Time for a first at this year’s Eurovision: NAVI (or Naviband) will be the first artists to ever sing in Belarusian at Eurovision. Belarus have a patchy qualification record but with a distinctly different song and a linguistic uniqueness, will that help boost their chances of appearing again in the grand final for the first time since 2014? I rather hope so I have to say – this is such a happy song (the title is “Story of My Life” in English) and their enthusiasm is infectious, even if you don’t know what is being sung about! The potential loss of Russia could work both for and against Belarus. Russia was due to be in their semi-final and Belarus has got many of its points in the past from Russia – but at same time, they could get votes that would otherwise have gone to Russia.

Difficult to call really – and I did expect them to be a bit higher in this YouTube countdown, but maybe it can come across as a bit loud and repetitive. But I still think it brings something different and fun to Eurovision this year and the two members of Naviband are so endearing and enthusiastic, so I wish them well!

Mum’s reaction: no comment

Official video:

Live at Eurovision in Concert in Amsterdam:

Belarus at the Eurovision Song Contest:

First entered: 2004

Appearances (excluding this year): 13

Best result: 6th in 2007

Last year’s result: 12th in semi-final (did not qualify)