From an open submission to a shortlist of six to just one lucky act — Bulgaria has now selected their act for Eurovision 2017. The lucky artist heading to Kyiv is the 16-year-old Bulgarian-Russian singer, Kristian Kostov.

Kristian has plenty of television experience. He was a finalist in the first season of the Russian edition of The Voice Kids and a runner-up in the four season of the Bulgarian X Factor.

Kristian will sing ”Beautiful Mess” in Kyiv. The song is a story of contrasting pictures and characters – both on the dark and bright side, all combined into one eclectic mixture. The composers of the song are Borislav Milanov, Sebastian Armann and Joackim Bo Persson. The song will be released later today.

The broadcaster has big plans for the song and have high concept plans for the staging. A BNT spokesperson explains:

”Over the past few years, Eurovision entries have been gradually shifting towards a more cinematic approach, focused on storytelling rather than just presenting a musical piece. So when we refer to “Beautiful Mess”, we want to call it a story and not just a song. The story here is quite simple – it’s about love. But we don’t mean love in the sense of feelings between two persons, but rather love for humanity and friendship, as both are an integral part of the core values of the Eurovision Song Contest. The main character is a youngster who is facing a world full of darkness that he is living in and is searching for an oasis of light for him and the people he is willing to fight for.Our project this year is dedicated to all young people, urging them to define themselves and fight for the values they believe in.”

Who is Kristian Kostov?

Kristian was born in Moscow. His father is Bulgarian while his mother is from Kazakhstan. As his family lives in Moscow, in 2014 he has the chance to participate in The Voice Kids. He made it to the live shows, and was only eliminated in the grand final.

One year later, he decided to try his luck in the Bulgarian version of X Factor. At his audition he fascinated the jury with his voice and charm. He ended up on the team of the famous Bulgarian music producer Stanislava Armoutlieva. She guided the young singer to the final, where he second to the overall winner Christiana Loizou. X Factor established Kristi as a teen icon, especially a favourite with the young Bulgarian audience.

Last year Poli Genova represented Bulgaria, for the second time in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song ”If Love Was a Crime”. She eached fourth place in the final — the country’s best-ever finish at Eurovision.

What do you think about Kristian? Is he a good selection for Bulgaria? Share your thoughts on the wiwibloggs app, or in our comments section below!

READ MORE BULGARIA EUROVISION NEWS

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Salsa
Salsa
7 years ago

Wiwibloggs can say that I’m not Lady Gagarina, but her opinions are ok, are just critics, she says what she likes/dislikes, but you only make THREATS.

Salsa
Salsa
7 years ago

Maybe you think I’m Lady Gagarina, I’m not, I’m just a person tired of your threats, and if you think more, you can even know who I am, because you even talked directly to me a few days ago. I understand/respect/like that Wiwibloggs is so free, but when somebody like you destroys conversation and makes threats, this will affect all comments section. Like I’ve said before I’m not perfect, this is not the first name I used on Wiwibloggs, I don’t care what name people choose to use each day, I like and respect Wiwibloggs for such freedom, but users… Read more »

Salsa
Salsa
7 years ago

Please Wiwibloggs, I’m not saying that I’m perfect, I have names on this site that I even forgot, I’m not correct/perfect/whatever, but I’m not aggressive, while De Moon always says ugly things about others, he/she makes people to be afraid to comment after his comment. This is not the usual troll that might be funny, this is somebody that wants to make people to be afraid.

Ern
Ern
7 years ago

He is adorable.

AngieP
AngieP
7 years ago

The title is promising. Looking forward to the song!
Let this be another top song like last year!

adriana
adriana
7 years ago

Good luck to him :),love the way he speaks 🙂

Austrian Ari
Austrian Ari
7 years ago

Ageism seems to go both way on here, eh? 😛
Very curious about the song, Bulgaria and Armenia are the only ones left. I already dislike Armenia for the ridiculously long wait, so hopefully, the Bulgarian song will be more beautiful and less of a mess.

