Sergey Lazarev has been a busy man in recent months, with touring, theatre and his Eurovision work. But he’s finally had a chance to take a working holiday in Tel Aviv as part of the Israel Calling event.
Wiwibloggs caught up with Sergey and got the lowdown on his hectic workload, being an ambassador for Russia and the state of his biceps.
Sergey talked about his recent fainting spell at a concert in St Petersburg. “It’s embarrassing,” he joked, before going on to explain that he’d been stressed from a hectic tour schedule.
He was also a bit upset that he hadn’t been able to hit the gym as much as he usually does, and had started to lose his muscle mass. He vowed to get back in shape for Stockholm, but as William discovered, even in his current state, Sergey is feeling toned and rock hard.
Sergey also talked about the wing tattoos he has on his biceps, a motif he also uses on his microphone stand. Sergey wouldn’t explain the exact meaning of the tattoo, but said, “I’m a flyer. It’s my soul.”
And did Sergey see himself as an ambassador for Russia? He said he hoped so in a positive way, playfully describing himself as “handsome, smart, funny, intelligent.” And modest!
Sergey is friends with former Eurovision stars, such as Ani Lorak and Philipp Kirkorov. He said they often check in with him and see how he’s progressing. He gave a shout out to his Russian Eurovision posse, saying “Guys, I love you, thank you.” And it looks like he’ll be spreading the love in Stockholm.
Getting dirty
Sergey later had a chance to get down in the dirt. As part of the Israel Calling event, the Eurovision stars travelled to a forest 30 minutes outside of Tel Aviv. There the stars each planted a tree to make up the Eurovision Forest. The idea is that the stars will one day return to see their saplings grown into big trees. Awww…
It was a wet and muddy day, but Sergey went all in, showing that he’s not at all afraid to get his hands dirty.
Watch: Sergey Lazarev performs “You Are the Only One” at Israel Calling
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@Anton: Another stupid cliche
Why “stupid cliche”? Anti-gay laws in Russia might be a “stupid cliche” – but it is the REALITY.
… Or maybe you’ll lie that there are no anti-gay laws in Russia? 🙂
Russophobia aside, Sergey is Dima Bilan 2.0. Gonna love his performance next month.
Ha, ha, Sergey has a great sense of humour. He’s a very talented performer, as evidenced by his body of work. He will put on a great show for us in Stockholm with an awesome song which has so much staging potential.
“A Million Voices” was stunning last year & I am hoping Russia will knock me out of my seat again this year (no pressure).
Good luck to Sergey.
Michal is not overrated. at first when he won nationals many Poles has been desperate and they made rude comments about him, even called him a woman with beard. that’s extremely rude. How he can be overrated in this situation? Someone took Margaret to the selection w/o checking if she can sing live, someone created a hype around her song, it backfired at Michal. I believe at such conditions he is underrated for someone’s mistakes. He deserve to win this contest. what about Alexander Rybak with his fairytale? if this type of song can win, even if it gives me… Read more »
@Mirek
Sergey and Michal have 1 thing in common both overrated, Sergey by wiwi juries and bookies, and Michal by polish fans, with Margaret you could’ve stood more chance of winning with that nice song Cool me down 🙂
why u dont talking with michal from poland? two concerts with him, with your camera, and nobody talking with him? pfff
@georgekirkas
thank you, and Greece is a good country at eurovision for sending different types of music, last year Maria-Elena had a good song, Eleftheria’s Aphrodisiac is also one of my favourites from Greece, but Helena’s My Number One remains my favourite from you guys 🙂
Argo is a good band, if you like the genre, i like rock
@Albert
i completely agree with your opinion 🙂
oxyk
I don’t answer to you.
