Eurovision participants from Russia on whether they miss the contest

Anastasia and Maria Tolmacheva, winners of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2006, finalists of the Eurovision Song Contest 2014:

We miss you very much and would love to return to this competition. We remember the amazing atmosphere of this festival of music and song, and we were pleased to represent our beloved country at it. What is happening now, we do not know, but we hope that there, as before, everyone supports each other and Eurovision remains a music contest with a huge positive charge.

Natalya Podolskaya, participant of the Eurovision Song Contest 2005:

– I was no longer interested in this competition from the moment they stopped accepting Russia there. I regard this as a betrayal of the idea of ​​creativity, self-expression of a person through music. Singing is out of politics. Previously, Eurovision was primarily a spectacular show, despite occasional accusations of politicization, but in recent years this level has gone off scale.

Marat Chanyshev, ex-soloist of the group “Prime Minister”, participant of “Eurovision-2002”:

I miss you very much and remember with great pleasure. Most importantly, we were much younger and more self-confident than now! We even coped with such force majeure as monitors turned off on the stage. Oriented, catching the sound that went into the hall. I do not think that these are the intrigues of the Swedes, who were responsible for the technical support of the final. With the Swedish band Afro-dite, as well as with other members, we became friends during rehearsals. And in Tallinn, we warmly communicated with all participating countries at receptions in embassies. We continued to communicate with many after the competition.

It would be nice to return to Eurovision when the conditions in Europe change. Most Europeans treat Russians well. I remember that the Tallinn waiters asked them to speak Russian so that their boss could see how well they spoke it. And not quite friendly to us Estonia gave us 10 points out of 12.

Petr Nalich, participant of “Eurovision-2010”:

– I don’t get bored at all. Then it was interesting and exciting, but it was gone. It was fun to perform there, because we performed in a slightly different format.

What is happening there now is not interesting to me, I did not watch it and was not interested before the performance, I was not interested after. At Eurovision, there is very rarely something worthwhile and interesting from a musical point of view, and there is no point in watching it. The main thing there is the show, in which they mainly compete, and not the music. Once upon a time, pop and symphony orchestras played live there, and now everything is played through a phonogram.

Interest in Eurovision is due to the fact that this is a huge pop music competition, and, as they say in sports, even if everyone knows that the championship will be weak, teams will still come to it. For Russia, the competition was an opportunity to increase the audience and show everyone that we also have someone to perform.

Andrey Potekhin, concert director of the Buranovskiye Babushki ensemble, which performed at Eurovision 2012:

— It was a wonderful event, and this music competition left a wonderful impression. And Eurovision should be grateful that Buranovskiye Babushki performed at this contest. The performance of our grandmothers caused a huge resonance, after the Eurovision they were recognized by the whole world. They could have taken the first place if they had not changed the rules for counting votes shortly before the start of the competition. According to the results of the voting of the audience, we were ahead of everyone, but according to the results of the voting, the jury became the second.

Shortly after Eurovision, our president was asked about older women, and Putin replied that we should follow the example of Buranovskiye Babushki, that they are happy people, although they do not live well, but they sing very beautifully.

Yulia Samoilova, participant of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017-2018:

– For the second year we do not follow Eurovision with my husband. Of course, the competition was a real event in the world of show business. It is enough to recall the discussions of the participants, their songs and performances. For me personally, Eurovision was a highlight. But the political coloration, which today has acquired the most gloomy colors, was depressing. The vote was depressing due to familiarity, and not in terms of the quality of the show.

Maria Katz (Judith), the first participant in the competition from Russia at Eurovision 1994:

– Eurovision has always been politicized. I will only say about music: I am very sorry that our wonderful vocalists will not be represented on the international arena. The competition, like the World Cup, is good because it allows you to present yourself and your modern national product to a world audience. And also to see interesting trends in music. But there were also moments when the songs were replaced by tricks. These are the requirements of show-watchability.

But I would not spit in the direction of the competition. Music has been and remains a language that does not require translation. And the warm atmosphere of cooperation in the green room will always be remembered, where the performers are waiting to go on stage or announce the results of the vote. It warmed the soul very much and remains a gift of fate for life. I, as a romantic, hope that music will someday cure everything.

Group “Direct speech”