Yesterday, just moments after TVR released the ten finalists for Belarus’ national selection for Eurovision 2016, fans were already demanding changes to the final line-up. That’s because zombie band Sweet Brains didn’t qualify to the final with their song “Dance Like Zombies“. Fans simply don’t want the living dead to die in Minsk.

A petition to resurrect Sweet Brains has launched and so far it has over 200 names.

People are also protesting the jury’s decision on Twitter.

Why should Sweet Brains have qualified?

Sweet Brains was indeed something new for Eurovision. Just like 2006 winners Lordi, they stay masked and have no plans to reveal their real identities. Although the concept is slightly derivative of popular mobile game Plants vs. Zombies, it’s still extremely effective and won’t forget these guys. With a catchy song and surprisingly good live vocals, they could have been what Belarus needs to reach the Eurovision final in 2016.

Of course, zombies are not for everyone. The song and the group itself could seem like too much of a novelty act for some voters and it might look like they aren’t taking the contest seriously. But these zombies would have brought a lot of fun to Stockholm.

Do you think Sweet Brains deserved a spot in the final? Tell us in the comments below.

Follow all of our Belarus Eurovision news here

Photo: tvr.by

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AM Casablancas
AM Casablancas
8 years ago

Sweet brains slayed, and would have slayed at ESC.

ESCaddict
ESCaddict
8 years ago

Sweet Brains put in a good performance but sadly their song is terrible. Their song last year was terrible. Aim for the head. It is the only way to end this.

#Zombies
#Zombies
8 years ago

Over 500 people had signed it. We need more !

Anthony
Anthony
8 years ago

I’m with Charles when it comes to Sweet Brains. I’ve heard complaints about this year’s contest in Vienna being too dull with too many ballads. Had Moldova qualified, which they almost did, then the viewers will be all over Eduard Romanyuta and their “police force”. Belarus sending Sweet Brains to Stockholm would basically be saying “Here’s your cheese-fest back”.

Charles
Charles
8 years ago

@Marcus: “And I doubt any of us here is qualified to judge what is a quality song and what is a poor song”. So let’s say televoting to pack its bags because I do agree with you, WE do not know nothing about great songs … we only know when a) pink curtains are singing for Turkey b) paleolithic-hair-waving-filled-with-hard-to-breathe-vocals-and-a-lot-of-screaming for Ukraine c) Greece played the Turkish-ethnic-pop bs d) Heavy metal comes to celebrate Carnival for no reason … e) a Drag Queen from Ukraine should be doing stand up comedy instead of doing what he cannot do … sing …… Read more »

Marcus (day one)
Marcus (day one)
8 years ago

Ok so since I have the flu I’ve been rambling a lot. My main point was you can’t insult someone because they happen to like a song that you hate or that their opinion isn’t valid. Yes sweetbrains divides opinion and yes this petition probably won’t change anything but still at least it’s nice to know that eurofans are still passionate. 🙂 And like I said in my first comment I hadn’t even heard any Belarusian songs and heard sweetbrains and kinda loved it 🙂 Those who say it’s a poor song well listen to the songs that made it… Read more »

PP
PP
8 years ago

I want also Natasha Bogdanova with “Hello” in final. But sad is, that we can t see the performance from audition on Youtube .

Charles
Charles
8 years ago

@EugeneESCUK: You are absolutely right, ALL of this, as far as Eurovision is concerned, should be about the music … but inside interests and fans desperation and constant vocal disapproval of almost everything have taken Eurovision out of its essence … how to shift that? My only question. Image and looks have overtaken sound and meaning … does anyone even understand the the worth of music, or is everybody using it to replace an ordinary night out at the club with beats lasting for hours and hours? Sometimes and sadly I believe that fans wish to rule this whole thing… Read more »

Foxreyna
Foxreyna
8 years ago

I hated Sweet Brains. I screamed with joy when they didn’t pass.

mawnck
mawnck
8 years ago

“Fans of sweetbrains just want them to get as far as they can in the selection”

They did.

In this comment section: Yet more fans who are trying to change the rules because their guy lost. Childish.

Héctor
Héctor
8 years ago

For those who say that +200 is a fair amount to bring the zombies in the NF and, that if we think they’re awful, they won’t go to the ESC, I just say: Chikilicuatre. I’m Spanish and yes it was “funny” but a crap. I’m sure that eurofans didn’t vote for it back in 2008, but the idiots here. Thanks god we are a now in a “quality” era.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
8 years ago

I find it impossible to compare Sweet Brains “Dance Like Zombies” with Lordi’s “Hard Rock Hallelujah” (Finland 2006) or Koza Mostra/Agathonas Iakovidis’ “Alcohol Is Free”.(Greece 2013). Though Lordi and Koza Mostra might remind you of novelties on stage, they delivered music a metal tune (Lordi) and a comedic song (K.M.), both of which I could listen to without ever seeing them on stage. That bizarro Dolly Style tune from Sweet Brains, I can’t even listen to that, even without seeing them. If they succeed in getting them placed in the final in Belarus, they’re just going to lose again. There… Read more »

Andriy Samets
Andriy Samets
8 years ago

Marcus (day one)
Thank you for your support

Marcus (day one)
Marcus (day one)
8 years ago

I like how whenever wiwibloggs do an article on fans trying to change their broadcasters minds *cough*Portugal*cough* they are attacked and criticised. But when it comes to the BBC and the like the same people that criticised others start to ask their broadcasters to change their minds but it’s perfectly fine for them to do it. Talk about double standards. Is that hypocrisy? I believe it is. As for sweetbrains you can argue all you like about whether it qualifies as a quality song (I didn’t realise there was a set criteria) or not. The fact of the matter is… Read more »

