Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox song contest national year
| Year = 2021
| Country = Russia
| Selection process = National final
| Selection date = 8 March 2021
| Artist = Manizha
| Song = Russian Woman
| Writer = {{unbulleted list|Ori Avni|Ori Kaplan|Manizha Sanghin}}
| SF result = Qualified (3rd, 225 points)
| Final result = 9th, 204 points
}}
Russia was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "Russian Woman", written by Manizha Sanghin, Ori Avni, and Ori Kaplan, and performed by Manizha herself. The Russian broadcaster Channel One Russia (C1R) organised a national final to determine its representative for the contest.
As of {{escyr|2025}}, this was Russia's final entry in the contest, before the country was excluded {{esccnty|Russia|y=2022|t=the following year}} due to their 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Background
{{main|Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest}}
Prior to the 2021 contest, Russia had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 22 times since its first entry in 1994. Russia had won the contest on one occasion in 2008 with the song "Believe" performed by Dima Bilan. In {{Escyr|2016}}, Russia finished third with the song "You Are the Only One" performed by Sergey Lazarev, who would later return to represent his country again in 2019 with the song "Scream", also finishing in third place. In 2020, the band Little Big was set to represent Russia with the song "{{lang|es|Uno|italics=no}}" before the contest's cancellation.{{cite web |title=Russia |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/country/russia |access-date=9 March 2019 |publisher=EBU}}
Before Eurovision
= Early selection plans =
On 8 May 2020, during an episode of Eurovisioncalls with Little Big as guests, Little Big's members Ilya Prusikin and Sonya Tayurskaya announced that they would submit several songs to Channel One and would be happy to be invited to participate again,{{Cite web |title=Eurovisioncalls Little Big - Russia 🇷🇺 with NikkieTutorials |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_viWotWp-nk |access-date=2021-06-06 |language=en |via=YouTube}} however C1R decided to choose a new representative via a national final and on 2 March 2021, it was announced that a national final would be held with several, at that time, unknown candidates.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-02 |title=Russia prepares for Eurovision 2021: National selection on 8 March |url=https://eurovisionworld.com/esc/russia-national-selection-on-8-march-for-eurovision-2021 |access-date=2021-06-06 |website=Eurovisionworld.com}} On 3 March 2021, tabloid super.ru leaked a shortlist of candidates for the Russian national final and stated in an article with the list of candidates that producer Yana Rudkovskaya criticized the idea with a new selection initiated by Channel One, saying that it would be worthwhile to send Little Big again, and that there is still a chance that Little Big will represent Russia.{{Cite web |title=Super публикует шорт-лист претендентов на Евровидение-2021 от России — Super.ru |url=https://super.ru/a/eurovision_shortlist |access-date=2021-06-06 |website=Super.ru|date=3 March 2021 }}
= National final =
{{Main|Evrovidenie}}
The Russian national final took place on 8 March 2021 at the Mosfilm Studios in Moscow and hosted by Yana Churikova. Three artists and songs participated and the winner was selected through a public televote. The show was broadcast Channel One as well as online via the broadcaster's website 1tv.ru.{{Cite web|date=2 March 2021|title=Latest news: Russia makes a little (but big) announcement|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/latest-news-march-2021|access-date=2 March 2021|website=Eurovision.tv}} The show had a market share of 12.5%, making it the fifth most popular show of the evening and the fourteenth most popular show of the week.{{Cite web|url=https://mediascope.net/data/|title = Рейтинги|website=Mediascope.net}}
==Competing artists==
For the contest, selection committee of Channel One shortlisted nine artists,{{Cite web|via=YouTube|title=Юрий Аксюта и тайны отбора на "Евровидение". Доброе утро. Фрагмент выпуска от 05.03.2021|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_3ShImL-XI|language=en|access-date=2021-06-06}}{{cite web|first=Andrew|last=Shawn|title=Eurovision 2021 Russia|url=https://www.vokrug.tv/article/show/16147819561/|website=Vokrug.tv|date=18 May 2023 }} and asked them to submit the unreleased songs for consideration.{{Cite web|title=Сегодня в гостях у подкаста о Евровидении Вэлкам,.. {{!}} Вэлкам, Юроп! Подкаст о Евровидении {{!}} VK|url=https://vk.com/wall-200963963_307|access-date=2021-06-06|website=Vk.com|language=en}} Committee then listened to the received submissions and selected 3 entries for the national final. Selected artists and the competing entries for the contest were officially presented on the evening of the selection itself,{{cite web | url=https://rg.ru/2021/03/02/pervyj-kanal-vyberet-uchastnika-evrovideniia-2021-8-marta.html | title=Первый канал выберет участника "Евровидения 2021" 8 марта | date=2 March 2021 }} however, the names of participants were leaked via Instagram two hours before the show.