#youddiph

[betweenthetimeandsound]

My ESC top 250 (#150-141), featuring a multi-functional dress, a meditation on the Western view on the East, and someone who endorses himself as a "great singer"

[eurovisionopinions]

[eurovisionopinions]

[eurovisionopinions]

[women-of-eurovision]

[anotherescsite]

100 days of Eurovision

Eternal Wanderer/ Vyechniy stranik -  Youddiph

Russia

This is the debut entrant from Russia. They chose a really cool song for their first attempt and it was performed really well. But, everything was overshadowed by the dress. It looks like nothing special at the beginning, and then she raises the dress onto her head like a little girl does. As you watch the dress transforms into various modes that your more interested in what she is doing with her frock. When you try to focus on the song, it’s over. 

[anotherescsite]

Favourite ESC Things: Russia

Russia; the mother country of so many other smaller countries. Russia; big power of Europe, and while a lot of votes come their way, not considered a big power in Eurovision (not a big 5 country at least). All in all, Russia looms large at the song contest when even there poor entries do okay.

Vyechniy stranik - Youddiph

Let us start from the beginning. Ignoring the fact that they made the poor girl wear the dress of 1994 (audacity), the song is very good too. It has all manner of emotions and feeling. There are moments of kindness, of feeling of tenderness as well as blunt force, power and fierceness. The dress is an ironing nightmare.

Solo - Alsou

Going into Eurovision 2000, I didn't really give this much consideration. I didn't love it or hate it - I felt nothing for the song expecting very little from the entry. But a sequined handkerchief across the bosom and nicely performing backing dancers gave this some spice. It helped that it was well performed on the night.

Ne Ver Ne Boysia I Ne Prosi - t.a.t.u

Yes, they were the bitches of 2003, but then again, they had a kick arse song. It was all part of the persona and while they were awful pre-contest, they were well behaved on the night. Even though Lena did seem to be pulling her along the stage at one point. One of my favorites.

Believe - Dima Bilan

I liked this song before hand, because their video clip was a winner. When they announced how it was going to be presented on ESC night, I felt that it had gone a step too far with the ice rink. But it wasn't the ice rink and the World champion skater that won the song contest, but it helped. At the end of the day, a decent song won. 

[everyeurovisionsong]

Russia 1994

'Vechny strannik' (Eternal wanderer), performed by Youddiph.  Composition: Lev Zemlinski. Lyrics: Pilgrim (Maria Katz).

Russia's debut in 1994 yielded a top ten place with a song that does have bright spring in its step, but still feels horribly dated - so it fits right in with most of the songs from Eurovision in the nineties.

That said, it has the big female voice, lots of outstretched arms, aa clearly defined chors and verse structure, and what looks like Weird Al Yankovic on guitar. Do you get the feelign that someone in Russia has a betamax collection of all the previous Contests and is picking out all the cliches?

Russia gets Eurovision, and while the mid table results in front of the juries will continue, once televoting begins, Russia is one of the countries that will adapt well to the public voting.

Points: 70. Placing: 9th.