dima bilan polina gagarina russian national music awards

Russian music galas are big, star-studded and inevitably fierce. And on December 7 a host of former Eurovision acts turned up and turned out to partake in the madness at the second annual Russian National Music Awards in Moscow.

Proving that pop music transcends borders and political disputes, Russian and Ukrainian stars rocked the red carpet and the stage. Among the nominees were Eurovision 2008 winner Dima Bilan, 2016 televote winner Sergey Lazarev, 2015 starlet Polina Gagarina, Ukraine’s legendary 2009 hamster wheel diva Svetlana Loboda, 1995 star Philipp Kirkorov and 2011 hunk Alexey Vorobyov.

In the end Dima won the award for “Best Male Singer”, while Philipp picked up two prizes: “Best Song For A Television Series” and “Best Concert Show”. The man doesn’t rest!

The big winner of the night was the group Leningrad, which won three gongs for “Best Rock Band Or Singer”, “Song of the Year” and “Best Music Video”. You’ll recall that Leningrad were Russia’s representatives at wiwivision 2016 — our alternative Eurovision Song Contest staged over the summer.

The show was big to say the least and producers even coaxed Grammy Award winning artist Christina Aguillera to perform several of her hits. Polina sang her new song “Tantsuy so mnoy”, with a dance cameo from Dima — her colleague on the judging panel of The Voice of Russia.

At last year’s show, Sergey Lazarev won the prize for “Best Male Singer” and during his acceptance speech announced that he would represent Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest after weeks of rumours.

During this year’s show, he performed his Eurovision song “You Are The Only One” with the support of his famous LED wall. It’s gotten more mileage than most of us will clock in our lifetime!

Winners: 2nd Russian National Music Awards 2016

Best Male Singer – Dima Bilan
Best Female Singer – Yolka
Best Pop Group – A’Studio
Best Rock Group or Singer – Leningrad
Instrumentalist of the Year in Classical Music – Denis Matsuyev
Vocalist of the Year in Classical Music – Anna Nebretko
Lyricist of the Year – Leonid Agutin
Best Song For A Movie or Television Series – Philipp Kirkorov with “O lyubvi”
Best Hip-Hop Project – Basta
Dance Hit of the Year – “Kruzhit” by MONATIK
Best Music Video – Leningrad with “Eksponat”
Composer of the Year – Konstantin Meladze
Song of the Year – “V Pitere – pit’!” by Leningrad
Best Concert Show – Philipp Kirkorov with “Ya”

Did your favourite win a prize? Tell us in the comments below!

Read all our Russia news here

6 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Christina
Christina
7 years ago

Dima is the best singer from Russia!!!He deserve this and all the awards he takes every time.I am so proud of him.

Elina
Elina
7 years ago

Dima won as it should be ???? proud of him and his achievements!

karminowe.usta
karminowe.usta
7 years ago

Konstantin Meladze is the best Russian composer. He deserved to win:)

Dima Bilan and Sergey Lazarev are the best Russian Male Singers but one of them must win:)

js
js
7 years ago

i looove how russia almost always send big stars on eurovisiion.. i wish my country (serbia) do that !
sergey wins severeal awards in last month i think 4 or 5 🙂

ESC84
ESC84
7 years ago

One anyone should admire is Russia always send their best performer to Eurovision. Tatu, Dima Bilan, Polina, Sergey, etc. If only the other coutries can put their affort half as Russia did, Eurovision would be far better.

Boom
Boom
7 years ago

Svetlana Loboda should’ve picked the “Best music video” prize. Her music videos are living art.