ALEKSEEV’s Eurovision 2018 track “Forever” has had several iterations in recent months. With an original Russian-language draft followed by an English translation followed by a further nip-and-tuck for the national final, “Forever” is starting to look like a cat with nine or so lives.
Well the reinvention continues. As plenty of Eurovision fans have pointed out, yet another version — presumably the final ahead of Eurovision — has been published on Spotify.
The opening bars of this latest iteration strip back the electro production, starting with soft piano accompaniment that almost sounds acoustic. Alekseev begins more gently and quietly, making us wait before giving us the thrust of the song.
From the one-minute mark the sound more or less returns to the earlier version, with the electro swells and bells we’ve come to love.
For some the edit may make the song feel less immediate. For others it will surely add a sense of dynamism that helps create a “journey” through the three minutes.
To that end, ALEKSEEV strips things back again before the bridge, turning down the backing to focus on his voice. The bridge itself has a more choral feel with other voices chiming in to create an echo effect.
He’s been singing this version of the song at live performances for several weeks now, as in this concert in Yekaterinburg on March 16.
As you can tell from the performance above, ALEKSEEV has grown in confidence and skill since the Belarusian national final.
Although he’s more exposed in the opening bars he seems far more comfortable with them. He’s more in-tune and more on-point, suggesting he could peak at just the right time when he hits the semi-final in May.
ALEKSEEV in ELLE MAN UKRAINE
The Ukrainian heartthrob hasn’t just been perfecting his track. He’s also been on a domestic media blitz, giving interviews to several well-established media outlets.
Elle Man Ukraine recently caught up with Nikita, and pulled out a few new insights.
ALEKSEEV’s motto? “The scene saved my life — if not for music, I would be an unhappy man.”
What brings him shame? “If my vocals are emotionless. Feeling is more important than singing.”
What does he consider wild? “The craziest act always takes place on the stage — it’s like jumping without a parachute, going into outer space: we can live a lifetime in just three minutes, and so again and again…”
What do you think of this latest version of the song? Are you happy that he’ll be singing this at Eurovision? Do you think it builds better now? Let us know down below.
I really hope he qualifies. The song is really good in my opinion and judging from some of his previous performances he is going to slay in Lisbon. Listening to him live I really don’t understand what happened in the national final since he can actually sing. Good Luck ?
I like it sounds almost a capella at the beginning. They wanted to build it up. However, it’s not strong enough until the 2nd verse and chorus where it seems more like the original version. By the time it gets stronger you have already lost interest. I also don’t like the backing vocals.
Overall, it seems more messy than it was. The original version was way better. They ruined it. Sorry, but this is a different song. I won’t be surprised if he stays in the semis.
this verison would have better staging, and could maybe have a stronger chance to qualify, but i like the other version better but i love this one too.
Why does it sound like he’s choking? It’s a studio production, take breaks if you need to.
But honestly, this is not a bad song at all. In fact this is my second most favorite Belorussian entry since 2007 – which is not saying much since Belarus hasn’t sent anything decent since then.
The Tolmachevy Sisters are Alekseev’s backing vocalists.
Really? Both of them?
I wonder how they travel. Getting through a metal detector can’t be easy when your hair’s tied together.
On a side note, at least some good singers will be involved in this entry. I won’t call “Shine” a masterpiece but they gave it a good effort.
They are not! It’s a lie
I see them according to the NF & Yekatenburg performance.
Much, much better than the old version. Great job!
I really like his version, also love the original studio version as well. However, his live vocals were very poor in their national final. In such a competitive semi, if he sings like that again it doesn’t deserve to go through.
I don’t like any version of this song. Hope it doesn’t qualify
Sorry (not sorry)…
…but I’m pretty sure we’re either going to Jerusalem, Tallinn (although not a fan), Prague, Brussels, or Sofia, not Madrid.
I think La Forza will do really well with the juries in the semi, however if it was down to the televote alone, I could see it as a shock NQ, as the standard is so high in semi 1.
This is not The Voice. Estonia made the mistake to think is sending a song for The Voice. Belarus is right.
lol no
you are probably a freak show
Why did Angelika pushnova get a haircut?
More importantly why is she the picture for an article on Alekseev
Of course every country sucks this year except for the holy song of Spain. Jeez stop fanboying over a mediocre song, you’re only making the others dislike it by spamming every comment with how good Spain is. I honestly didn’t mind the song, I thought it was not good but okay. But now, with all the fanboys, I really started hating it because it’s so overhyped. It happens every year tbh, last year it was Italy, in 2016 it was Spain again and oh boy don’t get me started on Italy 2015. Greece does the same pretty much every year… Read more »
Greece this year have a very boring song , but is Greece and whatever they bring is Always better than the rest, thats sucks also
Not denying that Greece’s song is a top 10, all-time great entry…but let’s be honest, unless someone time-warps us back to 1974 and lets us see ABBA win it, we’ll never be “privileged” to hear a Eurovision song.
