Belarus performer IVAN to sing at Eurovision-2016

Alyaksandr Ivanou, performing under the pseudonym IVAN, won the national qualifying round of the international song contest “Eurovision-2016” and will represent Belarus at the Eurovision Song Forum in Sweden in May.

Alyaksandr Ivanou is an experienced artist. He won the Russian competition “5 stars”, became superfinalist of the competition “Main Stage” and won the prize of producers in the same project. The song ‘How to Fly”, which Alyaksandr will sing at the Eurovision contest was written for him by the famous composer Viktar Drobysh who first patronized the young Belarusian artists on the project “Main Stage”, and then became his producer.

The head of Belarus Alyaksandr Lukashenka presented the Order of Frantsysk Skaryna to Viktar Drobysh for “a high level of creativity, personal contribution to the development and strengthening of Belarus-Russia cultural ties.”

The final qualifying round was held on the evening of January 22 in the Belteleradio. In addition to Alyaksandr Ivanou, it was attended by 9 other artists: Alex Gross, Anastasia Malashkevich Valeria Sadouskaya, Kiryl Yermakou, Sasha Zakharyk, bands “Radiovolna», “THE EM”, “NAVI”, “NAPOLI”.

This year’s winner selection rules were again changed. A year ago, the overall result of voting for each participant consisted of eight ratings, seven of which came from members of the jury and one from the audience, but now only the audience voted via telephone and SMS. This time it lasted 30 minutes, three times more than in the past.

Partner of the national qualifying round, Alfa Bank, awarded its favorite – the group NAVI with the song “This Land” in the Belarusian language – with a cash prize and dinner at one of Minsk restaurants.

This year, the national selection round of “Eurovision” at BTRC received more than 100 applications from both performers and songwriters. There was 91 applicant (solo performers and groups) taking part in the casting, of whom were selected 10 finalists. Among the famous musicians did not make it to the finals was band “Pesnyary”, “Clear Voice”, “Aura”, singer Zhanet, Vitaly Karpanau (band “Blackbird”) and others.

Belarus first took part in “Eurovision” in 2004. Last year, representatives of Belarus at “Eurovision-2015” – the duet “Uzari & Maimuna” took 12th place in the semifinals but did not make it to the finals. The best result among Belarusians came from Dzmitry Kaldun in 2007. He came sixth.

Eurovision-2016 will be held in Stockholm from 11 to 14 May.

BelaPAN

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