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!
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He is adorable.
The title is promising. Looking forward to the song!
Let this be another top song like last year!
Good luck to him :),love the way he speaks 🙂
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.
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.
Wut? Junior Eurovision was in November, honey.
Kristian is a fantastic talent and if he has the right song this is a potential winner. Mark my words.
What a sweet introduction video — Bulgarian team really putting their heart and soul into Eurovision. Great job!
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!
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.
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 »
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
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.
A modern day Sandra Kim!!
@ Racal, I don’t know about Russia, I said about my region- ex YU countries, Bulgaria, Romania..
@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…
Gery Nikol is like Nicky Minaj, Bulgaria doesn’t want to be a joke.
He’s how old? 12?
Somehow I don’t expect much from this
17, and 2 months later he went to be the runner up of eurovision, so….
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 !!!!!!!!!!!!
@PP: that’s so cool! i wish all of them will qualify to the final.
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.
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 🙂
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.
Off-topic, but Triana Park just released their music video for Line! You can watch it here: https://youtu.be/QI3KmuYJeZg
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
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
@ Racal, that’s Eastern/Balkan millennials, they speak English very well 🙂
the song will be released later right? i don’t mind him very much. he does have the credentials. looking forward to the song.
His English is perfect and yet he’s so young… He could give a lesson to most of the other contestants!
@Eve . https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristian_Kostov he will be 17 in two days…
@apple . Good point 😉
I don’t get it, is this Junior ESC? How old is he?
17
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….
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
Ooooooo I love the song title! Sounds like it will be a ballad
@Bulgariam Fan
Yes, I feel you there! Gery Nikol would’ve been killlllllller!
Could you guys send Azis one year solo, just for shiggles?
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? 😀
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.
2 months later he went to be the runner up, of eurovision, so….
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..
2 months later he went to be the runner up, of eurovision, so….
Christiana loizou would be a better choice :p
He looks 8 years old this is not JESC please!!!!!!
2 months later he went to be the runner up, of eurovision, so….
Lol.. What a safe and boring choice. Why not gery nikol??? Whyyy!!!!!!!