While Russia will reveal their song for Stockholm on Saturday, Sergey Lazarev has been whetting our appetites with a teaser video that offers some very intriguing scenes. We analyse what’s packed into the 12-second preview.
Sergey’s song for Stockholm will be premiered on the Russian news show Vesty v Subbotu, Saturday March 5 at 18:00 CET. But for those of us who can’t wait, Sergey’s teaser clip offers hints of what is to come.
The video begins with Sergey lying in bed in a black room, lit with white neon. Very minimalist. Is he going to take one of his good morning Instagrams in bed?
Then a woman’s face appears. Neat hair. Eyebrows on fleek. Why, it’s only Miss Universe Russia 2015 Vladislava Evtushenko. And she seems to have forgotten to wear any clothes.
Next it’s a shot of Sergey fast asleep in bed. He also appears to have forgotten to wear clothes. Wake up, Sergey! You have a three-minute pop song to deliver that must secure Russia its second Eurovision victory!
Then we discover Sergey standing in a strange room. The floor is flat and yet he is balanced on a mysterious plinth. (Projection mapping, for which we can directly blame Måns). Sergey is now wearing clothes, so from this we can deduce that Russia’s song for Eurovision won’t be a sequel to “Take It Off”.
Miss Russia has appeared again, this time wearing a tasteful black dress. Sergey has thoughtfully taken his top off. The two of them are sitting in the middle of a giant black flower. So gothic.
Here it looks like Sergey is getting covered in some sort of liquid. I have no idea what this symbolises. #cometogether
Then, wearing white, Sergey does a wobbly sort of dance. Don’t worry Sergey – we’re also feeling a little disorientated by the strange world of this video.
And finally, the biggest clue of all. Sergey stands in front of flaming letters reading “ONE”, while pointing his forefinger in the air. What does this mean? Is the song called “One”? Or does the word just feature in the lyrics?
And that’s all we get – 12 tantalising seconds, which tell us that Russia have been putting a lot of effort into their music video, at least.
Sergey has a substantial team behind the song and the video, as he revealed with this recent groupie on Instagram. The line-up includes songwriters Dimitris Kontopoulos and Philipp Kirkorov, director and choreographer Fokas Evagelinos and vocal coach Alex Panayi, as well as a team of Swedish dancers and backing vocalists. They’ve already been hard at work on rehearsals for Stockholm,
But whatever Sergey’s 12-second video suggests, we’ll get to see — and hear — the whole video and song this Saturday, March 5 at on at 18:00 CET.
What do you think of Sergey’s teaser clip? Can he secure Russia its second Eurovision victory? Share your thoughts below.
@stroma?, if to think about your hateful comment. what about Russian culture and Putin? have I ever mentioned it? or it’s just propagandist cliche about Ukrainians playing tricks with your mind? when someone says Russia your sick brain shouts “Putin, Vodka, Balalaika”? 🙂
if something annoys so so deeply, something about Russia in comments section under article about Russia, you know what to do 🙂
@stroma? that was rude.
@oxyk, your obsession about Russia is ridiculous. Gays, Crimea, culture, Putin…You annoyed everyone, can please just stop??
@Charles, on topic of drag queens. let me share one of the tracks of Verka Serduchka, but’s it’s made under his real name – Andrey Danilko. maybe he can’t sing but he can play piano. people in comments say that it’s our guilt that Danilko become a comedian with cheap Verka image. maybe he’ll resume his career as musician and will abandon Verka in future, who knows
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRPxcJhj6EM
@Charles, thanks, will do! I’m watching ESC from 2004 (roughly when our country started to participate) and I have very little knowledge of old affairs.
@oxyk: Take a serious history lesson in ESC and dwell into the 80s. Everything is available online and I’m pretty you’ll be entertained even though no drag queens or transsexual with no vocal talent were part of such time period. Enjoy! 🙂
@V, I’m from central Ukraine (Kirovogradska oblast), in addition to my hometown I used to live in Kremenchuk (Poltavska oblast) or Kyiv. While in smaller towns people are more xenophobic because they simply don’t know how to react, in Kyiv you can forget about this issue. Please notice that Ukraine is not consistent in cultural habits and opinion about LGBT rights (West Ukraine, big cities is pretty laid back while East Part with heavy Russian population is very homophobic – because they reflect Russian point of view). The result of poll dated 2013. it’s very outdated for us, back then… Read more »
Oxyk, where are you originally come from? I’ve never insulted your country. And cut with saying Ukraine is not homophobic, I just googled and found this: http://m.liga.net/news/society/111288-16_ukraintsev_ne_protiv_grajdanskih_brakov_sredi_geev_-_opros.htm
Sergey himself openly supported homosexuals with an interview he gave 3 ago. He said that someone is born homosexual, that it is very sad that kids are getting bullied for being homosexual. He even said that it is sad for Russian kids to be afraid to express themselves for what they are.
He was very brave and open in that interview which you can find online.
Do you really want a war with Russia?
