He’s won two Eurovision semi-finals — so it’s safe to say he knows what it takes to win Eurovision. And now Eurovision 2009 winner Alexander Rybak is leveraging that knowledge to predict and name his winner for Eurovision 2019.
In a post on Instagram, the Norwegian with Belarusian roots shared his belief in Russia’s Sergey Lazarev. He wrote in a small post:
“Seryozha, congrats. It’s real art! This time, you will win. Not because ‘Russia’, but because ‘music’.”
Alexander Rybak doesn’t shy from sharing his personal favourites before the contest starts. We all still remember his long-lasting love for Salvador Sobral’s “Amar Pelos Dois”, as well his iconic support for Germany’s Lena all the way back in 2010. Over the past few years he has also shown love for Poli Genova and Loïc Nottet as well.
Last year as a participant he stated that Waylon’s “Outlaw In ‘Em” was his personal favourite, but he did not say that it would be a winner.
Curiously though, wiwiblogger Jack came across Alexander after he had just finished his final performance of “That’s How You Write A Song” in Lisbon.
As Jack was wearing the Israeli flag, Alexander approached him and quickly whispered three words — “Israel will win” — even before Netta had taken the stage.
Before we start calling Alexander Rybak the “Oracle of Oslo”, we should point out that he has probably not been able to predict all the winners correctly — he is human after all. Nevertheless, over the past few years he has had a good eye for spotting a Eurovision winner from a distance.
It is, of course, a bold statement coming from him this early in the season. We wonder whether he has listened to all the songs or only to Sergey’s amongst others. Back in 2016, Alexander was also very positive about Sergey as he stated:
“TELEVOTING WINNER: [Russia CONGRATULATIONS]! As an artist and composer, I think that pleasing millions of hearts is the most important in Eurovision! And Sergey won the most hearts! Although the juries wanted a more modern song this year, nobody can argue that this guy had the best show! The music was typical Eurovision, but that’s why I watch Eurovision! Also, having the richest producer and the most expensive promo campaign and show doesn’t help if you don’t do a great performance. And Sergey’s performance was AMAZING! With a more updated, modern song and some better (please) lyrics, you can definitely win again, both the jury and the people!”
Maybe the Dream Team has given him those better lyrics now?
With the Netherlands being the bookmakers’ favourite and Russia being only a hinge behind, we wonder if Eurovision 2019 will be a two-horse race again. And will that mean that a previously unexpected third act will eventually win like in 2016? For those who don’t believe in oracles or fortune tellers, we will only know on the 18th of May.
Do you agree with Alexander Rybak’s small prediction? Or do you think he is speaking too soon? Let us know in the comments below!
“Scream” is a powerful ballad and we all know what a performer Sergey is! It’s clearly made for a live presentation and I’m sure the performance will be amazing! But I don’t think it will win.
Hmmmmm nah, I think the Netherlands will win the battle of the ballads. I definitely don’t dislike scream and I think it should have a top 15 finish. I like how the song is very theatrical and not radio friendly, which is different and stands out. The problem is that I cannot connect with it. With the Netherland’s song, I feel very moved and sad, and unfortunately I don’t feel any emotion with Scream. I think this is mainly because not even Sergey is emotionally invested in the song. He did not write any part of it, and you can… Read more »
keep sayin it out loud maybe you’ll convince…..hope cuz u won’t be convincin anyone else so dream on, 2009 fad alexander rybak.
I low key want it to happen to see the meltdown of the haters & Arcade fans :)))))) Wont happen in reality unfortunately. YATOO was the year :(((((
Loool well he is WRONG! We all know that Nevena is taking the trophy home for SERBIA! Fact.
Lmao, that’d be funny, but nope. The trophy is between The Netherlands, Cyprus, Italy, Iceland or Portugal.
lol Iceland yeah yeah
portugal ? switzerland if anything
You and people like you are just haters. And haters will hate as always.
Wow, again Russia. Someone here really likes Russia
And someone really hates.
Let’s first see if Sergey can sing some of his lyrics like “swallow hard” neutrally …. And there are more homo-erotic references in “Steam” that made me frown.
Lmao, how nasty….lol
That Rybak guy really looks like Michael Jackson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok, we get it, and he also looks like Salvador and Conan Osiris, and also other “creepy” looking guys.
