Іryna Darafeeva: “If the country says “You should go!” I will go to Eurovision
But the singer said she would not participate in any selection tours. Something similar to a “Eurovision-2008” selection tour took place during the concert “VIVA Eurovision” in Vitsebsk, on the night of July 8 during “Slavonic Bazaar”. People were proposed to choose the winner by clapping their hands. The level of the noise they made was recorded by special devices - sound level meters.
An ERB reporter decided to find out: “Does it mean that there will not be any selection tour for Eurovision if the winner is selected in Vitsebsk?”
We turned to the head of the jury of the Eurovision selection tour Alyaksandr Tsihanovich for an explanation.
Alyaksandr Tsіhanovіch: “It is not a criterion. We just wanted to know which of the possible participants of the Eurovision selection tour drew attention of viewers”.
The head of the jury of the selection tour confirmed that there would be selection this year. It will be even stricter than last year. They will choose a song, not a singer. The person with the best song will go to Eurovision. Alyaksandr Tsihanovich says that there are no favourites at the moment and there are cannot be any.
But there are some signs proving that there is a favourite. It is Iryna Drafeeva. First of all – the government, the main source of financing the Belarusian Eurovision project, likes her. Iryna has got the title of the national honorary singer and became the “face of Belarus”. She lived in the President’s residence during “Slavonic Bazaar”. Alla Pugachyova lived in that suite last year. Furthermore, Iryna is working with a famous Russian composer Kim Breitburg now.
The singer says she has not thought about the participation in Eurovision yet. She also flatly refused to participate in any selection tours.
Іryna Darafeeva: “I’m not going to take part in the Belarusian selection tour”.
According to the singer, she has never dreamt of participating in Eurovision and it will not help her develop as a creative person. But if she is ordered to go she will.
Іryna Darafeeva: “If the country says: “You should go!” I will proudly assume the responsibility”.
If the singer goes she will sing in Belarusian or in Russian. That was Iryna’s response to the question if she could speak English. Speaking about the song Iryna noted that besides Breitburg, there were composers ready to work on it.
The idea that the future participant of Eurovision might be assigned instead of being chosen after a strict selection tour filled the head of the jury Alyaksandr Tsihanovich with indignation. Even if it might be the government’s favourite Iryna Darafeeva.
Alyaksandr Tsіhanovіch: “If they order someone to go let them organize everything themselves. Ira Darafeeva has nothing to do with Eurovision at the moment. She may only be a participant of the selection tour. There is no other way. I claim it as the head of the project”.
By the way, Anzhalika Ahurbash and Palina Smolava claimed they did not know any good candidates for participation in Eurovision except for themselves. Alyaksandr Tsihanovich said it was a regular kind of PR. Iryna Darafeeva was more sceptical.
Іryna Darafeeva: “No comment. I think they already had a chance to show what they are worth”.
Alyaksandr Tsihanovich said that the results of the noise level voting will be known in September. Surprisingly, two months is needed to decipher the records of the sound level meters.
An ERB reporter decided to find out: “Does it mean that there will not be any selection tour for Eurovision if the winner is selected in Vitsebsk?”
We turned to the head of the jury of the Eurovision selection tour Alyaksandr Tsihanovich for an explanation.
Alyaksandr Tsіhanovіch: “It is not a criterion. We just wanted to know which of the possible participants of the Eurovision selection tour drew attention of viewers”.
The head of the jury of the selection tour confirmed that there would be selection this year. It will be even stricter than last year. They will choose a song, not a singer. The person with the best song will go to Eurovision. Alyaksandr Tsihanovich says that there are no favourites at the moment and there are cannot be any.
But there are some signs proving that there is a favourite. It is Iryna Drafeeva. First of all – the government, the main source of financing the Belarusian Eurovision project, likes her. Iryna has got the title of the national honorary singer and became the “face of Belarus”. She lived in the President’s residence during “Slavonic Bazaar”. Alla Pugachyova lived in that suite last year. Furthermore, Iryna is working with a famous Russian composer Kim Breitburg now.
The singer says she has not thought about the participation in Eurovision yet. She also flatly refused to participate in any selection tours.
Іryna Darafeeva: “I’m not going to take part in the Belarusian selection tour”.
According to the singer, she has never dreamt of participating in Eurovision and it will not help her develop as a creative person. But if she is ordered to go she will.
Іryna Darafeeva: “If the country says: “You should go!” I will proudly assume the responsibility”.
If the singer goes she will sing in Belarusian or in Russian. That was Iryna’s response to the question if she could speak English. Speaking about the song Iryna noted that besides Breitburg, there were composers ready to work on it.
The idea that the future participant of Eurovision might be assigned instead of being chosen after a strict selection tour filled the head of the jury Alyaksandr Tsihanovich with indignation. Even if it might be the government’s favourite Iryna Darafeeva.
Alyaksandr Tsіhanovіch: “If they order someone to go let them organize everything themselves. Ira Darafeeva has nothing to do with Eurovision at the moment. She may only be a participant of the selection tour. There is no other way. I claim it as the head of the project”.
By the way, Anzhalika Ahurbash and Palina Smolava claimed they did not know any good candidates for participation in Eurovision except for themselves. Alyaksandr Tsihanovich said it was a regular kind of PR. Iryna Darafeeva was more sceptical.
Іryna Darafeeva: “No comment. I think they already had a chance to show what they are worth”.
Alyaksandr Tsihanovich said that the results of the noise level voting will be known in September. Surprisingly, two months is needed to decipher the records of the sound level meters.
