Has anybody recently become popular because she won, or participated in, Eurovision? Did anybody win a record contract? Probably not. Ruslana, after all, was a big name in Ukraine and Eastern Europe before she won the 2004 event. She still is a big name here, but it’s hard to see that she got radically more popular in the rest of the world. So what’s all the hype about? The point, of course, is that Eurovision provides a country with a good chance to publicise itself on the international stage. Take the post-Soviet countries. In 2005, after the Orange Revolution, Eurovision took place here in Kyiv thanks to good old Ruslana. Ukraine was represented at the contest by Greendzholy, the grungy punk-hiphop types who had devised the Orange Revolution rap anthem that played everywhere during the protests. It didn’t matter that Greendzholy wasn’t an appropriate act for Eurovision. Choosing them was a completely political move, so that the country could proclaim its ‘orange’ democracy. If you’ll remember, there was even controversy that the voting for Greendzholy had been manipulated to ensure that they would win and that singers like Ani Lorak, who was perceived as not being part of the Orange Revolution, would not. And why not? The tendency of recent Eurovision contests is that no one really cares about the songs; it’s all about the image and representation. And yet everyone still loves Eurovision. We love the cheesy pop songs, the crazy outfits. So what can we expect from the contest this year, and what are Ukraine’s chances?
Lorak Attack
 To begin with, here’s some basic info. The Eurovision Song Contest will take place for the 53rd time this year, and it will be hosted by Serbia, in Belgrade. The semi-finals will take place on 20 and 22 May and the final will be on 24 May 2008. The Belgrade Arena, the contest venue, is among the largest indoor arenas in Europe, with a total capacity of more than 20,000 seats. Some 43 countries will participate this year, the most ever. Ani Lorak will represent Ukraine – as she didn’t get to back in 2005. Lorak, of course, will have to try hard to erase Verka Serduchka, who represented Ukraine last year, from people’s minds. Serduchka’s 2007 performance was a phenomenon: it was so over the top that people still talk about it today. Indeed, Serduchka almost won the contest. Lorak is not a spectacularly kitschy and insane satiric drag act, so she’ll have to try something different with which to wow the Eurovision masses. What she’s doing is teaming up with Filip Kirkorov, the huge Russian pop singer and producer who, like Serduchka, knows something about camp. He wrote the music to the song, ‘Shady Lady’, that Lorak is going to sing and it’s a nice song. Ani does, after all, have what so many female Eastern European pop stars don’t have: a powerful voice. She’ll also look good in a $200,000 dress made especially for her by Roberto Cavalli. She has the well-connected Kirkorov to thank for the dress, too. Lorak is in it to win it, and is working hard and preparing thoroughly. Will she rise as high as Ruslana and Verka? Who knows? But she’ll put on a good show.
Friendship of Nations
 Eurovision is supposed to be a friendly contest, but inevitably there are rivalries. One of them is between Russia and Ukraine: two friendly countries that aren’t quite so friendly when it comes to gas prices, NATO membership, the Black Sea Fleet, and Eurovision results. Frankly speaking, the problem is more Russia’s than it is Ukraine’s when it comes to Eurovision. Russia really wants to win Eurovision but can never quite manage to do it. Ukraine did it once and last year Verka almost did it again, so there might be some jealousy involved. What Russia needs to do here, as elsewhere, is concentrate on its own business and think less about what others are doing. To get to the top at Eurovision you need something truly original (Ruslana) or something very gauche and cheesy (Verka). Russia keeps presenting okay but not very striking acts. One year it was T.A.T.U., two girls pretending to be lesbians. Yawn. Another year it was that Serebro trio, which did absolutely nothing interesting. They borrowed their image from one place and their music from another. Russia always thinks it can fool everybody when it comes to Eurovision. Recently Dima Bilan won second place in Eurovision. He’s Russian pop star Number One these days, the so-called ‘Russian Justin Timberlake’, and so the Russians are sending him back to the contest again. His performance may be banging and his song might be good, but let’s face it: it’s ridiculous to send the same person twice, as if this were a sporting competition. He had a chance and didn’t win, but Russia hopes he can do it this year. Maybe he will. Ukrainians will cheer him, as he’s big here, too. As always, Eurovision will offer some good trashy fun. This year Ireland will definitely make a splash. They’re crossing a new frontier with their entry, having nominated not even a real person but rather a popular puppet who appears on Irish television. Meet Dustin the Turkey! The turkey puppet will sing a song, ‘Irelande Douze Pointe’, that might make it into Eurovision history along with Verka’s infamous and allegedly Russia-bashing ‘Lasha Tumbai’. Ireland might even win if enough people get it into their minds to poke fun at the contest and vote for a puppet. That will give us all a chance to visit Dublin about a year from now, and Dublin is always nice.
Viktoria Vasilchenko |
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Once again it’s the season for the Eurovision Song Contest, pop music’s gaudiest, kitschiest, and most lovable spectacle. Can Ukraine chalk up another successful year?