As much as I like the song and Sergey as a performer.. it ain’t happening! This product is not winning material.
I dont see Rusia wining this year .and first must qualify in the second half final what I think go to be dificult for Rusia.
Russia always qualifies. Literally. Last year was the one exception, but that performance was just so embarrassing that it overcame the massive bloc voting advantages Russia has.
Yeah, Rybak is Belarussian, what else is he supposed to say…? C’mon, I don’t even know how Russia is 2nd in the bookies! “Scream” isn’t bad at all, but just average and Sergey’s performances are too over the top in terms of staging and faking emotions. Their performances feel to fake and artificial for me. I’m sure Russia will qualify and would even place top 5-10. It’s Russia with Sergey after all. But winning? No, I hope Europe and the EBU don’t go to such low depths…
Totally agree.
I dunno, I wouldn’t count out the possibility of Sergey flying on stage, I’m sure Russia will spend lats of money on staging. 😀
I still cannot get my head around the winner last year. I want to like it but it still leaves me cold. It got incredibly overhyped and just like the story of the Emperors New Clothes people were sucked in by the hysteria and didn’t bother to step back and actually realise what a musical shambles it really is. All the talk about Israel wanting to ban Iceland does not help either. They must incur the wrath of the EBU surely. If a countries media can prevent an artist from performing then we are going down a slippery slope.
I think it’s about time that Wiwi reveal their Russian sponsor for the sake of transparency and credibility. I mean since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Wiwi has been constantly running anti-Ukrainian narrative articles discredit their selection, their hosting, taking things out of context and spinning it around like the average Kremlin-sponsored internet troll. In the meantime we have been force fed stories promoting the Russian entries unproportionally, random stories about Kirkorov’s team and Russian artists that were in ESC but not directly ESC-related, pity stories about Samoylova. Could it even be that Kirkorov’s team is a sponsor? It would explain… Read more »
You are acting like Wiwibloggs is a FTSE 100 company. It’s only an ESC platform and a BLOG, for goodness sake! There are many much bigger companies and political bodies based in the UK that have Russian donors, and that was recently revealed as a fact, so why don’t you go target them instead? Or, better yet, start your own ESC platform. If you do so, I of course would expect full transparency from your funding sources.
That was very funny Purple Mask (FTSE 100 company)
Dont think wiwi have any anti Ukrainian agenda, Mélovin recived a pretty nice treatment last year from this blog.
But their ‘love’ for Russia and endless promotion of Kirkorov’ dream team is annoying, is it genuinely? I don’t know, but it looks not very fair for me…
Lol dont be dramatic, they really love Kirkorov’ cheesey dream team and Sergey and will hype them no matter what, i find it histerical 😛
Wiwi are not Putin KGB agents they just have thirst for Sergey … lmao!
Wiwi posts about lots of artists, last year they posted a lot about Netta and Cyprus and Rybak and tons of other attists, does it automatiacally mean that they are biased? Well maybe they are, who knows, but why does it only bother you when they write about Russia?
well, to be honest they write about Russia a lot, much more than about anyone else,they hype Sergey on twitter as well, they’re obviously biased, but i don’t think it has something with money though…. they just appreciated Sergey’ big … talent lol
Maybe ;), or maybe they know that as a returning artist and an artist from Russia he’s controversial and people will talk about him on their social media and leave lots of comments, and that’s what every platform wants, isn’t it?
Lol, paranoia
As Ukrainian a can say that Wiwibloggs clearly follow pro-russian rhetoric and use their propaganda cliches in articles about Ukraine
LOL, the founder & editor-in-chief of Wiwibloggs is American and I’m 99.9% sure that he FEELS THE BERN! I doubt that this is true.
I hope Sergay will end up like him in the final. Not even top 10.
“Is Sergey his only one?”
Renske, you did NOT do that! 😀
Dare to dream. That would be the most boring and dull winner since 2011.
Just a recovery from the chicken of last year.
A two-horse race between 2 ballads, and then an upbeat song win it all…
an upbeat Hatari song
I predict it’s The Natherlands
I remember last year, everyone was hoping and praying Netta weren’t the winner, but she did it. When someone is eagerly trying to convince others with such big hate that this singer will not win, I think, he/she realizes that the contestant really has a big chance to win. If Sergey was just ignored or nobody felt any excitement over him, it would be completely another case. However, Sergey gains all your attention no matter what kind of attention it is.
