On December 22 Bulgaria’s state broadcaster BNT invited established producers and record labels to submit proposals for the Eurovision Song Contest 2017.
And on Thursday songstress Gery-Nikol received a big boost to her potential bid, as readers of Bulgaria’s largest Eurovision fan site named her their preferred candidate for Eurovision 2017.
Fans cast a total of 195,506 votes in the annual eurovision-bg poll, which saw rising star Gery-Nikol come out on top with 44,983 votes — or 23% of all those cast.
Gery-Nikol has been on our radar for months, prompting us to film a reaction video to her latest single “Gotina i Luda” (Crazy and Cool) earlier this December.
Gery-Nikol: Eurovision fan favourite
The Varna-born beauty has already said publicly that she’s likely to accept a BNT Eurovision offer, and we’re confident that she and her label are preparing a bid of some form.
The blonde bombshell rose to public attention in 2014, when she finished eighth on X Factor Bulgaria as part of the girl group Sweet 16.
She became known for her soulful, R&B-friendly voice, which ultimately led Bulgarian rapper Krisko to mentor her, paving the wave for her to sign with Bulgarian-German record label Facing The Sun.
Her debut single “Ela I Si Vzemi” (Come And Get It) topped the charts in 2015, and her follow-up singles made an impact as well, with “Momiche Kato Men” (Girl Like Me) hitting #5 on the charts, and “I’m The Queen” reaching #13.
Zhana Bergendorf
Zhana Bergendorf finished second in the fan poll with an impressive 43,933 — around 1,000 fewer votes than Gery-Nikol.
The Virginia Records artist won the second series of Bulgarian X Factor in 2013 and has released four singles. Her track “Nevazmozhni sme sami” topped the charts in 2015.
The mother-of-one speaks Bulgarian, Danish, English and Korean — suggesting she’d handle the Eurovision promotional tour with ease if selected.
Kristian Kostov
And rounding out the Top 3 is Kristian Kostov, who earned 38,737 votes.
The 16-year-old pop singer finished as runner-up on X Factor Bulgaria in 2016, and prior to that was a finalist on the first season of The Voice Kids Russia.
Who do YOU want to sing at Eurovision 2017 for Bulgaria? Do the top-finishers in this poll get you going? Let us know in the comments box below.
Terrific looking 360 frontal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny8rUpI_98I. Cosy and manner!!!!
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Wiwibloggs, Zhana is not the only polyglot here. Kristian speaks fluent Bulgarian, English and Russian, a bit of Kazakh and Japanese language and I think a bit German too. 🙂
@Polegend Godgarina: You are just one of those who have been dreaming the day Eurovision is playback tolerant and instead of just 3 hours it will last the whole night until dawn made of uptempo music and no ballad are allowed … while so many other things are happening on the side … and being broadcast for the whole world to see. Wow … you go girl you go!!
@Polegend Godgarina: Traditional Italian Popopera? Since when things created by Simon Cowell for his Syco label are considered “Traditional” and since when is Il Volo anything by Popopera? Do you even know what that actually means? You are just over the mood because your three egocentric Italian arrogant kids following the path of Il Divo and other opera singers singing pop female ballads and claiming to be better than anybody else, won the televote … even a dog doing circus tricks could win a televoting show. What a pride!!! How many more ways are there under your sleeve to project… Read more »
Chalga is a genre of music that, at a family party, grandmother and grandson dance together when they are both very drunk.
Don’t be offended Bulgaria, I know you can take a joke about chalga because it is not really something you care about.
The closest thing to pop folk we’ve send in Eurovision was Love unlimited and we didn’t qualify to the final.
“Water” is a folk song, yes, but It has nothing in common with the bulgarian pop folk/chalga. It was inspired by the bulgarian folklore and the chalga is very far from it.
I don’t mind sending another pop folk song. If it’s really good why not 🙂
@ an esc fan – honestly, the televoters seem to go crazy for traditional sounds. We won the televote and with a massive lead with the traditional Italian popera Grande amore. The Balkan countries have always fared extraordinarily well with traditional songs (Lane moje, Lejla, Nije ljubav stvar), and Greece never missed the top ten in televote with modern laïka songs. The closest thing to folk Bulgaria has ever sent, their 2007 entry, finished 5th. Honestly, pop folk always does very well if done properly.
