Sergey Lazarev Eurovision discussion. Despite the scandal with Anastasia Stotskaya, Sergey Lazarev made it to the Eurovision final

The 61st Eurovision Song Contest 2016 ended in Stockholm last weekend.
However, the result of the competition was so unpredictable that many doubted the objectivity of the voting.
Contrary to the rules of Eurovision, political discussions this year overshadowed the musical component of the competition, foreign media write.
According to the voting results of the international jury members, Australia won, the multimillion-dollar audience awarded the victory to Russia, and in the end Ukraine won, taking second place in both votes.

Ukrainian singer Jamala, who performed the politically charged ballad "1944", won the 61st annual Eurovision Song Contest.
However, all calls to disqualify Jamal fell on deaf ears because the song “did not contain direct references to current events,” writes the New York Times.

It is surprising that the winning song was allowed to participate at all, note the German media - Die Welt.

The reaction to Jamala's victory was very mixed, comments the British BBC channel.

Despite the fact that viewers noted the singer's good vocal abilities and impressive visual effects, many of them are sure that she won only because of her political overtones, and not at all because of her musical abilities.
In addition, discussions sparked new voting rules, where the opinion of the international jury was taken into account. As the media note, the principles by which its members make their decisions remain behind the scenes. The innovation, designed to revive the voting procedure, which has largely become predictable, disrupts the atmosphere of the competition and makes its results questionable.

"If the jury's verdict is so different from the viewer's, then who really chooses the best Eurovision song?" asks the Telegraph.

“The discrepancies between the opinions of the public and the judges are too obvious,” writes Deutsche Wirtschafts Nachtichten. “After all, if the winner, as in all previous years, was determined by the audience, then this time Russia would have won the competition.”
However, the jury had a different opinion and rated Sergei Lazarev’s song much lower - for reasons unknown to anyone, the publication writes.

The famous singer and one of the creators of the Russian entry for Eurovision 2016 - "You Are The Only One" - Phillip Kirkorov, calls on the European Broadcasting Union to reconsider the voting rules regarding the jury.

As a composer and producer of a Russian performance, I fully respect the results.
I know the rules and I accepted them.
As a fan of this competition, I am offended that the jury from 21 countries gave 0 points to Sergei Lazarev’s song!
While viewers all over Europe voted for him, and the lowest score received was 3 points.
29 countries gave it 8, 10 and 12 points!!
I really think the EBU should reconsider the way jury members vote.
Maybe take them into account by 25%?
Something needs to be done to ensure that Russia takes part again. It's my opinion, emphasizes Phillip Kirkorov on his Instagram.

The image below shows the difference between the jury vote and the TV viewer vote.

The head of the Spanish delegation has called for a fairer way of voting next year, and does not agree with Spain's 22nd place at Eurovision 2016.

Many facts speak about the incompetence of international jury members at Eurovision 2016.
One of which is a scandal in the Russian team of the very jury who chose songs not by quality and vocal abilities, but by their own political or other considerations.

The media also report that the Danish jury mixed up the evaluation system for participants and gave Ukraine 12 points instead of zero, despite the fact that the highest score was intended for Australia.
The chairman of the jury, Hilda Heick, said: “This is my biggest mistake, and I honestly admit it.”
The European Broadcasting Union has been informed of the error, but this will not affect the final result of the competition.

A lot of Western media criticized the EBU, talking about the politicization of the song competition.

Norwegian publication VG stated the following:
- Eurovision has always prided itself on being a non-political event. It's over now. Jamal due to political reasons.

Danish commentator Ole Tøpholm believes that it was thanks to politics that Ukraine was declared the winner of Eurovision 2016.

Countries such as Great Britain and Australia do not agree with Ukraine’s victory.
Who question their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017.
Referring to the unfair results of the Eurovision Song Contest 2016.

Eurovision is considered one of the largest entertainment shows in the world. For the first time this year, the final of the competition was shown in the USA.

The name of the winner of the popular Eurovision 2016 song contest will soon become known, the final of which takes place in the Swedish capital on May 14. According to bookmakers, the main favorite of the competition is Russian performer Sergei Lazarev, for whom many viewers will vote. Including residents of Ukraine.

