According to Belarussian tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda, Alyona Lanskaya who represented Belarus at Eurovision 2013, will return to Eurofest, Belarus’ national selection. As you’ll recall, the “Solayoh” singer also won Eurofest 2012, but was disqualified after President Alexander Lukashenko found out that Alyona’s producers had rigged the televote.
Among the other rumoured artists are group Napoli, Misters (which includes participants from “Mr. Belarus”), Duo Yuari, Maymuny, Alesya Boyarskih, Türkvizyon 2013 participant Gunesh and a new girl group, which is formed by Eurovision 2009 winner Alexander Rybak.
Belarussian-born Rybak tells the tabloid that the song “will show Belarusian soul” and feature the Belarusian language. This girl group, made up of Anna Ray, Tanya Stahovskaya, Victoria Nazarko and Taisiya Serikova, still doesn’t have a name but they are already preparing for the final.
The application process for Eurofest will continue until November 25 and the professional jury will choose no more than 15 songs for the final. These lucky artists should be announced on December 10 and the final will take place on January 23. The song will be chosen by seven music experts together with televoters. However, the televote will account for just 1/8 of the vote – the same concept that’s been used at the Maltese selection.
*UPDATE* On 20 November 2014, BTRC announced that the submission deadline is now 21 November, while the final will be broadcast on Boxing Day, 26 December 2014. The 15 Yuletide entertainers will be unveiled on 5 December. Are y’all ready for some “Cheesecake” to go with those turkey leftovers?
I still play Solayoh!!!!
Alyona’s a more than capable singer, but my interest is piqued by Rybak’s group which is singing in Belarusian.
There’s a small problem with the translation. Where it’s “Duo Yuari, Maymuny”, it’s, in fact, a duo formed by Uzari (composer of “Sokal”) and the violinist Maimuna.
I want to have Alyona back but this time with a song in Russian/Belarusian.
Like Alyona’s performance in 2013!