After missing Kyiv last year, Russia is taking things higher in Lisbon. During both her first and second rehearsals, Julia Samoylova became one with the scenery, perched atop a mountain.

As she looks out across the arena, her massive projection dress hides her wheelchair. Following her first rehearsal, the “I Won’t Break” songstress caught up with our William. Speaking through a translator, she told us about her first experience on the Altice Arena stage, her staging and her desire for viewers not to pity her.

On her mountainous dress, Julia explains the practical benefits:”I’m too small as a person in terms of height. I feel comfortable on the mountain, otherwise I would have felt lost on that huge stage”.

“There is no way that I feel ashamed that I’m in a wheelchair, but idea behind it is to not show it on stage (hence the dress). We want to avoid that people think I want to pull the sympathy card, because I’m in a wheelchair”.

The idea behind the staging as a whole is unity: “the unity between people and nature and about live: things will always find their way”.

“I’m really positive since getting here.  I’m just really happy to be at Eurovision finally”!

Watch more of our interviews on wiwi.tv.

 

23 Comments
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Peter M
Peter M
5 years ago

I really wish people would stop hating so much on everything Russian. I’m not a fan of the song, myself but Julia seems like a really nice person and it’s definitely better to have Russia in Eurovision. The contest is all about bringing people and countries together.

joe
joe
5 years ago

It is actually one of my most streamed songs this year, a really good song imo. Live vocals are shaky but they’ve improved a lot, this will qualify

Mike
Mike
5 years ago

Oh please.
It’s obvious that Russia chose her for sympathy votes.
She sings off key and has a very mediocre voice. Obviously she wasn’t chosen for her voice or charisma.
But now they realized the sympathy vote won’t be enough and are trying to make it appear that it’s about something else. Very unconvincing.

LeGrand
LeGrand
5 years ago

Dont worry love. Sympathy wouldn’t help you anyways as your song is so horrible

beccaboo1212
5 years ago

OFF TOPIC: If there’s anyone with a Change.org account, sign sign this petition to get Slovenia back at JESC in November.

https://www.change.org/p/european-broadcasting-union-slovenia-to-compete-at-junior-eurovision-song-contest-2018

Sara78
Sara78
5 years ago

Just terrible, the song, the voice…everything…

Marcus
Marcus
5 years ago

I really liked Julia’s 2017 Eurovision song ‘Flame is burning’. The lyrics “after the night, there is a light, and in the darkest time a flame is burning”. It was such a shame she didn’t get to perform it. She seems like such a sweet soul with such a positive outlook. Julia you are a light. Keep shining brightly. Europe loves you <3

andrew
andrew
5 years ago

im sorry but she will be in final but for people voting and feelling sorry for her thats a fact and sadly another act will loose there rigjtful place in the final sadly . she is only getting this press to get the pity points and it will work .

Curve
Curve
5 years ago

Offtopic:
When will you guys make an article about misheard lyrics of this year’s songs?

Yaaf
Yaaf
5 years ago

Please, please people understand that she is a pray, and pity her! They put her up last year just because they wanted a justification for withdrawing from competing in Ukrain and that’s why she is competing now, poor lamb! It’s very sad, life is cruel and in Russia mercy is not top value! I think I should even vote for her!

Juan
Juan
5 years ago

She’s a sympathy card herself but hey, this is a human contest, not a robotic contest. I’m happy to see her on stage, living her 3-minute-dream.

We chose a blind singer (Serafín Zubiri) as our representative. He finished 14/23 and even so, he went to Eurovision again 8 years after.

Many more countries did things like this.That’s the beauty and diversity from this contest.

Miss Uncongeniality
Miss Uncongeniality
5 years ago
Reply to  Juan

Sorry, but even tough, Serafin’s songs were not the best, you can’t compare his singing ability (which are very good), or Corinna May’s voice, with Yulia’s… i don’t care if Yulia needs a wheel chair, or her disabilities, SHE JUST CAN’T SING, and yes, she is there, just because of her condition, nothing else

drag kvinna
5 years ago

she want brake

RockMe
RockMe
5 years ago

Sympathy card was her last chance

andrew
andrew
5 years ago

she will get pity points and be in the final instead other betyer song sadly we all know this

GiavK
GiavK
5 years ago

i cannot believe how harsh and soouless are some people here.Ok her vocals are not good but are not awful.Her performance is ok and so is the song.WHY so much hate.She doesn’t deserve that.You all constantly offend her like it’s her fault.You forget that she is a puppet from the russian broadcaster to create drama and attract viewers by using her.If you want to blame someone blame them but NOT her!

Miss Uncongeniality
Miss Uncongeniality
5 years ago

Julia, honey, you are nothing more than a sympathy card, so live with it. Bad song, terrible voice, chaotic staging… darling, you should take some some pills, a bottle of fresh and hard russian vodka and enjoy the ride

joe
joe
5 years ago

My God it must be horrible to have such a toxic heart to be able to write such a thing, I am happy to say I could never be so nasty

EIN
EIN
5 years ago

Good song, unique artist.
Support Julia.

Eric
Eric
5 years ago

Her song is not particularly good. And her singing is just bad

Simon
Simon
5 years ago

She seem so sweet. No, i will judge the song and not the country and i think Russia will be in the final. She have been improving a lot 🙂 good luck:). Slovenia,Malta,Serbia,Latvia,Romania,San Marino,Montenegro,Netherlands is worse in MY opinion so thats enough to qualify.

milly_992
milly_992
5 years ago

She seems really sweet but it looks like someone in the Russian Eurovision team really hates her – first they wrote her a song that doesn’t fit her limited vocal abilities at all and then they planned that messy WTF stage performance for her.

Simon
Simon
5 years ago
Reply to  milly_992

Yeah but WE assumed they wanted to hide her and WE assumed a lot of things of Russia i think. I have assumed a lot of things to that werent very nice. I feel bad for that now and i hope they will do great :). Eurovision isnt the opinion of the ALL the russians i think.