Tim: So, Russia’s entry, with the performers alternatively spelled Buranovskie Babushki. A quick introduction may be in order, or not actually, as it may spoil it.
Tom: Oh wow.
Tim: My first thoughts? “These old ladies are weird – maybe it’s some sort of concept intro where they’re all the main act’s surviving octogenarian ancestors or somethOH MY GOD THEY’RE THE ACTUAL ACT.”
Tom: I… I shouldn’t be grinning, but I am. It’s brilliant. I almost wish I hadn’t been spoiled for this one, because anyone who isn’t expecting it is going to be wonderfully surprised.
Tim: There are several lovely parts in this performance – the way they keep looking around at each other to check no-one’s collapsed, the bit in the middle eight when they start to advance on the audience not unlike a zombie army and the front row sink back into their seats, though in general it’s just the sight of six old biddies telling us to ‘come on and boom boom.’
Tom: Could do with a key change – that’s not me being facetious, it’s just that the joke does get rather old after two minutes. Lithuania’s We Are The Winners was shorter than regulation and much better for it.
Tim: You’re not wrong there – they could lose a chorus or two somewhere in the middle and no-one would mind too much.
My favourite sight of all, though, is I think the judges’ faces – the one on the left at 1:54ish as he struggles to come to terms with what is actually unfolding before his eyes, and the one at 2:20 when he starts to think they’re closing in on him.
Tom: It’s wonderful. I reckon this could pull a Lordi.
Tim: That could happen – I think it’ll either be that, or a total catastrophe, on a par with Cry Baby, Dustin the Turkey, or aforementioned We Are The Winners. But my money’s on your theory.
Tom: The UK is going to give them at least seven points. The question is whether anyone else will.