News - Russia: Kirkorov - "Everything for the sake of the audience!" | Eurovision Song Contest News - 2008 Belgrade, Serbia 

Philipp Kirkorov, the Russian pop-star, singer, producer and since Eurovision Song Contest 2007 also a composer visited Athens once again together with Ani Lorak, the Ukrainian representative of this year. Ani Lorak will perform in the second semi-final on May 22nd in Belgrade with a song Shady Lady, composed by Philipp Kirkorov. While being in Athens, Kirkorov spoke to esctoday.com to Anna Krasilnikova about his Eurovision experience and his participation.

Philipp Kirkorov was born in Varna on April 30 1967. Kirkorov is known in Russia and the former soviet countries for his flamboyant, extravagant, even theatrical stage clothes. He was married for more than 10 years to Alla Pugacheva (Russia 1997), the biggest singer in Russia and CIS , appearing frequently with her on Russian television variety shows. His musical style is generic Russian pop music with occasional Turkish and Western influences and, like many Russian pop stars of the 90s and later, he frequently records duets with other artists working in the same field. Kirkorov represented Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest 1995 held in Dublin with the song Kolybelnaya dlya vulkana (Lullaby for the volcano) but ended only 17th place in the final scoreboared.

Ever since then, Kirkorov attended almost every contest by being either just a simple fan or tourist and has covered several songs which appeared at the Eurovision Song Contest: Dreaming (Ireland 1985 ) (English and Russian), Die for You (Greece 2001 ) (English and Russian) , Diva (Israel 1998 ) (English, Hebrew, Spanish and Russian) , Go (United Kingdom 1988 ) (Russian) , Maria Magalena (Croatia 1999 ) (Russian) . 

For the last three or four years however, Kirkorov was a member of the team management for various artists: during the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 in Athens, Kirkorov contributed to the promo-tour of Dima Bilan. Last year in Helsinki he supported the Belorussian participant Dmitry Koldun by composing the entry Work your magic. This year, in Belgrade Ani Lorak, who represents Ukraine will perform Shady Lady also composed by Philipp Kirkorov.

Philipp, you participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1995,  last year you have debuted as a composer. Has the contest changed?

Of course it has, many things are different now. Nowadays, in Russia many people blame me and Alla for being placed too low on the final scorebored, but you should not forget that we were first. Today, Russia is surrounded by neighbours like Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia Azerbaijan, Georgia and Baltic countries. It's a support that can pull you up to top 10 or even top 5, even if the whole Europe ignores you. And when I participated, there was no one. Russia was no interest to anyone, and there were just countries like Norway, Sweden, France and Germany around...i.e foreign countries. Rules were also very different: we had to sing in our native language, with live music and orchestra and no one really cared if something went wrong. In my case the orchestra made a mistake, with Alla later, they played it slower than should have... Today everything is different, there is playback, you can make a show. Preparations start many months before, or even a year. Like last year with me: as soon as the Eurovision was over in Helsinki, I started composing the new entry for the following year. I remember when i was chosen to represent Russia, I was told a week before that I am flying to Dublin. Our delegation consisted out of three people. Today delegations count 200-300 people each. Nowadays, Eurovision is a very popular contest in Russia, but no one remembers that it is me and Alla Pugacheva who started it and made it popular.

Nevertheless, I admit that I love this contest and have gained lots of experience through all these years.  I used to attent every single contest as a tourist, as a fan and just a simple observer...for the last 3-4 years though, I take part in the management of the participant in the creation of the stage performance. From last year with Koldun I am also a composer of the entry and for Ani Lorak who is representing Ukraine this year.

If you remember what happened two years ago with Dima Bilan in Athens: his management called me and asked for help. At the beginning all polls placed him below 20th position. I called my Greek colleagues, choreographers and they helped in doing the promotion. As the result - Bilan came second. I stood holding the Russian flag that year, last year I waved Belorussian, this year it will be Ukrainian. I am proud of myself that I can help in promoting young artists.

I wish the very best for Dima Bilan this year, but personally I support Ani Lorak and will ask everyone to vote for her. I am asking to vote for her, because she participates for the first time, she is young and do not forget that she is a girl. Dima Bilan almost won two years ago and this time, of course, we understand that he is going there to take first place. Let the audience decide, let them watch the show and vote for the one they like most. I am certain though, that this time we will show an unforgettable performance. My certainty comes from the fact that the choreographer that is working with Ani Lorak is the Greek guy that brought Eurovision to Athens with Helena Paparizou. It is Fokas Evangelinos, who also made all the opening for the semi-final and the final in Athens.

By what criteria do you choose your artists?

I base my choice on my intuition. I believe that talent is like a diamond that shines and can be seen easily. I have met many artists in my life - young and aged. I saw those who rose from zero very fast and fell down even faster. And I have seen those, who took each step at a time, achieving one goal after another. Ani Lorak is one of them. I am sure that somewhere there, above us she is a winner already but what will happen in real is up to her. God has given her the talent and a chance to show herself to whole Europe. You should understand that we are not going there to get the first place; we are going there to decently represent Ukraine, show good performance and make the song popular in Europe. We want our audience to have fun by showing them a 3 minute theatre. This is our goal - everything for the sake of the audience! If we will be accepted we will be happy, if not, we will be disappointed of course, but we will work further and not rush to the contest again next year. You cannot enter the same river twice!

Some years ago you sang a duet with another ex-participant from Greece Sakis Rouvas. Are you planning to repeat it?

Greece has many talanted singers and composers like Dimitris Kontopoulos and if he writes a song for me I would be happy to sing a duet with many talanted greek singers such as Sakis Rouvas, Kostas Martakis and others. I am very happy that Greece exists in my life and I thank Sakis Rouvas who helped me in this and opened the door to Greece for me. But I repeat that you cannot enter same river twice and that's why I never repeat myself. I will wait until Celine Dion will want to sing a duet with me. If am back to Eurovision Song contest, I am back as a producer or as a composer but not as a singer. I am against the idea in general, even in Dima Bilan's case. It looks like as if nothing new happened in his life during these two years and now he's back. Im my opinion he should have gone to Grammy Awards, or to any other musical festivals.

What are your forecasts for this year?

I am sure that Russia will be Top5. I think the Armenian representative has good chances, Serbia and of course Ani Lorak. I also like the Greek representative, Kalomira. Sweden might have a sucess, but at the same time - it might not even qualify from the semi-final. It's also very interesting what might happen to Irish turkey, after we have the past experience with Lordi. But I personally think that this whole fuss about it being the winner is far too overrated.

Do you believe the new rules might affect the final results?

Yes it is quite possible, though rather difficult I'd say. The only thing that is affected is the quantity of the audience. I am afraid that 3 days is a bit too much for a contest like this. But on the other hand Olympic games last a month and no one gets bored. Eurovision are our small musical  Olympic Games where the whole Europe will watch and vote for the best song. And they will chose the best one, I am certain. You can argue on fifth or sixth places, but the first one is always chosen objectively and truly.