@Anton, stupid cliche? since when your Russia became gay-friendly country? something happened overnight? 🙂
«Maybe… If gays are craving to visit homophobic Russia next year, let them televote»
Another stupid cliche
That’s not true that people in Russia think Bilan is better. Now they are pretty equal, each has his own audience and funs. I heard and saw both and not for a one time. I prefer Lazarev. He’s much better singer live and his behaviour is stage is way more organic. Btw Bilan would be nothing without his producer Yana Rudkovskaya. She’s one of the richest woman in showbusiness. And Lazarev now don’t even have one (he mentioned it while interview on tv) and do everything on his own money. He’s been on stage from 6 years old. He’s amazing… Read more »
@Anton: What is innovative and modern now? Tell me please. Latvia’s and Australia’s songs are the most modern ones among the participants of the ESC this year. @Anton: Dima Bilan have won, why Sergey can’t? Yes, he can! Just look at Bilan’s entry when he has won and compare that entry with Lazarev’s entry – and then you’ll see, why Bilan has won, and why Lazarev won’t win. @Anton: Sergey Lazarev is a new gay icon. Why new? Definitely, rather old … and definitely, inside of some rather narrow round. 🙂 @Stan: he’ll get lots of (gay) televotes Maybe… If… Read more »
Stop all the Russia hate! If Russia wins, then fair enough. The song is not the most modern, but it’s the kind of song that usually appeals to a wide audience. I think the jury will decide this year’s destiny. Russia will get 12 points from most of the former Sovjet states. France will get 12 points from Sweden, Israel and Belgium for sure. Sweden will get 12 points from Scandinavia. It’s most likely a three horse race this year. Wide open. Russia has the most entertaining entry, while France and Sweden stands for the modern expression. It will be… Read more »
@Charles, fair enough. too bad for Lazarev that not every girl and not every man interested in his hot body 🙂 I can understand why most of the people gave their voice to Conchita. some “because of” her beard, and most of viewers who value song and voice gave their voices “despite of” her beard. I believe that ESC fans have high hopes on something that wouldn’t work on real life viewers.
@oxyk: Because Russia has been desperate to replace all those booing reactions with crowd orgasms … if you understand what I really mean with this. Sergey probably believes he may get extra 12 by showing off his biceps … I mean it’s not a musical element but … again everything counts when it comes to get those damn 12 … Dima won with his arrogance and egocentric persona … Sergey has faith his body will do the trick for him. Do you see music being used to win? Naaahhh …
@Anton even in Russia people consider Lazarev worse than Dima.
Dima has +1 octave in his voice range, it adds chances, you know.
if Polina Gagarina and Dina Garipova – girls with perfect voice – haven’t won, what makes you confident that Lazarev can be a winner?
… il colore della voce è il suo punto di forza. Ha una grande energia che trasforma in interpretazione. Un artista completo!
He could get his own Russian tv comedy show, Sergey and Grace
@Anton, “modern” is to hear dubstep in the public bus. Innovative to bring fresh tune and vocal pattern. the word speaks for itself, isn’t it? something NEW
He is so camp
Dima Bilan have won, why Sergey can’t? Yes, he can!
Is the song dated or not was never an issue at the ESC. Very dated songs won some of the recent competitions too (Austria, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Serbia, Germany…).
I’m sure he will give his best and make a great show as the great professional he is but I don’t think it will appeal europeans from what I’ve seen. Russia’s always very grandiloquent in their acts and less ir more sometimes.
Also the song is a really good one but not a winner song IMO.
I am quite tired of Russia and the fact that they already have a place in the Top 10 just for being Russia. I mean, sometimes they send OK entries like 2013 or 2015, but I still think “Shine” was awful, and Sergey Lazarev is a diva singing “Thunder and lighting is getting exciting”, seriously? I am sure he will have a fan to do some hair blow. I refuse to believe that he will win because there are, at least, 15 songs much better than that one.
France is most contemporary? I heard tis type of songs in early 2000s.
And again, none of the «modern» songs has won ESC.
Sergey…dime de que presumes y te dire de que careces.La tienes chica…pequeña…enana…insignificante…la butifarra.
Always fun to have everyone hitting on the favourite! The song is not the strongest (tmo) but it’ll look stunning and he’ll get lots of (gay) televotes.
If an entry needed to be contemporary, Belgium would have won last year, not Italy. This year, the most contemporary song is probably France, and I hope it’ll do well. We need some excitement in the voting!
