Russia has a lengthy history at Junior Eurovision, with two wins under their belt. Beyond that, Russia has only fallen out of the Top 10 on one occasion! Hoping to continue that trend is Tanya Mezhentseva, a returning participant, this time with the song ‘Mon Ami’.
Anita:
Song + Vocals
It was only two years ago that we saw Tanya Mezhentseva take to the Junior Eurovision stage alongside Denberel Oorzhak. It’s not often that we see returning participants, however this is a welcome return. After some mediocre results in the last few years, Russia returns this year with a likely Top 5 finisher. Mon Ami is a contemporary pop number that doesn’t rely on clichés, as many of their previous entries did.
The track has a catchy beat and melody that are memorable even after just one listen. The revamp gave extra life to the song, especially after the bridge. The bigger notes help create more of a peak towards the end. The song has a good mix of Russian and English, and at no time does the transition between the two feel jarring.
As for the live vocals, the bar is set high. Tanya is a very competent singer who already has Junior Eurovision experience. Even though the style of this song is much different to her previous entry, she looks and sounds comfortable with an upbeat entry.
Performance + Act
The National Final performance was far from perfect, however it is certain that the nation will dramatically improve their performance for Junior Eurovision. I would confidently guess that Tanya will not be on stage alone, and I would hope that any group choreography is much sharper than in the national final. I also hope that we see a lot of colour, and a real sense of fun during the performance.
Conclusions
Not only do I think this is a Top 5 contender, but I also have not ruled this out as a winner. With the right stage performance, this could have a strong appeal with the public and jury. The revamp helped create more of a ‘winning moment’ at the end of the song, and if Tanya pulls it off, it could be magical.
Rating
10/10
Dennis:
Song + Vocals
The opening of the song and its composition has a tiny similarity to the music of Stromae. It’s not what I expected from Russia and it’s interesting to hear this with Russian lyrics. The song and vocals are amongst the stronger entries of this year and with the right execution on the big day, it could do very well.
Performance + Act
Tanya won a national final so we already saw how she does in a live performance. Why is she starting with a zebra on stage? I think that will be taken out of the performance in Paris. Overall she gives a decent performance and has good appeal on stage. I am not getting winning vibes when I look at the performance but I can see this getting a top-5 score in France in December.
Conclusions
Russia has a song in their hands that can make a lasting impression when the votes come in at the end of the day. To have a shot at winning the act needs to be severely improved because it was very basic when it won the Russian national final. There is potential for a high result though.
Rating
7/10
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