Since the moment Austria’s “bearded lady” Conchita Wurst won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen, politicians in Russia have responded with shock and horror. Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a colonel in the army and a politician, has described the win as “the end of Europe”. Russian MPs have even called for the country to pull out of the Eurovision Song Contest and to set up a “straight” version of Europe’s biggest musical extravaganza.
So what’s the result of all this? While there is no news on whether Russia will pull out of Eurovision at the moment, Eurasianet.org has reported that the so-called “straight” Eurovision will actually mark the return of the Intervision Song Contest, the Eastern-bloc equivalent.
Intervision was held between 1977 and 1980 in Sopot, Poland. Soviet pop diva Alla Pugacheva, who won the 1978 contest, went on to represent Russia at the 1997 Eurovision Song Contest. Earlier this week Russian singer and producer Igor Matvienko, one of the organizers, announced that Russia’s representative will be chosen from a competition involving young talent. This takes place on June 15 in the recently annexed region of Crimea.
Matvienko announced on dni.ru that Intervision will return this October in Sochi, which hosted the Winter Olympic Games earlier this year. As well as Russia, competing countries will include China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. This could also involve Japan, South Korea, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Japan? If they perform and send Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, they get my 12.
Don’t forget Marion Rung (Finland 1962, 1973) – she won Intervision too! I forgot which year tho, I think 1979 or 1980
Hi Timselvision It’s me, Deven from Ireland. So yeah, on Friday you said that Bosnia Herzegovina withdrew because of Turkvizyon. Actually, BHTV withdrew in 2013 because they were struggling financially and again in 2014 because they could not find enough sponsors to help them take part in Copenhagen. I hope that BHTV take part in 2015. As for Turkvizyon, Hayat TV is in charge of Bosnia Herzegovina’s participation in Turkvizyon, @Everyone: As you all know, Bosnia Herzegovina takes part in Turkvizyon, a contest where countries like Bhutan and China are allowed to take part in. I don’t think that a… Read more »
Hi Guys
Let’s say if China wins Intervision this year in Sochi, Will it be Beijing 2015?
No offence, but if this is the case, I would be VERY worried that we would have similar issues to Azerbaijan in 2012 with regards to human rights. As they are far worse in China than they are in Azerbaijan.
Please get back to me ASAP. 😀
@Deven Wow you must’ve had a map in front of you to write so many countries. Quite a few of them are missing however. North Korea, Cuba, Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Venezuela, Bolivia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, Slovenia. Didn’t had a map to write them all but looked at the countries you have written and tried to think of some similar with those in your list and that you may have forgotten.
@Deven O’Kearney Crimea? Really? Wake up, sir, this region is officially Russia.
@Wellton, wow, you’re so smart))
I’m not sure how to feel about South Korea and China joining Intervision since they are already participant countries to the ABU Song Festival, the Asian equivalent to Eurovision and although those two countries do really well with their music industry not just within Asia but globally, I don’t think South Korea would be as open as China in joining Intervision since for one thing, South Korea is a bit more into the western side of pop culture influence as compared to China.
These are the countries that I think will take part in Intervision: 1. Russia (Obviously) 2. Ukraine (Obviously) 3. Belarus (Obviously) 4. Kazakhstan (Obviously) 5. Poland 6. Armenia 7. Moldova 8. Crimea (Maybe) 9. Uzbekistan 10. Kyrgyzstan 11. Tajikistan 12. Latvia 13. Lithuania 14. Estonia 15. China 16. Mongolia 17. Iran 18. Azerbaijan 19. Georgia 20. Romania 21. Bulgaria Like Turkvizyon, I highly doubt that the countries that take part in Eurovision will be affected if they participate in Intervision. They will still take part in ESC and TSC. If Kyrgyzstan, China, Iran and Azerbaijan take part, because they are… Read more »
Let them leave! They can take Belarus and Azerbaijan with them, so they can all rig votes in Intervision, I for one will not be sad about a Russian withdrawl, IMO they never bring decent to the competition, yet always score high and when they dont score high, there is a massive investigation.
