For the first time since 2012, the Russian public has chosen the country’s entry. After a 100% televote final, Manizha came out on top with the song “Russkaya zhenshchina (Russian Woman)”.

Russian national final for Eurovision 2021 results

1. Manizha 39.7% (WINNER)
2. #2Mashi 35.7%
3. Therr Maitz 24.6%

29-year-old Manizha was born in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. After the Tajik Civil War, the family relocated to Moscow. She first dipped her toe in the music business back in 2009. Performing under the name the name Ru.Kola, she showed great promise with “Neglect”.

In 2018, she became the first Russian artist to be given the “Deezer Next” treatment. Deezer is a French-based music streaming service and their “Next” initiative highlights the music of select artists from around the globe through increased exposure in playlists. Her current and unique sound combines soul with traditional and electric flair. Despite all the mixing and matching, in a 2018 interview with Wiwibloggs, she told us her music is “super simple, music from my heart, that’s all”. She also said it honours “realness” — making her a woman of our own heart.

Russian national final for Eurovision 2021 participants

Therr Maitz – “The Future is Bright”

Magadan-born Anton Belyaev (41) is mostly known as a singer-songwriter in his native country and as part of the indie group Therr Maitz, combining pop and lounge music. With that group, he won Best Russian Act at the 2016 MTV European Music Awards. As a solo artist, Belyaev rose to fame on Russia’s answer to The Voice, where he ended up in the semi-final. Although the artist sent in a candidacy for Eurovision in 2014, he later doubted whether Eurovision was good for him, telling Woman’s Day that the contest was a “pure zoo” in his eyes. In 2018, Belyaev was admitted to the Recording Academy, the organisation of music professionals that decide on Grammy nominations.

#2Mashi

#2Маши (pronounced as “Dve Mashi”, meaning “two Mashas”) is a musical duet between Mariya “Masha” Zaitseva and Mariya “Masha” Sheikh. The two Mashas met each other during a holiday in Thailand and found that their hobbies and music tastes were alike. So alike that they decided to start a collaboration, making music with pop, easy-listening and dance elements. The duo broke through with the song “Bosaya” in 2018, which music video was among the top 20 most watched music videos in Russia’s TopHit charts for almost nine months straight. Their commercial success didn’t stop there. With “Mama, ya tantsuyu”, the duo won the award for Best Dance Song at the 2019 Russian National Music Awards.

During the one-hour long show, there was also some space some guest performances. Eurovision 2020 act Little Big performed their Eurovision 2020 hit “Uno”.

Next to the performances, we also saw performances of former Russian Eurovision alumns Dima Bilan, Polina Gagarina, and Philipp Kirkorov. Belarusians stars and Eurovision entrants Dmitry Koldun and Ruslan Alehno appeared too, alongside Russian Eurovision alumns Dina Garipova and Yulia Savicheva.

What do you think about Russia’s choice for Eurovision 2021? Do you agree with the end results? Let us know in the comments below!

Read all our Russia Eurovision news here

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Nils
Nils
3 years ago

her swag is undeniable, but the song is way to messed up. that second verse with the spoken part honestly is like a car crash. and while i appreciate that she’s serving us some nice old ‘balkan ballad’ vibes in the chorus, it doesn’t really fit the rest of her song. i swear this won’t connect well with the audience (at least outside the russian diaspora). let alone the fact, that rap songs traditionally get underrated in eurovision.

ScottishEuroFan
ScottishEuroFan
3 years ago

Okay I’m not a fan of this so didn’t pay attention to the Russian selection, but I just listened to the song that finished 3rd, “future is bright” by Therr Maitz and WTF IT SOUNDS INCREDIBLE AND LIKE A TOP 5 ENTRY WHY HAS NO ONE TALKED ABOUT IT

Lena
Lena
3 years ago

I didn’t expect something strong and authentic like this from Russia. This will be epic in Rottterdam.

notyourtoy
notyourtoy
3 years ago

Doesn’t it sound like a Russian version of Cardi B? hahahaha

After many listens I pretty love this song

Fun or ban?
Fun or ban?
3 years ago

This is a big mess. It souds like Euro_Neuro.

Nils
Nils
3 years ago
Reply to  Fun or ban?

during the second verse, that came to my mind, too.

Emily
Emily
3 years ago

This usually isn’t the sort of thing I like, but for some reason this put a proper smile on my face. I think this was a good song to choose following Little Big.

Last edited 3 years ago by Emily
Nils
Nils
3 years ago
Reply to  Emily

i’d say it’s a respectable choice, no matter how it finishes. at least they didn’t try to play it safe or bring in some super expensive producers and gimmicks.

