Our readers went gaga recently when Polina Gagarina took a coach’s chair in the Russian edition of “The Voice”. Well the surprises keep on coming! We were abolutely astonished when, on the most recent episode, we saw Maria Katz (aka Youddiph) appearing in the blind auditions. Maria was the first ever Russian Eurovision representative back in 1994. She performed her song “Vechny Strannik” (Eternal Wanderer) in Dublin and came a very respectable ninth place. So what on Earth is she doing on “The Voice”?
Polina Gagarina was the first to press the button and turn her chair. Russia’s latest Eurovision star was shocked to see its first. Alexander Gradsky, who already holds already three victories as a coach, easily recognised Youddiph by her voice and because of that didn’t press the red button. That would’ve been a little awkward for him. The judges asked her what she was doing and she had this to say:
You know, at some moment I became bored… So I’m often invited to interviews, as some Eurovision veteran or who knows who, but they don’t allow me TO SING! So, I thought about it and decided “Why not?”.
Both Polina and Grigory Leps, who was the second judge to press the button, argued that they cannot teach Maria anything, but at the end Maria chose Grigory Leps, saying: “You’ll have to bear me, sweetheart!”
It looks like “The Voice” is not only a starting platform for new and unknown artists, but also a way for established artists to get back on track. Should those artists get out of the way for younger talents? Let us know in the comments below!
This lady who was the first Russian entrant in the history of eurovision also sang what I believe to be one of the best songs ever written for the competition. Her 1994 entry displayed amazing melodic intricacies with the most glorious modulations. Her voice singing in her native Russian soared and emphasised all the melodic qualities inherent in the song. I and other songwriters have long known of this gem of an artist who with her song should have done way better than 9th place. For any doubters have a go at singing her song, spanning from G3 to F5… Read more »
Am I the only person that can hear that she is out of tune, her voice is terrible, her pronunciation is appalling and she’s getting all the words wrong? There’s a reason no-one wants you to sing at events!
this is really sad. 🙁
Another proof of why Eurovision needs to hold on the music credibility ground as much as possible so that both songwriters and singers can build on something after that and try to evolve beyond the Eurovision umbrella … if Eurovision is only about pleasing screaming fans waving flags and expecting the next great big LGBT thing or another old lady baking whatever on stage … then we’re back to the same embarrassing perspective Australians had of us when they first started to watch Eurovision in the 80s … and in those days only fashion was a joke … lack of… Read more »
Well ok.. She is not too old anyway…Just 42 years old..
Elnur of Azerbaijan did that as well & its not like he was lost from the spotlight compared to this singer that its been long time since she participated to the Vision…21 whole years…So it makes sense why she did that..
( By the way, in that Vision of 1994 we had the GreAtY song of UK that was *We Will Be Free(Lonely Symphony)* that finished just only 10th! What a shame! ))
Youddiph is a brilliant performance artist. The Voice, in all countries, has always facilitated older artists wishing to make a comeback – it never has been just for new unknowns. Sometimes it’s humiliating for them when none of the coaches turn their chairs – think Eurovision star Alessandra Drusian (from Jalisse) in the Italian Voice.
At least Youddiph/Pilgrim/Maria was successful!
For me Russia deserved to be in TOP 3 in 1994. My favorite that year was Germany, Russia, also like song from Sweden, UK…