Belarus 2019: ZENA

Photo: Ольга Данилюк

This is the Belarusian entry for Eurovision 2019: Like it by Zena

Where is the live version of this? I have the feeling it wasn't good...anyway I think this song is kinda basic but I don't hate it.

Belarus 2018: Alekseev

Here is the winner of Eurofest 2018: Alekseev

Hmmm...I dont know how I feel about this act, I like him as an artist but I dont get why he is representing Belarus (Actually I do, he didnt have a chance to win in Ukraine, that's why he submitted his entry to Eurofest). I like the visual part of the performance but Im just not interested in this song (I wish he sang the russian version) and his vocals last night were not good. There are a lot of things to improve but Im sure he and his team will work hard to get a good result in may.

Eurovision 2017: And the winner is...

PORTUGAL!

YES! YES! YES! THANK YOU, EUROPE!

The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest was very special this year, I still cant believe that Portugal won both the Juries and the televoting but thats what happens when an entry is that magical. Im so happy for all the portuguese fans, they deserve this victory so much and I cannot wait to see what Portugal is going to prepare for next year.

Luisa and Salvador gave us another beautiful moment on stage, what a lovely way to close the show.

BIG SHOUT-OUTS TO:

BLANCHE

Im so proud of her! <3 Cannot wait to get more music from her!

FRANCESCO GABBANI

DIHAJ

JOCI PÁPAI

NAVIBAND

I gotta say thanks to the escxtra team for giving me another amazing esc experience and thanks to Ukraine for those 3 good shows! Next stop: PORTUGAL!

Photos: Andres Putting

Eurovision 2017 - Semifinal 2: The Results

Here are my comments about the 2nd semifinal:

Lets start with a shout out to Jana Burčeska who is pregnant and got engaged last night!

10. Croatia: Jacques Houdek - My Friend

Im not a fan of this cheesefest but I gotta admit that they did a solid performance.

09. Israel: IMRI - I Feel Alive

What a lame choreo but he looks good so who cares, right? #ironic

08. Austria: Nathan Trent - Running On Air

He is so adorable and I think his performance was good.

07.The Netherlands: OG3NE - Lights and Shadows

They are such great singers, it's a shame the song and the performance are just okay.

06. Romania: Ilinca ft. Alex Florea - Yodel It!

I really dislike this entry but I get why some people like it and I am okay with that, would I like to see it in the top 5? Hell no! but I think that is where they are headed

05. Denmark: Anja - Where I Am

Nice performance!

04. Norway: JOWST - Grab The Moment

Not much to say here, I liked what they did on stage. (I hate the pre recorded sample though)

03. Bulgaria: Kristian Kostov - Beautiful Mess

He is a superstar and I wish he had a better song.

03. Belarus: Naviband - Story of My Life

I love them and Im so glad they qualified!

01. Hungary: Joci Pápai - Origo

Joci's stage presence really improved and I loved the atmosphere they created on stage.

Photos: Andres Putting

Belarus 2017: NAVI!

Here is winner of the Belarusian national final: NAVI!

I didnt watch the show because the live stream wasnt good but I did watch Navi's performance on youtube and I was rooting for them to win, After seeing the televote results I was ready for an awful winner but BOOM! the juries voted for the best song and they won!. This is such a lovely song and their performance was ADORABLE. I hope they dont change anything about this entry cause I think it works they way it is right now. Good luck Belarus!

2016: National selections (2)

Here is the 2nd part of my favorite NF songs from 2016:

Kristi Popa - Ajo çfarë ndjej

Catalepsia - Damnation

NAVI - Heta ziamlia

Erna Mist & Magnus Thorlacius - Ótöluð orð

Kállay Saunders Band - Who We Are

Boris René - Put Your Love on Me

Pur:Pur  - We Do Change

Robin Bengtsson - Constellation Prize

Laila Samuels - Afterglow

Mick Pedaja - Seis

THE HARDKISS - Helpless

Mikael Saari - On It Goes

IVAN: We are preparing an incredible performance!

Photo: LLC "National music corporation"

Do you hear the howling? Its coming from Belarus and so is this interview, its time to know the man who wants to perform naked on the Eurovision stage. Here are the answers of IVAN:
Name: Aleksander Ivanov
Birthday: 29.10.1994
Height: 194cm
Favorite color: green and blue
Favorite food: my mom's cooking
Shoe size: 43
Where are you right now? Fishing 
3 things that make you happy: Love, peace, pineapple.
What’s your strangest talent? I can stop the hiccups
What is the strangest thing you have in your room? A lot of cans with honey
What are you really good at? Sleeping! )
What are you really bad at? Making salto
Childhood idol: Spiderman
Childhood memory: Pokémon, Dendy game box and my first guitar!
Tell me something no one knows about you: I want to write music for cartoons
What would you do if you were invisible? I would go to a safari without a car 
Craziest thing you've ever done: Salto)
Favorite movie: A BEAUTIFUL MIND
Favorite TV series: Supernatural and Game of Thrones
Tell me a super power you wish you had: I wish I could fly
What is your guilty pleasure?  Sausage with ice-cream 
If you were a girl for a day, what would you do? I would rather not say :)
Name a song that never fails to make you happy: Twist and Shout - Beatles
Can you teach me some interesting words in Belarusian? Abcuhi – this means pliers. Dziakuy – this means thanks ). 