Nathan
Nathan
3 years ago

Russia is so Russia… They did national final on international women day and OH WOW! The song that is won called “Russian Woman” ! :_))

ESC 21
3 years ago

This is awfull. But better than Italy

Ben
Ben
3 years ago

That instrumental freaking SLAPS.

Anhel
Anhel
3 years ago

It’s blocked for me…

Maya G
Maya G
3 years ago

This is the 3rd time since 2017 the Russians are choosing songs written by Israelis.Both of Yuliya Samoylova’s songs were co-written by Israelis Netta Nimrodi and Arie Burstein, and Manizha’s song was written by Ori Avni (who co-wrote Savior in the Sound for Eden Alene’s song selection last year) and Ori Kaplan (member of the Israeli group Balkan Beat Box) together with Manizha.As for the song – it’s not very competative but I really like it. It’s a bold and fresh choice I didn’t expect from Russia.

Rob
Rob
3 years ago
Reply to  Maya G

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TwF6rSR4CE&t=4316s The final news item from tonight’s Kan news broadcast is dedicated to Manizha and how she decided to collaborate with the two Israeli composers/producers/DJ’s while on a concert tour and a personal visit to Israel. They got to meet one another by a mutual friend and it was click at first sight. They had no problem making references to ‘Toy’ and thrill of feeling empowered through bringing new sounds and harmonies in a mishmash of original ideas. The song wasn’t created for the purpose of Eurovision and the guys only found out about it a few days prior to… Read more »

Rob
Rob
3 years ago
Reply to  Rob

cells=cellos, thrill=the thrill of, click at first sight=an instant click

Chris
Chris
3 years ago

The song of little big- Sex Machine could have won the whole thing

Sergod Legendzarev
Sergod Legendzarev
3 years ago

Funny to see audience, though

kir
kir
3 years ago

Not that funny considering the death toll data fraud in Russia:

https://rss.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1740-9713.01486

Coco
Coco
3 years ago

I would allow anything for any person that wears 2 masks (no matter the quality or price). Fair enough.

Rasmus
Rasmus
3 years ago

Titles of russian songs in ESC: Russia 2022: Peace and Love for all. Russia 2023: We are United. Bwarrrrrrrrfffffffffff

Dimitar
Dimitar
3 years ago

Horrible, sorry.

Jang
Jang
3 years ago

I love it because it’s Russian

Mr X
Mr X
3 years ago

Russia 6/10

Mr X
Mr X
3 years ago
Reply to  Mr X

in my list currently on place number twelve…

raylee
raylee
3 years ago

THEY DID WELL ! One day wou will understand how precious this entry is. Congrats beautiful/talented Manizha

Teddie
Teddie
3 years ago

Oh man. As a Russian I almost always sh*t on our entries. The last time I sincerely rooted for my country it was in 2013 with Garipova’s “What if”, a mellow swedish tune completely devoid of any ugly russian-isms. This time around it’s a complete surprise though. We’re sending a pro-LGBT (!) rights activist (!!) from Tajikistan (!!!). I mean you guys don’t live here and you don’t really understand that here it looks like something from an alternate reality where disgusting russian propaganda doesn’t exist (the one that several years ago FOR REAL urged to burn gays’ hearts, I… Read more »

Coco
Coco
3 years ago
Reply to  Teddie

You are right, Europe pretends that it understands, but it doesn’t. All the leftists fight with stupid things in their country, but they don’t understand when a country with real problems sends a message.

Colin
Colin
3 years ago
Reply to  Coco

I agree that people tend to see things only from their own perspective. The people from Western Europe might have difficulties to understand what scale of sexism and homophobia some countries endure. To us, criticizing a celebrity over bad jokes on ten year old posts might feel a bit nitpicky. There are much bigger issues to solve, like open attacks and hateful speech. And I am saying this from Croatia, which is still more gay-friendly in comparison with Russia. I really hope things change for the better. Hugs. 🙂

Last edited 3 years ago by Colin
ESC 21
3 years ago
Reply to  Coco

If Russia have so many problen they sjould not be in ESC

Escf
Escf
3 years ago
Reply to  Teddie

That doesn’t change the fact that song is horrible.

Teddie
Teddie
3 years ago
Reply to  Escf

Well I don’t reckon it is. Although admittedly I like most of the songs this year.

Coco
Coco
3 years ago
Reply to  Teddie

@Teddie and Colin
You are right, the song will sound well, but many people will not understand how bo?d this is for Russia. If a song ever deserved to win for the message, this is the one.

Patrick
Patrick
3 years ago

Had to turn it off after a minute!

Juust
Juust
3 years ago

Let’s get one thing straight. A good part of the comment section supports Manizha for being pro-LGBTQ+, SJW and so on. No offense, but the question is why all this became more important than the music, given that it’s a music contest.

