In recent years, Russia have been doing very well, sending none other than the finest in their music industry.  Alsou saw 2nd place in 2000, TaTu came 3rd in 2003, Dima Bilan scored another 2nd for the country in 2006 and just last year Serebro notched up 3rd place with the most contemporary sounding track of the evening.  Things can only get better...

 

 

Before I begin, I should start by telling you that I don’t like Dima Bilan.  I thought his performance in 2006 was horrific, and it was a shame and disgrace that he made the runner’s up spot.  I don’t think he sells a song, or sells himself very well, and I don’t think he delivers a good vocal (he didn’t in 2006 and I thought this year’s National Final performance was awful).  His vocals are shakey, flamboyant and inauthentic.  I don’t feel the song he sings and I don’t get how or why people consider him to be a professional.  The song isn’t bad, it’s certainly a contemporary ballad, but I don’t like Dima’s vocal, in fact, I find it quite irritating.  The man didn’t look well at all on the National Final; sickly white with a vacant expression in his eyes, similar to the expression of a drug addict.  I don’t like him, I’m not a huge fan of the song, and I don’t like the way he performs.  Nonetheless, he didn’t deserve to do well in my opinion last time and he still managed it, so I’d imagine that having the same strong fan base around former USSR Europe should still ensure he gets the runner-up, if not, winners spot in Belgrade.

 

 

An initial prediction will appear here soon.

 

 

A prediction will appear here when all 25 songs in the Grand Final are known.