For some time, Russia has been actively working to rally global allies, aiming to challenge the West’s long-standing geopolitical and cultural influence. This past weekend, they unveiled a rather unique approach to this goal: a song contest.
In a grand spectacle held Saturday night in Moscow, Russia brought back the Intervision Song Contest, an event reminiscent of the Cold War era. Participants from various nations, including China, Cuba, and India, took to the stage.
Notably, the United States was also slated to be represented by Vassy, a Greek-Australian dance musician who had recently acquired American citizenship.
However, an hour into the live show, co-presenter Alexey Vorobyov revealed that Vassy would not be performing. An official Intervision statement attributed her withdrawal to “unprecedented political pressure from the government of Australia,” though no further details were provided.
Vorobyov lamented, “It’s sad when politics attempts to interfere in the world that belongs to art, music and human feelings.”
The Australian government has yet to comment on these assertions.
Ultimately, the four-hour competition was won by Duc Phuc, a Vietnamese pop sensation boasting two million Instagram followers. He captivated the audience with “Phù Đổng Thiên Vương” (“Heavenly Prince of Phù Đổng”), a song that recounts the tale of a legendary Vietnamese hero through powerful vocals and energetic dance rhythms.
For the most part, the event unfolded like any televised song competition, featuring artists performing amidst dazzling pyrotechnics and engaging in quirky interviews (Duc Phuc, for instance, was questioned about his favorite ice cream).
However, Intervision also subtly underscored the Russian government’s aspirations for the show to be a major success and to embody its social principles. The evening commenced with a video message from President Vladimir V. Putin, who stated that Intervision would highlight “traditional values” while also celebrating global diversity.
Following the performance by Russia’s own artist, Shaman, who sang his song “Straight to the Heart” suspended in midair, he made a surprising request to 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.”
The original Intervision contest, held in the 1960s and 70s, was frequently seen by music critics as a direct competitor to the Eurovision Song Contest. The Kremlin had similarly ambitious hopes that this revived event would capture a significant global audience, mirroring Eurovision’s annual draw.
However, despite extensive promotion across Russian social media and throughout Moscow, the event failed to generate significant buzz, either domestically or internationally. When the winner was revealed during Saturday’s broadcast, only about 8,900 viewers were tuned into the global YouTube livestream.
Here’s a closer look at this year’s Intervision and its broader implications.
What is Intervision?
The inaugural Intervision Song Contest was held in Prague in 1965, when it was still part of Czechoslovakia. Karel Gott, a beloved Czech crooner dubbed the “Sinatra of the East,” claimed the first-place title.
The event was organized by Czechoslovak television, with no direct involvement from Soviet authorities.
According to Dean Vuletic, an author specializing in both Eurovision and Intervision, a common misconception exists that Intervision was merely “the communist challenger to Eurovision.” In truth, he explains, its original creators envisioned it as a cultural bridge between East and West, and a platform to elevate their nation’s pop artists on the international stage.
Vuletic notes that some of Intervision’s initial eight editions were even broadcast in Western Europe. Its organizers extended invitations to Western artists such as Gloria Gaynor and the reggae and disco sensation Boney M to appear as special guests.
Why did Russia revive it?
Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and its subsequent exclusion from many international cultural and sporting events, Moscow embarked on establishing its own series of competitions, awards, and festivals. The Intervision Song Contest is the newest addition to this initiative, designed to bolster Moscow’s image as a leader of the Global South and a protector of what it defines as traditional values.
Prior to its 2022 ban from Eurovision, Russia had treated its involvement in the popular singing contest with considerable seriousness. It was broadcast on a major state-run channel, and contestants were chosen through a national selection process. In 2008, pop star Dima Bilan famously won Eurovision for Russia with his song “Believe.” Interestingly, Bilan also performed a track during Saturday’s Intervision broadcast.
However, in recent years, as Russian lawmakers intensified efforts to restrict LGBTQ+ culture, they simultaneously criticized Eurovision — a contest known for often featuring gay performers — alleging it undermined Russian values. The 2014 victory of Conchita Wurst, a bearded drag queen from Austria, became a significant point of contention.
Did everyday Russians care?
Despite robust government promotion, including an allocation of over $7 million for the event, Intervision garnered minimal excitement within Russia itself.
Across Moscow, the government adorned railway stations and prominent tourist sites with flags and elaborate pavilions, touting Intervision as the “No. 1 show in the world.” State-controlled media amplified this message, portraying the contest as an event of immense global importance.
During a recent news conference, Sergei V. Kiriyenko, a highly trusted aide to President Vladimir V. Putin, claimed that over four billion people would “be able to watch the broadcast.”
However, the Russian public largely remained disengaged. Reports from Russian news outlets indicated that individuals were allegedly hired to impersonate fans of various competing countries, tasked with greeting artists at the airport and displaying support at the arena.
How was the U.S. involved?
Back in August, Intervision had announced the participation of an American competitor: Brandon Howard, also known as B. Howard, a singer reportedly connected to Michael Jackson’s family.
The exact process by which he was chosen to represent the United States remained opaque, given the contest’s rules allow any individual, business, or institution to nominate an artist.
However, B. Howard later announced his withdrawal in a video on Russian social media, citing “unforeseen family circumstances.” Subsequently, his replacement, Vassy — a musician recognized for her vocals on electronic dance music tracks by David Guetta and Tiësto — also pulled out of the competition.
Who else took part, and what was the event like?
In the end, Intervision showcased 22 acts, many from countries that have either challenged or openly questioned Western global political dominance, including performers from Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela.
The lineup included Wang Xi from China, who delivered a powerful, deep-voiced ballad titled “On the Way.” Omar Acedo, representing Venezuela, brought an energetic party anthem called “La Fiesta de la Paz,” complete with dazzling pyrotechnics. India’s Rauhan Malik showcased a psychedelic rock number, “Ishq.”
South Africa’s entry, the group Mzansi Jikelele, performed “Home,” a gospel piece advocating global unity. During their act, one singer dramatically ascended into the air, her expansive dress billowing to encompass a large portion of the stage.
How was it different from Eurovision?
While Eurovision is renowned for its extravagant, often campy, spectacle—such as Finland’s entrant this year performing an innuendo-filled song on a giant floating microphone—Intervision opted for a more subdued approach. Although it still included several aerial performances by singers and dancers utilizing harnesses, it lacked Eurovision’s characteristic high camp.
A key difference from Eurovision is the judging process: while Eurovision incorporates votes from both professional juries and television viewers, Intervision’s winner was determined solely by a jury, comprising one representative from each participating nation.
Who was the winner?
Duc Phuc, the contest’s champion, previously won “The Voice” in Vietnam and has achieved multiple chart-topping hits in his homeland. One of his songs boasts over 150 million streams on YouTube.
After securing his victory with 422 points, significantly surpassing his closest rival, Kyrgyzstan’s entrant (who earned 373 points), Duc Phuc expressed his gratitude to fans “for every second you devoted to watching this show.”
Is the contest likely to return?
Yes, it is. During the broadcast, after a suspenseful drum roll, it was announced that Saudi Arabia would host next year’s Intervision. Furthermore, at a recent news conference, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov indicated that several other countries have already expressed interest in hosting the event in the coming years.