@V, maybe you forgot something? please refresh your memory with this report on gays in Russia from vice news. then think and say that Ukraine is homophobic. After this report are you trying to say crap about other countries? look at your nation in action. holly Russian warriors defending their values? huh?
http://www.vice.com/video/young-and-gay-in-putins-russia-full-length-vice
@V, you are close-minded ukrainephobe who tries to vilify mother Ukraine on some eurovision fan site. How pathetic.
@V, ah really? you TALKED to someone? I live here and for more than 15 years since my coming out I had no issues with any homophobes or xenophobes, i can openly perform anything that straight people do and never had any issues with homophobes (I’m not counting hate speech of homophobes who has been influenced by Russian spiritual values, because as you can imagine, one is getting resistant to stupid cliche they use), beside that, I had no issues, no one tried to beat me or humiliate in any other way. Maybe it’s just something not right about you?… Read more »
I don’t even care what ‘one’ means in the context of their entry.
Oxyk, people in Ukraine are very homophobic… On Youtube there are lots of videos supporting it. And I talked with many Ukrainians, they are xenophobic. For example, you are close-minded russophobe who tries to vilify Russia on some eurovision fan site. How pathetic.
That’s how you create anticipation and buzz.
@Charles, can you please elaborate about France and ESC? where to look for the full story?
@dutchie: Don’t make anything of it just leave the Empire State alone and listen to some great music … Amir for example … at least far more substancial than 6 old ladies backing bread and being used to entertain a whole continent for no reason but fill the Russian ego within Eurovision. France on the hand has no ego needed to be filled as their relationship with Eurovision has been dead for far too long (goes back to the early 80s in case you know that story) …there are therefore no pressure or expectations upon Amir … but a song… Read more »
@void: you said goodbye like 2 comments ago… why are you still commenting??
@Void, what is “promotion of homosexuality”? do you believe it is that easy as changing your pants from white to pink? can you promote something that does not depend on you? then, how you can promote it? free sex offers on the street? classes “how to get laid”, overview of gay clubs and their services? if your leader Putin is 1.62sm in height, can you promote his natural growth up to man’s height? to some 1.80sm at least? I bet you will have the same effect in this task as with gay promotions 🙂
@Andrew, Jamala can sing about any sensitive matter, and even if she would want to give message for LGBT in her song, it will be OK for country (tho some puppet nationalists will scream and shout just to get attention and score political benefits from homophobes). Ukraine is not homophobic, sometimes people lack knowledge and listen too much of Russian propaganda, but Ukrainians do not have that animal hate towards LGBT as Russians do. In most cases our homophobes can use verbal insults, or just don’t know how to react and retreat. % of homophobes are low, pretty guys walking… Read more »
@Jonas Putin 2 years ago said a very important thing! I haven’t lived in Russia and did not betray this value. He said: If we in Russia will have a party advocating homosexuality or paedophilia. People will take up arms (he meant that the war will start). He said it’s important to learn to hear each other! And respect! When I read your comments, I see that you still don’t hear Russia and its desires. He’s absolutely right in this. Therefore, dear Europeans! Do not meddle in what you don’t understand! You’ll only hurt! It looks as if the Russians… Read more »
Void, I’m sorry I questioned your mental well-being. It was probably uncalled for, and lets you off the hook too easily anyway. There is absolutely no justification for Putin’s policies, no matter what way you cut it.
it means that he’s Jihadi Sergey 🙂 actually this teaser is pointless IMO. i would prefer to hear some music instead of couple of frames.
@Jonas Check out! Putin told about it 2 years ago!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsPyvWUEFTM
I understand your mental weakness! But it is not necessary to show it all! Sometimes it’s better to be silent! Perhaps, then, you will be intelligent.
All I wrote is the absolute truth! I’ve been doing this for over 25 years! And believe me I know what I’m writing. I am genuinely sorry for those people who don’t understand it.
Russia’s really upping their game this year after Polina came 2nd last year. Can’t wait to hear this song! (though I feel like it will be another unity-peace song like the last two entries)
Void is talking a load of nonsense, and is probably off his rocker. Probably best ignored.
Introductory lecture for today is over… Goodbye boys and girls.
@DR I didn’t mean to insult you. I didn’t say about the war with gays. Probably you misunderstood me. Let’s imagine the situation. Putin allows the promotion of homosexuality! What happens after that? Chechen, Yakut Republic declare secession from Russia! As well as the Urals Federal district. Since these regions are still children, and families are the main value of life. In this case, there is enough weapons to destroy the whole of Europe. It’s about 40% of all Russian territories. About 30% of the Russian population. Composed of 70% of ethnic Europeans, 20% of Caucasians and 10% Asians. How… Read more »
@jr esc nl In order to understand what’s going on. Need to see global problems. Planet resettled. There are people who are doing that are destroying the nation. Not through war, but through soft genocide. Focus on sex, alcohol, drugs, suicide, lust for comfort. All of these are degeneration and degeneration of the nation. Take any teenager. Surely he would refer to one of these groups. There are people who resist this, by destroying the functions of the hostile government. Bringing in the paradigm of thinking in the new templates. Thereby changing the behavior of society. At the moment, Europe… Read more »
So everybody can see what I was talking about by reading Void`s comments. This is what most of russians believe…
Eres tan VACIO que solo estas lleno de PREPOTENCIA.
