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About Belarus...
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2004 Result
Points in Semi Final: 10
Position in Semi Final: 19th
Points in Final: Failed to qualify
Position in Final: Failed to qualify
2005 Contest: Must compete in Semi Final
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History (1956 to 2003)
Belarus's previous appearances: 0 year(s) out of 48
Years participated: None
Best result: N/A
Belarus is one of four countries making their début in 2004. A pointless fact - Belarus is the only country to have participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest (in 2003), before taking part in the 'adult' version. As a newcomer, Belarus must compete in the Semi Final in order to win a Final place.
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This year's entry
Position in Semi Final draw: 2
Position in Final draw: Failed to qualify
What I said prior to the Semi Final:
"Coming after the high energy of Finland, Belarus provide rather a sweet contrast with their song 'My Galileo'. Performed by Aleksandra & Konstantin (who also wrote the music), the song is the first and best of those being performed by male-female duos this year. With its folky backing and unintelligible lyrics, this reminds me a little of 'My Star', the song by Brainstorm that secured an excellent third place début for Latvia in 2000. Can Belarus have similar success at their first attempt?"
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What I predicted...
My prediction for Semi Final: 1st to 5th
My prediction for Final: Definite qualifier; 7th to 12th
What I predicted prior to the Semi Final:
"I really like this song - its quirky, catchy and original, there's quite a lot of support among the fans, and it must surely give Belarus a fighting chance of reaching the Final. The danger is that with 22 songs competing for 10 places in the Final, some good songs are bound to miss out. Unfortunately for Belarus, the decision by Russia and Poland (along with France) not to screen the Semi Final means that those countries will not be taking part in the televoting; hopefully, however, it can still count on votes from its other neighbours, Lithuania and Ukraine, and it should pick up a good smattering of votes from the rest of Europe too. Eurovision 2005 in Minsk? Probably not, but with a strong live performance, I think Belarus will qualify for the Final, and this could certainly go top ten on the 15 May."
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What you thought...
Final Poll Ranking: out of 36 ()
(Updated 15 May 2004; change refers to movement over final week)
In the run up to the Contest, over 5,000 visitors to this site voted for their favourite song in the Soult.com Eurovision Poll.
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What actually happened
I've always liked this song, even if most of the supposedly English lyrics are completely incomprehensible. I had tipped the Belarus entry to do well - unfortunately, however, Alexandra's vocal performance on the night was not strong, and the song came across as rather lifeless. On the plus side, the performance looked very nice, with Alexandra and Konstantin given the prominence they deserved, and a well-behaved trio of backing singers doing their stuff in the background. Perhaps 'My Galileo' would have got more votes if people had watched it with the sound muted; or if Russia and Poland had bothered to broadcast (and vote in) the Semi Final, of course.
I did predict that Belarus might struggle without its neighbours' votes... though that is rather outweighed by my suggestion that it "should pick up a good smattering of votes from the rest of Europe" (10 votes is hardly a smattering, I fear) and that it would be a "definite qualifier". Oh well, wrong again.
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What the bookies thought...
 | Belarus to win: | 15/05/04 (prior to Final) | - |
| | 13/05/04 (after Semi Final) | - |
| | 11/05/04 | 50-1 |
| | 08/05/04 | 33-1 |
| | 06/05/04 | 50-1 |
| | 04/05/04 | 50-1 |
| | 31/04/04 | 50-1 |
| | 24/04/04 | 50-1 |
| | 17/04/04 | 40-1 |
| | 07/04/04 | 16-1 |
| | 24/03/04 | 16-1 |
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Belarus opened in the betting at 16-1, but then slumped badly - rated 50-1 prior to the Semi Final, Belarus' failure to qualify came as more of a surprise to the fans than the bookies.
(Odds quoted here were those offered by Coral.co.uk. 'F' indicates favourite, 'JF' joint favourite.)
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Links
 http://ak.fromby.net/
 http://www.tvr.by/eng/konkurs.asp
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Notes (see 'History' above)
- The 1956 Contest (where each country had two songs) is counted as a single appearance;
- Countries eliminated in the 1993 preliminary heat (EE, HU, RO, SK) ARE NOT counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest;
- Countries eliminated in the 1996 preliminary heat (DE, DK, HU, IL, MK, RO, RU) ARE NOT counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest;
- Countries eliminated in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Semi Finals ARE counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest.
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Your comments (20)
From LoLo, BELGIUM
Added 16:41:38 2004-5-15
I think it's a great song and it should've won instead of Cyprus, now that's crap. And Aleksiandra is very cute =) Just look at her face, so sweet :) But my top 3 is:
1.Ukraine
2.Sweden
3.Belgium
(4.Belarus) ;)
From Lady Ice, ICELAND
Added 22:50:29 2004-5-11
I have to say that the first time I heard this song I thought it was terrible.
