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The Belarus Eurovision entry wants to dance naked on stage with wolves

The Eurovision’s committee may not allow the performance.

BELORUSIAN SINGER IVAN plans to take next month’s Eurovision Song Contest by storm — performing completely naked with a wolf at his side.

But his plan may prove too much even for a show known as an annual celebration of weirdness, held this year in Stockholm in May.

The act by the lanky 21-year-old with a mane of reddish blond hair was dreamt up by Viktor Drobysh, a well-known Russian producer with a strong Eurovision track record.

“It’s undoubtedly an experience, a great experience,” Ivan, whose real name is Alexander Ivanov, said in an interview at Drobysh’s Moscow studio.

Especially as I have never performed on stage before in my birthday suit and with wild animals.

Александр Иванов / YouTube

The problem? It is not clear whether the act will be allowed to go ahead.

Eurovision bans animals on stage. And while there is no rule on nudity, spokesman Paul Jordan told AFP that this is “not appropriate” for a family show.

Drobysh insists the performance is an artistic statement.

‘Art, Not Porn’

“It’s not about vulgarity or sex at all. We want this to be art, not porn,” he said, as the studio staff — with a bit of irony — tinkered with a future track by Ivan with the chorus,

I want sex, sex, sex.

“I think the beauty that will be in our performance is comparable to that of Rodin’s The Thinker,” Drobysh said, evoking the French artist’s famous nude sculpture.

“Can you imagine The Thinker wearing jeans?”

British retrospective of the work of Auguste Rodin The act's creator has compared the performance to Rodin sculpture The Thinker. PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Eurovision, now in its 61st year, will have its latest final on 14 May.

Ivan will represent Belarus, a small ex-Soviet country not exactly known for its libertarian ways. It is sandwiched between the European Union and Russia, its chief ally.

“The final version of the song will be confirmed later,” according to Svetlana Kraskovskaya, chief spokeswoman for Belarus state television.

“What you see is one of the options,” she said of a promo video of Ivan singing his contest entry, Help You Fly, in which he appears naked with a trained shewolf named Shakira by his side.

Eurovision is known for its wacky outfits — from Finland’s 2006 winner Lordi in their monster masks to Ukraine’s 2007 drag queen contestant Verka Serduchka in her disco-mirrored headdress.

But Ivan has been dubbed in some reports as possibly the songfest’s weirdest contestant yet, something he takes as a compliment.

Eurovision Song Contest / YouTube

He says he and Drobysh thought long about possible costumes, but ultimately decided on none at all, to show “nature and man are together”.

Working with a wolf brought another challenge.

“The first rehearsals were very scary, but all the same we made friends,” said Ivan, adding the sausages he fed her helped.

“She liked my smell and started rubbing up against me.”

Spirit of the times

Drobysh is pushing for the act, and as the man behind Russia’s Buranovskiye Babushki, a choir of elderly ladies who won second place in 2012, he’s made a name at Eurovision.

Back then Buranovskiye Babushki  charmed the audience with their mix of authentic peasant outfits and disco beat.

Eurovision Song Contest / YouTube

He said the Belarusian state television company “is working on all the legal questions”, although its spokeswoman told AFP that Drobysh himself is in charge of negotiations.

Eurovision “will take a decision” after seeing a “second-by-second outline of the routine,” said Drobysh.

He admitted there is a less exciting plan B for the performance, which he described as a “lite” version.

Belarus has performed at Eurovision 12 times since 1994 and its best result was sixth place in 2007.

Some online commentators in Belarus have expressed shock at the planned performance.

“That’s a fine way to present Belarus, in the spirit of the times: with a bare arse,” wrote one, hinting at the country’s economic woes.

“We kicked up a fuss about Conchita,” wrote another, referring to bearded Austrian drag queen Conchita Wurst who won in 2014, “but we are disgracing ourselves in front of the whole world”.

