Earlier in the month, the EBU excluded Belarus‘ entry “Ya nauchu tebya” from Eurovision 2021. Now the EBU says they are still having discussions with broadcaster BTRC about their participation. However, BTRC says their replacement song will be ready “in a few days”.
On 11 March, Belarus’ song “Ya nauchu tebya”, sung by pro-governmental group Galasy ZMesta, was excluded from taking part at Eurovision 2021. The EBU stated that the entry contained political messaging and was bringing the contest into dispute.
Since then, fans have been wondering whether the Eastern European country would take part at all in Rotterdam. After all, Galasy ZMesta has been noted for writing songs in which most if not all lyrics contain political undertones.
For a long time, fans and Belarusians wondering about the country’s entry were faced with silence. Even after the Head of Delegation meeting of 15 March, no update on Belarus was presented.
Breaking the silence, the EBU told Belarusian news portal TUT.by that they are still in negotiations with the BTRC about their bid.
In a short statement, they said:
“We are still having discussions with BTRC about the change regarding the lyrics of their song or the presentation of a new song in order for it to comply with the existing Eurovision rules.”
BTRC’s director-general claims song will be ready “in a few days”
Meanwhile, BTRC’s director-general Ivan Eismont told pro-governmental press agency Sputnik that he never felt that the song was politicising the contest.
Nevertheless, Eismont said that BTRC had suggested that Galasy ZMesta make a new song. Eismont expected that the new song would ready to be released “in a few days”.
Speaking to Belarus’ second public broadcaster ONT as reported by Sputnik, Eismont said:
“From the perspective of the show business, Eurovision is a show. They made a million-worth song for us. I think that very soon, in a few days, you will hear a million-worth song again, which will be listened in the whole of Europe.”
With regards to travelling to the contest, Ivan Eismont himself has one problem. Currently, Eismont is unable to travel to Rotterdam due to sanctions imposed on him by the European Union.
Earlier in the month, the EBU confirmed it would not accept “Ya Nauchu Tebya (I’ll Teach You)” as Belarus’ entry for Eurovision 2021. At the time, the EBU said “It was concluded that the song puts the non-political nature of the Contest in question. In addition, recent reactions to the proposed entry risk bringing the reputation of the ESC into disrepute.”
The EBU wrote to the broadcaster requesting that they submit a modified version of the song or a new song.
I predict that they will submit a nursery rhyme….the very fact that the band are pro-Government is a statement itself…the band have spoken that they are anti-protest…and all their songs have that groove…so the mere presence of the group is a political message. This will not go unnoticed by the EBU.
Danny
but they’d still have to sing something obviously political to receive their disqualification, since the ebu doesn’t care about the messenger being the message, don’t you think?
Let them send a song…the semi-final needs a song to come in 17th place.
Well, you turned comments off
He’s clearly not the sharpest knife in the drawer
I’ll believe it when/if I hear it. Doubt it’ll happen. Unless they have another song ready to go already, there’s no way they’ll just pull out something worth our time in such a short amount of time.
It doesn’t have to be worth our time, it only has to be shorter than three minutes. They’re not interested in winning anyway.
Why not. Everyone has to pee at some point
To all those who so easily compare western democracies to Belarus: You have NO idea whatsoever what it is like to live under a dictatorship like Lukashenko.
Could it be that they prepared song to be rejected so they can politically have the time to choose time once they heard all the countries submitted entries so they can send one they think would be better for the contest..too much politic in eurovision we know it, remember greece and Cyprus 12 points exchange making excuses that their music industry common as if eurovision contest is about their common music industry. Remmember Scandinavian high voting for eachother, remember Azerbaijan and Turkey copying Greece and Cyprus 12points exchange remmember voting block between Turkey and Cyprus. Sad sad sad. And now… Read more »
Such a pathetic, full of hatred comment.
