Eurovision 2016: Belarus entrant Ivan plans to perform naked with live wolves
The risque performance is yet to receive the go-ahead from organisers and sadly we fear it may fail
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Your support makes all the difference.There’s not long to go now until Eurovision night, when Bucks Fizz, rainbow wigs, naff dance moves and Conchita Wurst beards blast into the spotlight in a fit of multi-coloured confetti.
But while fans have come to expect a host of surreal, camp and supremely cheesy performances, this year’s Belarus entrant looks set to reach another level of bizarre.
Ivan, real name Alexandr Ivanov, wants to perform “Help You Fly” completely starkers with live wolves for backing dancers.
Sadly, the 24-year-old’s big plans may yet be sabotaged by the boring Eurovision bosses. The long-standing rules state that “no live animals shall be allowed on stage” and chances are, the whole naked thing will be given a no-no too. Nudity is not mentioned in the rules but one point does insist that the “lyrics and/or performance of the songs shall not bring the shows, the Eurovision Song Contest as such or the EBU in to disrepute”, meaning Ivan’s birthday suit intentions are probably too risqué.
Ivan’s producer Viktor Drobish has admitted that the team are still awaiting a response from the song contest’s organisers.
“Yes, Ivan will be naked on stage and there will be wolves,” Drobish said. “Every person identifies himself with a certain totemic creature. Sometimes we suppress it in ourselves but sometimes we have to face it. We want everybody to feel the thin line between humans and nature.”
Of course, before any of us get the chance to watch this spectacle, Belarus must make it through the semi-final on 12 May. The grand final will then take place on 14 May in Stockholm, Sweden.
The UK will be represented by duo Joe and Jake who met on The Voice last year and will perform “You’re Not Alone” after being handpicked by the British public. Here’s hoping they put on a better show than our 2015 effort Electro Velvet who placed 24th out of 27 entries with just five points.
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