The Tolmachevy Twins released the Russian version of “Shine” today, and the bottom line is that it sounds better than the English version.

The video is interesting, as it showcases messages of support for “Shine” that the sisters have received on Twitter from various Russian artists and music professionals. We especially noted the names that are famous for previously gracing the Eurovision stage, like Dima Bilan, Evgeny Plushenko, and Emin Agalarov. Funnily enough, though, after all the messages are in Russian, a big “Thank you” (in English) shows up on screen at the end of the video.

This version leaked on Russian social media site Vkontacte yesterday, to mostly positive feedback from Eurovision fans everywhere. Many opined that the Tolmachevy Twins should have stuck to the Russian version, which sounds more natural and overall interesting. We also think that their voices sound clearer and more mature than on the English version. Seeing as it’s in Russian, we can also focus a bit more on the instrumental, which is great, in a retro kind of way. But more about that on our Wiwi Jury review, soon!

What do you think, which version do you prefer? Here is the English language version as well:

[polldaddy poll=7944421]

Bogdan Honciuc is a Romania-based correspondent for WiwiBloggs.com. You can follow him on Twitter @stingovision. You can also keep up-to-date with the latest Eurovision news and gossip by following the team on Twitter @wiwibloggs and by liking our Facebook page.

38 Comments
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Yudhistira Mahasena
9 years ago

One of my teachers at school is from Russia, just call him Mr. Ardi. He is a big fan of Tolmachevy Sisters. And he even has a dream of performing with them.

Roy
Roy
9 years ago

Still a bad song

Nebi
Nebi
9 years ago

Are the two sung by the same singers? The voice quality seems quite a bit more mature in Russian than in the English version.

Miksi
9 years ago

Russian one would be in my top 20! 🙂
English one will be probably the first Russian entry that didn’t enter the final,hopefully 🙂

ESCFan
ESCFan
9 years ago

Yes this much more better than the crap english (political ?) lyrics before!

Himela
Himela
9 years ago

Omg NO! Do not put this song in russian. The english lyrics are so optimistic, so joyful, they make me smile. I love this song already and it sounds weird in russian, so do their voices, they are not that playful and young and fresh as when they sing in english.

ESCaddict
ESCaddict
9 years ago

I like both versions. I have been singing the song to myself all day. That would not happen if it was not in English. I find this song is a real grower. I am liking it more each day & it is climbing up my Top 37. Those songs in my Top 10 should be worried.
I wish the Twins great success.

Dan RO
Dan RO
9 years ago

Nope, it’s just as bad in Russian, as in English. But, honestly, I still think it’s a step up from that sugary “let’hold hands for world peace bla bla” from.last year. The “bla bla” is implied, since we all know how much Russia believed those lyrics, proving it in the last month or so. But…enough with the politics… No vote for the sisters from me!

Gregor
Gregor
9 years ago

Why this amateure videos?

Ivan
Ivan
9 years ago

The Russia head of delegation I guess is the one who change from russian song already to english

Neil
Neil
9 years ago

The version in russian is the original I think, english a cover therefor so many songwriters, and it´s cause Russia want to have the political lyrics as the english are. Therefor they do an english change of russian original version I think

Neil
Neil
9 years ago

The version in russian is the original I think, ebglish a cover therefor so many songwriters, and it´s cause Russia want to have the political lyrics as the english are. Therefor they do an english change of Russian original version I think

Melissa Kutcher
Melissa Kutcher
9 years ago

Too bad the Russian Head of Delegation can’t change the language…the Russian version sounds a LOT better.

Marcelo N
9 years ago

@ Rashad – THANK YOU! I see some message, but it already seems nicer from this Russiam version 🙂

@ Thiefo – Nacido y criado en Buenos Aires, Argentina, y vivo en São Paulo hace 5 años. Soy trilingüe (hablo un poquito de otras lenguas, pero no las domino) en español, inglés y portugués; por eso también escribo en las tres mis relatos 😉

Rashad
Rashad
9 years ago

@Thiefo, de nada.