The truth I said about politic in eurovision which we all know about, and if you consider true pathetic and hateful there is seriously ignorence of you that can’t be cured. Sorry I can’t help you but only to be honest even though you don’t appreciate it
Hi Terry Wogan u ok hun…
Let Terry rest in peace and don’t take a piss of died person it’s a sin
come on … what would terry wogan say?
I doubt that’s what they’re doing, but hey, that’s genius if you needed more time!
It would have been nonsensical now for Belarus to participate. If they stay, 100% are eliminated in the semi-final. They should withdraw.
Oh come on, they are not in this for the win or even qualification
What is the final cut-off date for submissions anyway? I haven’t been able to find that anywhere.
It got lost in the post.
Or…
Someone ate the last date. (Think about it for a second… there ya go.)
It’s probably too late for you to enter, Sally. Maybe next year? 😉
Aww shucks. I had almost decided which EBU country to move to once I got my time machine fixed, too!
26th March
Thank you.
whatever you send, it will be someone supporting dictatorship.
It was a rigged election, that is the opposite of democracy.
That’s an excuse for the dictator from Belarus? Our democracies are not flawless for sure but that doesn’t give a pass to the Belarussian aggresion and dictatorship, killing hundreds of people while torturing thousands.
Let’s also talk about the human rights and LGBTQ rights in the country.
Ignorance at a level that hurts!
I look forward to them bringing their new song to Rotterdam, live or by video, and the Eurovision community being able to have our say, by vote and reaction, just like we have with other such countries in recent history.
okay … let’s go after it … btrc is still ‘in discussions’ with the ebu regarding the lyrics. i’m pretty sure it would take them less than a day to turn ‘ya nauchu tebya’ into a meaningless love song that still fits the melody and singing rhythm. so why discuss after all? to me it reads like they’re instead trying to rewrite the lyrics in a way that still conveys some political message that’s just subtle enough to slip through the ebu’s controlling instances. they just need more time to pull it off. next warning sign: btrc’s director-general didn’t express… Read more »
I agree with all of this. There is nothing to gain by changing the original song to a basic love song, as the song itself was crap, the only purpose it ever had was propaganda.
i think they have damaged their reputation enough, that their ‘million worth ‘song couldn’t save them from the hate . lol nice try
https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWFKUmMxWUYtQmxTVW1pUlRtcTZ6S1kxX3B1Z3xBQ3Jtc0ttY3ZJdkFFM1g0b1dZcTR2STI1ZHRXdWN5Y0tBaDZheVlCWW5NVkcySzNGZzF2ekRDbWxlSkU0S2s2MmtNTERTQ1UwR0g1WUhEUUN5eXhtNnVwQzJURzVHb2RRSG9LR1d6aXBQb3RBV1Q2MzF6Qi0tcw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.change.org%2Fp%2Feuropean-broadcasting-union-demand-ebu-to-cancel-efendi-and-azerbaijan-from-eurovision-2021-ca5cffe2-1cb8-418e-a978-35e9f7ce1e61%3Futm_source%3Dshare_petition%26utm_medium%3Dcustom_url%26recruited_by_id%3Db435d1a0-9ce4-11e4-9bc6-993a6bd29d33
I think that Belarus should be out from eurovision until there is a new leader, rn the reason that Belarus is participating in eurovision is to promote Lukashenkos propaganda
Controversial countries who shouldn’t advance to the final:
– Belarus
– Azerbaijan
– Russia
We can’t let our morality to be shot down because we have our eyes closed on the behaviour of these countries. Efendi has even told several times how she wishes deaths of others and how gays shouldn’t be allowed to get married.
If thats true im looking forward her interviews with wiwi to see how sh behave around them.
The idea is a “song” contest not political drama
She literally had a song last year with the lyrics “straight or gay or in between just like me” like what are you even talking about
She has said that gays shouldn’t be allowed to marry and that it’s only normal for a man to be married with a woman. Basicly she says gays are fun, but as soon as they start asking for same rights that straight people have, it’s a big no no.
