Russia usually keeps us in suspense and this year is no different. Channel One‘s CEO Konstantin Ernst has confirmed to press agency RIA Novosti that Russia will take a decision on its Eurovision 2020 artist by the end of February. Ernst added that the broadcaster hasn’t yet made up its mind.

When will Russia reveal its act for Eurovision 2020?

Channel One is one of the two broadcasters for Eurovision in Russia, alongside VGTRK. The two broadcasters alternate in choosing the Russian act. Channel One takes care of the act in the even years while VGTRK does it in the odd years.

While VGTRK is usually very early with artist announcements, Channel One is known to leave it late. Its most recent artists Julia Samoylova and Polina Gagarina were only announced in early March. It is therefore likely that the artist and song announcement will take place in March once again.

Who should represent Russia at Eurovision 2020?

Russian fans, of course, know who they want to see in Rotterdam and who they rather see give it a miss. In a poll launched by the Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda, including new artists and former Eurovision contestants, over thirty thousand people cast their vote.

Rave group Little Big came out on top with about a third of the votes. The St. Petersburg group, which calls itself “a satirical art collaboration”, is most known for its 2018 single “Skibidi”. Their latest single “Go Bananas”, which was released in November 2019, is less than three minutes long, making it eligible for Eurovision.

Russians have been enthusiastic about sending the group to Eurovision before, and petitions for that have appeared on change.org.

Songstress Zivert came second in the poll. Zivert has been considered one of the breakout stars in Russian pop since her 2018 single “Life”. With radio-friendly mid-tempo beats and a mix between Russian and English lyrics, Zivert slays the most important features of Russian pop music.

In a recent interview with Regina Todorenko, Zivert revealed that she wouldn’t mind going to Eurovision as long she remains in charge of the creative process herself.

She said: “To me it’s very important that, concerning the creative part, that nobody interferes there. Don’t give me some kind of stranger to arrange for me, write lyrics for me. If I go, I got to win. And you have do it greatly and powerfully.”

Who do you want Russia to send to Eurovision 2020 in Rotterdam? Let us know in the comments below!

Read all Russia Eurovision news here

56 Comments
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Hyunwoo
Hyunwoo
4 years ago

It’s official, Aleksandr Panayotov represent Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020!
https://www.starhit.ru/novosti/dojdalsya-aleksandr-panayotov-predstavit-rossiyu-na-evrovidenii-203221/

cipollino
cipollino
4 years ago
Reply to  Hyunwoo

It’S oFfIcIaL

La la love
La la love
4 years ago

I want Monetochka even though she isn’t mentioned in this article

Hyunwoo
Hyunwoo
4 years ago

2020, Zivert
2021, The Hatters
2022, Artik & Asti
2023, NILETTO
2024, JONY
I guess!

Apolo6
Apolo6
4 years ago

Olga Buzova of course ! haha

Hyunwoo
Hyunwoo
4 years ago
Reply to  Apolo6

Not funny!!

Liebe
Liebe
4 years ago

Zivert or JONY! Please Russia!

Lokh
Lokh
4 years ago

Send Alexander Panayotov with power ballad
and victory is possible. Zivert and Little Big have weak voice.
Voice is not a decisive factor, but nonetheless.

What About My Mars
What About My Mars
4 years ago

Knowing Russia, they might send a former JESC singer other than some of the singers menthioned in this comment section.

Erin21ish
Erin21ish
4 years ago

Little big have my vote if they represent russia. Amazing band!

Zaz
Zaz
4 years ago

LITTLE BIG for Eurovision and I’m already voting for Russia

A random russian guy
A random russian guy
4 years ago

I don’t know who Channel One are going to send, but after the flop with Julia Samoylova they will try hard to not let the rivals from VGTRK (Russia channel) be happy with their bad luck one again.

Veta
Veta
4 years ago

I want Manizha or Veltet but there is no chance for it 🙁

Rina
Rina
4 years ago

Love both singers…
By the way, i am a translator of English and French (nztive Russian), write everywhere trying to find a job…

cipollino
cipollino
4 years ago
Reply to  Rina

You can’t even spell properly, how can you be a “translator”? Pozorische.

Sal
Sal
4 years ago

Zivert with a song half in Russian and half in English would be an amazing choice but I’m sure we’ll have something generic and 100% in English

Hyunwoo
Hyunwoo
4 years ago
Reply to  Sal

Of course!

Kungfrederik90
Kungfrederik90
4 years ago

Little big or Leningrad .

Hyunwoo
Hyunwoo
4 years ago
Reply to  Kungfrederik90

Wait! Leningrad disbanded!!

Teddie
4 years ago
Reply to  Hyunwoo

Say what? They’re playing Coachella this year, come on now

Hyunwoo
Hyunwoo
4 years ago
Reply to  Teddie

Teddie, Uh…

Hyunwoo
Hyunwoo
4 years ago

Hope Zivert!

