After weeks of speculation, Sergey Lazarev has finally confirmed that he will represent Russia at Eurovision 2016 in Stockholm!
Lazarev has been a favourite of the rumour mill for years and he was our pick for Russia in a recent wiwibloggs Wednesday Wishlist. Only two weeks ago we reported that Russian producer Philip Kirkorov had been dropping very strong hints regarding Sergey Lazarev and Eurovision.
Tonight at the Russian National Music Awards, where Lazarev was awarded Singer of the Year, his Eurovision selection was also announced. Lazarev later confirmed on both his official Instagram account and YouTube channel that he will be singing for Mother Russia.
Who is Sergey Lazarev?
Sergey is among the biggest male pop stars in Russia. Having released songs in both Russian and English, he has warmed the hearts of millions of fans across Russia (and also made them sweat with his sizzling photo sets). Originally a member of duo Smash!!, he pursued a solo career after the group broke up in 2006. Sergey competed in Russia’s National Final back in 2008 with the song “Flyer“, managing fourth place. He is also a dancer, placing second in Russia’s version of Dancing on Ice in 2006.
Sergey Lazarev – “Take It Off”
Are you excited for Sergey? Could Sergey secure a second victory for Russia? Let us know in the comments below. One thing is for certain, ENTMM has got a clear winner!
I want to ask the author, why he uses term “Mother Russia”? Russia got its roots and name from Ukrainian land and old name. Before Russian Federation has been created Ukraine had a name Rus with capital in Kyiv. Are you trying to tell that Lazarev will sing for Ukraine? because Mother of Russia is Ukraine
@MTD: Speaking out my truth does not mean or even require being snobbish .. but clearly, by your answer, it means that I do get on a lot of people’s nervers who will do anything to see this Russian kid go all “look at me you queens, this is the music style you all want, don’t ya?” just because they want to have fun at Eurovision. If people are tired of ballads, I can understand .. but not being tired of beats and grooves and meaningless songs based on dance routines and half naked performance with a strong sexual innuendo… Read more »
The contest is getting male saturated. Granted, Eurovision should be a bastion of gender equality (even if men have the upper hand in society in general) but the facts just state that Eurovision is a women’s game. Sending male acts just because of the male successes of 2015 (with 4 of the top 5 being men) will make those who send female acts stronger. Already Armenia and Macedonia have an advantage in that regard thus, with Bosnia and Herzegovina benefitting being split women to men at 2:1. If we remember another male saturated year, 2010, it was won by a… Read more »
I hope he wins.
I’m sick of people constantly booing Russia. That is so rude.
There sure are a lot of soothsayers in here. Let’s hear the song first. Killer songs don’t grow on Russian trees either. (I’m not sure about the Swedish ones.)
@Charles, I am always reading your comments with great enthusiasm…to the point of asking myself whether there’s happiness in your life? I mean, c’mon, this show is for the masses, it’s not something for a tinny tiny concert hall built in a baroque style where only snobs can take seat. You do sound snobish sometimes. Even though I can agree with some of the points mentioned.
Two things: a) This is not going to excite the juries mainly because it’s just another bs rubbish commercial generic pop dance crap as millions already done … but in Eurovision this is not big deal … whereas a power ballad also done a millions time already is such a big deal of boredom and anti-hyperactivity… double standard as old as post-1997 time … b) Just another excuse to tell the whole world “Yes Eurovision is super gay” when the purpose it not to reduce it to the gay world much less to reinforce such cliche and stereotype to the… Read more »
He might indeed do a Sakis Rouvas, some shirtless gay dancing and heavily depending on backing vocals, covering up his poor vocal skills…..
I am sooo going to Stockholm this year. It’s going to be a really amazing edition. So far the artists chosen internally are all promising (Russia, Armenia, Montenegro, Cyprus etc…)
Another very “gay-friendly” choise there from Russia, for the second year in a row after Polina. Perhaps they can pull a Sakis Rouvas if they’re lucky (Sergey also likes to perform shirtless an awful lot) but the songs I’ve heard so far remind me more of Eric Saade or Alexey Vorobyov. So not that promising for me so far.