Boring ethno nationalistic ballad. I’ll pass.
why he kteps making the song worse (( bring back the 1st original russian version
Me, when I get tired of Forever, I switch to Navsegda, humming in russian cause I’ve found a phonetical version of the lyrics. Plus there’s now the same cool video in russian. For sure I’l play it for long after the Esc finals, it’ s a classic.
Right now my favourite version is from a live concert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArdHzIiAbzU
Oh, the spanish fanboys again. How lovely.
Spanish eurofans are the worst and the gayest of the eurofans.
Racist AND homophobic! We got a two-fer, folks!
Calling someone gay when they are actually gay is homophobia now?
No. The pattern is:
“The worst and gayest” = connotation that “gayest” is a negative characteristic + a broad generalization meant to demean the fans. Like saying “that’s so gay” or something like that.
So, it was homophobic, and screw that.
I bet he really thinks emotions are more important than singing. We already heard that in the national final. Anyways, I have to say that I really like the song. It’s so Close to be in my top 10, but this guy just can’t sing. If he can’t sing his song well and if he sings it how he did in the nf, there’s no way for him to qualify. Get Alekseev some Training or give up!
Now he takes vocal lessons and he’s already improved a lot
This is a cute but failed attempt at trolling! 🙂
The song is okay, but those vocals are ear-ripping to say the least. Not an act I’m longing to see in the final for sure!
I’m sorry – I still don’t like it. There’s something in his voice that really irritates me – it might be his fault, or it might caused by how the song is structured, but I don’t plan on listening to the whole song ever again.
I will continue to listen to the old version forever and this new one will settle in eventually. He is the dark horse, no doubt about it. I also think he is stylish, and the music video is the most stylish this year.
Empty your mind and listen again as it is for the first time in an arena. The whole package is good, why so much overthinking?
He thinks that emotions are more important than singing?
Yah, but maybe singing abilities would help either…
Couldn’t they let somebody else sing in the background and Alekseev just moves his lips? I mean, c’mon, it’s Belarus, they have already cheated worse before…
Nah, not a fan of the revamp. The original version had a certain etherality to the backing music, now the crap accent doesn’t sound endearing at all.
The original was cute. Sorry Alekseev, still hope you do well 🙂
His singing is good in the lower range but still in the higher range he’s hitting a lot of bum notes
I must admit that I’ve never listened to the whole song and even with the new version I just can’t. And I really really like it. If only someone else would sing it, it would be perfect.
I have the exact same feeling. There’s something really annoying about his voice and also the way he stands on the scene, holding his hand like that. I really can’t describe it neither. It’s a pity, because the song is really beautiful!
He’s basically tone-deaf and overly nasal!
I have a terrible feeling this might make it through. If it got in over another more deserving song, I’d be very disappointed. Still, he’s a decent guy. Let’s see what happens (incidentally, emotions are more important than singing? Yeah, good luck using that with the juries…)
Is it allowed to revamp the song all the time – I thought there was a deadline. Can somone explain the rules to me?
The revamp for the final version of the song was done before the set deadline. It was only niw that we all get to hear the finished product.
Another 12 points to Israel, that was expected. Finally points to France and Belgium, and big amounts of them! Excellent!
“La Forza” collects its first points although I expected a bit more. Doesn’t Belarus tend to help the baltics? Anyway, “Fuego” does the proper scoring a single point!
And Sweden, Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Italy still going strong. The only song I can’t stand is Norway, but is fine if people are into it. Also wasn’t Rybak originally from Belarus? If so, that’s a pretty low amount of points.
Greetings.
We’re not going to Madrid, bruh.
It’s either gonna be Brussels 2019, Paris 2019, or Rome 2019. (I didn’t include Israel because I’m pretty sure Netta is gonna end up being this year’s Francisco)
Probably Tallinn 2019 (even though I am not a fan)
Hmm, I don’t think this was a really necessary revamp. The softer start DOES help the song build and has an interesting piano melody, BUT, it will make Alekseev’s vocals more in focus which could be a problem if he doesn’t fix them by May. Same in the bridge. Now, the bridge really disappoints me. I loved the music in background during the old bridge as it led well into the following “explosion.” Also, I hate the added backing vocals in the last chorus before it repeats, does not fit in at all. So overall, I think that these changes… Read more »
Well, it is bad. But at the end, he “won” the Belarus national selection and it’s an Eurovision contestant. Well, waiting for May to see him stay in the Semi.