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
4 years ago

zivert looks black in that photo wtf is that mess shjakfda anyway russia’s internal selections always play safe so i can’t see them going for either of them, but i hope someone interesting is selected this year

What About My Mars
What About My Mars
4 years ago

She has plenty of photos where she looks like that. If she gets chosen to perform in Rotterdam, she might receive uncomfortable questions from the press about those pictures. I understand the inspiration behind her looks (Hello, USA) but other people might not like it.

Kredential
Kredential
4 years ago

Zivert I have uncomfortable question for you…

Tom
Tom
4 years ago

Doesnt matter who will go SEND song in RUSSIAN pls !!! Or half russian and half english or whatewer ….

Catherine
Catherine
4 years ago

I want Otava Yo band. In any case folk or rock music

pancake
pancake
4 years ago

Zivert = DiHaj 2.0

What About My Mars
What About My Mars
4 years ago
Reply to  pancake

Zivert isn’t as edgy as Dihaj. Her other music is almost American-inspired.

An American Eurovision Fan
An American Eurovision Fan
4 years ago

if they sent Dima Bilan and Julia Volkova back in 2012 they would have won… but for now, let’s send Sergey Lazarev back, but this time with Dima and maybe they will do well together. they were good solo, but they might do better together 🙂

Catherine
Catherine
4 years ago

Are you living in the past? Everything changes so fast. Yulia has illnes and lost her voice already. And it’s absolutely not actual music.

Africavision
Africavision
4 years ago

I concur with the voters in that poll. I think Little Big will be the ideal candidate. Whilst I have loved Russia’s “love-love-peace-peace” entries (their 2013 and 2015 songs are among my favorite Eurovision entries of all time), in the past twelve years, 9/12 of their entries (including Julia’s 2017 song) were more serious, ballad-like songs. I think sending a rave group to Eurovision would go a long way in alleviating the typical stereotype that Russians have a very serious demeanor, and to put it bluntly are pretty hardcore. Lol Little Big could bring a wackadoodle song to the table…… Read more »

dtsgrs
dtsgrs
4 years ago

Nargiz please

Sun
Sun
4 years ago

That they could still do really well with that dated and boring song in 2019 says a lot…If you send a famous Russian artist, the Russia diaspora would still vote for them like crazy even if the song is not good enough.

Kredential
Kredential
4 years ago

Russia needs to send something that isn’t so manufactured and generic for once. Their Kirkorov penned inoffensive pop formula seems to give them top ten finishes, but they will never win that way.

I would LOVE to see Zivert – Life is such a slinky jam with some amazing synths, and it’s clear that if they choose her she will be in control of her song (meaning no generic Kirkorov pop)! But alas, her having control is probably unlikely.

A random russian guy
A random russian guy
4 years ago
Reply to  Kredential

Her best song is Beverly Hills.

Apple
Apple
4 years ago

All I want is for them to send a song in Russian. It’s been 11 years since Mamo? Like come onnnnnn plenty of countries in ESC have people who speak the language so it’s not a “disadvantage”

Chingiz
Chingiz
4 years ago
Reply to  Apple

Funny thing, mamo was not even in Russian, but Ukrainian

Tom
Tom
4 years ago
Reply to  Chingiz

@Chingiz Mamo was half in russian and half in ukrainian language cause Anastasia was ukrainian singer actually

Lars Lerin
Lars Lerin
4 years ago
Reply to  Apple

And 2013 is not 11 years ago…

Vladimir P.
Vladimir P.
4 years ago
Reply to  Lars Lerin

@Lars Lerin Mamo was a Russian entry for 2009.

Nicky91
Nicky91
4 years ago
Reply to  Apple

if you sing in own language you flop because the current overall esc viewers only cares about english songs

KESC
KESC
4 years ago
Reply to  Nicky91

Salvador Sobral agrees

A random russian guy
A random russian guy
4 years ago
Reply to  KESC

Also, Grande Amore was successful partly because of the lyrics being in Italian.

beast boy
beast boy
4 years ago

Watch them pull a Sergey and send Polina

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
4 years ago
Reply to  beast boy

polegend is currently vacationing at the maldives with her family, let the good sis enjoy her perennial vacation, she’s already a crowned legend!

John
John
4 years ago

Russia will send Daria Antonyuk.

sam
sam
4 years ago

MARUV!

Sale
Sale
4 years ago

Little big would flop that style just aint for esc unfortunately.. Zivert on the other hands would have much better chances

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago
Reply to  Sale

I don’t think she’d be selected by either network- they don’t seem to like giving their singers a lot of creative control.

Apple
Apple
4 years ago
Reply to  Azaad

Yes exactly. They wouldn’t choose her

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
4 years ago
Reply to  Sale

uhh little big would do well with the public, it’s the type of act that’s in line with the current trends and not the same old cliché’d mess. i hope channel 1 takes a risk with them, it’ll pay off

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago

P*ssy Riot!

esc1234
esc1234
4 years ago

they both seem edgy and interesting, give us art Channel one

Nicky91
Nicky91
4 years ago
Reply to  esc1234

Zivert, with a classic eurovision 00’s style song from Kirkorov

Joe
Joe
4 years ago

Either of them would be great!