Thirty-nine countries are competing with the aim to lift the trophy in Malmö. The thirty-seventh country to be introduced is Russia. The country won the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest and this year Dina Garipova will fly the Russian flag in Sweden.

Basic information

Performer: Dina Garipova
Song: What if
Language: English
Music: Gabriel Alares, Joakim Björnberg, Leonid Gutkin
Lyrics: Gabriel Alares, Joakim Björnberg, Leonid Gutkin

The song

This year’s Russian entry is a ballad with a positive message for peace. Infact Dina Garipova sings about what if we bury our guns and open up the doors.

What if I could change the path of time
What if I had the power to decide
What if I could make us unify

If I
If I

What if we would open up the doors
What if we could help each other more
What if i could make you all believe

The performer

Dina Garipova was born in Zelenodolsk, Tatarstan, Russia, to a family of physicians. From the age of six, Garipova studied singing at the Zolotoy mikrofon (Golden Microphone) Theatre, with Elena Antonova as her vocal coach. Garipova studied journalism (correspondence department) at the Kazan (Volga region) Federal University. When Garipova graduated from Zolotoy mikrofon, she toured with the Tatarstan singer Gabdelfat Safin. Last year she won the Russian version of singing competition The Voice, Golos.

The songwriters

The Russian entry is written by Gabriel Alares, Joakim Björnberg and Leonid Gutkin. Alares and Björnberg are two Swedish producers who worked on different music projects with various artists. Gutkin lives in Moscow apart from writing songs he is also a rock-pop singer.

The national selection

Dina Garipova got internally selected by Russian broadcaster Channel One. The song was later presented as the Russian entry for the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest.

Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest

Russia entered the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 and despite a debut in the top ten, mediocre placing followed in 1995 and 1997 as well as elimination in the 1996 internal semi-final. This turned with the year 2000, when Russia finished second in Stockholm. In the last decade, Russia won once, finished second three times and third twice making it one of the most successful countries in recent years. However, in last four years they finished three times outside the top ten in the grand final but last year the Buranovskiye Babushki finished second after Loreen.

Statistics

This will be Russia’s 17th participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. For the seventh time only the country is represented by a female solo singer. The song will be performed entirely in English. It is the tenth time that the Russian entry will be presented entirely in English.

Russian vote in Eurovision

Throughout its history in the Eurovision Song Contest Russia gave its most points to Ukraine while Estonia awarded its most points to Russia.

The betting odds

According to oddschecker.com, Russia is currently standing at number 4 to win the Eurovision Song Contest. According to the odds, Russia is the second favourite to qualify from semi-final one. These odds make Russia amongst the hot favourites.

Мы хотим пожелать удачи России и Дина Гарипова в конкурсе Евровидения в Мальме!

Videos

Preview clip

Non, rien de rien

Skyfall

Tomorrow another country will be introduced (hint – is it the euro or the neuro vision?)

Have your say

You can rate the Russian entry by voting in our poll

[polldaddy poll=7010061]

You can view previous parts of this series by clicking here