The BBC/ITV (delete as applicable) as on the ball as ever then, considering that they won this thing over a week ago!

Yep there were on BBC! They interviewed them including the little one! I love her! :P

I am liking this FAR more than I feasibly should :lol:

 

 

And me... in a sort of 'loca people' way.

 

 

Anyway, I think 3 of them will die before the contest even begins.

And me... in a sort of 'loca people' way.

Anyway, I think 3 of them will die before the contest even begins.

Bitch please. They live in a village with means no automatic water supply, no heating, no washing machine, no etc.. Which means getting water from well / river manually every day, chopping wood. And each of them probably single-handedly grows everything from flowers, strawberries to potatoes, garlic and onions each year (which isn't that easy believe me). My grandma is 85 and she still does everything (and I mean everything) by herself, even if my mum or me steps out to offer help.

 

Physical labour really does wonders. So most of them are likely to outlive YOU. And I'm not even joking.

Probably a huge site etiquette and culture violation, but I can't help it:

 

The Russians are robbed of a nice and fun ESC party this year. By who?

 

Frankly, this entry makes me instinctively uneasy as the women are not Russian, but Udmurt people, related to Finns and Hungarians. There are so many tragic unfinished issues buried here with huge political, ethical and social implications. I cannot say I know anything about the Udmurts, but I met some Mari people (their relatives) in Sweden and my family have Ingrian connections (the Ingrians are no more - extinct).

 

For me, the act transforms into a freak-show, like:

Look here! These women are the remnants of an ancient people we robbed and killed. They are very poor and must work very hard. We don't even give them electricity. Aren't they cute and funny? Vote for them so they can build their church!

 

I can't believe Mr P is letting the Russian competition running its own free life. After all, he is paying for it all. Kind of using the event to force a subtle political statement in the face of Europe in prime TV time.

 

Like we wanted any more political issues in Baku than there already is. Police repression, Armenian/Assyrian genocide, boycott etc.

 

If I'm wrong and the women really do have an agenda of their own, why disgrace themselves and their culture like this?

Like: The Udmurt culture, what a joke! Mother Russia, lets party and come on and dance!

 

The big losers of this choice are of course the Russian entertainment business and the Russian audience, left out of the dance this year.

Edited March 19, 201213 yr by LalehForWD

Erm... let me stop you right there. Udmurtia is very much a part of Russia, which makes the grannies very much Russian.

 

Second of all, "Mr P" isn't paying for anything. Like he even cares about Eurovision?! If anything, it's the tax payers money.

 

You're looking way too much into it. It's not supposed to be all political and omg so mega super serious. Only retards while watching Eurovision would think that one song could represent the whole country music/culture-wise.

I can't see what's the problem with them. They are Udmurts and what then? It's just an ethnicity in Russia but they are Russians. We have Belgian song every year altough Belgians have never existed (I mean they are either Flemish or Walloons). You can be a part of an ethnic group and a nation in the same time and I respect them because they are proud of their heritage.

Thanks Caïn, I hope you're right.

 

Unfortunately, this was my immediate reaction and sad to say, the thought may lurk in the backs of many Europeans, especially where ethnic minorities are prevalent. And whatever this is, it is political. It's just very unclear. Sure, it could very well be that the act is innocent and the ladies just are grabbing their chance of fame and wealth. And perhaps it is that simple in Russia, but the reactions you get on a wider scale could be very different. Where you saw cute and funny, others may see tragedy and horror.

 

Just to compare: The same act but with Scandinavian Sami people would be impossible. You couldn't get more inappropriate, perhaps as a shocking scandal act (possibly ... nae don't think so). Or Navajo Indians representing USA or...

 

Well I said it, I hope you don't take offense. Discussing these things is exactly what to avoid in ESC, I apologise for it.

 

edit:

Thanks ♣ Alex Banan ♣

But then as a Belgian you know how complicated this issue really is. Mutual respect is paramount, very much so if there are inequities.

 

Edited March 19, 201213 yr by LalehForWD

The grannies have managed to get enough money to build the church they wanted in their village! Building will commence in May! :cheer:

 

http://eurovoix.com/russia-buranovskiye-ba...goal-completed/

Apparently, the smallest granny (the best one!) may not be on stage in Baku! Apparently this is due to a health problem and her husband refusing to let her travel! :( This would be devastating news! :o

 

EDIT (22 May): Turns out she is in Baku!!! :D

Edited May 22, 201213 yr by Ryan741

The grannies in a Sprite commercial! This is legendary, Natalya is incredible! :wub:

 

There's some shit going on. Apparently Bilan will still perform at Eurovision, only not as a main artist, but something else. Nothing is confirmed though.

MAKES SENSE NOW.

Apparently the grannies may have to embark in a legal battle to keep the rights to their name 'Buranovskiye Babushki'! :o

 

http://themoscownews.com/russia/20120605/189809732.html

I won't be surprised if they lose, knowing how the system here works.

 

Still think it's RETARDED for a company to steal a name like this. It's not USA though. So if these companies lose their reputation won't suffer, because there's no such thing really.