Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest

Balance sheet

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Broadcasting company

, 

First participation

1994

Number of participations

22 (as of 2019)

Highest ranking

1 ( 2008 )

Highest Score

491 ( 2016 )

Lowest Score

17 ( 1995 )

Points average (since first post)

154.14 (as of 2019)

Average points per voting country in the 12-point system

3.89 (as of 2019)

This article deals with the history of Russia as a participant in the Eurovision Song Contest .

Regularity of participation and successes in competition

Dima Bilan (center), here in 2008, is the most successful Russian interpreter in the competition so far

After joining the EBU , Russia first took part in the competition in 1994. The debut was also successful, because the singer Youddiph landed at number 9 out of 25. In 1995, the country was only able to occupy position 17. In 1996 Russia took part in the qualifying round for the Song Contest. There the singer Andrei Kossinski only landed on place 26 out of 29, which means that Russia was not allowed to participate. In 1997 the country was allowed to compete again and got an average placement with 15th place. Russia was not allowed to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1998 due to poor placements in the previous year, but the TV station in charge did not realize this and nevertheless internally selected the singer Tatjana Ovsijenko with the song Solnze mojo , which of course was not allowed to compete in Birmingham. As a result, the competition was not broadcast in Russia in 1998, which is why the country was not allowed to participate in 1999 and did not participate again until 2000.

The return, however, was a complete success. So the singer Alsou reached second place and with 155 points got a new high for Russia. In 2002, however, the country could not build on the previous year's success and ended up in 12th place. In 2002 the band Prime Minister reached 10th place again, a place in the top ten. In 2003 another great success followed. The duo tATu took third place in the end and achieved a new high of 164 points by then. At that time, however, only three points were missing to win. In 2004 and 2005, however, Russia was unable to repeat this success and, with 11th and 15th place, was only placed in the midfield. From 2006 to 2008, Russia's most successful phase in the competition followed. The country had to compete in the semi-finals for the first time in 2006. There the singer Dima Bilan took 3rd place and thus made it into the final. In the final, Bilan reached second place with 248 points, which was Russia's best result in the competition until then. Ultimately, Bilan scored more points than Alsou in 2000. In 2007, Russia qualified directly for the final again and achieved a very good result with third place in the final. The most successful Russian contribution to date followed in 2008. Dima Bilan competed for the second time in 2008, but first had to play in the semi-finals again, where, as in 2006, he reached 3rd place. Success then followed in the final. Bilan took first place and thus won the first victory for Russia. With 272 points, a new maximum number of points was reached. But this series of successes ended in 2009.

As the host country in 2009, Russia was only able to take 11th place in the final, which is the first time since 2005 that they were not among the top ten. Also in 2010 only 11th place was reached in the final. In 2011, the 16th place in the final was the worst result since 1995. After that, things went uphill again for the country. Russia won the semifinals in 2012 and finished 2nd in the final. In 2013, Russia placed in the top three in the semifinals with 2nd place, but only took 5th place in the final. In 2014, the Russian contribution was once again placed in the top ten with place 7. In 2015, Russia won the semi-finals again and finished second in the final. As in 2012, Sweden won the competition. With 303 points, Russia scored a new high, which was exceeded again in 2016. In 2016, the country again reached first place in the semi-finals, but only ended up third in the final. Nevertheless, Sergei Lazarev was able to win the televoting and with 491 points, Russia's highest score in the competition to date. Thus, the country only made it into the top ten between 2012 and 2016. In 2017, the country withdrew from the competition.

Russia confirmed its participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 and internally selected Julija Samoilowa with the song Flame Is Burning . However, since she visited Crimea under the Russian flag in 2016, the Ukrainian state issued an entry ban for three years. The EBU then tried to find ways out to enable Samoilova to participate. On April 13, 2017, however, Russia voluntarily withdrew from the competition because a solution had still not been found. Russia did not take part in 2017 and did not broadcast the ESC, whereupon the country received a warning. It was the first time since 1999 that no Russian contribution took part. Russia returned to the ESC in 2018 , although it was initially unclear whether Julija Samoilova would represent the country, as her direct nomination for the following year had been suspended again. Samoilova was nevertheless selected and thus represented Russia in 2018. However, she got the country's worst result in the competition to date. She only finished 15th out of 18 in the semifinals, which is the first time in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest that Russia was eliminated in the semifinals and thus lost the status of always having qualified for the final, in the same year as Azerbaijan and Romania . In 2019, Sergei Lazarev represented Russia for the second time. Unlike his predecessor Dima Bilann, however, he could not win the competition. Nevertheless, Russia reached the final with Lasarev for the first time since 2016 and was able to build on previous successes there with third place.