But now I'm always playing it and I like it! And the video is really cool. I wish Belarus best wishes in the contest from Iceland.
From jakie, AUSTRALIA
Added 5:29:30 2004-5-11
I didn't believe this was in english until I read the lyrics... I have even had a hard time convincing friends that it is. I posted some of the lyrics in my journal to confirm (www.livejournal.com/jakie_em) but no... this is very wrong... not as wrong as switzerland, but still very wrong.
I love Eurovision :)
From António oliveira, PORTUGAL
Added 0:39:20 2004-5-6
This is a great song.
Original, sweet and definitely a strong candidate to be a finalist and top10 in the final.
My absolute fave this year!
Good luck Belarus!
You deserve to win this year!!!
From Nikolas, SWITZERLAND
Added 20:32:56 2004-5-5
Absolutely nothing interesting with that one, just pseudo-special something, that trys hard to get points from every musical direction.
From Timothy, BELGIUM
Added 14:40:1 2004-5-5
Could that Meteor in the Video hit the Girl please! Merde, that is almost the most horrible voice i heard recently.
The Song itself is really nothing special, all in all it's just looking for a chart position.
From howie, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 18:14:41 2004-5-4
Interest in this song seems to have fallen off dramatically, which is never a good sign. I still think it's a dark horse, but it really could sink like a lead balloon in the smis. I think it all depends on what her voice sounds live.
From Manu, BELGIUM
Added 20:40:14 2004-5-3
This song is refreshingly different from the predictable Eurovision entries selected by so many other countries. Probably not a winner but it should undoubtedly reach the final and could be one one of this year's ESC biggest surprises ... unless she can't sing better than during the selection.
From Anton Pryczka, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 18:30:11 2004-5-2
This is a really strong song, and fairly unique so I would expect it to do well, in fact if the performance is anything like the recorded version they will be top 5
From pk, GREECE
Added 17:37:12 2004-4-28
I totally disagree with the prediction.
I think it won't qualify to the final, although I would like to support all the new entries to the ESC. But I really don't like this song at all.
Sorry Belarus, but this is my personal opinion.
From Mark, GERMANY
Added 21:4:19 2004-4-27
XperienzX, i agree. This Year women try hard to be a Shakira-Impersonater while some Boys make a fool of themself as a Ricky Martin-Wanabee. The Girls Voice here is as silly as the video with all the middle age-esoteric-nonsense.
But since Groups like Evanescene etc. are very popular with that trick, Grahams Prognosis might be right.
From Hanna, NORWAY
Added 26/04/2004 02:21
This is just the cutest song ever! a lot of people hate it, and some say they loved it after hearing it 3 times, but I actually loved it from the start! such a cool special sound to it, and a mix of, well, everything! So sweet, and maybe not what one would listen to in the everydaylife, but for this contest its perfect I think. it makes me happy, and it makes me laugh, and we need such music as well! Good luck to belarus, hopefully you'll qualify!!
From Vedat Sulimani, MACEDONIA, THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC
Added 22/04/2004 15:29
I think is grat song I like it Good luck to belarus. 12 points from me.
From Robert Stephenson, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 14/04/2004 16:29
I have listened to clips of all 36 entrants for this years ESC and apart from the UK's song I think that Belarus has a fantasic song, with good vocals. Another song I liked was that of Andorra - well done to the smaller/first-time countries for showing countrys like the UK and Germany (Europe's biggest music retailers) that they are not always the best!!!!
From Leli, MALTA
Added 09/04/2004 15:41
This is one of my favorite songs, even though others thinks it's awfull, when you hear it several times you'll see that it isn't that bad. I just would like to wish Alexandra and Konstantin a huge best of Luck. Good Luck Belarus from all of Malta :-)
From XperienzX, PORTUGAL
Added 08/04/2004 19:08
Is it me or is this one part of the "shakira-wannabe's" we have this year?...
From T.G:Beck, ICELAND
Added 07/04/2004 12:51
this woman has an annoying voice, to say the least. it's a bit different, but in this context it's just irritating. the lyrics are unintelligable. and all in all it's an awfully mainstream song.
From reddy, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 06/04/2004 20:30
this was the first song i heard i totally disliked it but with the secon dhearing i begun to like it and after hearing it for couple of this it has nice sound in it!!! easy to be top 10!
From Sérgio Rego, PORTUGAL
Added 06/04/2004 15:35
Welcome Belarus! Nice song. The question is: will Aleksandra perform it live like she did in the Belarussian final? It was awful. If she sings the same way, then I fear we will see Belarus in the semifinal of 2005.
From Steinar, NORWAY
Added 04/04/2004 17:53
This song is a personal favourite of mine. It might hopefully pass the semifinal, but maybe it's too good to do very well. I like the almagan of many styles, a bit ethnic, country and dance mixed together. Certainly very original, and another great debut. Nice arangement
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Belarus
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