Let us remind you that, according to the terms of the competition, the winner is chosen by voting among the jury members and ordinary spectators (50 to 50). At the same time, viewers cannot vote for a performer from their own country, but can choose a singer from any other country.

Most often they prefer to vote for their closest neighbors. For example, at Eurovision 2014, when the victory went to the “bearded woman” Conchita Wurst, Ukraine gave 7 points out of 12 possible for the Tolmachev sisters (then they took 7th place). In 2014, Ukraine’s closest neighbors – Azerbaijan and Moldova, as well as Italy – received 10 points each from Ukraine. 8 points each were given to Belarus and Estonia.

And now, discussing the performance of the Ukrainian singer Jamala in the second semi-final of Eurovision 2016, the Ukrainian media casually notice that this year (and Eurovision 2015, we recall, Ukraine missed) many Ukrainians will most likely also give their votes performer from Russia. And they remember traditions: over all the years of Eurovision, Ukraine gave the most points (104) to Russia and Azerbaijan (65). It is clear that this year, given the far from friendly mood towards their closest neighbor, the Ukrainians will not give the maximum number of points to Sergei Lazarev, but he can still count on 4-8 points. And the maximum, apparently, will go to the singer from Azerbaijan. As for the members of the Ukrainian jury, one cannot expect objectivity from them at Eurovision 2016. It is clear that they will not want to separate culture from politics, and they will not be allowed to express their own opinion. This year, the jury from Ukraine included composer Alexander Ksenofontov, the husband of singer Ruslana, winner of Eurovision in 2004. Let us recall that after her victory she could not stay away from politics: first she supported Viktor Yushchenko, then she worked for Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, in 2010 she promoted Yulia Tymoshenko for president, and three years ago she threatened to burn herself in the center of Kyiv, “if there will be no change." For this, Michelle Obama awarded her The Women of Courage Award, which recognizes women who show “leadership, courage and the will to sacrifice for others, especially for the advancement of women’s rights around the world.”

Bookmakers put Jamal in his place

On the eve of the final competition at Eurovision 2016, everyone who is working at the competition these days named the five leaders, among whom, in all likelihood, the fight for first place will unfold. In addition to Eurovision 2016 favorite Sergei Lazarev, the list includes performers from France, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Sweden and Malta. Bookmakers, based on the results of the two semi-finals, also announced their predictions regarding the winner. The brightest contender for the title of the strongest, in their opinion, is the singer from Russia Sergey Lazarev. The coefficient that bookmakers use when calculating Lazarev's chances (the lower it is, the higher the probability of winning) is 1.61. The second place can go to the representative of Australia Dami Im (her coefficient is 5), and the third place goes to the performer from France Amir Haddad (her coefficient is 8). But the bookmakers put the Ukrainian singer Jamala in fourth place only with odds of 9. Swedish singer Frans may be in fifth place. It is interesting that on the eve of the second semi-final, which took place on May 12, bookmakers put Jamala among the main contenders for victory.

Why Ukraine wants to abandon Eurovision 2017

As soon as new forecasts appeared regarding the possible scenario for the further development of events at Eurovision 2016, Ukrainian men immediately began to talk about the country’s refusal to participate in Eurovision 2017. Although a few days ago they loudly declared that if Jamala wins, they intend to hold the competition in Sevastopol. Now other opinions have emerged - if Russia wins, then ignore the next competition and not come to the country, which is not called an aggressor in Independence. In fact, behind political reasons there are also purely economic ones. Still, participation in a competition of this scale is very expensive. Firstly, the costs of purchasing a competition song, staging the performance, promotion, and so on, and secondly, the intention to participate must be supported by making a mandatory financial contribution. One can only guess about the amount of the latter, since there is no official information on this matter. One can only assume that the contribution is about 300 thousand euros, which is very significant for a country experiencing an economic and political crisis.

Even the seasoned engineers and technicians behind the scenes at Ericsson Globe Arena marveled: how does he do it - and how did it all come up? And Sergey Lazarev also hovered at a height, as if floating in the atmosphere, and demonstrating excellent athletic training.

