2012 entry - RUSSIA: Party for everybody - Buranovskiye Babushki

DRAW: Semi 1 (14) 

March 7 was the day Russia chose their song out a huge 25 song national final. This final included Polina Smolova, Belarussian entrant of 2005, Dima Bilan, ESC winner in 2008 and he teamed up with Yuliya Volkova, the dark haired lady from T.a.t.u. and a gent called Farinelli Balls. The winner though was none of the above, but six harmless grandmothers from Udmurtia, somewhere in Russia

I will admit that I don't like entries where there are a handful of words sung in English. It is a cop out. This one has the added bonus of 'boom boom' said about six time through the song. I'm not sure about anyone else, but i feel uncomfortable about someone twice my age saying boom boom to me - maybe I am strange.

It is not a bad effort and it ridiculously addictive. But if they turn up and their garments have neon lights sown into them or they start rapping, I'm turning off the TV.

Countries over the last decade - Part VII

So - only 10 countries left to count down to. Of the twelve, we have ESC winners of the last decade, others that are just consistent, and some that have had a mix.

ESC 2011 #23: RUSSIA - Get you - Alexey Vorobyov

[rating before - 26th; after - 27th]

Along comes another internally selected song from Russia. They kept it under their hat for a while, but it leaked out. Anyway, lively, excitable, upbeat... and if it was left alone it may have done very well.



So along comes a Russian language introduction, some over the top gymnastics and what should have been a credible contender became a farce. Personally, Mr Vorobyov seemed to treat this like a joke. What started out as a sincere piece of Russian was followed immediately by 'do you feel my heart beat you rope?' No, afraid not. I intermittent 'yeah' in though the song didn't encourage me either. I kind of felt Alex seemed to think he was better than everyone and that just ain't true.