Probably acts like some straight people I know in my life: gays are fun to hang out and party with, but don’t even think about them getting same rights as you. Typical attitude by some people, one ex-friend of mine once told that he doesn’t mind gays, but they can’t get married or have kids since they’re going to use them sexually. (And couple years back he sexually harassed one of his neighbours, so he sure was the one to talk. Ew!)
Safe to say I ran out of that friendship faster than Speedy Gonzales!
I never said my country? Gays are allowed to marry in here, it’s normal.
You cant eliminate Russia or Azerbaijan as they are alteast not bringing that political message to eurovision like belarus
I understand but I think this is better to include them as it could be a way for a lot of watchers from those countries to discover a different vision or approach of some society topics.
I think the Russian song could be kept as Manizha is actually receiving a huge backlash against her from the whole Russian political scene…We should support her !
I don’t see any reason for dragging Azerbaijan and Russia into this.
The EBU should have disqualified Azerbaijan when they bought votes a few years back. Or when they interrogated those who voted for Armenia. Or when all of their jurors put Armenia in the last place.
Unfortunately the EBU didn’t.
But Efendi’s political views are her very private thing and they don’t show in her song, so there’s nothing wrong with that.
Also, Russia always stuck to the rules. And sending Polina Gagarina or Tolmachevy Sisters during war times isn’t considered a crime.
I think that they shouldn’t advance means that they can participate, but shouldn’t get into the final. But about Russia/Ukraine with the Crimea problem seems to be more and more of a normal thing since it’s not meadias*xy anymore.
And should an artist be seen as a good example for non-political contest when she openly shows her opinions about a war where hundreds of innocent people have died?
It’s not all black and white to answer these questions.
But what’s the point in having countries compete in the semi-final and then not wanting them in the final if their songs are good? That doesn’t make much sense to me. Why punish for example people like Gagarina and Lazarev, who aren’t political, for something their leaders may or may not be doing? I’m American and have disagreed for years with my country’s government interventionist foreign policies and countless illegal armed conflicts it has engaged in. However, I would never fault our artists or athletes for something their government has done or not done. That just seems fundamentally unfair to… Read more »
but you’re making the very point i tried to make. of course things aren’t black or white. but when it comes to the rules, there naturally is a point where something is considered too black or ‘dark greyish’ to be considered white. and in theory, i think the rules of eurovision draw pretty a good line. and when it comes to practice, they at least finally and rightfully drew the line this time with belarus. but as long as the broadcasters are playing by the rules, i’d say it’s up to us voters to choose who is or isn’t a… Read more »
long story short: if belarus sticks to the rules this time, let’s see them compete. and let’s see them receive their 24 points from russia. and, of course, their 20 points from azerbaijan.
let’s also see them not getting a single point from any other of the remaining countries. and finally, let’s see them deservingly crash and burn in 14th place of their semi final.
agree
Its fine folk rock group, hope for better song for them. Whoever they support, I dont care. This is apolitical contest. I think, EBU make it political. If they sing Go in one line etc., only person who wants to see there political context, see it. Stop to be drama queen and support all participants. This group brings different music and its good for mainstream ESC. Dont forget it, EBU. We are different in every country and if you want change ESC to Swedish pop contest, we wont watch it.
“I think, EBU make it political”. Yeah, if you’re completely clueless about the context of the song and its lyrics. It’s like saying there are no wars, because I haven’t seen them.
You get that lyrics literally *are* an integral part of the song, no? It’s not only that they support dictatorship, their song did too. It was disturbingly autobiographic. A pure 0/10. 🙁
Go home! You’re drunk….or blind …
“A million-worth song”. I’m sorry WHAT
It’s worth 1,000,000 pounds of dung
Imperfect English surprises a Eurovision fan?
It’s not about the English, I totally get what they wanted to say. It’s the hilarious statement.
I guess they’ll subtly hide their propaganda instead of having it in our faces like we saw with the last song. Lukashenko won’t comply with the EBU, instead, he’ll try to outsmart them. That’s what dictatorships do.
