Russia RUSSIA 2016 - Sergey Lazarev - You Are The Only One

[Chorizo]

Your anti-Russian propaganda here is becoming tiresome. Just one remark: according to your line of argumentation, all I can gather is: we must prevent Russia from winning again. Do you really think so lowly of music experts all around the Europe? In my opinion, I believe that juries still reward quality when they see it. If you do not believe this, then I think we should cancel ESC in general, cuz it is pointless - and instead, lets have political voting without music.

Where do you see anti-Russian propaganda? I was talking about the low quality of the song and the problems with the voting system. Neighbor and diaspora voting are known problems that will get worse with the new voting system. The qualify of Sergey's song is comparable to the qualify of Believe. The fact that at least some juries vote politically is obvious or do you think that the Belorussian jury is professional when putting Russia's song among their favorites every single year, even in years in which most juries don't give many points to Russia? There have been many odd choices by the juries in the past and you don't need to be a music expert to be in the jury. You just need some kind of connection to the music industry. So a random singer will do but that's not the same as being a music expert.

 

[Chorizo]

If the jury was introduced to stop Russia's ambition to win ESC one day then the EBU is flawed and corrupt.

The jury wasn't introduced to target specifically Russia but it was introduced to prevent another winner like Believe, which was an unpopular winner with low quality that won because of neighbors, the diaspora and because of people that rather vote for joke entries and entertaining trash instead of voting for what they actually consider the best song.

Why EBU needs deform further the cuerrent voting system? I think that scratch in the plastic surgeries

If the juries can't prevent a song from winning that would be an embarrassing winner for Eurovision, they have failed. If Eurovision is a song contest instead of a camp contest, the juries need to prevent a winner like You Are The Only One. If they don't, a system that is better suited to ensure that a quality song wins the contest should be introduced. I understand that there are people who want Eurovision to be a campy contest of joke entries and music that has no connection to the real world. If the EBU wants a contest like that, Sergey would be the perfect winner. If the EBU wants an actual song contest with credibility, Sergey winning would be a disaster.

I don't think so!! Mostly of the Western & Central European jury will vote for Sergey. ofc will be some countries that they won't do due obvious reasons, but some like Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Belgium will do because he he is well know here!

I had never heard of him before he was mentioned on this forum as the Russian participant and I think I'm pretty representative of the average viewer in this regard. Most people didn't know Polina either. The average Western European doesn't know any Russian pop singers. Some people surly know him but most don't. The juries will not vote for him, if they vote professionally. If they don't vote professionally, the jury system doesn't make any sense.

 

[Mii11]

I have never heard of him before he was mentioned on this forum as the Russian participant and I think I'm pretty representative of the average viewer in this regard. Most people didn't know Polina either. The average Western European doesn't know any Russia pop singers. Some people surly know him but most don't. The juries will not vote for him, if they vote professionally. If they don't vote professionally, the jury system doesn't make any sense.

What about t.A.T.u?

 

[Chorizo]

What about t.A.T.u?

They were indeed popular but that was a long time ago. They were a big exception. It's rare for Russian singers to be known in the West.

 

[tuorem]

Well, I still can hear Slovakia-2010 on czech radio ( 6 y.o. song, Carl! ), so, everything can happen

What? No, not everything can happen. Only masterpieces stand the test of time (and secondarily, radio airplays)

In France, I also hear Horehronie on the radio (of my ipod... xshifty)

 

[Sabiondo]

What about t.A.T.u?

+ Serebro

 

[Carian]

+ Serebro

Exactly, and Slovenians still remember Katyusha and Kalinka. And don't forget Where are those days my friends which is originally a Russian song

 

[Carian]

Oh my God, how could I forget, some of the best classical composers are Russians Russia has given us a lot of good music throughout history hahaha

 

[Sammy]

I had never heard of him before he was mentioned on this forum as the Russian participant and I think I'm pretty representative of the average viewer in this regard. Most people didn't know Polina either. The average Western European doesn't know any Russian pop singers. Some people surly know him but most don't. The juries will not vote for him, if they vote professionally. If they don't vote professionally, the jury system doesn't make any sense.

Well the average eurovision fan (as which you seem to qualify yourself) did most certainly know Sergey since he lost in the russian NF against Dima Bilan the year Russia won. But of course to the ESC viewer in Austria he will be quite unknown.

 

[Sammy]

Oh my God, how could I forget, some of the best classical composers are Russians Russia has given us a lot of good music throughout history hahaha

Sorry, but even if you are completely right here, this is also completely irrelevant when it comes to the question of weather russian pop singers are known in western countries (and especially in the ones mentioned in the post that launched that discussion as Austria or Italy). It's not about the contribution to music culture of a country, but the popularity of specific artists. These are two things that in some cases can even be contradictory. For example: Modern Talking (to bring an example the other way round) are very popular in Russia but I wouldn't say they are a great contribution to musical culture.

