Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 in Belgrade, Serbia
Dima Bilan with his song Believe won the Grand Final in Belgrade. Everyone in Russia is happy about this first victory in the history of the Contest. Moscow is going to be the host city of the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest.
Learn more about the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia
Dima Bilan received 272 points for his song Believe and was 42 points ahead of Ani Lorak from Ukraine with Shady Lady. The Greece's singer Kalomira with Seсret Combination came third (218 points).
Dima’s song Believe was co-produced by the U.S. Star Timbaland. At the 2006 Eurovision in Athens Dima Bilan finished second with his ballad Never let you go. 2008 Dima managed to convince the expert jury and his Russian fans again. On March 9, 2008, Bilan won the Russian national selection having received 54 points. His nearest rival Sergey Lazarev collected 48 points.
After his triumph at the Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade, Dima Bilan thanked his fans for trusting him. Dima was especially happy for having brought Russia another victory: "Ice Hockey, the UEFA Cup and now the Eurovision!"
Also Russia’s President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin praised Dima Bilan and the whole Russian Eurovision team. Dmitry Medvedev congratulated on the victory on the phone. Vladimir Putin sent a telegram saying, the victory was not only a personal success of Dima Bilan, "but yet another triumph for all of Russia." Putin assigned Deputy Prime Ministers Zhukov to organise the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest in Russia "at highest level".
43 participants represented their countries at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Spain and host country Serbia automatically qualified for the Final. Other 20 finalists were determined in two Semi-Finals, on May 20 and 22.
Dima Bilan qualified for the Final at the first Semi-Final of the Eurovision Song Contest on May 20, 2008. Russia was drawn 24th in the Final which took place on May 24.
In Russia, Dima Bilan is already a huge star. But the ambitioned Russian singer also dreams of international career. Dima’s new album was recorded in collaboration with the U.S. Top-Producer Timbaland and his crew including Jim Beanz, Danjahandz and Ryan Tedder. Timabaland already worked for Justin Timberlake, Madonna, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez and other stars. Now Timbaland is supposed to catapult Dima Bilan to international stardom. The first single Number One Fan (Russian: Я твой номер один [ya tvoy no-meer adin]) was released in June 2007 and quickly climbed on top of the Russian charts.
At the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest Dima Bilan presented the romantic ballad Believe (Russian: Поверь [pavyer']). The Russian figure skater Evgeny Pluschenko (Olympic and World champion) and the Hungarian violinist Edvin Marton accompanied Dima on stage. In Russia, the trio is now called "The Three Musketeers".
Video: Dima Bilan sings for Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008
Believe lyrics
by Dima Bilan and Jim Beanz (produced by Jim Beanz)
Even when the thunder and storm begins
I’ll be standing strong like a tree in the wind
Nothing's gonna move this mountain
Or change my direction
I’m falling off that sky and I’m all alone
The courage that’s inside gonna break my fall
Nothing’s gonna deem my light within
But if I keep going on
It will never impossible, not today
Cause I’ve got something to believe in
As long as I’m breathing
There is not a limit to what I can dream
Cause I’ve got something to believe in
Mission to keep climbing
Nothing else can stop me if just believe
And I believe in me
Even when the world tries to pull me down
Tell me that I can, try to turn me around
I wont let them put my fire out, without no!
But if I keep going on
It will never impossible, not today
Cause I’ve got something to believe in
As long as I’m breathing
There is not a limit to what I can dream
Cause I’ve got something to believe in
Mission to keep climbing
Nothing else can stop me if just believe
And I believe:
I can do it all
Open every door
Turn unthinkable to reality
You’ll see- I can do it all and more!
Believing
As long as I’m breathing
There is not a limit to what I can dream
Cause I’ve got something to believe in
Believing
Mission to keep climbing
Nothing else can stop me if just believe
And I believe me.
About Dima Bilan
| Stage name | Dima Bilan (Russian: Дима Билан) |
| Full name | Victor Nikolaievitch Belan (Russian: Виктор Николаевич Белан) |
| Date of birth | December 24, 1981 in South of Russia |
| School years | As a child Dima attended a music school, was lead singer of the school choir and took part in different competitions and festivals for young singers. |
| Education | In 2003 Dima Bilan graduated from the Gnesin Academy of music in Moscow. In 2004 he started studying acting at the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts (GITIS /Russian ГИТИС) |
Dima Bilan: Music career
During his study at the Gnesin Academy of music Dima Bilan meets a successful Russian producer Yuri Aizenshpis and breaks into the music business. Aizenshpis promotes the young singer under the stage name "Dima Bilan". After Aizenshpis’s death in September 2005, his legal heirs try to prohibit the pop star using the brand "Dima Bilan". In spite of numerous lawsuits, the singer keeps performing as Dima Bilan.
- 2005 MTV Russia Music Awards
Dima Bilan receives two honors: Best Singer and Best Actor (Russian: "Лучший исполнитель" и "Артист года")
- 2006 Eurovision Song Contest in Athen
Dima Bilan representes Russia and finishes second with his entry Never Let You Go. Since this success Dima also earns much better than before.
In 2006 the U.S. Magazine Forbes rates Dima Bilan third in the list of most popular Russian celebrities, after tennis star Maria Sharapova (Russian: Мария Шарапова) and Russian pop queen Alla Pugacheva (Russian: Алла Пугачева).
- 2006 MTV Russia Music Awards
Dima Bilan wins in two categories: Best Actor and Best Single for Never Let You Go.
- 2007 MTV Russia Music Awards
Dima Bilan wins in three categories: Best Actor, Best Singer and Best Single for The Impossible is Possible (in Russian: Невозможное возможно [neevazmoshnaye vazmoshna])
In 2007 Dima performs at MTV Europe Music Awards in Munich.
| 2003 | Debut album Ночной хулиган [natchnoy hooligan] (in English: I am a Night Hooligan). Music genres: Pop, R&B and 2Step. Label: Gala Records (Moscow) |
| 2004 | Album На берегу неба [na byereegoo nyeba] (English title: Between the Heaven and the Sky). Label Gala Records (Moscow) Music Genre: melodic R&B For this album Dima Bilan worked with two composers: Shaun Escoffery (UK) and Diane Warren (USA). Diane Warren writes songs for international stars as Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, Ricky Martin, etc. |
| 2006 | Album Время Река [wryemya reeka] (In English: Time-River) Label Gala Records (Moscow) |
| 2007 | Dima Bilan starts recording his next album at the Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles. He works with the star producer Timbaland. |
| 2007, June |
Presentation of the new single Number One Fan which was written in collaboration with Jim Beanz from Timbaland’s team. At the annual MTV Russia Music Awards 2007 Dima Bilan and Timbaland’s brother Sebastian present the new version of Number One Fan. |
| 2007, November |
Dima Bilan releases his new single Горе-зима [gorye-zeema] (in English: Sorrow-Winter) |
Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest
2009 Moscow: Anastasia Prichodko – Mamo – Place 11
2008 Belgrade: Dima Bilan - Believe - the Winner
2007 Helsinki: Serebro – Song # 1 – Place 3
Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest: Overview