Charles
Charles
8 years ago

@Marcus (day one): Because music even in Eurovision cannot be a kindergarten playground with meaningless music whose only purpose is both to entertain us for no reason and get some desperate votes. If we can’t embrace music with a meaning and something worth believing in then Eurovision has also no meaning either. These joke entries may be fun but not worth being appreciated on such a huge platform as Eurovision. Eurovision’s music credibility stays or fades away depending on our taste … we either embrace a more meaningful touch in music … or we just go along with any rubbish… Read more »

Marina Z
Marina Z
8 years ago

The band DROZDY – unreal funny video)))) https://youtu.be/KdooYxrIq04

The best performance – https://youtu.be/XvBVAfotQhg

mocosuburbian
mocosuburbian
8 years ago

as if BTRC is going to care lol
also I´m legitimately surprised that people are supporting a joke song
like this isn´t 2007 what mentality is this

Marcus (day one)
Marcus (day one)
8 years ago

*Televoting
Sorry auto correct

Marcus (day one)
Marcus (day one)
8 years ago

So I’ve only just heard their song and I loved it. Ok before you insult me some of my favorite Eurovision songs include France 2009/2013 Georgia 2007/2015 and Ukraine 2004/08/12 so I have a wide variety of taste. I think sweet brains have a surprisingly catchy song and good live vocals and stage presence. And as for being a lousy song we’ll whenever I criticized PKN’s song last year I was accused of being cruel despite the fact it was an awful song and came last in its semi. All I ever care about is a countries song not the… Read more »

#RunAway
#RunAway
8 years ago

Their song is catchya and memorable, so is their look. Reminds me of Lordi 😀

mawnck
mawnck
8 years ago

Seriously, people? SERIOUSLY?

Herr Freitag
Herr Freitag
8 years ago

I’m happy and hope that they won’t be in the national final because I don’t want the stupid funny Eurovision back…just stay on the high level of the last years with great quality songs 🙂

Charles
Charles
8 years ago

Who the hell is so tweeny to want this load of crap to be in Eurovision? Has life becomes so depressive to the point of desperately wanting any rubbish novelty act on stage? We’ve already had pathetic entries like this before … enough already!
Hell to the no! And make music great music the centre-point of all this.

Hippo
Hippo
8 years ago

I always look forward to the novelty songs so I hope one or two get to the final. We’ve seen pirates, vampires and monsters already so why not Zombies? I hope one country has the courage to pick one this year. Leto Spet, Dustin the Turkey and Rodolfo Chickilacuatra might have been dreadful but they were much more entertaining and memorable than a lot of other songs. No reason why a novelty song can’t do well too even in recent years (Romania, Greece 2013)

Héctor
Héctor
8 years ago

Those who say they would like to see Zombie Band in Stockholm must be joking. Don’t know if they are eurofans for real… ESC is sometimes seen as a freak show don’t feed this point of view. In fact, they sound awful.

Esma & Irrelozano
Esma & Irrelozano
8 years ago

ROBBED! #CUT4SWEETBRAINS #BOYCOTBELARUS

Denise van Beek
8 years ago

I’m with Sparrow on this one. Wasn’t a fan of them last year either.

ADN
ADN
8 years ago

The snub of the zombies isn’t just Eurovision fans wishing for more novelties in Eurovision, it’s a backlash against the decreasing variety of music on show over the past few years. Novelties/jokes are basically gone, you can only hope for one or two rock songs per year, and traditional-influenced music like Jan Jan is becoming rare as well. The best aspect of watching Eurovision is the variety, without it the contest loses its spark to some extent. I hope against all hope that the BelarusIan broadcaster will add them to the line-up because seeing them at Eurovision would be a… Read more »

AnesBosna
AnesBosna
8 years ago

I really find the petition thing stupid. Your favorite might not have qualified, but again, the jury are selecting the 10 songs, and a little petition will not change anything.

Hannes
Hannes
8 years ago

Signed the petition, Zombies for ESC pl<

HendrikT
HendrikT
8 years ago

Was I the only one that, out of all the Ann Sophie-esque suspense and drama of the Belarusian national selection regarding ‘Sweet Brains’, found the most inconspicuous item was that they had incorrectly listed TVR as the Belarusian broadcaster?

oooops
oooops
8 years ago

But what about the thing they said about searching for songs in belarusian and russian, was that a lie????

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
8 years ago

@Sparrow: AYE!!! Somebody call Ash from Housewares again! >:-P For some reason, the performance from this undead bizarro Dolly Style reject reminds me of Eduard Romanyuta; and we know how that ended.

Olli
Olli
8 years ago

I don’t think they’re that Eurocrap, which Sparrow mentioned. They have a tongue in their cheek when they perform GOOD music in their own way. I love it how distinctive they are. And I really hope they will be seen in Belarusian final.

DenizNL
DenizNL
8 years ago

Why should they? I mean didn’t Eurovision become a more quality(-ish) competition?

Martin
Martin
8 years ago

Sweet Brains were even better than they were last year. Love them. Do away with the selection and just send Sweet Brains!

Sparrow
Sparrow
8 years ago

That’s the kind of cheesy crap that’s given Eurovision such a bad wrap over the last couple decades.
We’ve grown up and moved away from that. Thankfully.

Daniel
Daniel
8 years ago

Yes! Bring back the Sweet Brains!