The Eurovision Song Contest is now less than five weeks away and here at auspOp, we’re once again in the midst of our yearly look at the entries who’ll be vying for the European vote.
Yes, the pop-loving eyes of Europe will be firmly affixed on the Swedish city of Malmö, as 39 countries from across the region compete for the most coveted prize in music – the Eurovision Song Contest winner’s trophy.
As always, the competition is split into three finals; the two semi finals (to be held on May 14 and 16) and the grand final (on May 18), in which the victorious countries from the two semi-finals will line up alongside the host nation Sweden and the “big five” of the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Here we take our sixth our look at the entrants for this year’s competition by glancing at the Belarusian entry.
ALYONA LANSKAYA : Solayoh
This isn’t the first time that Belarusian songstress Alyona has been Eurovision-bound. She was also gifted national selection last year, but amidst claims of vote rigging and an order by the country’s president to investigate said claims (which turned out to be true), she was disqualified from the competition, allowing Litesound safe passage as the 2012 entry.
But no vote tampering necessary in 2013, with all lights green on the road to Malmö, where she’ll perform the English language single ‘Solayoh’… a track that is classic Eurovision. Eastern European flavour, a gorgeous blonde songstress, a key change… it’s all there. Belarus competes in the first semi final on Tuesday May 14.