Thiefo
Thiefo
9 years ago

That’s interesting, thanks Rashad! By the sound of it it seems that even the lyrics are better in russian.

Rashad
Rashad
9 years ago

@Marcelo N, I don’t exactly remember the English lyrics, but as much as I remember, the Russian lyrics are different from the original song. And the title is “Half” in Russian. I won’t be able to translate the whole song, but it tells how much they complete each other; “we are like light and shadow, we are like night and day, we look for warmth, you’re crying, I’m keeping silence, you’re whispering, I’m screaming… half of happiness, half of heart and soul…”.
I don’t actually think any of the versions have a political message.

Thiefo
Thiefo
9 years ago

Haha yeah I saw your blog, but since part of it is in portuguese I wasn’t sure, tu de donde eres? 😛

Marcelo N
9 years ago

@ Thiefo – Thanks anyway, buddy.
No te la creo que eres de México!! Jajaja, eurofans latinoamericanos al poder! (en mi blog te vas a dar cuenta, porque el entorno está en español).

Thiefo
Thiefo
9 years ago

Sorry Marcelo, but beyond “spasibo” I know nothing of Russian 😛 I’m from Mexico, faaaar, far away from Russia.

Marcelo N
9 years ago

@ Thiefo, please tell me you know Russian! 😛 [where r u from, btw?]
I want to know if they are still telling all the world to show some love. An argument ensued here at home, like “It is a nice song, period” and I “No! Even if it sounds good, I will not support a song that… (my human rights blab).”

Thiefo
Thiefo
9 years ago

Even their voices sound different! A lot more mature and less sugary, definitely better than the english versioo 🙂

Marcelo N
9 years ago

Still waiting for a kind Russian-speaking soul to tell us whether the lyrics are the same… please? 🙂

Dan
Dan
9 years ago

Cheap song both versions

Pat
Pat
9 years ago

Doesn’t matter this Russian original version or Charlie, Ralph and John Ballad english (political) version. same shit

Anna
Anna
9 years ago

Still one of the weakest songs this year

Joe
Joe
9 years ago

The song Philipp Kirkorov and Gerard James Borg written is a little bit better now, not sounding ‘demo’ in same way but still bad, and a little bit better in Russian than the crap english lyric cover version they done before!

Rashad
Rashad
9 years ago

I’m starting to like this song with the Russian lyrics. It really sounds better, good luck sisters!

Francel
Francel
9 years ago

The Russian versión is much better.
Regards and good luck fom Spain.

NargizAZE
NargizAZE
9 years ago

I still think that the song is really cheap, but in russian it sounds much more better! Hopefully they ll sing russian version in Copenhagen (doubt it)!

Julian
Julian
9 years ago

There is high chance that lyricists of the song John Ballard, Ralph Charlie and Gerard James Borg are not proficient in Russian. So English version was the original and the Russian one is just a translation.

Marcelo N
9 years ago

Maybe the lyrics in Russian are not outrageously and immoderately politicised?
Someone who knows Russian and is willing to not hide the facts please lend a hand 🙂

D
D
9 years ago

The Russian version is so much better. I wish they chose to sing it in Russian.

Easpag
Easpag
9 years ago

It’s still an average song, but it is certainly better in Russian.

marklebron
marklebron
9 years ago

the only difference is that i dont get what it says in russian

osz
osz
9 years ago

Wow! Much better 🙂 Pity they will not compete with the russian version =/

Gerard P
Gerard P
9 years ago

I LOVE THE RUSSIAN VERSION! It’s so much stronger!!!!

Grifit
Grifit
9 years ago

mmmmm… the same happened to Valentina Monetta and Donatan and Cleo I think the original languages are better, but don’t misunderstand me, I am not a language conservator, I actually like more the english version of Montenegro’s song