Photo: LLC "National music corporation"

How would you describe yourself as an artist?
I`m very tall... I`m a kind and happy guy and I want to share these feelings with the audience. Making music makes me happy! It`s such an amazing feeling when you create some vibes and sounds that could become a song that someone will listen to and maybe even like!. I like the sound of rock music and Im trying to recreate it.

You were the winner of the Belarusian National final and you are going to represent Belarus in Eurovision 2016. How did it all begin?
One day my producer thought about entering the Eurovision but this remained just as an idea for a long time. When we gave this idea a more serious thought, we only had two weeks before the qualifying rounds began. We didn`t have a song at that moment, and everything happened so fast. Finally we found a track and sent it to the Belorussian judges and they accepted it and then the work began.

Photo: LLC "National music corporation"

“Help you fly” is the title of your song, what’s the story behind it?
My song is about freedom and hope. In this song I aim to inspire and help people who feel despair and who have lost their true selves. Overall my song has a positive message for people. 

Describe the song with 4 words:
Liberating, Inspiring, Hope, Happiness

This week we learned about your plans for the Eurovision performance. Who came up with the idea of performing naked with wolves and why would you like to do that?
The idea came from my producer Victor Drobysh. I trust him and he trusts me. With the wolves, we want to show how something wild and uncontrollable can become kind and friendly. We thought about the outfit for a long time. If I was to wear a material such as leather I would look like a hunter and this kills the feeling of nature we want to show.

If the EBU doesn’t accept the idea, can you tell me what the plan B is?
We are not thinking about a plan B. It would be a shame if they reject the idea because we are preparing an incredible performance!

Will we ever see the "naked with wolves" performance outside of Eurovision?
Who knows))

Photo: LLC "National music corporation"

What do you like about Eurovision?
Everything! The atmosphere, the big audience around the world who follows the contest and the friendships I will make. Also the great musical experience it will give me.

Photo: LLC "National music corporation"

Tell me the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word:
Nightmare: Before Christmas
Hair: Long
Pizza: Ninja turtles 
Scandal: Magazine
Woods: Pine trees
Stage: Rock of ages
Freedom: Landscape
Dreams: Purple Haze

Photo: LLC "National music corporation"

What are your plans for 2016?
To make my first album and to play at a lot of concerts. It’s all about the music.

Is there anything you want to say to close the interview?
Yeah! I want to thank everyone who has managed to keep reading until the end of this interview!))

Photo: LLC "National music corporation"

Thanks to Ivan for the interview, cant wait to see what he is going to do on stage. Good luck Belarus!

Official web: http://www.ivanmusic.ru/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexanderivanovofficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivan_eurovision/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ivan_eurovision

Belarus 2016: IVAN - Help you fly

Here is the act that is going to represent Belarus in May:

The song is kinda nice but he needs to work a lot on his vocal performance and stage presence.

Shout out to my favorite song in the NF: NAVI - Heta ziamlja

Belarus 2015: Uzari & Maimuna

Here is the winner of Eurofest 2015: Uzari and Maimuna

I had no interest in Eurofest this year, none of the finalists were great and I didnt watch the final so all I can say is that I like Uzari, I think he is talented and I like Maimunas violin. The song is just ok (maybe a bit forgettable) but I guess they can work this out. Good luck Belarus!

Rehearsals 2014: Day 5

My favorite rehearsals from Day 5 were Greece, Switzerland and Malta. Here are some pictures from the press conferences:

Rehearsals 2014: Day 5 - Belarus

Time for Belarus, here is the video:

Nice performance!

Rehearsals 2014: Day 3 - Belarus

Cheesecake time! Here is the 30secs rehearsal video from Belarus:

Cool entry! This is going to qualify cause he is a good performance and the song is not that bad!

Photos: Thomas Hanses (EBU)
Sander Hesterman (EBU)

Belarus 2014: Cheesecake

Oh lord! I dont wanna be rude but this is bad! I think he is not a bad performer but he is kinda annoying and the whole act looks like a Robin Thicke cheap wannabe. Sorry Belarus!

I think he should be himself on stage and stop doing this "Thicke" parody cause thats what makes him unlikeable for me.

Rehearsals 2013: Day 5 - Belarus

This is the typical esc 2004 song and performance that sadly gets into the final! I like the choreo and she looks beautiful but i really dont like this.

Photos: Thomas Hanses (EBU)