© – AFP 2016

Read: ‘Building suspense’: Eurovision voting is changing in a big way this year >

Read: Nicky Byrne will represent Ireland at this year’s Eurovision >

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    Mute Richard Ahern
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    Feb 22nd 2022, 6:23 PM

    It seems to appear that he could be mentally unstable?

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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Feb 22nd 2022, 6:27 PM

    @Richard Ahern: He didn’t seem too steady in fairness.

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    Mute Gerard McConnell
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    Feb 22nd 2022, 6:29 PM

    @Richard Ahern: Might of had a feed of vodka in him.

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    Mute Colin Conlan
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    Feb 22nd 2022, 11:19 PM

    @Richard Ahern: Where does he appear to you unstable, in The Journal photo? Did you see his entire speech? Can you share a link?
    From few very short extracts, all I can conclude is that he doesn’t read from a prompter. Is that why he’s unstable?
    I would really like to hear (subbed) all he had to say. But all I can find is what I have to think about what I didn’t see. I was hoping you will help with your source.

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    Mute billy bound
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    Feb 22nd 2022, 6:57 PM

    The russian ambassador to Ireland should be removed. He talks out his behind and lied to Irish politicians.

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    Mute Boyne Sharky
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    Feb 22nd 2022, 7:43 PM

    Where’s all the Putin shills spouting their Russian rhetoric now, “Of course Russia will not invade Ukraine, Emperor Putin gave his word, didn’t he?”

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    Mute Kieran Woods
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    Feb 22nd 2022, 8:13 PM

    @Boyne Sharky: Russia does not want that Naziridden bankrupt basket case. It has what it wants.

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    Mute Boyne Sharky
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    Feb 22nd 2022, 9:30 PM

    @Kieran Woods: The one he’s currently occupying the Eastern areas of and surrounding the rest of it with 150,000 troops. Right…

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    Mute Geoff Dolan
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    Feb 23rd 2022, 5:01 PM

    @Kieran Woods:

    “Naziridden bankrupt basket case. It has what it wants.”

    The same “Naziridden[sic] bankrupt basket case” that elected a Jewish President?

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    Mute Anna Carr
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    Feb 22nd 2022, 6:08 PM

    No Ukrainians here should fear a backlash.

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    Mute Jake Kelly
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    Feb 22nd 2022, 11:19 PM

    @Anna Carr: doesn’t mean they can’t be absolutely terrified for any of their loved ones back in Ukraine. If it was me I’d be struggling to sleep with the way things are

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    Mute Munster1
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    Feb 22nd 2022, 6:31 PM

    Whatever happens next is anyones guess but one thing is certain, Ukraine will never join NATO.

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    Mute alan scott
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    Feb 22nd 2022, 6:31 PM

    @Munster1: that’s for Ukraine to decide not Russia

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    Mute Munster1
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    Feb 22nd 2022, 6:35 PM

    @alan scott: No it’s for NATO to decide and they wont let them join with Russian soldiers on their land.

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    Mute Colin Conlan
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    Feb 22nd 2022, 11:30 PM

    @alan scott: Apparently Ukraine can decide by itself to join EU too very soon.
    https://insiderpaper.com/ukraine-minister-urges-eu-to-promise-future-membership/

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    Mute Craig Barry
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    Feb 22nd 2022, 7:18 PM

    Sanctions are not enough. Where are the Avengers?

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    Mute Handsome McWonderful
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    Feb 22nd 2022, 7:58 PM

    @Craig Barry: The Avengers are not enough. Where is Team America?

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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Feb 22nd 2022, 8:24 PM

    @Handsome McWonderful: Team America not enough, where is Frank Drebbin?

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    Mute andrew
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    Feb 22nd 2022, 11:02 PM

    Russia recognising two republics that have been threatened by Ukraine we tend to forget the Russian separatists don’t want to be under Kiev rule especially if it means being part of the NATO camp.

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    Mute Geoff Dolan
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    Feb 23rd 2022, 5:01 PM

    @andrew: Like the Loyalists in the north, yeah?

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