Wednesday, March 7 brings us one of the last major National Finals of the Eurovision preseason, as Russia continues its quest for their second Eurovision title.  After an internal selection last year brought them a relatively disappointing 16th place in the Final (their second-lowest placement ever), broadcaster RTR is returning to a televised selection format.

A total of 25 songs will duke it out for the right to represent Russia in Baku, including a number of familiar performers.  Polina Smolova, who represented Belarus in 2006 (and failed to take “Mum” to the Finals that year) will be giving the Russian process a shot with “Michael”.  The lovable grannies of the “Buranovskiye Babushki” ensemble, who came in third place in the 2010 Russian preselection with the barely pronounceable, yet instantly memorable “Dlinnaya-dlinnaya beresta i kak sdelat’ iz neyo aishon“, will be back in the running with the multilingual “Party for Everybody”.  Most notably, however, will be the powerhouse duet of 2006 runner-up/2008 champion Dima Bilan and 2003 bronze medalist Yulia Volkova (formerly a member of t.A.T.u.), who will collaborate on “Back to her Future”.  The full lineup (with song titles, where available) is as follows:

1. Lena Maksimova – “Brave”
2. Ksenona – “Close my Eyes”
3. Irson Kudikova
4. The UPS – “Kiss”
5. Sardor – “Believe”
6. 4Post – “Navstrechu Nebu”
7. Efrosiya
8. Unite it – “Turn Off The Light”
9. Katya Savelyeva – “Life’s Beautiful”
10. Olga Makovetskaya – “Positive Emotions”
11. Rene – “I Miss You”
12. Farinelli Balls – “Breath Away Song”
13. Polina Smolova – Michael”
14. Chinkong feat. Karina – “High Up”
15. Mari Karne
16. Mark Tishman – “Money vs Love”
17. Ed Sulzhevskij – “Sto Minut”
18. Elena Ekimova – “Do You Like?”
19. Julia Volkova & Dima Bilan – “Back to Her Future”
20. Riff Action Family – “Sky”
21. Aida & Timati – “Fantasy”
22. Pavla – “One Million Butterflies”
23. Syostry Syo
24. Buranovskiye Babushki – “Party for Everybody”
25. Jet Kids