Elina Born and Amber, too.
Sergey need not to stress over not hitting the gym. There were Eurovision stars who gained weight and had no trouble performing on stage like Ruth Lorenzo, Elhaida Dani and Zoë.
He seems like a nice guy and its so great to finally see a Russian to be able to speak English in an interview.
What is innovative and modern now? Tell me please. And what winner song was that innovative last years? Innovative songs never wins, people!
I feel like I’m watching a member of an early 2000s boy band try to kick start a solo career. The song is fine don’t get me wrong, and if this was 2006, I would probably be rooting for it… but this is absolutely not modern or innovative. I genuinely don’t understand how it could even make the top 10 with such a strong line up this year.
Bonsoir Stockholm, Hello Loo, “”” Loo APRIL 13, 2016 @ 2:33 PM The song is a bit dated, yes, but it’s good enough to win and will not hurt him at all. Russia will be in top 3, for sure. Russia vs. France vs. Sweden. These are the three that can win at this point. Things can change in May though.. “”” As far as I know, you cannot bring a dated song to Eurovision. It is part of the rules, The song has to be a new one and I think it is, I never heard it before. However… Read more »
“dated”?? the simple-mindedness of these comments never fail to surprise me. Honestly anything up tempo from Eastern europe will automatically be branded as old-fashioned (we all know why) so why should they even bother trying to please any of you. How is this dated but Israel, Australia, Poland, Belgium, Ireland, Romania, Moldova, San Marino, Netherlands, Italy 2015 not? First three are boring ballads (ugh! so 20th century!), belgium and san marino are reminiscent of disco (again, stay in the 20th century!), Ireland is a bland late 90s/early 00s song, Romania is obviously influenced by the hard/glam rock genre of the… Read more »
The song is a bit dated, yes, but it’s good enough to win and will not hurt him at all. Russia will be in top 3, for sure. Russia vs. France vs. Sweden. These are the three that can win at this point. Things can change in May though..
@Nicky91 You’re welcome! I will definitely vote for it, since I am from Greece and Greece is in the same Semi-Final with Malta, the first Semi-Final! Good luck Ira!
He’s like the russian Ricky Martin 😀
Anyways, his song is a sure shot.
Nina Kralji? is performing this sunday on The Voice Hrvatska 😀
So on sunday we will know how she sound with brilliantly audio and video. 😀
Can’t wait 😀 It will be on youtube after her performance 🙂
@georgekirkas
funny thing the first time i heard his song, i thought that i heard it before lol
anyway thank you for liking Malta, and maybe you could also give it a vote, please 🙂
@Nicky91 Well, I actually like the song but I also think that it is cheesy and dated! Not a winner for me, too overrated!
@georgekirkas
well i agree, and this song is overhyped, it’s dated and bland, and it isn’t exciting like he’s sings Thunder and Lightning it’s getting exciting hahahaha
@Leaf
i wish it was just fair play in the voting 🙂
I don’t want to offend anyone,but I think Sergey is a little bit cocky.Anyway,it’s pretty normal!
The song is not working for me BUT they It will surely go UP on my list after the rehearsals (since they always bring it on stage) …… I just cannot see it winning.
It doesn’t tick all the boxes.
If we striped away the Russian Diaspora and friendly neighbors based on the song and presentation this should finish from 8th-14th in the final.
BUT, I predict a strong result in the semi final and a top 5 finish in the final.
@MS
exactly, i agree with you 🙂
@Racal
hahahaha
Racal
Proof?
Lipsync.
His song doesn’t deserve to win: it’s dated ;
He was the only one on stage in tel aviv who needed his dancers because the song without them is not good at all.
Sergey could be a nice guy but the song remains average.O point for me.
such better songs for me! this is bling bling!!
@Anton
He is!
Sergey Lazarev is a new gay icon.
@Briekimchi
well the song is dated and sounds really 90’s like an Alcazar or A-Ha track
i would even like Mans’s Heroes over this dated and bland cheesy song