Leo M
Leo M
7 years ago

I had high expectations from Bulgaria after last year’s great song but I have a feeling this will be a massive let down now.

MrBrightside
MrBrightside
7 years ago

Wut? Junior Eurovision was in November, honey.

Loo
Loo
7 years ago

Kristian is a fantastic talent and if he has the right song this is a potential winner. Mark my words.

Donna Vey
Donna Vey
7 years ago

What a sweet introduction video — Bulgarian team really putting their heart and soul into Eurovision. Great job!

Sashko
Sashko
7 years ago

Hey guys at wiwibloggs, you should do an article on Borislav Milanov and Joacim Bo Persson, these 2 guys are literally behind three songs in semi-final 2: Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Serbia. Plus they were behind Poli’s song last year. These guys are on a roll!

Hsinaps
Hsinaps
7 years ago

Both Serbia and Macedonia have good songs, so I expect Bulgaria’s one to be good too. This kid is a good performer, but I’m afraid he would be too young for ESC. Dealing with that huge pressure is a big thing. Any way, best of lucks for you Kristian.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago

Story-based songs at Eurovision can go either way, and so can “child artists” (when taking the UN-style definition of a child to be under 18). These are both “pigeon-holed” aspects of the entry, so I will deal with these issues separately. Probably the most successful “story songs” are those with an element of drama to them, and certainly the idea of a child growing up in a world of darkness is highly topical and political. The fact that Bulgaria wants to make this “cinematic” is a good sign – I often find these kind of entries make a stronger connection… Read more »

Lady Gagarina
Lady Gagarina
7 years ago

I died of laughter on the romanian zara larsson, lolz. Maybe zara larsson’s toes. Anyway hope this guy delivers, Poli was just so divine last year: good song & good singer

Constantin
Constantin
7 years ago

Racal

Tolmachevy Twins were child stars and what they know / or don’t know, is their parents responsibility, is not the system’s fault. I’m sure that Russia is beyond ambitious and the children there are trained to succeed anywhere.

Paul
Paul
7 years ago

A modern day Sandra Kim!!

Eve
Eve
7 years ago

@ Racal, I don’t know about Russia, I said about my region- ex YU countries, Bulgaria, Romania..

Racal
Racal
7 years ago

@Eve, Constantin: It’s great that he speaks such a perfect English, it’s even greater if that is a general trend in Eastern Europe. 🙂

But does that include Russia? Cause the Tolmachevy Twins could barely say hello in English, and they were 17 years old 2 years ago…

Constantin
Constantin
7 years ago

Gery Nikol is like Nicky Minaj, Bulgaria doesn’t want to be a joke.

Denis
Denis
7 years ago

He’s how old? 12?
Somehow I don’t expect much from this

Joseph
Joseph
6 years ago
Reply to  Denis

17, and 2 months later he went to be the runner up of eurovision, so….

Constantin
Constantin
7 years ago

Racal : ‘His English is perfect and yet he’s so young… He could give a lesson to most of the other contestants!’

In Eastern Europe, children learn foreign languages since kindergarten.
And english has another alphabet (latin), still all children speak english/german/french/spanish/italian.
hahahaha Don’t be so surprised !!!!!!!!!!!!

fikri
fikri
7 years ago

@PP: that’s so cool! i wish all of them will qualify to the final.

Adam
Adam
7 years ago

I think its pretty cool for him that he becomes the first 21st century-born person in history to sing at Eurovision! Ive been wondering for a bit how long that would take to reach.

Soy
Soy
7 years ago

It was obvious. The twitter acount of Bulgaria’s broadcaster liked and retweeted news tweets regarding Kristian Kostov since like 2 weeks ago. He’s okay at the very best- although I do think he wont reach higher than Poli did.

I have high expectations for the song 🙂

D
D
7 years ago

So much unwarranted hate. Maybe they picked him instead of Gery-Nikol because her song was terrible? You haven’t heard either of the songs so just calm down.