A total of 17 of the 22 entries ended up in the left half of the table. Overall, Russia was eliminated only once in the semi-finals and has never reached last place. With one win, four second and four third places and many other placements among the top ten, Russia is one of the most successful participants in the competition.

List of posts

Color legend: - 1st place. - 2nd place. - 3rd place. - Equal points with last place. - Eliminated in the semifinals / in the qualification / in the Eastern European preliminary decision. - no participation / not qualified. - Cancellation of the Eurovision Song Contest.      

year	Interpreter	Title Music (M) and Text (T)	language	translation	final		Semi-final / qualification		National preliminary decision
					space	Points	space	Points
1994	Youddiph Юдифь	Wetschny strannik Вечный странник M: Lev Zemlinski; T: Judif as 'Pilgrim'	Russian	Eternal wanderer	9/25	70	Qualified directly for the final		National preliminary decision
1995	Filipp Kirkorow Филипп Киркоров	Kolybelnaja dlja wulkana Колыбельная для вулкана M: Ilja Berschadski; T: Ilya Resnik	Russian	Lullaby for a volcano	17/23	17th			internal selection
1996	Andrei Kossinski Андрей Косинский	Yes eta ja Я это я M / T: Andrei Kossinski, Nikolai Denissow	Russian	I am what I am	Not qualified qualifying round		26/29	14th	internal selection
1997	Alla Pugacheva Алла Пугачёва	Prima donna Примадонна M / T: Alla Pugacheva	Russian	-	15/25	33	Qualified directly for the final		internal selection
1998	Not qualified
1999	No participation
2000	Alsou Алсу	Solo M / T: Andrew Lane, Brandon Barn	English	-	2/24	155	Qualified directly for the final		internal selection
2001	Mumi Troll Мумий Тролль	Lady Alpine Blue M / T: Ilja Lagutenko	English	Alpine blue lady	12/23	37			internal selection
2002	Prime Minister Премьер-Министр	Northern Girl M / T: Kim Breitburg / K. Kawalerjan, E. Fridljand, I. Antonjan	English	Nordic girl	10/24	55			internal selection
2003	tATu Тату	Ne wer, ne boisja Не верь, не бойся M: Valeri Polijenko; T: Mars Lasar	Russian	Do not believe, do not be afraid	3 / 26th	164			internal selection
2004	Yulia Sawitschewa илия Савичева	Believe Me M: Maxim Fadeev; T: Brenda Loring	English	Believe me	11/24	67			internal selection
2005	Natallja Padolskaja Наталья Подольская	Nobody Hurt No One M: Viktor Drobytsch; T: Mary Applegate, JP Järvinen	English	Nobody hurts anyone	15/24	57			National preliminary decision
2006	Dima Bilan Дима Билан	Never Let You Go M: Alexander Lunjew; T: Karen Kawalerjan, Irina Antonjan	English	I will never let you go	2/24	248	3/23	217	internal selection
2007	Serebro Серебро	Song # 1 M: Maxim Fadejew; T: Daniil Babichev	English	Song number one	3/24	207	Qualified directly for the final		internal selection
2008	Dima Bilan Дима Билан	Believe M / T: Dima Bilan, Jim Beanz	English	Faith	1  / 25th	272	3/19	135	Evrovidenie 2008
2009	Anastassija Prychodko Анастасія Приходько	Mamo Мамо M / T: Konstantin Meladze, Diana Golde	Russian, Ukrainian	mummy	11/25	91	Qualified directly for the final		Evrovidenie 2009
2010	Peter Nalitch Пётр Налич	Lost and Forgotten M / T: Pyotr Nalitsch	English	Lost and forgotten	11/25	90	7/17	74	Evrovidenie 2010
2011	Alexei Vorobyov Алексей Воробьёв	Get You M / T: Alexei Vorobjow, RedOne , AJ Junior, Bilal Hajjii, Eric Sanicola	English, Russian	Get you	16/25	77	9/19	64	internal selection
2012	Buranowskije Babuschki Бура́новские ба́бушки	Party for Everybody M: Wiktor Drobysch; T: Olga Tuktarjowa	Udmurtic , English	Celebration for everyone!	2 / 26th	259	1/18	152	Evrovidenie 2012
2013	Dina Garipowa Дина Гарипова	What If M: Gabriel Alares, Leonid Gutkin; T: Joakim Bjornberg	English	What happened if	5/26	174	2/16	156	internal selection
2014	Tolmacheva sisters Сёстры Толмачёвы	Shine M / T: Dimitris Kontopoulos, Filipp Kirkorow	English	Seem to be	7/26	89	6/16	63	internal selection
2015	Polina Gagarina Полина Гагарина	A Million Voices M / T: Gabriel Alares, Joakim Björnberg, Katrina Noorbergen , Leonid Gutkin, Vladimir Matetsky	English	A million votes	2/27	303	1/16	182	internal selection
2016	Sergei Lazarev Сергей Лазарев	You Are the Only One M / T: Dimitris Kontopoulos, Filipp Kirkorow , John Ballard, Ralph Charlie	English	You are the only one	3 / 26th	491	1/18	342	internal selection
2017	Yulia Samoilova Юлия Самойлова	Flame Is Burning M / T: Leonid Gutkin, Netta Nimrodi, Arije Burschteln	English	The flame is burning	Participation withdrawn Entry ban for Yulia Samoilova				internal selection
2018	Julija Samoilowa Ю́лия Само́йлова	I Won't Break M / T: Leonid Gutkin, Netta Nemrodi, Arie Burshtein	English	I will not break	Eliminated		15/18	65	internal selection
2019	Sergei Lazarev Сергей Лазарев	Scream M: Filipp Kirkorow , Dimitris Kontopoulos; T: Sharon Vaughn, Dimitris Kontopoulos	English	Scream	3 / 26th	370	6/18	217	internal selection
2020	Little Big	Uno M / T: Little Big	English, Spanish	one	Cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic by the EBU				internal selection