Sergey as “Netta”??? Wow….an interesting view of the world!!
Just because wiwi posts an article about Sergey every day,does not mean there is a lot of excitement from the fans
who knows, maybe 20 years after we’ll uncover some dark ESC secrets a-la FIFA
This will be around 15th place if it were not be Russia. The song is terribly outdated and out of place in a year with so many good, modern and current songs.
SERGEY LAZAREV is my winner totally this year, just like it was back in 2016. From the first time I listened to the song I feel goosebumps all over my body, it is so strong, powerful, inspiring, heartbreaking! And the video they made, the whole Idea of it relates to this year’s slogan Dare to a dream! I can’t stop listening to the song over and over again, I think this is totally a WINNER. good luck, Russia. Sergey Lazarev is extremely talented deserving winner. Moscow 2020
And I predict it will share the same fate with Alexander, winning the semi final and totally flopping in the final.
The Netherlands have 2nd semi in the bag.
Don’t agree, many countries are in the running to win sf 2, but lets be positive and hope for a Rybak (aka semi final winner, but a final flop) result for Sergey.
I hope not. Period
Israel has the superior ballad this year! No chance for Russia.
Just found out that Duncan hired that awful director Hans Pannecouke or how his name is… ? He destroyed Belgium and Netherlands last year
Sergey will win I guess, that was stupid, Duncan.
Not Netherlands, I concur, that one stood out pretty well–quite surprising from Pannecoucke. What’s more surpising is that he created Common Linnets’ staging in 2014 and coworked in Belgium’s back in 2016. I can trust him more now, those were great stagings.
He created staging for Manel Navarro in 2017 and was good staging, but had one mistake : never start with the back at the audience (like Anne Sophie in 2015)
Iceland 2018 also started with back for the audience but it was actually nice. The song had no salvation any way.
But Ilse deLange is also involved, and she was also involved in 2014 so that gave me hope. She also stated that the staging is beautiful. Let’s hope it is true!
Rybak is like “best friends” with Kirkorov so of course he will be on his side and cheer for Russia this year. He obviously know Sergey a bit from before as well. Its a friend supporting and wanting success of another friend. That said, he might actually genuinely like the Russian song as well.
I’d rather have Romania as the winner to be honest.
Rybak better close his mouth.
Sorry Sergey, but Dutch merman Duncan has better song than yours and at least 8 more artists as well…
Name a more iconic Eurovision duo, I’ll wait.
Copyright Couple
Sergey and Douwe Bob?
Serhat & Valentina.
Real art seriously has he heard the lyrics in Sergeys song, but this is coming from a man who’s entire back catalogue sounds like something you would hear in a really bad Disney film.
I know that writing anything positive about Russia is not usually received well here but yes, of course this has a strong possibility of winning. Sergey is going to have a strong televote and his song has many more jury-pleasing elements compared to his 2016 entry. There are other obvious contenders this year but to dismiss Russia would be a mistake.
Yeah, despite all the jokes, I still genuinly love the song and think it’ll do extremely well.
I totally agree! There is quite a bunch of countries that are totally ready to vote for russia and with the help of the jury, it could win! At the moment it wouldn’t be fair to me cus I think there are better songs, but if sergey’s staging will be good ( and it will for sure I think) , i wouldn’t be surprised if he actually wins.
Same here, like the song and Sergey and can’t wait for the staging. But with all the hate around the song and, you know… politics…, I feel like I am performing some kind of coming out with this statement. I might be having a questionable taste but nobody should be stoned for voicing a different opinion on music matters.
Yes but no one wants the corrupt bullies of Eurovision to win
Well yes but at this stage Anybody can win. And we already have like 10 or so favourites. So no Russia shouldn’t be dismissed. But neither should Sweden, Italy, France or Netherlands. Or Anybody else.
Thank you. They’re my thoughts as well. I really, really like this song. For me is epic, like soundtrack to LOTR or something. I hope this will do well and people will like this song as much as I do
That’s a good comparison actually
– what it deserves: the same result Gabriela Guncikova had with “I Stand”
– what it will get: a clear victory a-la Dima Bilan’2008 with some suspicion
I admire Alexander’s ESC pedigree, but after the flop last year in the final, he is not on secure ground!! Every neutral fan of ESC and music knows that the Netherlands have a VASTLY superior musical product. “Scream” was written in the “painting by numbers, Disney lookalike factory”, whereas “Arcade” comes from the heart of a guy who is writing from the depths. One of these song gives goose bumps, the other doesn’t. Look at the markets…..It’s gonna be the first win since 1975 for Les Pays-Bas!
