NB -  Russia officially pulled out of the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest (mid April 2017) following the controversy which saw their singer Yulia Samoilova banned from entering Ukraine. We have included the Sechuk opinions on the song, which were made before the withdrawal was announced. We wish Yulia well with her plans and maybe a future Euroviosion.  

FLAME IS BURNING 

YULIA SAMOILOVA

SECHUK JURY

Rating

 193/320 (60.3%)

INTERNATIONAL JURY

RUSSIA

INT

JURY TOTAL

98.5

Amar

The song itself isn't really special but something about it stands out... maybe it's Yulia's charm? Not sure what it is, but I can actually remember the song after listening to it the first time. 

6.5

Benedek

O my good I just can believe how bad this is. The singer has a bad English accent. Hate this song. Russia will struggle with this. It isn't memorable enough but with the background of Russia it might just be borderline qualifier.

1.5

Christos

From the very first moment I felt in love with this song. She is a real hero of life and she is the winner. Her face reminds me Carly Simon, her song is an 80’s strong ballad. I invite you all to vote for a super human creature that is fighting under the Russian flag this year…(is a dirty job but somebody’s got to do it). Forget the politics …Julia is the queen of the contest… Guys I have so many feelings with this song because ….Music is the flame that is burning…..Thank you Julia…

10

Daria

Songwise it’s not my cup of tea, and it’s another one ballad. But the song matches Yulia quite good so with some upgrading it should look pretty ok.

6.5

Douwe

A calculated decision / public relations stunt or not, there is a beautiful, emotional sentiment in the Russian song this year and it is very uplifting. 'Flame is Burning' is charming and sweet but rather dated and a little too bland. Some attention needs to be paid to her English accent before May. This is not the strongest ballad in the contest but the willpower and determination shown by Julia is incredibly strong and must be admired. I don't think this is the winner but hopefully it will score some points here and there.

6

Elena

This is quite unexpected for me.  Not so much the singer as the beautiful simplicity of the song. Now, I actually have stumbled over the singer before and I know she has some pipes, and I am therefore a bit disappointed she didn't get a more powerful song. I also assume she has gotten herself a set of invisible teeth braces, because her lisp has never been that heavy. Hopefully she will take them out for the performance, and we will again have Russia in the top.

8

Frederico

This is not the place for political or social commentary so I will not go there. I really like this song, and I think it will (deservedly) do very well. Good song, well produced and sung quite well.

7

José

Julia has an angelic presence, adorable must say. The lyrics are nice, but I'm not sure it is a song for Eurovision, and I fear all this feeling about Russia will be payed finally by someone like Julia. Other than that I can say the song it's touching and I like it a lot.

9

Mark L

Possibly Russias weakest entry for years. It just left me wanting more,, an awful lot more!! But at least it appears that Russia have finally got the message that big productions doesn’t necessarily win the thing  

4.5

Melissa

Oh Russia ... you were on such a roll over the last few years. Now we're back in "2013 bland peace song" mode. I'm sure Julia is a lovely girl and from what others have said who have seen her on other talent shows back in her homeland that she has a lovely voice, unfortunately the song doesn't give her the chance to showcase it.

5.5

Octavio

Sweet and little bit boring. She has powerful voice but please, get rid of that annoying robotic backup vocals, she doesn't need those, she sings very well. I dont think its the best song in russias history.

5

Paul C

Probably one of the worst entry Russia ever sent. I don't like the song. Russia does not deserve qualifying to the final with that song.

2

Pia

Deliver as usual, so beautiful song. And what a melody  top 5 !

9

Roberto

A strong, arduous choice for Russia . The song is touching, melancholic, emotionally charged : Julia is very sweet and she brings it at its best. This entry has some potential and some risk. I only want to be concentrated on the potentials in it.

7.5

Roy

First of all, I am so happy Russia is not withdrawing. As expected, I knew I would like the Russian entry. So for the 5th year in a row, their entry is in my top 5. It is not the best but the song is sweet and I enjoy it that her English is not so good so it sounds like a foreign language entry.