@ Charles – lmaooo you’re pressed af, how old are you seriously. You simply cannot compare Gery-Nikol to Britney Spears vocals wise. She’s just average, but vocals matter very relatively at the Eurovision. It’s the best song that wins, and if people who could barely hit a note like all the four winners from 2008 to 2011 won – even with jury vote – then so can this girl.
Omfg @Kryzystof Poland are you f*****’ crazy? AZIS?! Seriously?!
Omfg omfg omfg. I’d rather want Gigi D’Alessio win Sanremo than AZIS represting Bulgaria.
I guess that the genre pop-folk has different meanings for different europeans. For some is a great music that incorporates traditions (more exotic the better), but for others is just cheap music for stupid people that want to hear lyrics about sex and money, and to move their hips. Eastern Europeans can easily find singers like that, but they are embarrassed as hell to show that in ESC, even if they know it might be successful.
@Krzysztof Poland: Let Azis out of this …. we already have already had a lot of mockery drag queen music in Eurovision … we need none of that again. Thank you anyway.
@Ryan Crean: Are you sure other countries like this Gery girl? Has the EU sent any official referendum to clear that up? Or is it too difficult to actually see that the desperate love for this kind of crappy singers has always and will always be found in the Eurovision fan community for the sake of making sure the show remains trashy, upbeat, corny, danceable, embarrassing, lack of music taste, etc … protected from the mature meaningful songs and the boring ballads sung by fully dressed divas… the replacement for a gay night out at some gay club or whatever?
So … they still want this Gery-whatever to be the next Rihanna-wannabe of Eurovision 2017 … I guess I know who will be knocking at Simon Cowell’s 2017 X Factor edition’s door … it has worked for other wannabes.
@Polegend Godgarina: Britney Spears is also talented … in the art of not singing live … but who cares about that right? For as long as we get to see those naked torso male dancers around her … it’s all good, right?
I wonder why bulgarians doesnt wanna send Gery even if westeners love her…hmm
Gery-Nikol is the best choice, by far. Charismatic, unique, and extremely talented.
All I see here is Bulgarians hating Gery-Nikol,yet other countries in Europe love her?
If Geri Nikol goes, than we can exclude Bulgaria from the winner candidates.
Oh come, Bulgaria should send Preslava
As a bulgarian I would really be ashamed if Gery-Nikol represents my country. This girl has very bad reputation here. Not to mention her questionable talent..
I personally voted for Miry, Nevena Peykova, Kristian Kostov, Jeremy?, Preyah, Victoria Georgieva and Zhana Bergendorf. In my opinion they could do a very good job in Eurovision.
Another artist I would like to see in Eurovision is Raffi Bohosyan who wasn’t in the fan poll. He is very talented and charismatic and kinda reminds me of Poli 🙂
If only theyd given “Cool Me Down” to Gery-Nikol!!! 🙁 🙁 🙁
Gery-Nikol is the best ,she will represent Bulgaria really well ! She has that western vibe voice , like rihanna or zara larsson that the world likes ! So i even can see her winning Eurovision ,as something different and new for this contest ,Gery-Nikol is really interesting artist ,in Bulgarian music there were never such a new artist to grow that fast like her ,she is like a sansasion here and not just here but all over the Balkans ! And i also see her soon as international star ,she has everything for it
I would be so happy if Kristian Kostov will represent Bulgaria. He is amazing, puts his heart in his performances. <3
To be honest… If Geri – Nikol or some of the pop – folk industry go to the Eurovision… I don’t think that me and many Bulgarians outside our country would be ever proud to support It. ????
Don’t know what to say, I’m not bulgarian, but I understand that Eastern Europe does not like to be represented by this kind of music that West seems to enjoy so much. If Bulgaria will send this is because they think it will work, but they will not really be proud of it. I accept any critics from bulgarians.
Pop-folk singer??!! Kristian Kostov is not a pop-folk singer! Just a pop singer.
Anyway, I want him to represent us. This guy has so much talent (and a lot more than the other two in the top 3 tbh) and he’s so young!
Azis >>>>>>>>> all those tryhards.
Just a little mistake: Kristian Kostov is only a pop singer. In Bulgaria pop-folk or chalga singers are generally viewed as some kind of insult ( at least for most of the people.