No matter what Belarus sends their first song made a strongly negative impact so I don’t expect whatever song they send to qualify. Maybe viewers oblivious to the conflict might vote for it but I honestly don’t know.
I think this could be another song that doesn’t meet the rules. This would fit the game that Lukashenko is playing.
Makes one think now after all these years since first participating in 2004 , who actually gives the ultimate seal of approval for the chosen song, even if they had a national final and was selected by the public, the shortlisted finalists must have had government approval . This must be a headache for the EBU.
While we all fuss about Belarus it is important to remember that majority of viewers, the casual people who only watch once, won’t have a clue about the drama going on, or about the song that was DQ. So while we say it will be last it all depends on what casual viewers will think
Exactly!
I agree with this. It will be an outrage if they actually get votes after their stunt like
The chances of them actually composing a good song all of a sudden are 0 though xD
Most countries also have commentary during show. I’m sure viewers will be told about the drama while watching postcard.
well, here is in Ukraine, the case about Belarus participation present on many channels news, so people are aware of the problem
Here here
People will know it from the commentators, internet, news, etc…
Chuck em out
Well if the same band has to string together a song in such a short time period, I’d be very surprised if it will be any better than that awful song they served up at first… and honestly, I don’t see how the EBU are happy letting them compete anyway. They’ve made their political agenda very clear, maybe the EBU is waiting for them to do something rash and political in the semi final? Who knows.
Oh well 40 sounds better than 39 , votes from Russia only perhaps in the semi , I’ll be very surprised whatever the song is if they qualify .
Unfortunately most viewers at home won’t know what the song is about or about all the EBU disqualification stuff going on behind the scenes. Only really Eurovision fans that follow the entire process weekly will know.
All they have to do is send something jokey and some people probably would vote for it, which honestly scares me.
The damage is done and Belarussian TV has made the view clear by sending that thrash in the first place.
Full DQ is the only way I think.
I hope so.
Sadly here in Ireland though there’s been nothing about it, only what I see in Eurovision sites, but the likes of RTÉ News haven’t even mentioned it, and they should really, as an EBU broadcaster, in charge of our ESC participation and the fact that Belarus are due to be in our semi, I think they should have said something.
I mean you never know maybe commentators might tell viewers
RTÉ have reported on it Darren, just not enough but the Irish are v aware of the political situation in Belarus, whether Marty mentions this particular controversy in his commentary remains to be seen but the Irish will not vote for this bands style of music in any event irrespective of the message
People here in the Netherlands and Belgium are aware of the situation as well. 🙂
Oh well 40 sounds better than 39 , votes from Russia only perhaps in the semi , I’ll be very surprised whatever the song is if they qualify .
I don’t really understand EBU’s deadline policy. Every year, at least one country either joins or leaves or changes song after ‘deadline’. A rule is a rule. The deadline has already passed.
What an idiotic decision it would be to let them participate.
The only chance Belarus has to do it right, is by sending Kazna and Braids
Why would they even want to go? It will be only awkward with so much negative press coverage, confronting interviews and press conferences everywhere they go. I feel bad for the Dutch volunteer who is appointed to lead this delegation, knowing where they’re coming from with what message and purpose, and why they’ve been chosen. Also, if Nikkie de Jager will hold interviews again like last year, it will be awkward, knowing their strong anti-LGBTQ-views. It’s completely opposite to what she believes in.
I dont think anyone with the slightest bit of respect would make nikkie hold an interview with this band. To be honest, I dont think anyone will make anyone hold a reasonable, genuine interview with this band. Btrc knows they will be treated like complete castaways if they do go to rotterdam, the thing is, they dont care.
I think Nikkie would be able to keep a straight face, I’ve watched most of his Eurovision calls and he’s such a great interviewer!
Her*, she’s*. She’s a woman.
Who cares about any Nikkie. We care about participants, not LGBT propaganda
we dont want them
belasha tumbai
As far as I’m concerned, Eurovision will feature 39 entries this year. Already started the Second Opinion voting.
