Eurofest
| Television broadcast | |
|---|---|
| German title | Eurofest |
| Original title | Евровидение |
| Country of production |
 Belarus
|
| original language | Belarusian , Russian |
| Year (s) | since 2004 |
| Production company |
 |
| Broadcasting cycle |
2004–2009 since 2012 |
| genre | music |
| Moderation | various |
| First broadcast | 2004 on Belarus 1, Belarus 24 |
The Eurofest ( Russian Евровидение ) is a Belarusian television show that serves as the Belarusian preliminary decision for the Eurovision Song Contest . The show takes place every year between January and March in the BRTC studios in Minsk .
Story and concept
The broadcast has been taking place regularly since 2004. Only in 2010 and 2011, when BRTC internally selected the song and artist, did the preliminary decision not take place.
In the run-up to the broadcast, BRTC launches a call every year to submit contributions that can take part in the Eurofest. A participant does not necessarily have to be a Belarusian citizen, after all, performers and composers from all over the world can apply. By 2019, all submitted entries appeared before a jury in a live audition that was broadcast online . From 2020, BRTC will select contributions in advance that will take part there. Between ten and 15 participants then take part in the final broadcast. There the winner is usually decided by 50% jury voting and 50% by televoting. As in the Eurovision Song Contest, the person with the most calls or the most jury points receives 12, the second 10, the third 8 points, etc. The winner then represents Belarus at the Eurovision Song Contest. This was only not the case in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2016 and 2019. While in 2005 and 2006 the televoting selected three superfinalists from among the finalists, a jury ultimately selects the winner from the three superfinalists. In 2004 and 2016, on the other hand, televoting alone determined the winner, before only a jury determined the winner in 2019.
Success at the Eurovision Song Contest
The previous success of the Eurofest as a preliminary decision is manageable. The best result to date is a sixth place from 2007, which is also the best Belarusian result in the competition. Otherwise there are no further placements on the left-hand side of the table, the second-best result is 16th in 2013 and 2014. Otherwise, many Eurofest winners did not reach the final either. Belarus has only qualified five times with the Eurofest as a preliminary decision. All other Eurofest winners were already eliminated, some of them significantly, in the semifinals.
Incidents
In 2013, the Eurofest contribution was changed by the winner Aljona Lanskaja from Rhythm of Love in Solayoh , because according to the rules of the preliminary decision, the participants are entitled to change the winning title.
On January 10, 2018, it was announced through the Russian network VK that the Ukrainian singer Alekseev had already performed his song “ Forever” , with which he applied to the Eurofest 2018, in May 2017 in Stavropol . However, this was the Russian-language version of the song called " Navsegda" . However, according to EBU rules, it is not allowed to release your song before September 1st of the previous year. As a result of this incident, Sofi Lapina, a participant in Eurofest 2018, resigned as she felt it was unfair that Alekseev was still allowed to participate. In response, BRTC announced that Alekseev would have to revise his song in order to participate. After he did this, he was allowed to participate and even won the preliminary round. After the preliminary decision, however, it was unclear whether the EBU would allow the song at the ESC. On February 23, 2018, however, the EBU announced that Alekseev could compete with his song "Forever" . On March 28, 2018, a new version of "Forever" was published, which was also performed in Lisbon at the competition. While the lyrics have stayed the same in this version, the music has been changed and a choir has been added at the end of the song.
Web links
- Website of the Belarusian preliminary decision (Belarusian)
Individual evidence
- ^ Renske ten Veen: “I won't participate” - Sofi Lapina withdraws from Belarus' national selection over Alekseev drama. In: wiwibloggs.com. January 16, 2018, accessed March 29, 2018 .
- ↑ Sebastian Diaz: Belarus: Alekseev wins Eurofest 2018 with “Forever”. In: wiwibloggs.com. February 16, 2018, accessed March 29, 2018 .
- ↑ Emily Herbert: Belarus: EBU Allows Alekseev to Perform “Forever” At Eurovision 2018. In: eurovoix.com. February 23, 2018, accessed March 29, 2018 .