{{Cite web |title=🇷🇺РОССИЯ, ВЫ ГОТОВЫ? До отбора – 2 часа ⏰ |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CMKW9qMBEis/ |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CMKW9qMBEis |archive-date=2021-12-24}}{{cbignore}} Among the competing artists were Maria Zaytseva from #2Mashi ({{esccnty|Russia|t=2005|y=2005}} and {{esccnty|Russia|t=2008|y=2008}} Russian national selection participant as part of A-Sortie) and Victoria Zhuk from Therr Maitz ({{esccnty|Russia|t=2010|y=2010}} Russian national selection participant as part of Los Devchatos).
| class="wikitable collapsible" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+Known shortlisted acts{{Cite web |title=Super публикует шорт-лист претендентов на Евровидение-2021 от России — Super.ru |url=https://super.ru/a/eurovision_shortlist |access-date=2021-06-06 |website=Super.ru|date=3 March 2021 }}{{cite web |last=Shawn |first=Andrew |date=8 March 2021 |title=Eurovision 2021 Russia |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2021/03/08/russia-eight-rumoured-acts-eurovision-national-final/262778/ |website=Wiwibloggs.com}} | style="width:37em" |{{div col|colwidth=18em}} {{div col end}} |
==Final==
The final took place on 8 March 2021. Three entries competed and the winner, "Russian Woman" performed by Manizha, was selected exclusively through a public televote.{{Cite web|last=Chugunova|first=Maria|date=2 March 2021|title=Russia to have a national selection show on March 8|url=https://escxtra.com/2021/03/02/russia-to-have-a-national-selection-show-on-march-8/|access-date=2 March 2021|website=ESCXTRA}} In addition to the performances of the competing entries, {{esccnty|Russia|y=2020|t=2020 Russian Eurovision entrants}} Little Big performed "{{lang|es|Uno|italics=no}}", {{esccnty|Russia|y=1995|t=1995 Russian Eurovision entrant}} Philipp Kirkorov performed a revamped version of "{{lang|ru-latn|Kolybelnaya dlya vulkana|italics=no}}", {{esccnty|Russia|y=2015|t=2015 Russian Eurovision entrant}} Polina Gagarina performed "{{lang|ru-latn|Million golosov|italics=no}}", and {{escyr|2008||2008 Eurovision}} winner for {{esccnty|Russia|y=2008}} Dima Bilan performed "Believe" as guests.{{cite web|last=Shawn|first=Andrew|title=Uno|website=YouTube|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=uhTVfExi198|access-date=17 May 2021}}{{cite web|last=Shawn|first=Andrew|title=A Million Voices|website=YouTube|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=l3YGskLmM2c|access-date=17 May 2021}}{{cite web|last=Shawn|first=Andrew|title=Believe|website=YouTube|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=aZV51oftJnQ|access-date=17 May 2021}}{{cite web|last=Shawn|first=Andrew|title=Kolybelnaya dlya vulkana|website=YouTube|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=j1dRDimUTeA|access-date=17 May 2021}}
| class="sortable wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto; text-align:center" |
| + Final – 8 March 2021 |
| Draw
! Artist ! Song ! class="unsortable" | Songwriter(s) ! Televote ! Place |
|---|
| 1
| align="left" | Therr Maitz | align="left" | "Future Is Bright" | align="left" | Anton Belyaev, Victoria Zhuk | 24.6% | 3 |
| 2
| align="left" | #2Mashi | align="left" | "Bitter Words" | align="left" | Maria Zaytseva, Maria Sheykh | 35.7% | 2 |
| style="font-weight:bold; background:gold;"
| 3 | align="left" | Manizha | align="left" | "Russkaya zhenshchina" {{small|(Русская женщина)}} | align="left" | Manizha Sanghin, Ori Avni, Ori Kaplan | 39.7% | 1 |
At Eurovision
According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five" ({{esccnty|France}}, {{esccnty|Germany}}, {{esccnty|Italy}}, {{esccnty|Spain}} and the {{esccnty|United Kingdom}}) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete in the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. For the 2021 contest, the semi-final allocation draw held for {{escyr|2020||2020}} which was held on 28 January 2020, will be used. Russia was placed into the first semi-final, which was held on 18 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.{{Cite web|last=Groot|first=Evert|date=17 November 2020|title=2020 Semi-Final line-up to stay for 2021|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/2020-semi-final-line-up-to-stay-this-year|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118125722/https://eurovision.tv/story/2020-semi-final-line-up-to-stay-this-year|archive-date=18 November 2020|access-date=17 November 2020|website=eurovision.tv|publisher=Eurovision Song Contest}}
