Banned from Eurovision after its invasion of Ukraine, Russia will maintain a rival worldwide tune contest on Saturday, with an emphasis on “traditional values”.
As an alternative of camp, assume conservative – patriotic pop with a PG-rating.
“Intervision” was launched underneath the order of Vladimir Putin, with the hope it might function an expression of Moscow’s worldwide pulling energy.
Picture:
Intervision decorations in Crimson Sq., Moscow, forward of the competition
There are contestants from 23 international locations, that are a mix of Russia’s allies previous and new, together with Belarus, Cuba and Tajikistan in addition to China, India and Saudi Arabia.
The odd one out is the US, who’ll be represented by an artist known as “Vassy”. She’s not a part of an official delegation, however an American voice remains to be a coup for the Kremlin, which can search to make use of this contest as proof of the West’s failure to isolate Russia on the worldwide stage.
‘Warfare whitewash’
Intervision isn’t completely new. It was initially launched within the Nineteen Sixties as an instrument of Soviet smooth energy, earlier than largely fading from view within the Eighties.
In keeping with Moscow, its revival has nothing to do with politics. However Ukraine has condemned it as propaganda, and an try to whitewash Russia’s conflict.
It was a degree I put to some contestants after their ultimate press conferences, however it did not go down nicely.
“We don’t think like that, we are here to spread peace,” India’s Rauhan Malik informed me, once I requested if his participation was a present of assist for Russia’s invasion.
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Malik, one of many contestants
“Are you not turning a blind eye to Russia’s aggression?” I countered.
“I have no idea about it,” he mentioned. “I have no idea about the current situation that’s happening. I don’t want to speak about that as well.”
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Eurovision legends Abba would virtually actually not make the Russian contest visitor record. Pic: AP
Actually? He had no thought? However earlier than I may go on, I felt a forceful hand on my shoulder and a minder stepped in.
The intervention was even faster when it got here to chatting with Brazil’s act. As quickly as I discussed the phrase Ukraine, I used to be drowned out by shouts of “no, no, no, no” and the duo had been ushered away.
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Brazilian contestants, duo Luciano Calazans and Thais Nader
The place’s the glitter?
Intervision isn’t just a response to Russia’s current exclusion from Eurosivion, nevertheless, it is also a response to the competition’s values and what it is come to symbolize.
Its celebration of sexual variety and LGBTQ+ rights are seen as an emblem of what the Kremlin calls the West’s ethical decline. In distinction, Intervision organisers say their contest will promote “traditional, family values.”
Judging by the costumes on present forward of final week’s draw, that interprets to much less glitter, extra embroidery, with a thematic emphasis on nationwide heritage.
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Faucet to observe
So what do Russians consider Intervision’s resurrection? Can it change Eurovision?
“We don’t miss Eurovision,” Galina and Tatiana say, beneath a set of purple and pink ‘Intervision’ flags close to Crimson Sq..
“It was so horrible, especially lately. We didn’t like watching it at all.”
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Why are international locations boycotting Eurovision?
Polina agrees, believing Russia’s model shall be “more interesting”.
“Many countries that participated in Eurovision want to boycott it, so it’s interesting to see a more peaceful event now,” she says.
Igor is extra circumspect. “I’d like to believe that this isn’t a political event,” he says, “but rather an event that unites nations and people.”
Intervision will reach uniting some nations. However on the identical time, it might solely deepen divisions with others – additional proof that Russia and the West are singing very totally different tunes.
