Philipp Kirkorov is rarely far from the spotlight. But recently, when his Instagram Stories weren’t updated more than two dozen times in a single day, Russian media MK.ru decided to check in and make sure he was doing OK during the ongoing pandemic.

After reaching out they found Philipp as opinionated as ever and enjoying some quality time with his children Martin and Alla Victoria. “My main life hack is constant children’s laughter,” he says, adding other go-to tricks for passing the time while the country stays at home: “playing football, swimming in the pool…putting my wardrobe in order.”

And naturally talk also turned to the cancelled Eurovision Song Contest 2020. Philipp says there’s now “nothing to celebrate this year” and expressed his sadness for Estonia’s representative Uku Suviste. Philipp, along with the Dream Team, helped develop Uku’s winning Eesti Laul song “What Love Is.”

“Many countries have automatically extended the ‘mandates’ of the current participants for next year,” he explained. “But in Estonia they decided to make a new selection next year. And poor Uku was conveniently allowed to go not even to the [Eesti Laul] finals, which would be right, given his victory, but to the general semi-final. Such ‘mercy’ was given. I think that is very unfair.”

He said the decision was “not only insulting, but also annoying.”

And what news of Moldova’s Eurovision 2020 singer Natasha Gordienko, who he collaborated with on “Prison”?

“Nothing is clear here either,” the Russian king of pop says. “Moldova has not yet to announce its decision.

Philipp doesn’t seem particularly enamoured of Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light — the Dutch broadcaster’s alternative programme for the night of May 16.

“On the one hand, it’s a good idea,” he says. “On the other hand, they said that there would be no competition, but just a show. And who needs ‘just a show’?”

Do you agree with Philipp that Uku should have been given a spot in the Eesti Laul final? Let us know down below!

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[…] 2020 entry “What Love Is”, said the broadcaster’s decision was “not only insulting, but also […]

Mr X
Mr X
3 years ago

One of the most intrigant persons in the ESC circus should better shut his mouth !

Pasha was the real winner in Moldova, everyone knows this….

ESC2020
3 years ago

I dont like him

Ria van de Velde
Ria van de Velde
3 years ago

I totally agree !! Uku really deserves to go to ESC 2021

Kredential
Kredential
3 years ago

Nobody asked you, Phillip.

The Roop is On Fire
The Roop is On Fire
3 years ago

Why is he saying this about Uku? Does he like Uku?

Héctor
Héctor
3 years ago

I can’t look at his face without cringe. Sorry I needed to say that. About the news, it is clear that those countries with less appealing songs/artists are sticking to their NFs again for 2021 (Portugal, Albania Estonia, Finland, Denmark, …). Not only because they want to raise money from voting and audience or keeping the tradition like some Nordic and Baltic countries but also because they want to do better. I prefer countries to internally select their 2020 winners though. We’ll see what happens in Belarus, Croatia, Moldavia, Poland or Slovenia. These are also not very appealing NF winners… Read more »

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Héctor

Denmark I think probably would’ve done alright. I could see that song qualifying. Poland probably will ditch a national final to internally select Alicja and snag that same songwriting team, since she’s still a pretty prominent name in the Polish music scene and they wrote their back-to-back JESC winners.

Erasmus
Erasmus
3 years ago
Reply to  Héctor

Slovenia and Croatia will keep their NF probably. Belarus and Moldova – there were considering internal last year, so they may go internal this year. Poland will most likely pick Alicja.

Amadeus
Amadeus
3 years ago

He’s right. Eesti Laul should be ashamed of themselves.

Mascha
Mascha
3 years ago

I get it, buying that many Estonian SIM cards twice must be quite expensive

Onur
Onur
3 years ago

He better stay away and keep his money with him. We got enough with his outdated songs aoth paid victories.

eurovisionaire
eurovisionaire
3 years ago

Yes! Uku really deserves to go to final. He has tried many times and now he won with an amazing song. I really would like to see him on the final!

Robert
Robert
3 years ago

Well don’t always agree with Kirkorov but he’s spot on on this.. Other countries should do it too, especially Sweden.. Feel really bad for the Mama’s for some reason

Mako
Mako
3 years ago

It is Natalia Gordienko, not Natasha.

And, why doesn’t he react for the other acts ? The Mamas and Aksel ?

Mascha
Mascha
3 years ago
Reply to  Mako

Because he didn’t write their songs

pavellit
pavellit
3 years ago
Reply to  Mako

That’s the way they call Natalia in Russia.

Jannik
Jannik
3 years ago

agree. if they make new NFs, all 2020 winners should be directly in final

John
John
3 years ago

If they invite Philipp to sing a song on the “just a show” he would be the 1st to promote it in Russia.

VlaD
VlaD
3 years ago

I totally agree. The whole approach of Estonian TV was so inappropriate. They could at least wait for a week and pretend they were thinking of how the will handle the situation than being the first broadcaster to cancel their artist and organise a new selection. Even before Sweden.

Tom
Tom
3 years ago

I agree so much with him

Joe
Joe
3 years ago

On the one hand, I agree that Uku should’ve had a place in the final instead of being sent back to the semis (not like it’ll make a difference, though – he’ll almost certainly qualify with ease). On the other hand, the fact that Kirkorov doesn’t like the idea of no competition tells you everything you really need to know about him. His songs don’t have heart, or serve as just a way to celebrate making music or local cultures. No, the dude is just in it to win it, and he’ll move pawns in all these countries to make… Read more »