68

Samantha

Forgetting about any disability that Yulia lives with...this just isn't as strong of a song as we've seen from Russia in the past. Feels formulaic and cliched. 

2.5

UNITED KINGDOM JURY

RUSSIA

UK

JURY TOTAL

94.5

Andrew G

This has a nice melody, a nice simple tune, i rather like it, i know it might sound a bit old fashioned but it is ok

6

Danny

Well this is definitely controversial if nothing else. Putting everything else aside, this is a bit twee for my liking and dated, and if this was anyone else except from Russia I would expect it to come at the bottom, but as it’s them I think this will still qualify, but I expect the juries to bury it and it will give them their worst result for a number of years.

5

David B

Like Slovenia , the Russians have opted for an old-fashioned Eurovision sound. This would probably have sounded better in the national language but it has a memorable melody if not the strongest of vocals.

6

David E

This sounds like something Uncle Ralph could have written for another of Valentina's bland attempts.  The saccharine sweetness does nothing for me, and whilst I can see exactly wht they are trying to do here, you can't disguise the fact that this is a really weak song

5

Dean

This is a strong entry, and will be in contention for a Top 5 place. I like the melody, and Julia’s voice is very distinctive. Will stand out for sure.

8.5

Eddie

She has a nice voice and I like the production of the song. It’s like a million voice lite! It feels like something is missing. The performance is boring and I hope they aren’t putting someone in a wheelchair on stage to get the sympathy vote.

7

Edward

The context here is complicated, so let’s focus on the song and performance.  Both have a “Carpenters” feel: elegiac, even mournful, leaving you sad in a complicated way.  English pronunciation is a problem and I want a more optimistic sense at the end.  However, I like this classic Eurovision ballad!

8

Gary

Shrewd move Russia . This is a sweet song and as it is a song contest, I have to say that the song is dated for 2017 and lacks the impact of “A Million Voices”, for example. That said, I hope it gets a positive reception and a deserving number of points.  

6.5

Joe  

Genius move in the propaganda war, but while the song is sweet, it doesn't really grab me.

5.5

Kevin

We have it; the news we have been waiting for… Russia have finally released details of their 2017 entry.  The artist is Yulia Samoilova and the song being Flame is Burning; this will be second time we will see a wheelchair bound contested; the song is moving and thoughtful, again Russia pack a punch with to memorable number, they constantly send outstanding artists and songs, and this year does not disappoint   

9

Lloyd

A sweet song with good vocals, but yet another Ballard to add to a long list at this years ESC. I believe this song will need a memorable performance in order for it to have any chance in qualifying this year.

5

Mark M

Gosh - hard to know what Russia is up to with this particular entrant.  Taking it on face value, it's a terrible song.  Would love to see it fail to qualify for the final but that's unlikely.

1.5

Martin

I think that Russia are risking a Final DNQ this year.  Not because of Yuliya Samoylova, who has a great voice and vocal range in Russian, but because she's having to sing phonetically lyrics in English and it shows.  The pace of the song is so, so slow too - limited staging opportunities cannot save this from SF oblivion..

4.5

Matt

I actually like this - musically it feels well structured and feels quite uplifting.  She is quite heavily accented and not sure if other singers were boosting her vocal but, overall, a good entry.

7

Nico

Pure genius! if you've just annexed part of someone's country, what's the only way to rock up with your head held high and not get booed? At the same time knowing  perfectly well that the artist you're sending has broken local law and won't be allowed in anyway, whatever happens you'll be the victim. So keep your good songs for other years, just send a Lynsey De Paul 70s reject. In any other year Julia's participation should have been inspirational. Sadly, this feels more like political point scoring rather than musical. Very naughty Russia , very naughty!

3

Sally-Ann

If anyone produced a spoof documentary on Eurovision, this would be the Russian entry.  A big, heartfelt plea for peace from a pretty and gutsy lady in a wheelchair.   Cynics, hang your heads in shame, it's a cracker and you (and they) know it!

7