 

[A-lister]

Can someone explain to me why this should win Eurovision in 2016? I like Sergey as a performer, he is a good entertainer, he looks good and he can sing. The song itself is maybe not bad, but if ESC should be regarded as somewhat relevant is not really helping that an entry that could be performed by Sakis Rouvas some 10 years ago which is built up by the same clichés and based on a formula of "typical uptempo ESC song from the mid 00's" would win.

I see some people compare it to Måns but I fail to see the comparison? Good-looking males sining uptempo Pop songs, but the comparisons end right there since Måns' entry wasn't a formulaic ESC entry and actually felt kind of up-to-date and in touch with current music, where's this fails to do any of it.

 

[Chorizo]

Well the average eurovision fan (as which you seem to qualify yourself) did most certainly know Sergey since he lost in the russian NF against Dima Bilan the year Russia won. But of course to the ESC viewer in Austria he will be quite unknown.

I was talking about the average TV viewer, not about the average Eurovision fan. I don't know how many Eurovision fans have already known him. I have never followed any Russian NF and most people in Western and Central Europe have never heard of him, that's for sure.

 

[VikingTiger]

Can someone explain to me why this should win Eurovision in 2016? I like Sergey as a performer, he is a good entertainer, he looks good and he can sing. The song itself is maybe not bad, but if ESC should be regarded as somewhat relevant is not really helping that an entry that could be performed by Sakis Rouvas some 10 years ago which is built up by the same clichés and based on a formula of "typical uptempo ESC song from the mid 00's" would win.

I see some people compare it to Måns but I fail to see the comparison? Good-looking males sining uptempo Pop songs, but the comparisons end right there since Måns' entry wasn't a formulaic ESC entry and actually felt kind of up-to-date and in touch with current music, where's this fails to do any of it.

Well, you answer your own question. In my mind both Heroes and You Are the Only One sound very much the same: rather good, up-tempo songs very suitable for the ESC - and a carismatic, handsome male singer. And adding to that; Måns had BIG help from his scene show, and I expect Sergey will as well.
But you are right: Heroes does come out as more modern. But there are heaps of examples that songs with a "retro-feeling" has done very well in the charts the last years.
I was surprised that Måns won the juries votes last year. I will not be surprised if Sergey does very well amongst the juries this year. And surely he WILL do well amongst televoters - being a big name in Russia will definitely assure that.

 

[Stiven]

Yeah I also don't see the correlation between Heroes and Måns. Sure both are up-tempo and sung by a male singer but that's it.
There are of different genres Schlagger vs Country infusion dance-pop. One sounds like an ESC song made exclusively for the ESC bubble while the other one sounds like a typical radio song and chart topper (and it was).
And about the singers themselves sorry but I just don't like Sergey especially live he just tries to be sexy as possible and as a straight dude this does very little for me since I'm not attracted to him and as a result he just comes out like douchebag for me sorry but I hate it when singers male or female do this, and on the vocal department he's just ok not a spectacular singer in any way he doesn't raise the bar and relies too much on sex-appeal and choreography.
While Måns appeared very likeable although he did do sex-appeal modelling, on the ESC stage he came out like a average Joe and somebody who I like to have a conversation with. And on the vocal department although an ok singer again, but he does have the charisma and charm to raise the bar.
And if your interested, this year the for me most likeable male singer is Amir again like Mans he looks like a guy I would like hang out with and again he doesn't overly rely on sex-appeal which leaves out straight dudes like me.
So as a summary I just can't see Sergey winning the song is bad and outdated and even if he does the song will be a total flop on the charts and just like believe it will force the EBU to change the voting rules again.

 

[Carian]

Sorry, but even if you are completely right here, this is also completely irrelevant when it comes to the question of weather russian pop singers are known in western countries (and especially in the ones mentioned in the post that launched that discussion as Austria or Italy). It's not about the contribution to music culture of a country, but the popularity of specific artists. These are two things that in some cases can even be contradictory. For example: Modern Talking (to bring an example the other way round) are very popular in Russia but I wouldn't say they are a great contribution to musical culture.

I agree, but to say that no one knows any musician from Russia is also exagerrated. As a matter of fact, since many Russian musicians, as you put it, CONTRIBUTED to the musical culture, it is even more ridiculous to preclude Russia from ESC. But this debate is indeed a bit out of the place, cuz at the end, there will always be haters of both, Sergey and Russia

 

[Carian]

Can someone explain to me why this should win Eurovision in 2016? I like Sergey as a performer, he is a good entertainer, he looks good and he can sing. The song itself is maybe not bad, but if ESC should be regarded as somewhat relevant is not really helping that an entry that could be performed by Sakis Rouvas some 10 years ago which is built up by the same clichés and based on a formula of "typical uptempo ESC song from the mid 00's" would win.

I see some people compare it to Måns but I fail to see the comparison? Good-looking males sining uptempo Pop songs, but the comparisons end right there since Måns' entry wasn't a formulaic ESC entry and actually felt kind of up-to-date and in touch with current music, where's this fails to do any of it.

Are you trying to say that Mans contribution to the musical history helped ESC to improve its relevance? If you are trying to say this, you are not funny, you are hilarious.

