"Eurovision's counterpart, 'Intervision,' resurfaces as Russia's competitor"
Intervision, a music contest originally created for the Soviet Union and its satellite states, is set to be revived this Saturday in Russia. First proposed by President Vladimir Putin in the 2000s, the contest is now being championed as a rival to Eurovision, with Russian officials touting it as an antidote to the pomp of its Western counterpart.
The organizers of Intervision have promised a 'true celebration of music' during the show, but also one that promotes 'national identity'. This emphasis on national identity is not surprising, considering the contest is being used as a vehicle for promoting geopolitical interests and Russia's cultural soft power.
The international jury of Intervision 2025, which includes representatives from the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), several former Soviet republics such as Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, along with Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan among others, will decide the winner of the contest. This jury represents 4.3 billion people, or more than half of the planet's population.
Intervision was originally a festival for the Soviet Union and its satellite states, but it was suspended after the anti-Soviet uprising in Czechoslovakia in 1968. It was revived in the 1970s and held across various cities of the former Communist bloc. The contest is now being used as a counter to Western entertainment, according to French researcher Cyrille Bret.
The revival of Intervision contributes to the reorientation of Russian influence from the West to the East, Eurasia, and the Global South. Russian officials have been castigating the 'decadent' West for years, and the contest is seen as a way to assert Russia's cultural and political influence in a different direction.
Among the performers at Intervision are Qatari singer Dana Al Meer and Madagascan duo Denise & D-Lain. Russia's Shaman, a pro-Kremlin singer, will also perform at the event with his ballad titled 'Straight to the Heart'.
The contest is expected to be a true celebration of music, but with a clear political undertone. As Intervision takes centre stage, it remains to be seen how it will shape the global music landscape and geopolitical dynamics.
Read also:
- Mohammad Yousuf publically labeled Suryakumar Yadav as a "pig," an unusual slur Yousuf explained.
- Today's most impactful photographic moments
- Support for Eric Adams in The Post's Letters to the Editor on August 13, 2025
- Roosting Shark and Rambunctious Red Squirrels: Unconventional House Rental in Yorkshire Involving Aquatic Marvel, Squirrely Mayhem, and Mystical Planning Regulations