Anhel
Anhel
3 years ago
Reply to  Juust

I think it’s objectively more important than the music regardless of the occasion

Juust
Juust
3 years ago
Reply to  Anhel

Well, I’m sorry for paying more attention to the music represented at the so called music contest (no)

Coco
Coco
3 years ago

The videos are not avalable anymore. That means they are preparing a revamp. Good. On the other hand… Italy should change the song alltogether. I’m upset because I really thought that is Italy’s year. If I were cynical, I would say: better for Roxen from my country, but you can’t enjoy ESC if you are just patriotic.

Fionn
Fionn
3 years ago
Reply to  Coco

I agree! Italy had about 5 songs that, if they won, they would be my top 1. I definitely think they made. a mistake with maneskin. It won’t appeal to everyone, it’s not lordi so they couldn’t win. I don’t think a rock band would ever win eurovision unless they had some sort of gimmick like lordi. Not to hate on lordi or anything. I just think Italy should’ve chosen Madame or Irama. They would definitely do better than maneskin at esc, and I know they’re no.2 on the odds or smt but I don’t think the televote will go… Read more »

Coco
Coco
3 years ago
Reply to  Fionn

True, in the bubble Italy is loved anyway, but will come the reality check.

Nicolas
Nicolas
3 years ago
Reply to  Coco

It means TVR1 just used their copyright like many other broadcasters do when someone uploads their content. Revamp ? Do you know the deadline is in just 5 days ?

Coco
Coco
3 years ago
Reply to  Nicolas

5 days is alright, they need a decent studio version. Why people are so against Russia, when they finally send their most sensible, leftist song?

ALex
ALex
3 years ago

Reading the names of the guest artists at the end, can we also appreciate Maria Katz aka Youddiph, the first Russian contestant, in the audience?

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  ALex

Yes, that was a nice surprise. Would rather she had performed than Kirkorov.

Stephanie
Stephanie
3 years ago

And just when you think you have heard everything, you will be served this!

Heartbeater
Heartbeater
3 years ago

I’m glad Manizha finally gets a chance since I remember she has been trying to go for a while now so I’m glad she got the chance even though I’m not the biggest fan of her song it could use a serious revamp however best of luck to Manizha and Russia

Hyunwoo
Hyunwoo
3 years ago

I honestly like Russia’s entry. I think the major reason people will hate it is because it’s not Little Big, and to be fair Little Big decided not to join in. Russia’s entry needs a revamp to make it better, and I’m also just glad it has Russian on it. Russia barely sings with Russian in their entries nowadays.

Polliu
Polliu
3 years ago

Out of more than 100 million people they found these artists with these songs. Wish you luck, Russia ‘cuz you need this.

John
John
3 years ago

I have nothing against Manizha, she’s wanted to go to ESC for a while now will get her chance. The song is just ridiculous. It’s quirky and bizarre and that’s why all the Russian Youtubers are slamming it. If you listen to the Russian lyrics it’s very tongue in cheek which would only be understandable to people who speak Russian and understand the culture for women in Russia specifically. When you send this to a European event all the listeners will get out of it is the melody and rhythm, and that’s where the song is just not strong enough.… Read more »

Matt
Matt
3 years ago

Where is the studio version? i kinda like it

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
3 years ago

I feel like….Russia might get its second NQ this year….

Like is it just me, or does her rapping sound like it’s not always on the beat? Something about the way this song sounds just seems really off to me….

Coco
Coco
3 years ago

But she is real, real anger and motivation. This is why Germany can’t do the same, people would say … first world problems.

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
3 years ago
Reply to  Coco

?????? i don’t even know what germany has to do with this

Coco
Coco
3 years ago

Everything has to do with everything, we talk about countries that compete in the same contest.

Cheerios
Cheerios
3 years ago
Reply to  Coco

But Germany is automatically in the final anyways.

Coco
Coco
3 years ago

Love it. Little Big can wait. Go Manizha! My number 1 at this point.

raspadinha
raspadinha
3 years ago

I like it!

Pancake
Pancake
3 years ago

I don’t know how to feel about the Russian entry and at this point I’m afraid to ask.

Solo
Solo
3 years ago

🙂 I like.