AL
AL
7 years ago

Off-topic, but Triana Park just released their music video for Line! You can watch it here: https://youtu.be/QI3KmuYJeZg

PP
PP
7 years ago

This is first time in history at Eurovison, that 2 composers (Borislav Milanov, Bo Persson ) have 3 song for 3 countries in same year at contest . They compose song for Bulgaria, Serbia and Macedonia. And its weird that all 3 countires are in II semifinal
Before them 2 songs in same year had Siegel in 1979, Bolen in 1989, Gsson in 2007,2012, 2015,2016 , Bostrom 2012 ( who had song on first and last place in final 2012), Alares in 2016

MTD
MTD
7 years ago

The team behind the song is the same for Macedonia & Serbia.

At least these “G:sons” make a good music. Looking forward the song, I already have the other two in my faves. Hahah

Eve
Eve
7 years ago

@ Racal, that’s Eastern/Balkan millennials, they speak English very well 🙂

fikri
fikri
7 years ago

the song will be released later right? i don’t mind him very much. he does have the credentials. looking forward to the song.

Racal
Racal
7 years ago

His English is perfect and yet he’s so young… He could give a lesson to most of the other contestants!

Padim
Padim
7 years ago

@Eve . https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristian_Kostov he will be 17 in two days…

Padim
Padim
7 years ago

@apple . Good point 😉

Eve
Eve
7 years ago

I don’t get it, is this Junior ESC? How old is he?

Joseph
Joseph
6 years ago
Reply to  Eve

17

Rich
Rich
7 years ago

Bulgaria’s own Justin Bieber!

I am sure he will attract a certain type of audience. especially if his previous released material is anything to go by. This could be a wise move by Bulgaria this year.

With the right song, this could actually work for Bulgaria. It worked well for
Frans last year for Sweden. He has the potential to score high with the right material.

Watch this space….

YES
YES
7 years ago

Loreen will not represent Sweden
Kerli will not represent Estonia
Gery-Nikol will not represent Bulgaria

YES! THIS IS AMAZING! NONE OF THESE STUPID OVERRATED ARTISTS WILL GO TO EUROVISION <3 <3 <3

Tomas Patrick Davitt
Tomas Patrick Davitt
7 years ago

Ooooooo I love the song title! Sounds like it will be a ballad

TK
TK
7 years ago

@Bulgariam Fan

Yes, I feel you there! Gery Nikol would’ve been killlllllller!

Could you guys send Azis one year solo, just for shiggles?

apple
apple
7 years ago

I don’t get why all this hate! Check his BG X Factor performances because he is the real deal in here. I don’t know if the background music of his announcement video is actually a teaser of the ESC song or the BNT is just playing with us, all I know is that I have high hopes according to the singer, the team behind him and the broadcaster’s words on the song.

BTW, is he the first millenial to ever participate in ESC right? 😀

Bulgarian Fan of Eurovision
Bulgarian Fan of Eurovision
7 years ago

We needed someone like Gery Nikol to be in the contest after the atrocious outcome of Estonia and poor Kerli getting robbed.
This guy is a joke, no final for us this year people.

Joseph
Joseph
6 years ago

2 months later he went to be the runner up, of eurovision, so….

TK
TK
7 years ago

Waaaaaah why not Gery Nikol? That crazy bi*ch would’ve made my year! Oh well needless to say Bulgaria reverts back to form after the Poli anomaly..

Joseph
Joseph
6 years ago
Reply to  TK

2 months later he went to be the runner up, of eurovision, so….

esc1234
esc1234
7 years ago

Christiana loizou would be a better choice :p

ninasublatti
ninasublatti
7 years ago

He looks 8 years old this is not JESC please!!!!!!

Joseph
Joseph
6 years ago
Reply to  ninasublatti

2 months later he went to be the runner up, of eurovision, so….

ninasublatti
ninasublatti
7 years ago

Lol.. What a safe and boring choice. Why not gery nikol??? Whyyy!!!!!!!