ESC is an entertainment... In 99,99% of what it represents and it is. As for Mans, don't go there, please. I said enough about him and his entry and his staging last year. I really have no desire to go there again, but just let me remind you that the majority of European televoters still didn't consider him worthy of the win. Even Russia's peace song made more impact on European viewers - and don't say this was so only cuz of the Eastern block-voting. Many Western countries gave Russia high points. Germany in fact gave Russia 12 points So, about what relevance were we talking?

 

[GermanBango]

Are you trying to say that Mans contribution to the musical history helped ESC to improve its relevance? If you are trying to say this, you are not funny, you are hilarious.

ESC is an entertainment... In 99,99% of what it represents and it is. As for Mans, don't go there, please. I said enough about him and his entry and his staging last year. I really have no desire to go there again, but just let me remind you that the majority of European televoters still didn't consider him worthy of the win. Even Russia's peace song made more impact on European viewers - and don't say this was so only cuz of the Eastern block-voting. Many Western countries gave Russia high points. Germany in fact gave Russia 12 points So, about what relevance were we talking?

May I ask you something?
Do you really believe from the bottom of your heart that "You are the only one" would be considered as one of the favorites if it would compete for any other country? Let's say for Georgia, Moldova, Croatia, Germany, ... or whatever. If you ask me I'd say that none of those countries would stand a chance to even reach the Top 10 with his song - some countries would even struggle to qualify imho. What does this say about the quality of "You are the only one"?
Let's face it, the (probably unavoidable) success of this entry will consist of 40% Diaspora-voting (In Germany alone there are around 1,2 mil. Russians - that could also explain how the 12 points for Polina came to be) and 40% "friendly Neighbors"/old friends (Georgia,Belarus, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cyprus, Greece) - the remaining 20% will most likely emerge from an over-the-top-performance.
There simply isn't any other country in Eurovision that can rely on especially the first two factors as heavily as Russia can.

 

[Yoozek]

May I ask you something?
Do you really believe from the bottom of your heart that "You are the only one" would be considered as one of the favorites if it would compete for any other country? Let's say for Georgia, Moldova, Croatia, Germany, ... or whatever.

Yep. Since most people were overwhelmed with Margaret and she was books' fave for a while, everyone can become a fav if the song is worth it.


On the other hand, now the votes are divided into people and juries - second part will kill this song unless the performance will be flawlessly pop-ish.

 

[Sammy]

I agree, but to say that no one knows any musician from Russia is also exagerrated. As a matter of fact, since many Russian musicians, as you put it, CONTRIBUTED to the musical culture, it is even more ridiculous to preclude Russia from ESC. But this debate is indeed a bit out of the place, cuz at the end, there will always be haters of both, Sergey and Russia

Well I think he actually meant pop singer, not musician in general. I mean, if we are talking about musicians in a broader sense, most Austrians would name Anna Netrebko right away, even if she became Austrian in between.

 

[Carian]

May I ask you something?
Do you really believe from the bottom of your heart that "You are the only one" would be considered as one of the favorites if it would compete for any other country? Let's say for Georgia, Moldova, Croatia, Germany, ... or whatever. If you ask me I'd say that none of those countries would stand a chance to even reach the Top 10 with his song - some countries would even struggle to qualify imho. What does this say about the quality of "You are the only one"?
Let's face it, the (probably unavoidable) success of this entry will consist of 40% Diaspora-voting (In Germany alone there are around 1,2 mil. Russians - that could also explain how the 12 points for Polina came to be) and 40% "friendly Neighbors"/old friends (Georgia,Belarus, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cyprus, Greece) - the remaining 20% will most likely emerge from an over-the-top-performance.
There simply isn't any other country in Eurovision that can rely on especially the first two factors as heavily as Russia can.

Yes, you may ask. As for your question, I have no answer, for it would be only a guess, just like you are guessing. The fact is that we would never know. The only fact I reckon with in this argument is that Russia gets always more exposure, and whether it is for the right or wrong reason, it doesn't matter, but surely it adds to the fact that people are always paying more attention to their entry. So, my advice to all haters would be: ignore Russia, don't talk about Russia, for as soon as you start engaging in these endless debates, you are giving them deserved/undeserved exposure.

Finally, if you truly believe in what you are saying, then Slovenia should withdraw from ESC once for good and never look back, for obviously in your opinion, certain countries have no chance of winning regardless of the song's quality. And to your info (and everyone else's), in fact, Yugoslavia withdrew from ESC already in the 70's exactly because of political voting. And back then Yugoslavia was sending her bigest music stars, yet nothing helped. So why am I mentioning this? We like to discuss Russia, Eastern block-voting, Balkan-block voting etc., but whenever it comes to the injustice caused or inflected on others by Western/Scandinavian countries, no one gets upset, no one complains, no one protests, no one BOOES, and most importantly only a few of commentators here from these countries are ready to admit that everything what is reproached to Russia, can be easily thrown into the faces of Western countries. To sum up: as we say here, first sweap the floor in your own house, and then tell your neighbour how dirty his/her floor is. I repeat, double standards, double standards, double standards.