National preliminary decisions

→ Main article : Russian preliminary decisions for the Eurovision Song Contest

Most of the Russian contributions were selected internally, with a televised preliminary round only seven times: in 1994 nine performers each presented a title before a jury chose the winner. Originally eleven titles were supposed to compete, but two were disqualified: an excerpt from the song Oi, oi, oi was played on the radio against the rules before the competition, the other song Kogda wernus w Rossiju was accused of being anti-Semitic . Both songs were still played as a pause number. In 1996 fourteen singers competed, among which a jury again chose the favorite. Alla Pugacheva, the Russian representative a year later, was a member of this jury. In 2005 there were three preliminary rounds with a total of 29 songs before the final. For the first time, votes were only taken by telephone. In 2008 there was another preliminary decision. 27 artists took part in it. There was also a public preliminary decision in 2009, and the 2008 procedure was repeated in 2012. A finalist group of 25 entries was put together from 150 applicants, from which a winner emerged on March 7, 2012. The decision was made by a national jury and a televoting, which were given equal weighting.

languages

After the fall of the language regulation in 1999, the Russian contributions were mostly presented in English, only the pop duo tATu , who had previously enjoyed success with English-language songs across Europe, sang Ne wer, ne bojsja in Russian. In 2009, Russia started a Russian and Ukrainian-language contribution with Anastassija Prychodko's song Mamo . The first refrain of this post is in Ukrainian, the rest is entirely in Russian. The intro of the 2011 contribution was in Russian, the entire song otherwise in English. In 2012 only the chorus was sung in English; the rest of the song came from the Udmurt table . There is an English version of the 1994 and 1997 articles, and vice versa in 2001, 2002 and 2006 a Russian version. Primadonna was also published in French.

TV channel

Responsibility for the Eurovision Song Contest changed several times between the two Russian state television broadcasters: RTR was responsible in 1994 and 1996, and in 1995 and from 1997 onwards always Perwy kanal (formerly ORT ). In 2007 RTR organized the participation again for the first time, now the responsibility changed from year to year. Since Russia did not participate in 2017, RTR was allowed to organize the participation in 2018. From now on, RTR will organize participation in even years and Perwy kanal in odd years.

Competitions held

year	city	venue	Moderation
2009	Moscow	Olimpijski	Semi-finals: Natalja Wodjanowa & Andrei Malachow Final: Alsou & Ivan Urgant

List of conductors

year	conductor
1994	Lev Semlinski
1995	Michail Finberh 1
1996	Not qualified
1997	Rutger Gunnarsson
1998	Not qualified

¹Belarusian transcription

Scoring

The following countries received the most points from or awarded the most points to Russia (as of 2019):

Most of the points awarded in the final space country Points 1  Azerbaijan 112 2  Ukraine 101 3  Armenia 091 4th  Norway 070 5  Greece 069

Most in the final received points space country Points 1  Estonia 181 2  Belarus 166 3  Latvia 164 4th  Israel 134 5  Armenia 126  Moldova 126

Most of the points awarded space country Points 1  Armenia 187  Azerbaijan 187 3  Moldova 170 4th  Ukraine 148 5  Norway 113

Most total obtained points space country Points 1  Estonia 245  Moldova 245 3  Latvia 229 4th  Armenia 217 5  Belarus 212

Award of the highest rating

Since 1994, Russia has awarded the maximum number of points to 14 different countries, five of which to Armenia. In the semifinals, Russia awarded the maximum number of points to six different countries, six of them to Armenia.

