For the first time the Eurovision Song Contest took place in Moscow, the capital of the Russian Federation. Russia didn't save money and effort to impress the world with a great show. The Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow was an amazing and exciting spectacle setting new standards which would be hard to top. For Russia, the organisation of the international Song Contest was also a rehearsal for the Olympic Winter Games 2014 in Sochi.
Alexander Rybak from Norway, the winner of the European Song Contest 2009, also broke records collecting the highest number of points in the Eurovision history. His song "Fairytale" received 387 points altogether. 16 countries chose Alexander as their favourite giving him 12 points: Russia, Belarus, Germany, Holland, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Island, Israel, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, Poland, Slovenia and Hungary.
The charming fairytale prince from Norway originally comes from Belarus. Alexander Rybak is fluent in Russian. He had to prove his good knowledge of the Russian language in numerous interviews to Russian journalists in Moscow. "Please speak to me as if I were an 8-year old kid", - asked Alexander the Russian journalists. After speaking Norwegian on stage, Alexander said in Russian "Спасибо вам большое! Вы самая лучшая публика в мире!" ("Thank you very much! You are the best audience in the world!") (Watch video on top of the right column.)
Alexander Rybak was born in Minsk (Belarus) on the 13th of May, 1986 into a family of musicians. His family name means "fisher" (in Russian: Рыбак). At the age of five Alexander started playing violin and piano. He also composes his own songs. Alexander Rybak grew up in Nesodden, near Oslo. In 2006 he won the Norwegian talent show Kjempesjansen with his own song Foolin’. Alexander Rybak already worked with world-famous artists like Morten Harket, the frontman of the pop-band a-ha. Rybak's debut album "Fairytales" is to be released soon (in Germany in May 2009.) Alexander also plans a concert tour to Eurovision countries. Alexander Rybak's self-composed song "Fairytale" is already a big download hit on the internet. Soon after the Grand Final it hit the iTunes Single Top-10 in several countries.
The second place at the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow took Yohanna from Iceland with the song "Is It True?" (218 points). AySel & Arash from Azerbaijan with the song "Always" came third (207 points). Anastasia Prichodko, who was singing the song "Mamo" for Russia, ended in 11th position (91 points).
In 2008, the Russian singer Dima Bilan won the Grand Final in Belgrade with his song Believe and made Moscow the host-city of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009.
On December 10, 2008 the official delegation from Belgrade handed the symbolic keys of the Eurovision Song Contest over to Moscow. The special ceremony took place in the State Department Store GUM at the Red Square.
Anastasia Prichodko - a young Ukrainian singer with a deep voice - was chosen to represent Russia at the Eurovision 2009. The song is called "Mamo".
| Host Country: | Russia (the Russian Federation) Learn more about Russia and the Russian Federation Travelers to Russia require a visa |
| Host City: | Moscow Learn more about Moscow. |
| Venue: | The Olimpiysky Indoor Arena (Russian: Спорткомплекс "Олимпийский", literal translation: Sport Complex "Olimpiysky") The Olimpiysky Arena was built in 1980 especially for the Sommer Olympic Games in Moscow. The Arena is situated in the centre of Moscow, at the Metro-Station "Prospect Mira". An international designer team is working on stage design for the European Song Contest. |
| Host Broadcaster: | Channel One (Russia / Russian: "Первый канал") |
| Official logo: | a red-blue firebird from the Russian folklore (Russian: "жар-птица" [schar-ptíza])) |
| Number of participants: | 42 countries |
| Final results of the Grand Final: |
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First Semi-Final: 12th of May, 2009. From 21.00 to approximately 23.00 CET (Moscow time: CET+2)
Participants in the first Semi-Final: 18 counties. Montenegro, Czech, Republic Belgium, Belarus, Sweden, Armenia, Andorra, Switzerland, Turkey, Israel, Bulgaria, Iceland, F.Y.R. Macedonia, Romania, Finland, Portugal, Malta, Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Second Semi-Final: 14th of May, 2009. From 21.00 to approximately 23.00 CET (Moscow time: CET+2)
Participants in the second Semi-Final: 19 counties. Croatia, Ireland, Latvia, Serbia, Poland, Norway, Cyprus, Slovakia, Denmark, Slovenia, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Greece, Lithuania, Moldova, Albania, Ukraine, Estonia, The Netherlands.
The Grand Final: 16th of May, 2009. From 21.00 to 00.15 CET (Moscow time: CET+2)
Participants in the Grand Final: five countries have guaranteed places in the Grand Final: Russia (the Host Country), France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom (as major members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)). Ten countries shall qualify for the Grand Final in each Semi-Final. 25 countries will compete in the Grand Final in total.
The hosts of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow
The names of the hosts of the Eurovision Contest were kept secret for a long time. On the 7th of May the General Director of the Russian host broadcaster "Channel One" finally announced the names of the four presenters.
The hosts of the first and second Semi-Finals are:
- Natalia Vodyanova (Russian: Наталья Водянова)
At the age of 16 Natalia was discovered by a model agency in her hometown Nizhny Novgorod. Now Natalia is one of the most successful international Top-Models. She war starring in advertising campaigns for Calvin Klein, Louis Vuitton and L'Oreal. Natalia lives with her husband Justin Portman and their three children in New York.