Let them leave! Maybe a song of decent quality and effort and does deserve to qualify can do this now! (I’m looking at you Estonia, Ireland, Israel and Portugal)
“Please, continue. State the obvious – whoever disagrees with the thing that this year ESC went too far in that “gay event” branding is “being a giant bigoted prick”. Ah, the drama you’re all making is killing me. Wait, no, your “drama” is just plain stupid. I’ve already discussed in length on a similar thread about the issue, but “you” (I feel awkward when I’m using it) just went over the edge this year. I mean, c’mon!!!” Well, there was the “ladies and ladies” jab you made, for one, and then you go on about “speak about democracy and tolerance… Read more »
Won’t having it in Sochi in October conflict with the new Russian Grand Prix, also in Sochi? Either way, both will probably be terrible.
To xaris: they said on azerbaijani radio chanel that they dont conciderimg withdraw so much and TURKEY maybe comes back soo
SO HAPPY TURKEY AND RUSSIA WON’T RETURN!
@Dhani
STOP BEING A HOMOPHOBIC HYPOCRITE!!!
@Day One (Marcus): It’s because the old guard in Russia are completely humiliated, by the fact that the rest of the world now knows that even their own people thumbed their noses at them, by evidence of the televote/jury vote. That is why they are itching to pull out of next year’s ESC.
Please! If we want to be tolerant people, we have to respect everybody. Of course some comments are not nice, but everybody has the right to have an opinion. If you do not like one opinion, just do not read it or listen to it.
I would love if Russia & allies pulled out of Eurovision. Except for Azerbaijan, which has sent good songs, we would be spared of bad quality music and bloc voting.
@K “being a giant bigoted prick.” Please, continue. State the obvious – whoever disagrees with the thing that this year ESC went too far in that “gay event” branding is “being a giant bigoted prick”. Ah, the drama you’re all making is killing me. Wait, no, your “drama” is just plain stupid. I’ve already discussed in length on a similar thread about the issue, but “you” (I feel awkward when I’m using it) just went over the edge this year. I mean, c’mon!!! Being ill informed, arrogant and up for a fight, you look dull. Just read all those comments… Read more »
Hahahaha that show is gonna stink!
Dhani you truly are an idiot ..
Funny, MTD, that you want us to be tolerant of you being a giant bigoted prick, because that ain’t happening.
Eastern Europeans are such knuckledraggers.
OMG! These russian politicians are bigger drama queens than an entire room full of drags… This year was gay. Next year will be different. And it’s a show for everyone. Not just gays and not just families.
Timselvision Bosnia didn’t withdraw Esc because of Turkvizyon.The broadcaster for ESC is BHT1,but for Turkvizyon is Hayat Tv
Without Ukraine and Armenia (the big music producers in the region), this will fail just like Turkeyvision. In the words of Verka Serduckha “I want to sing Russia goodbye”
Interesting, it sounds like a small version of ESC, just like Turkvisiyon. Nevertheless, I hope they won´t withdraw (Bosnia did Turkvisiyon but withdraw for ESC 🙁 )
Turkvision (or how was that spelled?), Intervision…next?
Ladies and ladies, while you defend this kind of ESC – where it is definitely and completely branded as a “gay event” as of this year, those “visions” will just multiply. Go on, speak about democracy and tolerance while booing Russia. Please do. (facepalm).
i really hope they won’t pull out!! russia deserved to win this year!!!! russia is the greatest eurovision country!
and its right, eurovision shouldn’t be for gays it is a family show!! Stop acting like girls, all gays ! you are ruining the competition!!!
I bet it’s full of fags anyway
I love how Russian Politicians have criticised Austria for winning but fail to have noticed the public awarded Austria 3rd place and the juries awarded Austria 11th so what does that say about the people of Russia? It shows that most Russians don’t care about conchita having a beard and its just the crazy extremist.
Will be interesting to see how such event develops with this new variety of countries participating, more cultural and musical diversity… with just the sole idea I think I’m almost looking forward to it 😛 will we see the same bloc voting patterns? Will the asian countries vote between them just as the european blocs? We’ll see! I’m also looking forward to see how they manage to keep this contest “straight” 😀