BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

14/12/2006

Belarus: presenting the participants for tomorrow's national selection

Fotis Konstantopoulos reporting from Athens (Greece)

Dali

The band actively toured all over Belarus and Poland. "Dali" are laureates of "Golden Hit-2005", Music Contest - Tribute to Vladimir Muliavin" and finalists of the national qualifying contest "Eurovision-2006". The band is ready to invite the audience to the journey of fantasies and show the essence of Belarusian character. "Dali" say about themselves that they may be liked and may be adored - subtle insolence and artistic helter-skelter - it is al "Dali". During the qualifying tour of "EuroFest" the band presents "Dream with Me" composition.

Litesound

"Litesound" rock band was founded in 2004. Over two years the band has turned into a successful project known far outside Belarus. The musicians took prizes of international contests in China and USA. This year "Litesound" won first place during the contest held in Italy. Musicians write music and lyrics by themselves and bet on high level of performance and music material. At present "Litesound" is into writing their first album. During the qualifying tour of "EuroFest" the band presents "Summer Trip" composition.

The Project

"The Project" was started at the beginning of 2006. However the band's songs have already gained popularity in Belarus and are played by the radio stations of USA, France, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Ukraine and some other states. The musicians say that "S.u.p.e.r. s.t.a.r" composition performed at "EuroFest" shouldn't be taken seriously. The basic idea is in irony and absurd. "The Project" paid special attention to bright show and performance. There hasn't been such Belarus at the contest yet!

LENA

LENA is one of the brightest performers in Belarusian show business. Her way in music was started back in 2003 with participation in contest of young performers "Smiling Star". The star smiled to the young musician and she made it into the top three. Participation in different national and international contests became good school for LENA. This November the musician records symbolic composition "Call Me". It is about the 2001 tragedy that shook Unite States and the whole world. This counter-terrorist song will be performed by LENA at "EuroFest".

New Generation

"New Generation" band was founded in 2004 at "Forte" studio. This time it is represented by three singers - Ekaterina Nesterovich, Nina Smirnova and Olga Gulbis. The girls are really stunning and let's see if the jury and the audience are able to resist their charm. The band was among the winners of " Flourish, Belarus" and "Young Voices". During the qualifying tour of "EuroFest" the band presents " Belarus" composition.

Oleg Karpenko

It seems like all muses gathered by cradle of Oleg Karpenko after his birth. He can easily sail, play the guitar, sing and compose music. Discos, where he performed were extremely popular. Friends call him "musicians" or "composer". Oleg worked in Bahrain. Returning home he started working as sound director at Belarus TV and radio. He also took "Vanilla Dreams" project and afterwards, together with guitarist Sergey Isakov, founded acoustic band "VIA Znaki". During the qualifying tour of "EuroFest" Oleg Karpenko presents "I Feel Good Tonight" composition.

Anna Sharkunova

Anya Sharkunova was born in Pinsk in sailor's family. That is why no wonder that the girl likes sea. The singer managed to reach great success in shortest time. Her song "Goodbye, My Last Love" was actively played by all Belarusian radio station. Anya also performed it during "Silver Gramophone" project and occupied 2nd place for a month. Afterwards she won in "Song of the Year-2006" project leaving behind the second performer by 10,000 votes. During the qualifying tour of "EuroFest" Anya Sharkunova presents "Falling Down" composition.

Irina Yarina

Irina Yarina is from Ukraine. She is a member of Association of Popular Art, winner of international and Ukrainian festivals and contests, participant of semifinal of Ukraine's "Eurovision-2005". The most outstanding victory was made by Irina Yarina in Los Angeles during the World Entertaining Art Championship; she received more awards than anybody in the competition on participation of over 2 500 people from 53 states. Irina is the author of three albums; she wrote many own music compositions and she has over 120 awards, diplomas and other prizes. Ukraine's President awarded her with a special grant for gifted youth. During the qualifying tour of "EuroFest" Irina Yarina presents "Short Rain" composition.