Kate
Kate
3 years ago

NQ for me but we will see, maybe public will vote for this if it has a good staging, but jury will killed it for sure…

sam
sam
3 years ago
Reply to  Kate

russia is in sf1 with azerbaijan and belarus… 8-12 jury points from both with the additional widespread televote appeal and feminist, western friendly message this song has will easily send them through the semi somewhere between 7th and 4th, at least in my opinion. this will be staged insanely well and possibly revamped, so don’t count russia out yet. this is not the same situation as yulia samoylova, as unfortunate as that was considering the lack of support for her from the broadcaster. manizha won the first russian national final since 2012, they will make this a show to remember… Read more »

Sanka
Sanka
3 years ago

I kinda love this

Ohi
Ohi
3 years ago

It definitely took me on a journey… although at times I wasn’t entirely sure where I was going!

xoxofromPoland
xoxofromPoland
3 years ago

it’s little weird but i like it. good luck Russia

Fast Food Music Lover
Fast Food Music Lover
3 years ago

I kinda like this…

Sally
Sally
3 years ago

Maybe it is just me but that song sounds like something would would be playing over the end credits of a mediocre action movie.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
3 years ago

Unrelated to the whether or not the actual song is good but, Russia are having a Micha? Szpak-like fall down the odds caused by the fact that they selected anything that wasn’t Little Big.

Colin
Colin
3 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

We still know how Szpak ended-up, though. 😉

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Manizha would totally deserve a hail-Mary like that

someone111
someone111
3 years ago

This tries SO HARD to be the Russian ”Toy”, it is so desperate. Such a mess.

Stian F
Stian F
3 years ago
Reply to  someone111

You obviously have no idea of what you are talking about!

Charli Cheer Up
Charli Cheer Up
3 years ago

Wow Russia went for a surprise NF basically revealing the competing artists on the night of the show. Congrats to Manizha well deserved artist! but I also hope that Russia will internally select Little Big again eventually when they have the right song

Kirby
Kirby
3 years ago

2021 is a weird, surrealistic Eurovision year (starting with its logo…). Really. I honestly don’t know what outcome will emerge from all this.

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
3 years ago
Reply to  Kirby

A surprise winner Azerbaijan 2011 style 😀

Badwoolfgirl
Badwoolfgirl
3 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

Hopefully from a first-timer.

Ben
Ben
3 years ago
Reply to  Badwoolfgirl

With The Roop, Daði, and Victoria, Lithuania, Iceland, and Bulgaria might make that a reality. Also, Destiny makes Malta a contender, Cyprus has a lot of hype, and for the first time ever, people unironically think that San Marino might have a chance, so…

Benny Hill
3 years ago

UK’s announcement, Blas has released the video. Where are the articles on those? Wakey, wakey wiwibloggers. 😛

Colin
Colin
3 years ago
Reply to  Benny Hill

Blas’ video is really touching. Makes me like the song even more.

...
...
3 years ago

So messy, it’s my first thought. I don’t know whether I like it or not.

Monika
Monika
3 years ago

Circus is in town? More and more countries are treating this contest like Loony. The Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal, Italy and now Russia. I wonder what’s next. This way we’ll have a top 3 in the final with Moldova, San Marino and Cyprus, maybe. The only decent acts so far!

Kirby
Kirby
3 years ago
Reply to  Monika

I agree with you. Maybe it’s on purpose… After the pandemic, the economy situation won’t be good in many countries; there will be other priorities. Maybe they’re making sure they won’t have many chances of getting voted (I do know the winning country may or may not accept to host).

Grft
Grft
3 years ago
Reply to  Monika

Say that you’re allergic to diversity I guess. San Marino Cyprus and Moldova top 3 lollll they are the most « generic » pop songs please… (nothing against them I like them, but we also need other types of music at ESC thank god)

Last edited 3 years ago by Grft
Roo
Roo
3 years ago
Reply to  Monika

You sound like my Mum. What are you like 80 years old? As for Maneskin they are awesome and they rock!

Last edited 3 years ago by Roo
Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Roo

Yeah, why can’t we have normal entries with normal things like human turntables and dancing ice cream cones?

ddd
ddd
3 years ago
Reply to  Monika

Sorry that there are genres other than dance-pop that exist

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
3 years ago
Reply to  Monika

I don’t think labeling a song about people of color rising above the oppression of their colonizers as “loony” is a good look, just saying.

Stephanie
Stephanie
3 years ago
Reply to  Monika

The Netherlands and Portugal, circus acts? While Cyprus, Moldova and San Marino are the only descent songs? Like.. seriously ??? Oh my….

WannaEatMySpaghetti
WannaEatMySpaghetti
3 years ago
Reply to  Monika

I feel sorry for you to not be able to listen to something else then generic songs.

ANDREW BROWN
ANDREW BROWN
3 years ago

What a rift. Its in my head on one listen. This works instant standout. Good choice

Issy
Issy
3 years ago

They 100% made the right choice with that televote! The other two acts were lacklustre and borderline non qualifiers.

Zander25
Zander25
3 years ago

so that’s why, I watched the LittleBig Sex Machine MV at end they parody Men in Black and return to ESC 2020 entry UNO and this was it means forget 2021 because they are not going to represent but remind us they are the 2020 (I felt sad because I want LittleBig that much to troll ESC).