Introduction

This year it’s a special situation for Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest. They were the last ones to announce the song for Eurovision. Due to the latest political situation the participation of Russia is being discussed. But the ESC has never been involved in politics, but sometimes it cannot be overseen. That’s why Russia will have not the best image in the moment; therefore the Russian broadcaster Channel 1 has chosen a sweet girl group – the Tolmachevy Sisters - to improve the image a bit. Nobody can be angry with these lovely girls.

The Tolmachevy Sisters are twins were born in Kursk, 500 km south of Moscow in 1997. The two sisters are Anastasia and Maria, who will graduate from school this year. In 2006 they have won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Bucharest, Romania, when they were 9 years old! Shortly after that a documentary has been filmed, mainly focussed on their success and their meetings with Russian pop stars like Alla Pugachova (Russia 1997). The Tolmachevy Sisters had also the honour to appear in the opening sequence of the first semi final in Moscow 2009. They have released their first album “Polovinki” in 2007.

The song “Shine” is a modern pop song with a nice melody which seems to match perfectly with the image of the Tolmachevy Sisters. Russia has always qualified for the Grand Final, so this year could be different due to the political situation; furthermore Russia and the Ukraine are in the same semi final. “Shine” is a smooth song with a memorable chorus which can be a good radio song. 

History

Participations: 18

Debut: 1994

Biggest success: 1x 1st place “Believe” by Dima Bilan, 3x 2nd place “Solo” by Alsou in 2000, “Never Let You Go” by Dima Bilan in 2006, “Party For Everybody” by Buranovskie Babushki in 2012, 2x 3rd place “Ne Ver, Ne Boisia” by t.A.T.u. in 2003, “Song #1” by Serebro in 2007, 1x5th place, 1x 9th place, 1x 10th place 

This will be the 18th entry from Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest. Russia’s debut year has been in 1994 in Dublin with “Vechni Stranik” by Youddiph, when a lot of new countries took part for the first time like Lithuania, Slovakia, Romania, Poland, Hungary and Estonia.

In the short history of Russian entries there is a clear trend of the new Russian music with mainly English songs with the utmost contemporary touch. Russia always wanted to win and made good results and in 2008 with Dima Bilan who could fulfil the Russian hope with “Believe”. The year after the Russians could show the world their high level of technology and what the Russians are able to realize on stage at the ESC in Moscow 2009. But the Russian have often been close to victory three time the 2nd place, and two times 3rd place that’s a result nobody could complain. Last year in Malmö Dina Garipova could achieve a 5th place with “What If”.

Russia is the biggest country in the world and therefore it has a huge amount of viewers, the interest in the ESC has grown from year to year, there were also singers from the Asian part in Vladivostok: Mumiy Troll with “Lady Alpine Blue” (12th).

The most outstanding Russian songs were: “Primadonna” by Alla Pugachova in 1997 (15th), “Ne Ver, Ne Boisia” by t.A.T.u. in 2003 (3rd) and “Never Let You Go” by Dima Bilan in 2006 (2nd).