent Russia in 2017, but...

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Manizha, Russia’s 2021 Eurovision representative, returned to Moscow, sparking controversy: calls for prosecution, political accusations, and questions about freedom of speech in Russia. The singer Manizha Sangin, who represented Russia in the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Russian Woman," has found herself at the center of a new political storm. After reports emerged that she had returned to Russia and was set to perform in Moscow, there were calls within Russia to prosecute her and declare her a "foreign agent." The criticism stems from her previous political stances, including her opposition to the invasion of Ukraine and her alleged positions regarding the attack at Crocus City Hall. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “Manizha should be recognized as a foreign agent” "The singer Manizha Sangin should be recognized as a foreign agent, and criminal proceedings should be initiated against her," said Vitaly Borodin, head of the "Federal Project for Security and Anti-Corruption" in the city of Mytishchi, Moscow region, in an interview...

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The girl group t.A.T.u., remembered for their early 2000s hits and Eurovision 2003 appearance, reunite 15 years after their breakup. Will this comeback endure? After more than a decade of distance and speculation, Russian pop duo t.A.T.u. is back: Elena Katina and Yulia Volkova have officially announced their reunion - 15 years after the group’s split, which made history with their Eurovision 2003 performance of “Ne Ver', Ne Boisia” (in English: “Don’t Believe, Don’t Be Afraid”), earning third place. The news came via a joint social media post, accompanied by a photo of the two together. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); A Nostalgic Comeback - With Economic Implications The significance of the reunion goes beyond music. It is a carefully planned financial move: a joint performance by the duo now commands around 15 million rubals (approximately 162,000 euros), compared to just 10,000–11,300 euroys for each member solo. Amid Russia’s deep economic crisis and against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine, many...

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Back to business: Russian Eurovision 2020 representatives Little Big seek ways to bypass Russian law amid the ongoing war with Ukraine. Is the next scandal on the horizon? In 2020, the band Little Big was on the verge of conquering Europe. With their song "Uno" (translated as: "One"), the band became a top favorite to win according to betting odds, until Eurovision was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, despite their growing success, the band declined to participate again, and singer Manizha represented Russia instead. Nevertheless, Little Big continued building a massive international fan base. It has now been revealed that the band is attempting to sidestep Russian law and resume profiting within Russia amid the war in Ukraine. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Relocating to the U.S. and Conflict with the Russian Regime At the start of the Ukraine war, the band did not hide their stance: on their social media pages, they posted an image with...

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); "Nothing else even comes close": Russia's 1995 Eurovision representative and one of the contest's greatest composers, Philipp Kirkorov criticizes Eurovision and promises a competition to surpass the veteran event.   and a familiar face in Eurovision, has once again sparked headlines - not with praise for the European contest, but by promoting the newly revived Intervision Song Contest. Kirkorov, who represented Russia in 1995 with “Kolybelnaya dlya vulkana” (in English: “Lullaby for the Volcano”), finishing 17th, claims Intervision will be “bigger, more impressive, and far more relevant” than Eurovision. Russia prepares to host the song competition "Intervision" during 2025 in Saint Petersburg, the second largest city in Russia. This is a significant cultural event for Russia during a time when Russia is facing widespread Western sanctions by many countries. The countries participating in the competition are mainly former Soviet Union countries, Arab countries, and 3 additional countries from the world's largest economies: Brazil, China, and India. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); "Nothing...

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The iconic Russian duo t.A.T.u., remembered for their hits from the early 2000s and for representing Russia at Eurovision 2003, is reuniting after years of individual pursuits by its members. After years of distance and less successful solo careers, the girls who formed the iconic Russian group t.A.T.u. are returning to collaborate and perform together. The duo is expected to resume joint performances, having become a household name in the 2000s with major hits like "All The Things She Said," "All About Us", and of course, "Ne Ver', Ne Boisia" (in English: "Don't believe, don't be afraid") which reached third place at Eurovision 2003 under the Russian flag. Fans are eagerly awaiting the nostalgic performances that bring back the unforgettable music and the special chemistry between Elena Katina and Yulia Volkova. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); In 2011, after 12 years of musical creation, the group's management announced its dissolution due to personal conflicts between the singers and their...