Russia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015

Russia was represented at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015 which took place on 21 November 2015, in Sofia, Bulgaria.^[1] The Russian broadcaster, Russia-1, selected their entry through a televised national final.^[2] Mikhail Smirnov won it and represented Russia with his song "Mechta (Dream)". He finished 6th in the final of the contest with 80 points.

Russia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015
Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015
Country	Russia
Selection process	National final
Selection date	25 September 2015
Competing entry
Song	"Mechta (Dream)"
Artist	Mikhail Smirnov
Placement
Final result	6th, 80 points
Participation chronology
◄2014 • 2015 • 2016►

Background

Main article: Russia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest

Prior to the 2016 Contest, Russia had participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest ten times since its debut in 2005.^[3] Russia have participated at ever contest since its debut,^[4] and have won the contest once in 2006 with the song "Vesenniy Jazz", performed by Tolmachevy Twins.^[5] The twin sisters went on to become the first act from a Junior Eurovision Song Contest to represent their country at the Eurovision Song Contest, performing the song "Shine" at the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, in Copenhagen, Denmark.^[6]

Before Junior Eurovision

National final

The Russian broadcaster, Russia-1, revealed the details about the selection on 4 August 2015, and on the same day announced that applications could be submitted between then and September 10.^[7] The original song must have at least one verse and one chorus in Russian, but up to 25% of the song can be in another language.^[7] The song must last at least 2:50 and it cannot exceed three minutes.^[7] The participants have to be Russian citizens or have a legal residence permit and be between 10 and 15 years of age.^[7] The maximum number of participants on stage is six.^[7]

One of the contestants in the national final, Eden Golan, would end up representing Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.

Final

The final was broadcast live on the television channel Karusel from Moscow on 25 September 2015.^[8] The winner was selected by a 50/50 jury-televote split. Viewers were able to vote for their favorites online.^[8] The jury was composed by 7 members, including Alisa Kozhikina (who represented Russia last year), Philipp Kirkorov (Eurovision composer and singer, represented Russia in 1995) and Julia Savicheva (represented Russia in 2004 at the adult ESC). Both Philipp and Julia performed during the interval act.^[9]

Final – 25 September 2015

Draw	Artist	Song	Bonus	Jury	Televote		Total	Place
					Votes	Points
1	Caramel Sky	"Tvist-syurpriz" (Твист-сюрприз)	12	0	4,381	0	12	14
2	Yulia Asessorova	"Oblako" (Облако)	12	6	7,422	7	25	4
3	Kameliya Pedan	"Zhar-ptitsa" (Жар-птица)	12	0	3,112	0	12	15
4	Mikhail Smirnov	"Mechta" (Мечта)	12	12	8,345	10	34	1
5	4 Kadra	"Ulybnis" (Улыбнись)	12	1	7,335	6	19	7
6	Alexandra Gorodetskaya	"Parol" (Пароль)	12	0	4,741	1	13	13
7	Vilena Khikmatullina	"Vyshe neba" (Выше неба)	12	5	3,816	0	17	8
8	Eden Golan	"Schastye" (Счастье)	12	10	4,171	0	22	5
9	Daria Pereverzeva	"Mir" (Мир)	12	0	3,131	0	12	16
10	Khikmatullina & Maneshina	"Begi" (Беги)	12	8	7,489	8	28	3
11	Sonya Lapshakova	"A ya smogu!" (А я смогу!)	12	4	7,311	5	21	6
12	Katya Maneshina	"Ya vybirayu svet" (Я выбираю свет)	12	3	3,466	0	15	11
13	Daria Kim	"Letat" (Летать)	12	0	3,517	0	12	18
14	Mlilana Pavlova	"Pyatyy okean" (Пятый океан)	12	0	3,433	0	12	17
15	Anna Tomilo	"Ya narisuyu" (Я нарисую)	12	2	5,078	2	16	9
16	Maria Mirova	"Letat" (Летать)	12	7	8,417	12	31	2
17	Ekaterina Bizina	"Otkroy glaza" (Открой глаза)	12	0	7,263	4	16	10
18	Sofia Fedorova	"Zvezdopad" (Зведопад)	12	0	5,367	3	15	12

