"The preparation for the contest and continuous work on his own material took several months, during which time he released his song 'Bum'. "

Music & Lyrics by: K.Kavaleryan & I.Antonyan

Dima Bilan was born on 24 December 1981. He spent his childhood in Karachaevo, Cherkezia.
"I received my first round of applause in the second grade in the school canteen during lunch. During a long break, I stood up and began to sing 'Prekrasnoe Daleko' ('Wonderful future'). The noise died down and even people I had just played tricks on were staring at me with open mouths.

When he was in the tenth form, Dima visited Moscow to take part in the Chunga-Changa festival. Dima remembers his arrival with horror: everything was new and strange, and there was no one there to meet him. Plus, it was cold, rainy, and it took them all day to find the festival.
The preparation for the contest and continuous work on his own material took several months, during which time he released his song 'Bum'.

In autumn, the video clips of his first songs appeared on TV. The video for 'Night hooligan' took Dima's career to a new level. The song reflects Dima's state of mind at that time and, after it, Dima became very well-known.
The following year, Dima took part in the TV show' Fear factor' in Argentina. On it, he had to ride a bicycle on a thin rope 40 metres above the ground, eat a strawberry covered in flies. At the end of March 2004, he shot a video for the song 'Mulatto girl' in a deserted elevator not far from Savelovski station.
In summer 2004 Dima Bilan went to Venice to shoot a video for 'Na beregu neba' ('Between Heaven and the Sky'). The shoot involved several foreign professionals, including Giannenrico Bianchi, the Italian director, and a girl named Jari, playing the main heroine. Yuri Aizenshpis also took part in the shooting of the clip. After working all week, the singer fled to Turkey to have a deserved rest.

In September 2004 Dima starred in his first advertisement. He played a student chatting on a mobile phone during a lecture. It turned out to be very funny. By the way, the incendiary song 'Mulatka' ('Mulatto girl') plays in the advertisement. It was planned to release the album in English, so Dima began to study at 'Mr. English', Russia's biggest school of English.

At that time, Dima also began to work with La Scala Fashion Group and Franck Provost as well as preparing for 'Euro view 2005', the national Eurovision selection. Dima Bilan qualified for the Finals, but it was Natalia Podolskaya who went on to represent Russia in Kyiv. Despite this, Dima took part in several festivals in Russia.

On 21 September, the MTV Russian Music Awards took place in Vasilevskih. Dima received two awards: as Best Performer and as Actor of the Year. In December 2005, Dima received two golden gramophones. Dima was voted showbiz's 'Man of the year'.

I've not a sneaking suspicion about this one. Russia always box below their weight, but they may live up to the Don King-like hype with this one. Dima throws his extremities around with wild abandon as if he's dancing on broken glass (again a solid way to detract from the idiotic lyrics) , with only a vest to constrain him. I would heartily recommend an each-way bet on this, but then again the ending is suspect, and the ballerinas in the background have clearly wandered onto the wrong stage. He's singing slap bang in the middle of the final, and so should qualify with some ease, and with a good final draw this great russian bear could maul the opposition. You have been warned. (Watch out for the woman appearing out of a piano).

"I may be lanky, but I deem a victory is due for Russia"

Penfold

Socialist Dima failed to speak emotively "Voice by Terry 'Jooone' Scott, Penfold was the squeaky voiced compatriot of a crime-fighting mouse (think Julie of Malta 2004 and you're getting close). I always loved the moon-faced, bespectacled, Penfold, as he lived in a communist Red pillar box, an appropriate symbol of constant struggle against the monopolistic greed of the landowning croaky toad Baron Greenback, and his Italian crow "Si, Barone" heavies". Crikey!

 
  
 

Never Let You Go

Heavy clouds, no rain
And every move causes pain
Ready kiss, but no love
I feel I'm torn in half
Ardent look, but no heat
It's not you really need
Baby, now it's happened with us
We are dancing on broken glass
Can't stand no more

Never, never let you go
You are the one I'm searching for
Flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone
Love's carving it in the stone
Never, never let you go
Return the days we had before
Soul of my soul, blood of my blood
Love's carving it in my heart

Gentle words, no aim
It seems we're playing a game
Easy smile, but no fun
Sweet music for no one
Close embrace, but no more
Cold champagne we forgot to pour
Baby now it's happened with us
We are dancing on broken glass
Can't stand no more

Never, never let you go
You are the one I'm searching for
Flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone
Love's carving it in the stone
Never, never let you go
Return the days we had before
Soul of my soul, blood of my blood
Love's carving it in my heart

Love's carving it in my heart

Baby, now it's happened with us
We are dancing on broken glass
Can't stand no more

Never, never let you go
You are the one I'm searching for
Flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone
Love's carving it in the stone
Never, never let you go
Return the days we had before
Soul of my soul, blood of my blood
Love's carving it in my heart

Never, never let you go
You are the one I'm searching for
Flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone
Love's carving it in the stone
Never, never let you go
Return the days we had before
Soul of my soul, blood of my blood
Love's carving it in my heart

Is he Adso of Melk (Christian Slater), who had sexual relations with a Italian?
or Dima Bilan who had an Italian with his relations?
“I’m sure all the artists in Eurovision are great,” he said. “I’d love it if they could all win and I wish them all the best. But it’s nice to be a horse that people are betting on – it feels weird!”