The Golden Gramophone Award 2023, the Russian music awards, was held in St. Petersburg.  Eliana Goncharova was at the ceremony for ESC Covers.

The event was attended by dozens of famous Russian singers. Including Dima Bilan (winner of the 2008 ESC) and also Valeria – the silver medal position of the national selection of Russia for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, Vladimir Presnyakov – the husband of Natalia Podolskaya, who represented Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 and many participants of the closed selections of Russia for Eurovision of different years.

The wards were organized by “Russian Media Group”.

1. Interview with YurKiss –

If Russia returns to Eurovision one day, would you like to take part in this contest?

Not me. I am sure that Lusya Chebotina will have to take part in the competition. If Lusya goes to Eurovision, she will definitely bring victory to Russia!

(Note 1: YurKiss is a young Russian singer, boyfriend of Lusya Chebotina and a member of the board of directors of the “Russian Media Group” – Note 2: Lusya Chebotina is a famous young Russian singer. In 2022, her song Sun of Monaco became one of the biggest hits in Russia and was even translated into Italian. And now Lusya’s songs Aeroexpress and Crying Hollywood take first place in the Russian music charts.

2. Interview with Vladimir Presnyakov –

Representatives of Russia often took high places at the Eurovision. Why Natalia Podolskaya took a low 15th place in 2005?

15th place for Natalia was like an earthquake. It was a disaster. It was a huge stress. She sobbed. Then Natalia and her producer Victor Drobysh decided that the reason was in the song. If Natalia went to Eurovision with the song “Late”, which she sang at the “Star Factory”, then the place would be higher. Natalia’s contest song “Nobody hurt no one” had a social message. It was a song about the cruelty of the world. This topic is more relevant now than it was 18 years ago.

Vanya Dmitrenko is a young Russian singer. His song Venus and Jupiter was very popular in Russia in 2021 and 2022.

3. Vanya says: I wanted to go to Eurovision in 2022. But, unfortunately, Russia left the European Broadcasting Union that year. I have a great desire to represent Russia at Eurovision. It’s “Wow” for me! I have a range of three octaves. I will be glad if someday I go to Eurovision!

Also attending the event was famous Russian singer, Nikolei Baskov. He is a friend of Philipp Kirkorov (ESC Russia 1995).

Unfortunately, we do not have any photos of Dima Bilan as he did not turn up in the press centre.

Thank you to Eliana Goncharova for this report and photos

Source: ESC Covers