"Natalia Podolskaya was born in 1982 in the Belarussian city Mogilev. She finished music school with a diploma in piano. When she was 9 years old, she started to sing in ensemble "Studio "W" of Mogilev college of music and choreography. In 1991-1997 as a member of this group she became prizewinner of such contests as "Zorna Rostan", "Magutni bozha" (Belarus), "Goldenfest" (Poland), she participated in Belgium, Germany, Poland.

In 1999-2004 Natalia was a student of Belarussian Institute of the Jurisprudence, she graduate it with diploma, which featured only the best marks. But also she did her artistic career and got her experience of a singer. Podolskaya took part in various projects of Belarussian TV & Radio, she became a finalist of Belarussian music festival "Na perekrestkakh Evropi 2002, 2003".
In 2002 she entered also Moscow Institute of Modern Art to study vocals professionally. And she moved to Moscow to work on her solo songs and future album."

She became famous after participating in contest of young singers "Slavyanski Bazar v Vitebske 2002", where she got 3rd prize. And in autumn 2003 she took part in "Universetalent Prague 2002" contest. She managed to got both main prizes of this contest "Best song" & "Best singer".
In the beginning of 2003 Michael Jay and Raen Lobcher (UK) wrote song "Unstoppable" specially for Natalia. Authors suggested Podolskaya, that she should have participated with "Unstoppable" in British Eurovision National Final. But Podolskaya turned out to be real patriotic girl... She participated in Belarussian National Final. The result of this selection was a big-big scandal. After the national contest was shown, queries arose with the televoting results, and Natalia ended up losig out to Alexandra & Konstantin.

In 2004, Natalia Podolskaya got through the auditions and became a participant of 'Star Factory-5' in which she was taught by the best singing, dancing and acting teachers in Russia. She finished third. It was here that Natalia met Victor Drobysh, the famous songwriter and producer. With his help she recorded her first album, which was released in December 2004. Incredible artistry, natural charisma and excellent vocal technique helped Natalia to win the public's affection and her debut album was a success. Today the song 'Pozdno' ('Late') is a hit on all TV and radio stations.

The Singer

I really should be bemoaning the lack of originality and talent of the Russian entries. After all, they're sure to be guaranteed points from their many neighbours, be they newly independent or still under the thrall of the great Russian Bear. Belarussian Natalia Podolskaya is yet another doppelganger of the usual young starlet (usually ginger) who assail our eardrums year after year with the nonsensical crap that Russia throw at us. This year I've softened a bit because she's eye candy. And for that reason alone, I won't be slating her.

The Past

Russia are a relatively new entrant into the fold (1994), having clearly deemed that inclusion in the contest would be a distraction to the transition to burgeoning free-market economy of the late eighties. Personally I think it would have helped to put the whole economic revolution in some sort of perspective. Anyway, in it they came and everyone really took note of Ms Pugacheva in 1997, who is up there as one of the most brash contestants ever. They came second the next year, and have had a third since. They clearly have the biggest advantage of everyone in the contest and should be winning soon. Maybe it'll happen when they move away from under-age popstresses.

The Song
My lord, this is poor. "Nobody Hurt No-one" shows a blatant disregard for basic grammatical sense. Natalia clearly feels that everyone should be hurt...maybe her family has been involved in the ongoing Chechyna problems. I feel hurt listening to her voice, which i suppose defeats the object of the song. This really has nothing to recommend it, so it's just as well that 1. it's the Russian entry, and 2. we have Natalia to look at.

Gestures - 9 A generous score of 9 for a live performance that has little oomph. Poor.
"Wanna" Count - 2 As in, "She didn't wanna go to school"...maybe she should have...she would be saying "want to" instead.

Overall
Natalia wins the "don't really care about the song, just look at that" award for this year. Which is a good job really as the song stinks. She does have a half-decent voice, but she has to sing the same grammatically crap line with monotonous regularity. She shows promise though in a few areas, and I'd gladly teach her how to wrap her tongue around a full English portion of prose.

In a Nutshell
"We are yet again at the whim of another Russian pimp/record producer"

"The Shrink Says"

Natalia's "Wernicke Area" needs attention. It's an important part of the brain that deals with language development skills. And while it is a commonly held view that the Russians have highly developed language attributes, damage can often occur in individual cases, leading to problems with language development.

Natalia ("born on Christmas") not only demonstrates symptoms in the above area, but also exhibits signs of word salads…that is, a jumbled manner of speaking in which words are put together even though they don't form meaningful sentences.

"Nobody hurt no-one"

All in all a troubled girl, who needs to have a hard session with me with the blinds down.

Natalia Podoloskaya
 A cross between LeeLoo and the blue singing thing from "The Fifth Element"

Nobody Hurt No-One

Hello sweet America
Where did our dream disappear
Look at little Erica
All she learns today is the fear
You deny the truth
You just having fun
Till your child will shoot your gun

Nobody hurt no one
Nobody hurt no one (anybody)
Nobody hurt no one
Nobody hurt no one

She didn't wanna go to school
Didn't wanna face all this pain
Mommy, can I stay at home
I am scared, the boys are insane
Don't you dare to say
Her reaction's dumb
'Cause she had no place to run

Nobody hurt no one
Nobody hurt no one (anybody)
Nobody hurt no one
Nobody hurt no one

You deny the truth
You just having fun
Till your child will shoot your gun
So please don't hurt anyone
Nobody hurt no one

You deny the truth
You just having fun
Till your child will shoot your gun
Don't you dare to say
Her reaction's dumb
'Cause she had no place to run

Nobody hurt no one
Nobody hurt no one (anybody)
Nobody hurt no one
Nobody hurt no one

So please don't hurt anyone
Anybody...
So please don't hurt anyone
Yeah..
Nobody hurt no one
Prediction Semi Final Exerting passive influence on their multitude of neighbours to get straight into the final
Final 12th