Borneo

"Borneo" is a band of 3 young guys from Gomel. Each of them has gone on roads through Belarus and the world many times. The soloists of " Borneo" are Alexander Dubenkov, Andrey Shugov and Alexander Murashkintsev. At first the guys performed in the experimental theater "Synthesis" and today their band " Borneo" represents a new wave in the Belarusian music. The fans do love their new heat "Dream". In autumn 2006 music agency "Hits.by" called the band the most promising young performer of Belarus. This success inspired " Borneo" to compose a new song "Fingertips" and they are going to present it at "Eurofest".

Natalia Tamelo

Though she is a popular performer, Natalia Tamelo is a modest and shy girl in life. She is a soloist of the State Belarusian Concert Orchestra conducted by Mikhail Finberg. She is also a laureate of international and domestic music contests. Her first hits were included in the album "Wait for me". Natalia Tamelo likes warm and simple relationship between people. She is dreaming about a big house to host all her relatives and live a big and happy family with them. Her song for "Eurofest" is called "So Badly High".

Victor Pshenichny

Victor Pshenichny is well-known to the domestic audience for such songs as "The Alchemists", "Magnetic Waves", "Letters from the Coast". He took up music at the age of 17 in Bobruisk. Then he was called up and played in Severomorsk wind band for two years. That was when he wrote his first song. His cooperation with the State Belarusian Concert Orchestra conducted by Mikhail Finberg was another serious step in his music career. Roads, big concerts, prestigious festivals including Slavonic Basaar came next. For several years Pshenichny performed in Bahrain. When he returned home in 2004, Victor immediately took up a solo career and he thinks that was landmark moment in his life. His song for the selection round of "Eurofest" is called "Sooner or Later".

XXXLight

Moscow band "XXXLight" is another foreign guest of "Eurofest". It plays a soft trip hop in English. Two musicians and one singer produce the music of sweet melancholy which takes you in at once. The band takes example of the best samples of the culture of the 20th century from Marlene Dietrich and Marilyn Monroe to Miles Davis and Frank Zappa. XXXLight has mostly performed abroad so far: the USA, Canada, Denmark, Israel. The band also took part in the international festival "Jazz Cocktail" in August 2005. Its song for the selection round of "Eurofest" is called "I Don't Know".

Svayaki

Each performance of Mozyr-based band "Svayaki" is a bright and dynamic theater show with maximal use of the Belarusian folklore. The band is characterized by bright, unusual style and fresh performance and received diploma of the first degree at international festival in Surgut. At the moment the band is on the top of its popularity and the guys successfully represent native factory, town and the nation. Their song for the selection round of "Eurofest" is called "Sweet Honey".

Dmitry Koldun

Dmitry Koldun. The name of this young and attractive performer is on the tongues of the youth. Dima was a winner of the famous "Star Factory 6". His main principal in life is integrity and sincerity in relations with the audience and Dmitry tries to always keep his word. Dmitry's life credo is "Koldun, you are the best!" Dmitry appreciates intellect and charm in women. Yet he doesn't like hot-tempered and forth-putting girls. In childhood he dreamt to become a surgeon. Now his dream is a personal studio. His song for the selection round of "Eurofest" is called "Dream Angel".

Diana Gurtskaya

In childhood Diana Gurtskaya used to sing for her family and relatives and than she started singing for her classmates. She learned to play the piano and graduated from a music school in Tbilisi. Diana gave her first public concert when she was 10. Her sensitive manner of performance impressed the audience of Tbilisi Philharmonics. The next morning Gurtskaya was a celebrity. Vivid talent and longing for perfection helped Diana to study for a pop singer in Gnesin Music School. After graduating from it Diana took up an independent career in pop music. Her vocal talent is admired not only in Russia, but also in many countries of the world. Her song for the selection round of "Eurofest" is called "How Long".

Source:

http://www.oikotimes.com/site/index.php?id=7251