Russia has long sought to rally its global partners, aiming to counter the cultural and geopolitical influence of the West. Their newest strategy? Bringing nations together through the universal language of music.
This Saturday marks the grand return of the Intervision Song Contest, a musical revival with roots in the Cold War era. This spectacular event will showcase artists from diverse countries including China, Cuba, and India.
Intriguingly, the United States will be represented by Vassy, a talented Greek-Australian dance musician who recently became an American citizen. The process by which she was chosen to participate remains a bit of a mystery.
First held in the 1960s and 70s, Intervision has frequently been seen by critics as a counterpart to the popular Eurovision Song Contest. The Kremlin is clearly optimistic that this revamped event will capture the hearts of a vast global audience, mirroring Eurovision’s annual success.
However, despite extensive social media buzz and a promotional blitz across Moscow, Intervision has yet to generate significant excitement, either within Russia or on the international stage. As of Friday, tickets for the show at Moscow’s Live Arena were still readily available.
Let’s dive into what you need to know about this intriguing musical event and its potential implications.
What is Intervision?
The inaugural Intervision Song Contest was held in Prague, Czechoslovakia, back in 1965. It crowned Karel Gott, a beloved Czech crooner dubbed the “Sinatra of the East,” as its first champion.
The event was initially organized by Czechoslovak television, with the Soviet authorities playing no direct role.
According to Dean Vuletic, an author specializing in both Eurovision and Intervision, there’s a common misunderstanding that the original Intervision was simply a “communist challenger” to Eurovision. In truth, he explains, its creators envisioned it as a cultural bridge between East and West, a platform to elevate their national pop stars internationally.
An image shows two individuals taking a selfie in front of a prominent silver display near the Kremlin in Moscow, which reads “Intervision Russia ’25.” The caption notes this is an Intervision countdown clock. (Credit: Olesya Kurpyayeva/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images)
Vuletic notes that certain past Intervision editions were even broadcast in Western Europe, and organizers extended invitations to prominent Western artists such as Gloria Gaynor and the reggae/disco sensation Boney M to perform as special guests.
A total of eight Intervision contests were held, alternating between Czechoslovakia and Poland.
Why is Russia reviving it?
Following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine and subsequent exclusion from many global cultural and sporting events, Moscow has actively established its own series of competitions, awards, and festivals.
The revival of Intervision serves as the newest initiative to bolster Moscow’s image, positioning itself as a leader among Global South nations and a staunch defender of what it terms “traditional values.”
Prior to Russia’s ban from Eurovision in 2022, the country approached the flamboyant singing contest with considerable seriousness. State television regularly aired the event with great enthusiasm, and contestants were chosen through a national selection process. Notably, in 2008, pop star Dima Bilan secured a victory for Russia with his song “Believe.”
However, as Russian lawmakers increasingly enacted restrictions on gay culture, they concurrently criticized Eurovision – often a showcase for LGBTQ+ artists – for allegedly eroding Russian values. The 2014 victory of Conchita Wurst, a bearded drag queen from Austria, became a specific flashpoint for this discontent.
This week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated during a press conference that Intervision aims to be a platform where Russia can “foster the natural God-given human capacity for good will.”
Russian officials have also affirmed that the event will be free from “perversions and mockery of human nature.”
Do ordinary Russians care?
Despite a robust promotional push and a government allocation of over $7 million for the competition, Intervision has sparked minimal public interest in Russia. Even with a 5,000-seat capacity, tickets for the event remained available on Friday.
A historical photo captures Romanian pop singer Angela Similea celebrating after her participation in Intervision in 1977. The caption highlights that the event was originally conceived as a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures. (Credit: Tassilo Leher/United Archives, via Getty Images)
Moscow’s streets are adorned with flags and extravagant pavilions in front of railway stations and tourist hotspots, all proclaiming Intervision as the “No. 1 show in the world.” State-controlled media channels are also portraying it as an event of immense global importance.
Sergei V. Kiriyenko, a key aide to President Vladimir V. Putin, claimed this week that “more than four billion people will be able to watch the broadcast.”
However, general public support among Russians seems to be lacking. Reports from Russian news outlets suggest that individuals have been hired to impersonate fans of certain participating countries, tasked with greeting artists at the airport and showing enthusiasm at the arena.
How is the U.S. involved?
Back in August, Intervision revealed that an American artist, Brandon Howard (also known as B. Howard), a singer connected to Michael Jackson’s family, would be joining the competition.
A vivid image shows Shaman, Russia’s contestant, performing on stage during a promotional event for Intervision in June, with a brightly colored projection behind him. (Credit: Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters)
The selection process for his representation of the United States remains somewhat ambiguous, given that the contest rules allow any individual, business, or institution to nominate an artist.
B. Howard’s involvement, however, was brief. He announced his withdrawal on Wednesday via a video on Russian social media, citing “unforeseen family circumstances.”
Despite Howard’s exit, the United States will still have a representative. In his video, B. Howard stated that Vassy, a musician recognized for her vocals on electronic dance music tracks by artists like David Guetta and Tiësto, would take his place.
Interestingly, while Vassy’s website identifies her as Greek Australian, and a recent social media post showed her traveling to Moscow with a Greek passport, she has also publicly stated in interviews that she acquired U.S. citizenship during the pandemic.
Her reception in Russia is uncertain, especially since Russian opposition media has highlighted her vocal support for LGBTQ+ organizations and her participation in Pride parades. These details have, notably, been absent from Russian state media coverage.
Vassy declined to comment for this article.
Who else is taking part, and what are their songs like?
The Intervision lineup boasts 23 acts, many from nations that have openly questioned or challenged Western global dominance, including artists from Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela.
Another scene from an Intervision promotional event in Moscow in June depicts spectators enthusiastically waving flags from various participating nations, including Russia, China, and India. (Credit: Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters)
Among the performances, Wang Xi from China will present “On the Way,” a powerful, deep-voiced ballad. Venezuela’s Omar Acedo is set to deliver an energetic party anthem titled “La Fiesta de la Paz.” Meanwhile, South African group Mzansi Jikelele will perform “Home,” a gospel-inspired song advocating for global unity, with lyrics like “From Cape Town to Moscow / Together we rise / This world is our home.”
How is it different from Eurovision?
Eurovision is renowned for its extravagant and often flamboyant spectacle, such as Finland’s recent entrant performing a suggestive song while suspended on a massive microphone. Intervision, however, promises a stark contrast, with no such high-camp theatrics expected from its acts.
Another key difference lies in the voting system: while Eurovision winners are chosen by a combination of professional juries and public televotes, Intervision’s champion will be decided solely by a jury, which will comprise one representative from each competing nation.
Vuletic also points out the striking difference in organization. Intervision has seen participants announced as late as last month, with very few tracks made available online beforehand. Eurovision, by contrast, reveals its performers months in advance, and their songs are widely released to build anticipation and hype.
How can we watch Intervision?
Intervision is scheduled for international streaming on YouTube and VK, a popular Russian social media and streaming platform. Organizers have also confirmed that 20 television networks from the participating countries will broadcast the event.
The competition is slated to begin at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time, with the broadcast expected to run for over three and a half hours.
Will Putin appear?
Dmitri S. Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, stated that President Putin has no plans to attend the show in person. However, Peskov added that “one way or another, at least in fragments, of course, the president will have the opportunity to watch the television broadcast of this very important event.”