AZERBAIJAN: Russia’s “Buranovo Grannies" rehearse on Eurovision 2012 stage

Record ID: 218207

  • Title: AZERBAIJAN: Russia’s “Buranovo Grannies" rehearse on Eurovision 2012 stage
  • Date: 15th May 2012
  • Summary: BAKU, AZERBAIJAN (MAY 14, 2012) (REUTERS) "CRYSTAL HALL, VENUE OF EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2012 AND HUGE NATIONAL AZERBAIJANI FLAG VARIOUS OF "BURANOVSKIE BABUSHKI" ("BURANOVO GRANNIES") SINGING AND DANCING ON STAGE DURING FIRST REHEARSAL
  • Embargoed: 30th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVA7ZZ1I2P0GSAGG7C4TM9KDDDT7
  • Story Text: "Buranovskie Babushki," a singing group of grannies from a remote village of Buranovo are winning hearts on and off the stage at the Eurovision Song Contest.
    A singing group of "babushkas" from a remote village of Buranovo is Russia's surprise choice to represent it in the Eurovision singing competition.
    The "Buranovskie Babushki," or "Buranovo Grannies" in English, won televoting in Russia's national selection with their song "Come On And Dance," which they performed in English and their native Udmurt.
    Already the grannies have impressed journalists and guests at the Eurovision song contest rehearsal in Azerbaijani capital Baku on Monday (May 14).
    An amateur group of village women, with majority of them well over 70.
    "For us of course it is very important and pleasant that you welcome grannies here and that such small nation as Udmurts represent such a big country as Russia. It is a big responsibility for us, its is an honor and exciting at the same time," Olga Tuktaryova, Artistic Director of "Babushki" told journalist after their first rehearsal.
    The Buranovo Grannies came out on top of 24 other professional acts in Russia, including well-established Russian pop stars.
    They started to singing together in 2008, but Eurovision will be their first breakthrough performance.
    From Russia's Republic of Udmirtia, some 1,300 km (800 miles) east of Moscow, they have embarked on their hunt for musical glory after having failed to win approval to represent their country in two previous attempts.
    "Today I am very happy as I am here at Eurovision. Thank you," Yekaterina Shklyaeva 74-year-old singer added, as audience applauded.
    Clad in the traditional red headscarfs and long dresses of their region, they invited the audience at the rehearsal to sing along partly in Udmurt, a distant relation of their Finnish language spoken by just over 300,000 people.
    "Young people sing and sing all the time. Why should not we do it? Can not we sing? And so we decided to do it. We should test our ability," said Galina Koneva, a 73-year-old singer.
    The "grannies" seamed a bit at a loss when they had to pose for cameras after the news conference, but definitely enjoyed the first signs of fame while giving out their autographs.
    The Eurovision finals to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan on May 22-26.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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