For years, Russia has sought to rally global allies, challenging Western geopolitical and cultural dominance. This past weekend, they unveiled a novel approach: a song contest.
On Saturday night in Moscow, the nation resurrected the Intervision Song Contest, a Cold War-era spectacle, with artists representing countries including China, Cuba, and India.
The United States was also slated to send a representative: Vassy, a Greek-Australian dance musician who recently acquired American citizenship.
However, about an hour into the show, presenter Alexey Vorobyov announced that Vassy would not perform. An Intervision statement claimed she withdrew due to “unprecedented political pressure from the government of Australia,” offering no further details.
“It’s sad when politics attempts to interfere in the world that belongs to art, music and human feelings,” Vorobyov lamented.
The Australian government did not immediately comment on the matter.
Ultimately, the four-hour event concluded with a victory for Duc Phuc, a Vietnamese pop star boasting two million Instagram followers, whose performance blended operatic vocals with vibrant dance beats.
Much of the competition unfolded like a typical televised music show, complete with dazzling pyrotechnics and quirky interviews (Duc Phuc, for example, shared his fondness for ice cream).
Yet, Intervision also subtly underscored the Russian government’s ambition for the show to be a resounding success and to align with its social values. The evening commenced with a video message from President Vladimir V. Putin, who stated that Intervision would showcase “traditional values” alongside global diversity.
Following Russia’s own artist, Shaman, who performed his song “Straight to the Heart” while suspended midair, he asked the judges to disregard his entry. “Hospitality is an integral part of the soul of the people of Russia,” he declared. “I understand that, by the laws of hospitality, I have no right to aspire for victory.”
Intervision’s origins trace back to the 1960s and 1970s, often drawing comparisons from music critics to the Eurovision Song Contest. The Kremlin held high hopes that this revived event would capture a passionate global audience, much like Eurovision does annually.
However, despite a vigorous promotional campaign across Russian social media and throughout Moscow, the event garnered little excitement in Russia, let alone internationally. When the winner was announced on Saturday, only about 8,900 viewers were tuned into the global YouTube livestream.
Here’s a deeper look into this year’s contest and its significance.
What is Intervision?
The inaugural Intervision Song Contest was held in 1965 in Prague, then part of Czechoslovakia. Karel Gott, a beloved Czech crooner often dubbed the “Sinatra of the East,” secured the first-place prize.
Czechoslovak television organized the event, with no direct involvement from Soviet authorities.
Dean Vuletic, an author specializing in both Eurovision and Intervision, clarified in an interview that the perception of Intervision as “the communist challenger to Eurovision” is a common misunderstanding. In reality, he explained, its creators envisioned it as a cultural bridge between East and West, aiming to promote their nation’s pop stars internationally.
Some of Intervision’s initial eight editions even reached Western European audiences, according to Vuletic. Its organizers extended invitations to Western artists such as Gloria Gaynor and Boney M, the popular reggae and disco act, to perform as special guests.
Why did Russia revive it?
Following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine and subsequent exclusion from most international cultural and sporting events, Moscow has launched a series of its own competitions, awards, and festivals. Intervision stands as the latest initiative designed to bolster Moscow’s image as a leader of the Global South and a protector of what it defines as traditional values.
Before Russia’s ban from Eurovision in 2022, the country took its participation in the flamboyant singing competition very seriously, broadcasting it on major state-run TV channels and selecting representatives through a national process. In 2008, pop star Dima Bilan famously won Eurovision for Russia with his song “Believe.” (On Saturday, Bilan performed a track during the Intervision broadcast).
However, as Russian lawmakers increasingly moved to restrict gay culture in recent years, they also criticized Eurovision—which frequently showcases LGBTQ+ acts—as undermining Russian values. The victory of Conchita Wurst, a bearded drag queen from Austria, in 2014, became a particular point of contention.
Did everyday Russians care?
Despite aggressive government promotion, including an allocation of over $7 million for the competition, Intervision generated minimal buzz within Russia.
In Moscow, the government adorned railway stations and major tourist spots with flags and elaborate pavilions, touting Intervision as the “No. 1 show in the world.” State-run media framed it as an event of global importance.
Sergei V. Kiriyenko, a highly trusted aide to President Vladimir V. Putin, claimed at a news conference this week that over four billion people would “be able to watch the broadcast.”
However, ordinary Russians largely remained disengaged. Russian news outlets reported instances of people being paid to act as fans for some competing countries, staging greetings at the airport and showing support at the arena.
How was the U.S. involved?
In August, Intervision announced that an American contender would participate: Brandon Howard, also known as B. Howard, a singer with connections to Michael Jackson’s family.
The process by which he came to represent the United States in the contest remained unclear, as its rules permit any individual, business, or institution to nominate an artist.
Yet, B. Howard later announced in a video on Russian social media that he was withdrawing due to “unforeseen family circumstances.” Subsequently, his replacement, Vassy—a musician famous for her collaborations on electronic dance music hits by David Guetta and Tiësto—also pulled out.
Who else took part, and what was the event like?
Ultimately, Intervision featured 22 acts, many from countries that have either challenged or questioned Western dominance in global politics, including singers from Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela.
Wang Xi of China delivered “On the Way,” a deep-voiced ballad. Omar Acedo, representing Venezuela, performed an energetic party track titled “La Fiesta de la Paz,” surrounded by pyrotechnics. Rauhan Malik, from India, showcased a psychedelic rock song, “Ishq.”
Mzansi Jikelele, a group from South Africa, performed “Home,” a gospel tune advocating for global unity. During their act, one singer dramatically ascended skyward, her flowing dress expanding to envelop a significant portion of the stage.
How was it different from Eurovision?
Eurovision is renowned for its extravagant theatrics. This year, for instance, Finland’s contestant sang a suggestive song while perched atop a colossal, floating microphone. Intervision, however, largely eschewed such over-the-top camp, though it did feature several aerial performances by singers and dancers using harnesses.
Furthermore, while Eurovision winners are decided by a combination of both jury and public votes, Intervision’s victor was determined solely by a jury, which included a representative from each participating nation.
Who was the winner?
Duc Phuc is a former champion of “The Voice” in Vietnam and has achieved multiple hits in his homeland, with one track accumulating over 150 million streams on YouTube.
Upon winning Intervision with 422 points, significantly outscoring his closest rival—Kyrgyzstan’s entrant, who had 373 points—he expressed gratitude to fans “for every second you devoted to watching this show.”
Is the contest likely to return?
Indeed. During the broadcast, after a dramatic drum roll, presenters announced that Saudi Arabia would host next year’s event. Additionally, at a news conference this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov indicated that several other countries have expressed interest in hosting the contest in two years’ time.