I have basically disavowed Belarus this year. There’s only 39 countries this year
There will be 40 acts.
You were the one that said Belarus dropped out, which was obviously 100% false.
New entry or not, I’ll be surprised if they come anywhere near qualifying to the finals after everything that has already happened.
Earning even one point would be too much
Whatever song they’ll send, it’s already in my F*** NO position in my Top 40, which is pretty much them and them alone. They and Luk*shenko don’t deserve any attention at all and the people of Belarus didn’t deserve this mockery
I guess they should just make the message a little more generic or hidden like russia 2014, iceland 2019 and they’ll have the EBU seal of approval. Then they can do something very bold , obscure and political during the qualifier sequence with the consequence being btrc having to pay an insignificant ‘secret’ money amount like iceland after hatari and Armenia after the flag incident.
but one was fighting against oppression, while the other is fighting for it.
Thank you!
you have to consider that to be apolitical is a political stance unto itself. if someone showed up with a symbol from a certain German party from the 1940s it would in fact be a huge political stance to give it the same reaction as, say, if someone showed up with a sign saying ‘ban Poland’s LGBTQIA-free zones’.
regardless of whether my clearly hypothetical scenario ever happens, my point both still stands and holds water. to be apolitical is to enable the oppressor.
armenia 2016? what’s wrong with lovewave
The song was fine, but Iveta waved a political version of the Armenian flag, which was inappropriate.
24 points for Russia before the contest has even started.
Same for Greece-Cyprus
If we write the countries which support every year, the list will be endless…because Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Island aren’t ouf the game!
Or Romania and Moldova
Or Austria, Australia, Belgium, Switzerland….
Or Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan
no comment!
Pathetic to even compare.
This is… not the news I was expecting. I really thought Belarus was going to pull out, but I guess we’re going to hear a new garbage song. I don’t trust the band to try to compose something new that isn’t going to be politically insulting. They’ve already amassed such a negative reputation In the Eurovision fandom, wouldn’t it be more dignifying to replace them or withdrawal together? It doesn’t matter what they will submit, it’s going to be last place. I hope we can have a little bit of an audience in May, so that they can boo this… Read more »
It’s hypocritical for Eurovision fandom to want only Belarus out of the contest by the time other participating countries such as Poland, Azerbaijan are also turned into authoritarianism… Maybe not as tough as Belarus but still!!!
It’s hypocritical from the justice system of so many countries to put a murderer into jail for lifetime while somebody who steals only get a financial fine. Maybe the things are not comparable, but still!!!
How?
Obviously some people here still have to learn what irony is….
That is if the broadcaster itself has violated union rules as a member of the EBU.
I thought their HoD was a woman, the one who announced the points from Belarus as part of the international jury in France’s Destination Eurovision?
I don’t care. The song changed but the band didn’t. I won’t support a group that back-ups a dictator. Shame on you.
Oh you always find a way to talk about israel… From hatari days till now.
This article is about BELARUS so talk about them only.
Thank you and have a good day.
Every year I try to argue against the Eurovision casuals who bleat “it’s all got so political”. It’s going to be hard to do that this year, what with Belarus and also what has happened with poor Vasil.
What happened with Vasil? o:
Watch them submit another propaganda/ satirical song
I can imagine what will happen if they send the same band – why is this band given such leniency but songs that have a bad word that’s not even in English are forced to change it?
Looking for a crap to give. Still haven’t found it.
This band’s foundation is based on a politically charged nature. That’s not to mention some of the distasteful songs they’ve had in the past. This group does not represent the ideals of the contest and imo should not take part and Belarus should just take a year off. Sorry, that’s just my personal opinion.
EBU can’t ban the band because they allowed Hatari having also public political views against Israel and Pro-palestians.
EBU could not predict the actions of Hatari. They are not psychics.
Actually Hatari are worse. These guys were indoctrinated by the government their entire lives. Hatari just picked a side based on their own self-righteousness.
So you disobey rules and you get extra time for it? Nice one EBU…