Little Big were due to represent Russia at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam with their song “Uno”.
Russian broadcaster Channel One chose the band through an internal selection, a format that traditionally works out well for the country. Their competing song received its live debut not long after.
And now, without any further chit-chat, here are 10 facts we’ve compiled about Little Big. Let’s do this!
Russia at Eurovision 2020: Facts about Little Big
1. They hail from Saint Petersburg… and beyond
While Little Big was formed in the former Russian capital of Saint Petersburg back in 2013, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the entire group consists of Petersburgers. For example, frontman Iliya Prusikin was born in the Siberian village of Ust’-Borzya, near the Chinese border.
2. They used to be a five-piece
Little Big originally started out as a quintet. However, they became four in 2018, when vocalist Olympia Ivleva parted ways with the band. She left due to “burnout after five years of doing the same job”. Thus, the group now consists of Iliya “Ilich” Prusikin, Sonya Tayurskaya, Anton “Boo” Lissov, and Sergey “Gokk” Makarov.
3. They’re not meant to be taken seriously
Humour and satire are key elements in Little Big’s act. For example, they have a 2016 single called “Big Dick”, while their first album is titled With Russia From Love — a play on the well-known catchphrase “from Russia with love”. While they usually parody various Russian stereotypes, they’ve also looked abroad for inspiration. You don’t believe us? Check their 2017 hit “LollyBomb”!
4. Their fun approach is award-winning
Their creative and unconventional music videos have received much praise from the critics, which is reflected by the numerous awards they’ve won throughout the years, including the Global Film Festival Award for the best music video, for their viral hit “Skibidi”.
5. Their biggest hit is “SKIBIDI”
Speaking of which “SKIBIDI” is an infectious song that went viral in 2018. If the world didn’t notice them before, the track’s view count (which currently stands at over 380 million on YouTube) is proof that now it did. It spawned the “SKIBIDI challenge” — an online dance craze in which fans uploaded videos of themselves attempting the music video’s signature dance. Moves included cross punching arms and stepping with your toes turned out while lifting your knees towards your body.
6. They have many other projects
All four members have projects outside of Little Big. Anton Lisov and Sergey Makarov are both founding members of the popular alternative rock band Jane Air, Lisov being the vocalist while Makarov handles the bass. Meanwhile, Iliya Prusikin (besides being formerly involved in several nu-metal acts) was the creative director and the face of electronic store chain Svyaznoy for a brief period between August and December 2019.
7. They’ve got a wide range of influences
The members of Little Big have cited various musical influences – ranging from bands like Cannibal Corpse, Rammstein and The Prodigy, to composers like Mozart and Vivaldi.
8. They don’t lack self-irony either
In August 2019, popular Ukrainian comedy project Chotky Patsa made a parody of Little Big’s hit “I’m OK”, and surprise! Iliya Prusikin himself made an appearance in the music video, playing a homeless man. These folks know how to joke, y’all!
9. They have their own record label
They founded their own record label called Little Big Family. Besides being home to the group themselves, it has also signed acts like folk-punk-hardcore group The Hatters, trap singer Tatarka (who is also Prusikin’s wife) and rapper LIZER, among others.
10. There wouldn’t have been Little Big without Die Antwoord
As frontman Iliya Prusikin recalls in an interview to tabloid Afisha, “There are many coincidences in Little Big’s history. We were just shooting a video for April’s fools. It got uploaded and everyone began asking “Maybe you’ll start a band?”. But it still might not have happened if it wasn’t for them being called to warm up for Die Antwoord. We were like “Wow, we don’t even have songs!”. “But you have a month”, they said. So we wrote six songs, shot music videos and they have spread out. Nobody thought that we would make money out of it. It just happened”. The rest, as you might already know, is history.
Eurovision 2021 update
As of 1 April, it has yet to be confirmed whether Little Big will represent Russia at Eurovision 2021..
Would Little Big have been contenders to win Eurovision with “Uno”? Should they come back next year? Sound off in the comments below!
This was way more informative than their Wikipedia page.
Really want to see these guys live, they look and sound amazing.
got into them late last year and missed the UK tour date
Gutted to say the least
they always bring a smile to my face and quite often wake up singing one of their songs.
They are fabulous. After seeing Uno, I watched all their videos and haven’t enjoyed a band so much in years.
My question is: Who are the two guest singers in the video and why do they look like the two front singers?
The male guest singer is Yuri Muzichenko – frontman of The Hatters, a good friend and colleague of Ilich. He was asked to join them because his voice complements and supports Ilya’s very well.
The other is Florida Chanturia, the female vocalist of the Russian band Leningrad. Not sure why they decided to invite her, but probably the same reason – needed another strong female vocal for support.
I wouldn’t say they’re that similar, but it is funny how their styling at the moment coincided with the main singers’.
The woman is a member of other music band – Leningrad, and the man is the frontman of The Hatters
Female back singer is Florida Chanturia from the rock band Leningrad, male back singer is Yuri Muzychenko from The Hatters. Both bands are from St. Petersburg as well as Little Big, both are very popular in Russia and CIS. Muzychenko appears in Little Big’s music videos quite often. They look kinda similar to main singers because it’s a part of the joke: if you look closely you will notice that only back singers have their mics connected, while the wires of both lead singers’ mics are cut so they are clearly lipsyncing. Leningrad’s song with Florida’s vocals: https://youtu.be/Z8qU0GdW88Q The Hatters:… Read more »
Thanks a lot my friends 🙂
Well, they didn’t actually start off as a quintet, it’s a bit more complicated. They started as a quartet of Ilich, Gokk, Olimpiya and Anna Kast in 2013. In 2014, Anton joined and Anna left. Sonya joined only in 2016. And then in 2018 Olimpiya left. So technically only the period of 2016-2018 was a quintet. Their label isn’t actually a label. It is a creative union of sorts. If we’re talking other projects, I can’t not mention that Ilich originated as a pretty successful YouTuber and he’s still doing it through projects like KlikKlak. They’re basically the most popular… Read more »
I think the last Russian Eurovision song I really liked before “UNO” was “Ne ver’, ne boisia” all the way back in 2003! I really hope they come back
My favorites, hope they will come back in 2021 <3
I hope they do represent Russia next year. The world needs them! Davai, Rossiya!
They should come back with a song called “UNO MAS”.
I’m disappointed Wiwibloggs, you could have numbered the fun facts Uno, Dos, Tres, Cuatro, Cinco, Seis (Ho! Are you ready? Ha! Hold it steady).
They could come UNO place with UNO!
By the way, today is the band’s birthday! ?
It’s not funny at all. I don ‘t wanna see them at Eurovision.
Be careful what you wish for. You may become blind next year.
They will win in 2021
i reallyyy hope they will be back in 2021
I hope they will represent Russia in 2021. I think they could win with Uno.