Intervision: Russia's Eurovision

After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European singing competition Eurovision announced that Russia would no longer be permitted to compete.

This year, Russia opted to revive Intervision, a Soviet-era singing competition that functions in the same way, with participating countries selecting a representative musician to compete before a panel of judges. Intervision will take place on September 20, and will be aired on Russia’s Channel One.

Intervision’s conception in the 1960s is key to its marketing. The contest was invented in Czechoslovakia, though this fact is not promoted. And it was initially conceived as a tool for soft diplomacy. Intervision’s website notes this bit of history, calling the show “a cultural bridge between East and West.” Despite this, participating countries are largely Eastern, and neutral to or supportive of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Russia’s representative will be Shaman, an artist whose popularity has been bolstered by support from the Kremlin. Shaman rose to stardom with songs like “Ya Russki,” (“I am Russian”) a patriotic anthem declaring Russian pride in the face of an ambiguous global enemy.  The song includes lines like, “I’m Russian. I’ll fight to the end,” and, “I’m Russian to spite the whole world.”

One dark horse in the list of participants is the US, to be represented by Brandon Howard, stage name B Howard, an artist most notable for the rumors surrounding his paternity. Speculation has it that he is the son of pop legend Michael Jackson, due to his resemblance to this singer and the connections of those close to him. None of the claims have been substantiated.

Intervision’s Instagram page currently has just over 6,000 followers, as compared to Eurovision’s 2.2 million. With an odd mix of participants, and its confused message on diplomacy, it is unclear if the contest will pop or burn.