Once all the competing songs for the 2021 contest had been released, the running order for the semi-finals was decided by the shows' producers rather than through another draw, so that similar songs were not placed next to each other. Russia was set to perform in position 3, following the entry from {{esccnty|Slovenia|y=2021}} and preceding the entry from {{esccnty|Sweden|y=2021}}.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-30|title=Semi-Final running orders revealed|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/semi-final-running-orders|access-date=2021-03-30|website=Eurovision.tv|language=en}}
Russia performed fifth in the grand final on 22 May 2021, following {{esccnty|Belgium|y=2021}} and preceding {{esccnty|Malta|y=2021}}. At the close of voting it finished on ninth place, receiving 204 points: 100 points from televoting and 104 points from juries.
= Voting =
Voting during the three shows involved each country awarding two sets of points from 1–8, 10 and 12: one from their professional jury and the other from televoting. Each nation's jury consisted of five music industry professionals who are citizens of the country they represent, with a diversity in gender and age represented. The judges assess each entry based on the performances during the second Dress Rehearsal of each show, which takes place the night before each live show, against a set of criteria including: vocal capacity; the stage performance; the song's composition and originality; and the overall impression by the act.{{cite web |title=Voting–Eurovision Song Contest |date=3 May 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/voting |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=26 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526162423/https://eurovision.tv/about/voting |archive-date=26 May 2021 |url-status=live}} Jury members may only take part in panel once every three years, and are obliged to confirm that they are not connected to any of the participating acts in a way that would impact their ability to vote impartially. Jury members should also vote independently, with no discussion of their vote permitted with other jury members.{{cite web |title=Fairness–Eurovision Song Contest |date=12 January 2017 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/in-depth/fairness/ |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=26 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526162414/https://eurovision.tv/about/in-depth/fairness/ |archive-date=26 May 2021 |url-status=live}} The exact composition of the professional jury, and the results of each country's jury and televoting were released after the grand final; the individual results from each jury member were also released in an anonymised form.{{cite web |title=Juries in the First Semi-Final of Rotterdam 2021 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2021/first-semi-final/jury |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=26 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526163312/https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2021/first-semi-final/jury |archive-date=26 May 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Juries in the Grand Final of Rotterdam 2021 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2021/grand-final/jury |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=26 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526163358/https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2021/grand-final/jury |archive-date=26 May 2021 |url-status=live}}
== Points awarded to Russia ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
| class="wikitable" |
| + Points awarded to Russia (Semi-final 1){{cite web |title=Results of the First Semi-Final of Rotterdam 2021 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2021/first-semi-final/results/russia |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=27 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527111253/https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2021/first-semi-final/results/russia |archive-date=27 May 2021 |url-status=live}} |
| scope="col" width="20%" | Score
! scope="col" width="40%" | Televote ! scope="col" width="40%" | Jury |
|---|
| scope="row" | 12 points
| {{Esc|Israel|y=2021}} | {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Azerbaijan|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Belgium|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Netherlands|y=2021}}}} |
| scope="row" | 10 points
| {{Esc|Croatia|y=2021}} | {{Esc|Slovenia|y=2021}} |
| scope="row" | 8 points
| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Azerbaijan|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Lithuania|y=2021}}|{{Esc|North Macedonia|y=2021}}}} | {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Croatia|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Cyprus|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Ireland|y=2021}}}} |
| scope="row" | 7 points
| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Australia|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Cyprus|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Italy|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Slovenia|y=2021}}}} | {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Australia|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Germany|y=2021}}|{{Esc|North Macedonia|y=2021}}}} |