The thing is it’s not about having superior musical product, its about having the package. Netherlands might have a better song but will he have the best presentation?
As you know in ESC it’s the presentation that wins, less the song.
It’s actual the chemical reaction between the two and the artist’s ability to connect and sell the song. That the Netherlands is out in front musically is, I think, pretty plain to see. Sergey could make it up on staging, but I doubt he will do better than 2016 on that front and that was only third…….I still think it is the Netherlands’ to lose….
“Arcade” is a Coldplay B-Side.
“Scream” is a Festival Da Canção 3rd place kind of ballad.
“Not because Russia, but because Russia”
That’s how you write a post!
So many haters. I want to see you all in May when Russia will be announced as the winner. No competition here. Duncan can’t sing and noone likes Hateri.
If Duncan and Hatari were no competition for Sergey, you wouldn’t have to write these kind of comments in the first place, don’t you think? 🙂
Dare to dream.
You forgot about Serhat…
I like Hatari. :-p
I agree! The song is too good for Eurovision
Sorry Rybak, Rusdia are not gonna win ESC. Amsterdam or Sweden 2020
St. Gallen 2020
[slash]Istambul[/slash] Cittá di San Marino 2020
Of course, he did a song for Disney (Thats how you write a song) and Sergey joins to hum with Scream
sure, jan
This song gives me Il Volo Grande Amore vibes. The problems is Grande Amore is better than Scream. Maybe staging will help which we know Russian knows how to do (unless it’s like 2018’s brown turd mountain). Good luck from Texas!
No surprises USA supporting Russia
Probably a Trump supporter.
Yeah he also thought ‘that‘s how you write a song’ was a good choice
Russia for the win? Sure and pigs can fly…Come on…
*Duncan Laurence has entered the chat*
“Competing with me is a losing game.”
omg! this is brilliant! lmao!
It doesn’t matter who wins, hate will prevail in the fandom anyway.
Did he spill the beans about his boyfriend he was talking about recently? 😛
I like Sergey (and feel sorry he has to live in the closet) but Russia is too toxic country … i hope they will not win, Putin will use it to his ugly agenda
What a pathetic comment.
What has his personal life have to do with Eurovision
Have I missed something about him being in the closet lmaoo
There’s been quite the tea about Sergey’s sexuality (and I get it), but no one has any proof whatsoever, so I feel like we should just let the poor man be. IF he’s gay and won’t talk about it, it’s our duty to respect his private life. And it’s certainly no one’s business either, especially in Sergey’s problematic position.
He wouldn’t be allowed to come out anyway as Russian society denies homosexuality exists
Russia just uses him to show how kind they are towards LGBTs. But the reality is he can’t even come out and be who he is.
the first pictures says a lot about alexanders intentions with sergey 😉
P.S i am waiting for a video made by William and Deban with tea regarding artists, any relationships that have been formed over the years, any feuds behind the scenes, staff that we dont get to know! PLEAASE DO ITT <3
@William Adams @DEBAN
You promote too much Sergey
Just today you posted on Instagram how popular he is on Itunes and Youtube (on Itunes he is 5th and on Youtube he is far behind)
I see also in the comments everywhere that he is not very popular
So if you 2 want a boyfriend, I’m sorry but Sergey already has one
“[…] Not because ‘Russia’, but because ‘music’.”
done.
oh and: “With a more updated, modern song and some better (please) lyrics, you can definitely win again, both the jury and the people!”
Who’s is Rybak to judge the lyrics in someone else’s song? His songs always sound childish.
Hope EBU will have juries sabotaging Russia… We cant have a contest in Russia atm.
I’m sure they will, don’t worry about it
Do you seriously want the juries to be biased and unfair? I also dont support Putin of course but since Russia is allowed to compete, Sergey should be treated fairly and if he has the best performance, he should win!
The juries are always biased one way or another, they have their own agendas.
And let’s not even talk about the televote, which will automatically give Russia top 10 even if they don’t perform.