After the final, Lazarev looked, of course, disappointed, but tried not to show it. He said that “his biggest victory at Eurovision 2016 was that he managed to change the audience’s attitude towards Russian singers.”

Eurovision 2016 ended in the Swedish capital Stockholm. Russian participant Sergey Lazarev took third place. His song You Are The Only One was melodic and effective, and his performance impressed with sincerity and artistry. Yes, and such dynamic direction and the most complex technological solution for the performance have probably never been seen at competitions.
Even the seasoned engineers and technicians behind the scenes at Ericsson Globe Arena marveled: how does he do it - and how did it all come up? And Sergey Lazarev also hovered at a height, as if floating in the atmosphere, and demonstrating excellent athletic training.

But a new regulation, which was adopted by the European Broadcasting Union on the eve of Eurovision 2016, interfered with the final distribution of places. It was he who actually turned everything upside down. And he did not take into account the opinions of European television viewers in the same way as he had done at the competition all the years. And although European television viewers gave the victory to Sergei Lazarev, thanks only this year (maybe even prudently?) to the approved regulations on the work of “professional juries,” our performer was only third, alas.

Theme development

Photo: AFP/JONATHAN NACKSTRAND
Western media about Eurovision 2016: Politics overshadowed the music
After the final, Lazarev looked, of course, disappointed, but tried not to show it. He said that “his biggest victory at Eurovision 2016 was that he managed to change the audience’s attitude towards Russian singers.”

“I managed to change the attitude and set the audience in a positive mood,” he told a TASS correspondent in Stockholm. - From the very beginning we understood some “peculiarities”, so to speak, in relation to us. But it’s nice that we managed to break some of the negativity towards the Russian participants that has been here for the last few years.”

And then Lazarev finally admitted: “Political games” at the competition were more tiring than the process of rehearsing and preparing the act.”

In fact, while Sergey was rehearsing on the stage of the Ericsson Globe Arena, and then wandering around the city with the singer from Azerbaijan Samra, walking near the water, petting dogs and willingly agreeing to be photographed with passers-by, while his other rivals were launching their hectic advertising campaign.

Everything went into play: support from the consul, meetings with the local diaspora, walking along the metro with flags, the desire to attract attention by any means. And of course, distribution of gifts, souvenirs and flags on the street. And also: an attempt to enlist the support of the LBGT community and stir up fears that “in Moscow they won’t be able to have so much fun anymore...” There was a lot of such insincerity.

But, despite all these tricks, it was Lazarev who should have won. Three powerful and numerous expert and spectator groups at once gave the victory to him.

Firstly, bookmakers. On the day of the final, in the world's bookmakers' offices, it was Sergei Lazarev who was the undisputed No. 1. And bookmakers are not random people in show business. Before setting odds, they always interview specialists, experts, experts, and sometimes even doctors. Sometimes they even monitor whether one of the participants has caught a cold or whether the vocal cords have overworked: then the coefficients change. But no, Sergey Lazarev was considered the leader of Eurovision 2016 until the day of the final.

Secondly, journalists. A lot of them came to Stockholm. From all participating countries (41 European countries and Australia) plus media from the USA, China, and other countries. And on the eve of the final, at its dress rehearsal, the final vote of this large and competent public took place: representatives of the leading media in Europe and Australia. It brought the following results: 1. Russia, 2. Australia, 3. Ukraine, 4. France, 5. Sweden. And that means Russia was also listed as the winner!

And thirdly: the TV viewers themselves also gave Russia first place! This is how ordinary, ordinary Europeans and residents of Australia (a country participating in the competition for the second year) voted. Their rating was as follows: 1. Russia, 2. Ukraine, 3. Australia, 4. Bulgaria, 5. Poland.

That is, according to all scenarios and calculations, Sergei Lazarev should have become the first!

But let us remind you that the rules have changed this year. And now the jury of the competing countries voted separately. Previously, the rules were different: the votes of the jury and television viewers were divided in a ratio of 50 to 50. But now the authority of the jury was raised to a new, unprecedented height. And it turned out that the opinions of the five “jurists” in 2016 were put on par with the opinions of the entire country! Which, of course, allowed for the possibility of spontaneity and subjectivity in assessments. It looks like that's what happened.