Also his dance moves are great and so are his abs but do we know if he can sing live? In the live videos I found on YouTube there is a lot of lip-synching going on so I can’t really tell.
Sounds promising!
It’s clear this year is going to be more male than female a la 2010 but I’m alright with that. Sergey is a great choice for Russia and could potentially secure a victory. Not that it matters but interestingly, the last time Russia sent a male singer he came 15th (or something like that – that was the only time I thought Russia was actually underrated)
Shout it out if you really think Sergey Lazarev is actually Dima Bilan’s twin, according to their faces. 😮
another fake straight man. sergey is a GAY!
Sooooo happy!!! I’m sure his song will be fantastic! Can’t wait to hear it 😀
For me 3 best song from Russia at Eurovision are
1. 1994
2. 1997
3. 2009
And all 3 are sang in russian language, song from 2009 had and ukraine language.
Excellent choice for Russia, he’s a good looking guy and he can sing and dance and he is relatively famous. I just hope Russia go to Stockholm with an up-tempo pop song and not a dull ballad about world peace.
Anyways, as this is Russia, I am sure we now know 1 of the Top 5 placings in the ESC final next year.
I love this! But I doubt that he can overcome Polina Gagarina.
Happy for this! 🙂
And I hope that EBU will “allow” Russia to win if it has a chance. If not, they are obvious losers! Last time Russia was in Sweden, managed to get 5th pace, and in 2000, 2nd place.
So, if the gay drama audience boos again, I have nothing to say about it but to pity them.
If russia wanted to win again they would! They just want to do well in my opinion russia could win 3x in a row. I dont think that they really care about winning just about doing well
Russia really wanna win Eurovision again. Good of them to take it that seriously year after year, despite all jerks booing in the arena.
A good song and we are heading for Moscow 2017, that´s for sure!
Can’t wait to hear Putin’s new world peace composition
Russia obviously takes care about Eurovision and doesn’t give a f… about all negative comments coming from certain people year after year.
I just hope some self proclaimed Eurovision fans will behave nicely in Stockholm. Booing is ridiculous and it is opposite to what the Eurovision is all about.
jr esc nl
No chance, with 50 % votes from juries .
He is even better than Mans
I think they will place in top 3 in my list now.
I do think that we are going to get more males than females this year.
If he has a killer song russia will definitely win this year.
Omg!
Excellent news . like quite a few people said ,been waiting a few years for him to sing for Russia,Now let’s hope they give him a good song. I’m sure he will perform well , A shame it weren’t GET IT OFF , that would have been a great song, So Russia in top 5 again ,
I’m guessing he’s already a megastar throughout the CIS? Hi Sochi 2017. He’s goooood.
…Although I have a good feeling about the Australian entry.
A bit camp for russia but he’s gorgeous!
Yassss I love him, specially his russian language songs. Russia is definitely in it to win it.
I hope they send a song like 7 ????
…and we have a winner. I don’t need to hear his song to know that Russia is bringing all the big guns to get the mission accomplished (no reference to Syria and ISIL there…)
Nice. And just for being Russia, he will be in Top 5, if not winning…
Knowing Sergey, he will definitely go for an uptempo song. He is definitely long overdue to represent Russia, but glad he will finally represent Russia.
FOUR YEARS waiting for him since I knew him when I started to learn Russian. Sooooooooooooooo happy with this!! ?????????? ??????!!
A male Russian performer? It’s been a while. They usually have up-tempo songs too. And knowing Russia’s penchants for Swedish writers combined with their awesome stage performance this could be yet another Russian top 5 entry.
I have a feeling I’m really going to like Russia’s entry this year. Take It Off and 7 Wonders were great songs.
As long as Russia don’t win, I don’t care.
The Greek team who dont manage anymore greek entries but russian (2008,2014) and azerbaijan (2013) will send him straight to top 10….
I don’t know, I dont have as much confidence as I did when Polina was announced. I knew she. Was going to have a killer song.
But time will tell..
soo sexy ..
russia is in it to win as usual..
I’m happy with this,hopefully Russia won’t send another ballad next year!