Will Aleksandr Panayotov be representing Russia at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest? The rumours are heating up after Grigory Leps has announced that both he and Panayotov are preparing for the contest.
The rumours that Alexander Panayotov will be representing Russia at the 62nd Eurovision Song Contest this year have seriously heated up. Today Grigory Leps has announced on Instagram that he is working with Panayotov on a new album and also preparing for the Eurovision Song Contest. It has also been published on life.ru that Leps and Panayotov are working together to prepare for Eurovision and that Panayotov is being strongly considered by Russian’s Channel 1.
Panayotov is currently on this year’s series of the Russian version of The Voice (Golos). Leps is Panayotov’s mentor in the contest where other mentors include former Russian participants Dima Bilan and Polina Gagarina.
Aleksandr Panayotov has contracted with Grigory Leps who will do his promotion in show business. The first stage of the co-operation with Leps will be a concert by Aleksandr Panayotov, which was announced by the HRC will be held at Krokus City Hall on March 8th. The plans include the release of a new album and preparing for the contest of Eurovision”
Life.ru.
However, a couple of days ago Channel One music director, Yuri Aksyuta stated that Russia had not yet made it’s decision. He told RIA “I do not know where this information came from. The candidate who will represent our country at Eurovision this year has not yet been selected. We can consider Alexander Panayotov and other artists. We have a number of artists to potentially consider as candidates.”
Who is Aleksandr Panayotov
Aleksandr Panayotov was born in Zaporizhia in Ukraine but has lived in Russia since the early naughties. In 2002, Aleksandr participated in the Russian version of Popstars, where he finished in the top 10. The following year he competed in Russian Idol where he did much better and finished in 2nd place.
Panayotov has also participated in both the Russian and Ukrainian Eurovision selection processes. He competed in the Russia selection in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2010. In addition, his Ukrainian attempt was made in 2009 where he placed second with the song Superhero.