@Void
I don’t want any conversation with you. You have just insulted me by saying I am trying to impose a view, when you are doing the same exact thing.
I don’t understand why you brought up some fictitious war with minorities. Gay people don’t want our own lands like Chechnya. You are making no sense and making me feel really uncomfortable. If you are not for LGBT rights then fine, but don’t insult those who do
LGBT rights are Human Rights. End of.
@void
Then how does someone change being gay according to you?
@Marie I don’t want to clog this thread with politics and seeking views. I already wrote a lot here. If you are interested to chat please e – mail me. I will answer you. [email protected]
@Marie Listen… don’t talk nonsense. You’re embarrassing yourself. Homosexuality is the disease of mental character, acquired due to injury or the imposition of standard stereotypes. And very rarely congenital. 100 gay, only 2 have a congenital pathology. I know more about this than you many times. Because it is connected with my profession. I know how people make decisions than they are. I know how ideas are imposed on entire Nations and countries. Psychologists call it the vector of the decision. Because a person has a need for sex, it is possible to apply some templates to the paradigm of… Read more »
@Marie I’m not Russian, but I live in Russia recently. This is due to my work. I know very well the mentality of the Russian people. I have long studied the country’s history and the history of regions of Russia. Their cultural specificities and differences. And nationalities of Russia, of which over 100 ethnic groups. There are some ethnic groups a population of just 600 people. With its culture and traditsiyami. The Russians are neither destroyed any culture during its history. They have to be. I can describe the Russians as Europeans, but with a different type of thinking. More… Read more »
@Void
Homosexuality cannot be promoted because it is not a ideology or a disease. It is a sexual orientation, like heterosexuality.
In Eastern Europe, being homophobic is something positive, so your disgusting behaviour is not a surprise for me. Your comments make me want to vomit, because they are the purest form of ignorance, insensibility and homophobia.
@Void
If you are russian, you are not able to understand empathy or the complexity of human dignity.
The opinion of the majority is useless if it disrespects human rights.
@charles
I actually do like the song, so you got that wrong. As for the rest of your comment, not sure what to make of it.
Russia is Russians business. Please do not require nonsense from them.
@DR You are talking nonsense!!! I’m a social psychologist by profession. I know how to shift the Overton window in the minds of the masses of people! I know how to grow a society of cannibals of civilized Europeans. When you cling to the animal world – it makes me laugh. If I check schoolboy at the blackboard 2+2… It’s all as old as the world. But apparently not for you! Animals have no social society. Thus degenerative individuals die out, the rest of the population continues to live. In human society things are different. As a man thinks in… Read more »
@DR I will ask you differently. You want that in Russia civil war has begun? People began to kill each other? I know very well the customs of Russia and some of its regions. If Putin will allow the promotion of minors in Russia will start war! People take up arms! Subsequently, this war could be directed against Europe! Even said Putin himself 2 years ago. So you are doing a very great folly! Interfering in Russia’s internal Affairs! Russia is a different civilization, a different mentality, other laws. Finally understand this. And by the way from my point of… Read more »
@dutchie: You are good at pressing the Russian nerve … they are loud and hysterical when things don’t turn the way they way regardless deserving it or not … However you’re not good at understanding that when I find quality in a song that clearly you don’t like, I really don’t care … I still praise quality and I always will .. but don’t expect me to praise anything you agree. That’s nonsense. Amir is a talented singer and I absolutely love his song … what are you going to do about it? Throw yourself from the Empire State Building?… Read more »
Dear all. I would like to think that “One” is about us all being part of one human race. I would like to think that everyone can come together in peace for the ESC. I would like to think that Russian songwriters have embraced this notion, and have produced a song that everyone can relate to. I would like to think if Russia wins the ESC this year, Eurovision fans can all gather there next year, in peace, and enjoy music. I know it’s idealistic, but it is a dream of mine. Music speaks to us all, across every border,… Read more »
Sorry, should be about Sergei. Looks promising, hoping for another big pop song. I know he will deliver. Especially if he takes his top off, hehe. ????
Oh gosh! Lazarev is gay? Surprised. Any good looking singer is not gay nowdays?
m.sputniknews.com/russia/20121220/178294940.html Here it is. Not a very comprehensive list. It sounds like it is not about supporting the LGBT community, but about the freedom of expression. I believe Russia has the same level of homosexuality as the rest of the world. The reason it looks higher in liberal countries is because we are more comfortable about being out. It’s not like gay is catching. In countries like Russia where public opinion is against the LGBT community, less people are willing to come out, and there for numbers are lower. @Void As a gay man, I was deeply offended by your… Read more »
Looks promising
@charles
Wow, I hit a nerve there, didn’t I? 😉 I don’t really like Russia’s entries with the forced message of peace and unity, nor do I like their usually rather bombastic nature, nor do I like the fact that they’re pretty much guaranteed qualification and a top-5. But you present Amir’s song as the one that will prevent it all from happening, which I find rather odd given your earlier comments on this website about the quality of songs and singers.