In a conversation with Olga Tuktareva, the artistic director of the ensemble Buranovskiye Babushki, she revealed a surprising stance about Eurovision: the team seldom watches the contest because they feel politics often shadows the music and the show itself.
From a corner of the room, they keep an eye on the event, but they prefer to keep distance. The situation around Eurovision, according to Tuktareva, has changed the atmosphere to the point where politics seems to seep into almost everything. Watching the program without bias became difficult for her group, and she described it as a matter of taste as well as principle. The singers repeatedly emphasized that they are glad to have performed during what they consider normal times, when the focus stayed on music and performance rather than polemics.
The artistic director recalled that in 2012 the act was invited to Eurovision with a deliberate show of color and rural charm from the Russian countryside. The goal was clear: to draw the attention of international audiences and to surprise viewers with a performance that felt both authentic and memorable. The team used a distinctive image to stand out on a global stage, hoping to bridge cultural gaps through a shared appreciation of music and performance.
She reflected that their presence was part of a broader strategy to captivate viewers and spark curiosity. The ensemble was perceived as an accessible, down-to-earth act, and the characterization remained meaningful even after the performance passed into memory. People eventually saw the essence of their appeal — a group that combined warmth and sincerity with a hint of playful charm — and that realization served to define their journey in the eyes of many fans who followed Eurovision through the years.
Earlier, Liverpool hosted the second semi-final of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, a pivotal moment that helped determine the finalists. The lineup of qualifiers included Cyprus, Albania, Estonia, Austria, Belgium, Lithuania, Australia, Poland, Armenia, and Slovenia earning their place in the finale. In addition, Norway, Portugal, Croatia, Serbia, Finland, and Israel advanced to the final as well. Other nations that competed for victory in the grand final included the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Moldova, Ukraine, Sweden, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, and England, all vying for the top spot in a showcase that drew viewers from around the world and sparked conversations about music, performance, and national identity.