| scope="row" | 6 points
| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Germany|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Ukraine|y=2021}}}} | {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Israel|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Sweden|y=2021}}}} |
| scope="row" | 5 points
| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Netherlands|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Romania|y=2021}}}} | {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Italy|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Romania|y=2021}}}} |
| scope="row" | 4 points
| {{Esc|Norway|y=2021}} | |
| scope="row" | 3 points
| {{Esc|Sweden|y=2021}} | {{Esc|Norway|y=2021}} |
| scope="row" | 2 points
| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Belgium|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Malta|y=2021}}}} | |
| scope="row" | 1 point
| {{Esc|Ireland|y=2021}} | {{Esc|Malta|y=2021}} |
{{col-2}}
| class="wikitable" |
| + Points awarded to Russia (Final){{cite web |title=Results of the Grand Final of Rotterdam 2021 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2021/grand-final/results/russia |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=27 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527111254/https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2021/grand-final/results/russia |archive-date=27 May 2021 |url-status=live}} |
| scope="col" width="20%" | Score
! scope="col" width="40%" | Televote ! scope="col" width="40%" | Jury |
|---|
| scope="row" | 12 points
| {{Esc|Moldova|y=2021}} | {{Esc|Azerbaijan|y=2021}} |
| scope="row" | 10 points
| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Israel|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Latvia|y=2021}}}} | {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|France|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Moldova|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Portugal|y=2021}}}} |
| scope="row" | 8 points
| | {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Netherlands|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Slovenia|y=2021}}}} |
| scope="row" | 7 points
| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Bulgaria|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Italy|y=2021}}}} | {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Belgium|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Israel|y=2021}}}} |
| scope="row" | 6 points
| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Azerbaijan|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Estonia|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Serbia|y=2021}}}} | {{Esc|Cyprus|y=2021}} |
| scope="row" | 5 points
| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Czech Republic|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Germany|y=2021}}}} | |
| scope="row" | 4 points
| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Georgia|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Lithuania|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Ukraine|y=2021}}}} | {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Croatia|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Finland|y=2021}}}} |
| scope="row" | 3 points
| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Croatia|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Cyprus|y=2021}}}} | {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Sweden|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Switzerland|y=2021}}}} |
| scope="row" | 2 points
| {{Esc|Poland|y=2021}} | {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Czech Republic|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Germany|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Greece|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Iceland|y=2021}}}} |
| scope="row" | 1 point
| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Finland|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Greece|y=2021}}|{{Esc|North Macedonia|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Portugal|y=2021}}|{{Esc|San Marino|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Slovenia|y=2021}}}} | {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Australia|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Latvia|y=2021}}|{{Esc|North Macedonia|y=2021}}|{{Esc|Poland|y=2021}}}} |
{{col-end}}
== Points awarded by Russia ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-end}}
== Detailed voting results ==
The following members comprised the Russian jury:
- Dina Garipova
- {{ill|Leonid Gutkin|ru|Гуткин, Леонид Гарриевич}}
- Leonid Rudenko
- {{ill|Alla Sigalova|ru|Сигалова, Алла Михайловна}}
- Julia Volkova
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest 2021}}
{{Authority control}}