Artist and song information

Mikhail Smirnov

Mikhail Smirnov Михаил Смирнов
Background information
Also known as	Misha Smirnov
Born	(2003-04-30) 30 April 2003 (age 22) Moscow, Russia
Genres	Pop
Occupation	Singer
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	2013–present
Website	http://mishasmirnov.ru

Mikhail Smirnov (Russian: Михаил Смирнов; born April 30, 2003), better known by his stage name Misha Smirnov, is a Russian child singer. He represented Russia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with the song "Mechta" (Russian: Мечта, English: Dream).

Smirnov was born in the city of Moscow, Russia on April 30, 2003. Mikhail's success as a singer is no less impressive considering his family background - born to parents who are mathematicians, who both graduated from the Maths & Mechanics faculty at the Moscow State University. When he was three years old, Mikhail suddenly began to stutter and his parents sent him to singing lessons as part of the therapy. There, his first vocal coach noticed that Mikhail not only had a good ear for music but also a wonderful voice. His mother, who also graduated from music school and plays piano, cultivated Mikhail's love of music throughout his childhood.

Gradually gaining skills, Mikhail began not only performing at various competitions, but also winning prizes. At the age of eight he moved studios, and hit professional level by winning many prizes in his new environment. Despite his young age, Mikhail has a large number of titles to his name from both Russian and international competitions.

Mikhail is already an experienced actor and was a finalist on the second season of the Russian TV show The Voice Kids (Голос. Дети).^[10] Mikhail had to battle a series of strong female vocalists, many of whom rode the EDM trend with upbeat, danceable songs.^[11]

"Mechta (Dream)"
Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015 entry
Country	Russia
Artist(s)	Mikhail Smirnov
Languages	Russian, English
Composer(s)	Vladimir Dushevny, Mikhail Smirnov
Lyricist(s)	Vladimir Dushevny, Mikhail Smirnov
Entry chronology
◄ "Dreamer" (2014)
"Water of Life" (2016) ►

Mechta (Dream)

Mechta (Dream) is a song by Russian child singer Mikhail Smirnov. It represented Russia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

At Junior Eurovision

At the running order draw which took place on 15 November 2015, Russia were drawn to perform eighth on 21 November 2015, following Ireland and preceding Macedonia.^[12][13]

Voting

Points awarded to Russia[14] Score Country 12 points[a] 10 points 8 points  San Marino 7 points  Armenia  Belarus  Bulgaria  Serbia 6 points  Netherlands  Slovenia 5 points  Kids Jury 4 points  Italy  Ukraine 3 points  Albania  Macedonia 2 points 1 point  Australia

Points awarded by Russia[14] Score Country 12 points  Armenia 10 points  Belarus 8 points  Slovenia 7 points  San Marino 6 points  Malta 5 points  Serbia 4 points  Ukraine 3 points  Australia 2 points  Ireland 1 point  Georgia

Detailed voting results

The following members comprised the Russian jury:^[15]

• Sati Kazanova
• Yulia Nachalova
• Sergey Shirokov
• Anna Shulgina
• Maria Kozhevnikova

Detailed voting results from Russia^[15]

Draw	Country	S. Kazanova	Y. Nachalova	S. Shirokov	A. Shulgina	M. Kozhevnikova	Average Jury Points	Televoting Points	Points Awarded
01	Serbia	10	6	6	8	6	8	1	5
02	Georgia	5		3			1	3	1
03	Slovenia	8	3	5	6	5	5	8	8
04	Italy	3		1
05	Netherlands	2	5	7	2	2	4
06	Australia	7	7	8	5	7	7		3
07	Ireland		2			1		5	2
08	Russia
09	Macedonia
10	Belarus	4	8	10	7	8	10	7	10
11	Armenia	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12
12	Ukraine	1	4	2	3	4	3	4	4
13	Bulgaria		1			3
14	San Marino				10		2	10	7
15	Malta	6	10	4	4	10	6	6	6
16	Albania							2
17	Montenegro				1

Notes

1. All countries received one set of 12 points to ensure no country finished with nul points.