Slay, you meant. I fixed it for you!
Yeah, right. We’re not going to Madrid on 2019.
There is a “disconnect” in this song, as Sabrina senses. It’s because the drama of the music doesn’t match the drama of the lyrics. (There will be more detail on that in the review.) No amount of “light and shade” in the music is going to fix that. I agree with some others who have suggested the song go back to his native language or sing some other lyrics entirely. As for the performance side of things, Alekseev is improving his English and his vocal control with every passing week – well done to him. P.S. I have no taste… Read more »
Yay! Purple Mask gives fashionista advice! XD
😉
Looking forward to the more detailed explanation. To me it is precisely the lyrical dissonance which gives the song its edge. The bad craftmanship merely underscores the song’s theme of tragic failure. It’s the stream of consciousness of a heart broken man.
It can be interpreted that way, yes. But the only hint at a tragedy in the lyrics is in the Bridge towards the end. This hint could have been earlier, in my opinion.
(It probably was earlier in the other language.)
I agree with what you’re saying about this sad love song. I imagine him struck by love and desperate, confused, obssesed and strangely elated. Everything in this song converged for this idea: the melody, it’s repetive structure, it’s pathos, the video in every little detail (noticed the Braille?).
And I’m also going deaf. For real. These things don’t help matters.
Mask, maybe it’s this, but isn’t also something about the melody on the chorus? Again I can’t precise what’s unpleasant to my ears, but it’s something that only happens with this song. For example: I think San Marino’s song is worst than that, but I have no problem listening to it until the end. While I have to force me to do that with “Forever”.
In the Choruses: It might be how the melody clashes with the harmony there. But in my review I have basically celebrated the good music while criticizing the lyrics. Although going on some other people’s responses over the past month, I may have to look at this song again. I may have mis-read it. I was pretty sure the drama of the story was supposed to have been in the Choruses, and that this was lost with a re-write into English. But, I could be mistaken.
What to say?
I was undecided about Belarus this year before this revamp….it was a borderline qualifier before.
Now?
In my opinion, it’s now a definite nonqualifier.
Sometimes you can mess around with a song just too much….if it ain’t broke, don’t fix!!!
Same here. Semi 1 is so cutthroat that the smallest mistake can easily send you packing. I think they’ve been going in the wrong direction with the song from the beginning, and this revamp (in addition to his live vocals) is what kills it. I won’t be shocked if it qualifies, but I will be surprised.
And that’s how you kill a top 10 in my books. What a shame. Welcome to the top 10 again Denmark!
I can live with it I guess.
Really wanted that Russian language version.
I really prefer this new stripped back version.
There’s something that really bothers me about this song and I can’t point exactly what it is. There’s something wrong beyond his vocal skills and this something makes it extremely exhausting for me to listen to it.
I’m still not a fan, but this version is much better. Now there’s finally some dynamic on the song. The ending could be improved though, it sounds rushed. But we all know the problem is that his vocals aren’t reliable and now they’re even more exposed. He needs to nail it, especially on the jury show.
Interesting changes — but are they for the BETTER??
The first verse being stripped back makes the song a lot better, so much more build up. HOWEVER, the softer part at the bridge just feels strange to me, breaking off the flow of the song. Regardless, he needs to work on actually singing the song as opposed to remastering it!
It’s just… no.
Will continue to listen to the old versions, but this is an upgrade in the context of Eurovision I’d say.
I have a question…
How he won X Factor?
He don’t participated in X Factor. He participated in The Voice of Ukraine and eliminated in first live show
And he was immediately given a song by the producers witch made him a star. He has huge following and charms live audiences on a regular basis, this is his metier!
It’s Mélovin won X Factor
Melovin is a great, flawless singer, with beautiful tone vocals. I’m sure if he sang this song, it would sound way better… The song is not bad but Alekseev just can’t sing, and he won’t be able to learn until May. And I don’t see the emotion he talks about when he’s on stage. In fact, he looks unconfortable.
I loved the first version of Forever from the very first listening. It was strong, captivating, it had it all: the voice, the melody, the emotions. The new one is just meh, without energy. Singing high notes almost a capella is tiring for a listener, not moving. It’s a shame he changed it…
whats the point of working on new versions if he can’t sing the song? he should focus his work on getting his vocals in check and not on 110th version of the song
Alekseev has just gone from strength to strength with each new version of ‘Forever’, growing in confidence singing live and giving the full picture of the song. High hopes for Belarus to qualify this year, great entry!
I actually really prefer this version, the softer first verse helps the build up.