Highest rating (final) year country Place (final) 1994  Ireland 1 1995  Norway 1 1996 Not qualified 1997  United Kingdom 1 1998 Not qualified 1999 No participation 2000  Denmark 1 2001  France 4th 2002  Romania 9 2003  Romania 10 2004  Ukraine 1 2005  Malta 2 2006  Armenia 8th 2007  Belarus 6th 2008  Armenia 4th 2009  Norway 1 2010  Armenia 7th 2011  Azerbaijan 1 2012  Sweden 1 2013  Azerbaijan 2 2014  Belarus 16 2015  Italy 3 2016  Armenia (J&T) 7th 2017 No participation 2018  Moldova (J&T) 10 2019  Azerbaijan (J&T) 8th 2020 Competition canceled

Highest rating (semi-finals) year country Place (semifinals) 2004 Semi-finals were not broadcast 2005  Moldova 2 2006  Armenia 6th 2007  Belarus 4th 2008  Armenia 2 2009  Azerbaijan 2 2010  Belarus 9 2011  Finland 3 2012  Moldova 5 2013  Moldova 4th 2014  Armenia 4th 2015  Armenia 7th 2016  Armenia (J&T) 2 2017 No participation 2018  Moldova (J&T) 3 2019  Romania (J) 13  Azerbaijan (T) 5 2020 Competition canceled

various

• Whenever Russia finished second at the ESC, a Nordic country was at the top: 2000 Denmark, 2006 Finland, 2012 and 2015 Sweden.
• The Tolmacheva sisters , representatives from 2014, were the first participants at the ESC who had previously won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest .
• In 2015, Russia was supposed to revive the Intervision Song Contest , which was held for the last time in 2008 , at that time a competition to the ESC, but nothing came of it. The sixth edition (after 1977–1980 and 2008) was to take place in the Black Sea metropolis of Sochi , where the 2014 Winter Olympics also took place.
• With 303 points, Russia's 2015 contribution is the most successful runner-up in ESC history to date. Except for 2009 and 2012, that score would have been enough to win in any previous edition of the competition. In addition, this was the first time in history that a contribution other than the winner exceeded the 300-point mark, until the voting was changed in 2016, after the change there were twice as many points as before.
• If there had been a pure spectator voting in 2016, Russia would have won.
• Until 2017, Russia was the only country in the entire competition that has always been drawn to the same semi-final since the introduction of the two semi-finals, namely the first. In 2017, Russia would have started in the second semifinals for the first time.
  • In 2018 Russia started in the second semifinals for the first time. Russia also started in the second semifinals in 2019.

Impressions

• 

  Serebro 2007

• 

  Anastassija Prychodko 2009

• 

  Peter Nalitch & Friends 2010

• 

  Alexei Vorobyov 2011

• 

  Dina Garipova 2013

• 

  Tolmacheva Sisters 2014

• 

  Polina Gagarina 2015

• 

  Sergei Lazarev 2016

• 

  Julia Samoilova 2018

• 

  Sergei Lazarev 2019

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Eurovision Songs. A site for collectors of eurosongs. No, No, Never !!! - Songs That Did Not Make It To Eurovision. (No longer available online.) In: eurovisionsongs.net. Archived from the original on July 5, 2006 ; accessed on March 17, 2019 (English). 
2. ↑ What's going on with Russia for Eurovision 2018? In: EuroVisionary. August 1, 2017, accessed August 4, 2017 . 
3. ↑ Russian Final ( Memento of December 8, 2003 in the Internet Archive ). In: geocities.com, accessed May 19, 2019.
4. ↑ Russian Final ( Memento from April 2, 2008 in the Internet Archive ). In: geocities.com, accessed May 19, 2019.
5. ↑ Russia revealed its rules for the national selection. In: eurovision.tv, December 29, 2011, accessed on March 17, 2019.
6. ↑ Russia. In: diggiloo.net, accessed on May 19, 2019.
7. ↑ Detailed overview: conductors for Russia. Retrieved August 25, 2020 .