- Andrey Malakhov (Russian: Андрей Малахов)
Andrey is a famous TV journalist and presenter in Russia. He also enjoys the image of being one of the most stylish men at the Russian TV. Since 1996 he works for the Channel One Russia as a special correspondent and host of the morning show "Good Morning" (Russian: "Доброе утро"). He was a host of different Talk and Music shows. Currently Andrey hosts the popular Talk-Show "Let them talk" (Russian: "Пусть говорят").
The Final of the Eurovision Song Contest will be hosted by:
- Alsou (Russian: Алсу)
Alsou is a popular singer in Russia. She represented Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 with her song "Solo" and took the second place. Now she is one of the most successful pop-singers in Russia. Alsou also worked with international stars like Enrique Iglesias, John Bon Jovi and Nelly.
- Ivan Urgant (Russian: Иван Ургант)
Ivan comes from St Petersburg and is a son of famous actors. He worked for different radio and TV stations in St. Petersburg. Currently he works for "Channel One Russia". Ivan hosts different TV shows including a culinary show "Smak" (Russian: "Смак"), "The Magic World of Walt Disney" (Russian: "Волшебный мир Уолта Диснея"), "Projectorparishilton" (Russian: "Прожекторперисхилтон") and others.
| Ticket Prices: | Tickets cost from 800 up to 20 000 Roubles (about 17-445 Euros) for both Semi-Finals. Tickets for the Grand Final are a bit more expensive and cost from 1 000 up to 30 000 Roubles (about 22-667 Euros). The VIP-Card "The Golden Package" provides access to the backstage area, different events and to the restaurant. It costs 350 000 Roubles (about 7 778 Euros) and is valid for both Semi-Finals and the Grand Final. |
| The financials: | about one Billion Roubles provided by the Russian Federation (about 22 Mio 223 thousand Euros), 3 Million Roubles (about 67 thousand Euros) provided by Moscow Government and 5 Million Swiss Francs (about 3 Millions 283 thousand Euro) provided by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). |
| Current exchange rate for Russian Roubles in Euros and U.S.-Dollars (USD) | |
| Advertising in Moscow: | 5 500 posters, dozens of over the street banners, about 1 200 extra big billboards. The billboards promote all 42 countries participating in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. Each billboard shows the national flag and a girl looking like a representative of the Eurovision nation. All 42 beauties are personified by Miss World 2008, the beautiful Russian girl Ksenia Sukhinova (Russian: Ксения Сухинова). |
Miss World 2008 welcomes the participants of the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow
Anastasia Prikhodko (also Prichodko) - a young singer from the Ukraine - represents Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow with the song Mamo (Russian: "Мамо"). Anastasia sings in Russian and Ukrainian. The title of the song is also Ukrainian and means "Mama". Strictly speaking, Russia will be represented by an international team. The song was written by Anastasia's Georgian producer Konstantin Meladze in collaboration with Diana Golde who is half-Estonian.
In March 2009 Anastasia won the National Final in Russia. 25% of TV viewers and six (out of 12) jury members voted for Anastasia. Naturally, not everyone in Russia is happy about the fact that a Ukrainian singer was chosen to represent Russia at the European Song Contest. Many would prefer the Russian singer Valeria, who ended up second (14% of votes). Originally Anastasia Prikhodko wanted to perform for Ukraine, but was disqualified as she was singing in Russian (instead of in Ukrainian and English). Her song "All for you" was also 40 seconds longer than allowed.
In Russia Anastasia Prikhodko became famous as the winner of the casting show Star Factory 7 December 2007.
Anastasia Prikhodko likes black outfits und looks like a rock singer. But she prefers singing folk music. Anastasia is not only going to impress the public and jury by her vocal performance. She also follows a strict diet and exercise program.
| Full Name: | Anastasia Konstantinowna Prikhodko (oder Prichodko) (Russian: Анастасия Константиновна Приходько). The short version of the na,e "Anastasia" is "Nastya" (Russian: Настя). So in Russia the singer is also called Nastya Prikhodko. |
| Date and Place of Birth: | 221 April 1987 in Kiev, Ukraine. |
| Education: | a music academy, the department of folk vocal |
| Music Interests: | Anastasia plays piano, guitar and flute. She likes to sing folk songs and listen to the proper music that "touches the soul". |
| Other interests: | chess and horse riding. Anastasia is fond of fashion and pays much attention to her appearance. |
| Favourite book: | The Master and Margarita by Michail Bulgakov |
| Favourite flowers: | tulips |
Lyrics: Mamo
Text: Konstantin Meladze, Diana Golde
Music: Konstantin Meladze
Вышел из тени вновь, мой враг - моя любовь
Неизбежна моя доля, сколько сердце ни готовь.
Но, прежде чем уйти, колечком золотым
Обручил меня с собою и от чар не защитил
И на волю мою душу не пустил
Мамо, а ти ж мені казала як не жадай
Мамо, а я ж тоді не знала де ж та біда
Мамо, а ти ж мені казала час як вода
Мамо, мамо, мам, любов - біда
Брошу мечту свою и об пол разобью
Как сломал ты мою долю и оставил на краю
Я дождем девичьи слезы разолью
Мама, а ты же мне сказала: не ожидай
Мама, а я ж тогда не знала где ж та беда
Мама, а ты же мне сказала время вода
Мама, мама, мама, любовь - беда...
Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest
2008 Belgrade: Dima Bilan - Believe - the Winner
2007 Helsinki: Serebro - Song # 1 - Place 3
Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest: Overview