A revived version of the Soviet-era music contest, Intervision, was held near Moscow this year after being relaunched on the orders of President Vladimir Putin. The event, positioned as a cultural soft-power tool, crowned Vietnamese singer Duc Phuc as its winner with a song inspired by a traditional poem about bamboo.
Duc Phuc, who rose to fame a decade ago after winning Vietnam’s edition of The Voice, gave an emotional speech, thanking the audience “for every second” they spent watching the nearly four-hour-long competition.
With Russia barred from Eurovision due to its ongoing war in Ukraine, the Kremlin has been heavily promoting Intervision as both a counterweight to the famed European song contest and as a new platform for advancing cultural and political narratives. By reviving Intervision, Moscow aims to reinforce its anti-Western stance while fostering ties with countries that share its vision.
The show opened with a blend of futuristic technology and Soviet nostalgia featuring augmented-reality projections of dancing silhouettes in traditional costumes to represent and contestants from various nations. In a video message, Putin emphasised the event’s theme of “respecting traditional values and different cultures,” noting that Intervision was “gathering a second wind while staying true to its traditions.
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