Critic Jonni: Sergey Lazarev

Прости меня - Sergey Lazarev & Dima Bilan |

WOW! When two top Russian Eurovision representatives from different years, come together, magic happens! This is the result and it's absolutely incredible! I sure hope this isn't the one and only time Sergey Lazarev and Dima Bilan collaborate because we need more of this! One of them is from Eurovision 2008 which he won (he also previously competed in 2006 coming second), the other graced the stage in 2016, also coming second. Together they sure are a force to be reckoned with and this is beautiful and authentic. Watch Sergey Lazarev & Dima Bilan perform their collaboration song amongst a forest and on the beach before turning into animals at the end, in this music video for "Прости меня"

Sergey Lazarev is best known for representing Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016, where he came third with the song "You Are The Only One"; during the votes, he came out on top in the public vote, but it was the jury vote where he didn't score enough points. Overall he scored 491 points under the new voting system. He has gone on to release more addicting music (including this song) and continues to prove he is one of the top male Russian artists in the industry. The same can be said of Dima Bilan, the collaborator on this track. He has also represented Russia at Eurovision, he competed at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 and the Eurovision Song Contest 2008; he came second in the former with his song "Never Let You Go" where he got 248 points, and won it in the latter with his song "Believe" where he gained 272 points; all of which was under the old points system. This is why this is a brilliant and epic collaboration! Surprisingly, the song didn't chart well in Russia, or in any other country, so it will definitely go down as a global treasure, one we all love but not enough to get it to chart well. The song translates into English as "Forgive Me" and is about asking a lover to forgive. It was written by Roma Kenga.

Directed by Leonid Kolosovskiy, the music video is displayed in black and white for no reason other than to stop colourisation and perhaps give it a solid sad feel to the song - which works but doesn't mean I have to like it. It's purely a performance video, that allows each artist to send out the emotion of the song.

The guys bring it for the visual, Sergey Lazarev is there bringing the passion in a forest-like setting, whilst Dima Bilan gives us all sorts of chills as he sings on a beach. He even drops a pocket watch with an image of a woman on to the sand - talk about hitting us in the heart.

There are some scenes that see them together, walking down a path that later splits off. There is also a whole performance scene in a totally different location against a black screen - it adds more depth because they are totally performing, but it looks quite odd mixed up in the other scenes.

I do love the final part, where Dima Bilan rushes into the water - we're very happy about seeing a wet Dima Bilan, but he soon turns into a dolphin which is more cute than sexy. All the while, Sergey Lazarev turns into an eagle as he runs to the top of a high-point. It's clever and cool, with some great emotional realness throughout. However, there's so much that could've been included, we needed more depth and the black and white visual doesn't add anything either.

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The viewer's winner, if it weren't for the jury this song would've won the competition. Part of my Eurovision Special. Amazing graphics in both the staging of the Grand Final as well as this music video. Sergey Lazarev had an amazing production team behind him, everything was on point, perfect for Russia to win. Yet they came a close third with 491 points. The song is what let them down, it's weak on first listen, but ever so catchy nonetheless. Sergey Lazarev is getting excited as he claims that you are the only one, his only one, in this extremely visual video that's sexy, dangerous and amazing!

Sergey Lazarev is a Russian singer, dancer, actor and TV presenter. He started his music career with Vlad Topalov in duo Smash!!. At the height of their career, they disbanded and Sergey Lazarev pursued a solo career. A total success in Russia, Sergey Lazarev has had hit after hit, music award after music award. It's unsurprising why this did so well, apart from the amazing visuals, Russia sent one of their top artists, a risk that was pulled off to perfection. Russia wanted to win this year, and hell did they do their best. Russia chose Sergey Lazarev through internal selection. The song was written by Philipp Kirkorov, Dimitris Kontopoulos, John Ballard and Ralph Charlie.

Directed by Konstantin Cherepkov this video is amazing, out of this world, surreal and definitely stands out. This is a game changer when it comes to music videos. Ultimately brilliant and completely unforgettable.

Using 3D imagery, editing and mapping, thanks to Illuminarium3000, this awesome video must've taken hours upon hours to make and edit. This is perfection personified. Produced by Irina Morozova, with 3D mapping by Yuri Pelin and Evgenia Godunova, with DP by Anastasiy Mikhailov. As well as the beautiful Vladislava Evtushenko, who is a model and was runner-up for Miss Russia 2015, and represented Russia in the Miss Universe competition, plays the love interest, I hope she appears in more videos in the future, as she's stunningly beautiful and is a great actress on the set.

The narrative works perfectly adding thunder and lighting within visuals. This easily messed with my head, the 3D imagery is beautiful and well crafted. Sergey Lazarev and Vladislava Evtushenko perform to perfection, every detail is included.

Confusing the hell out of the viewers, it's hard to imagine that all of this is imagery. Such a complicated set, yet works effectively. I love the narrative, I love the design, and I hope many more music videos use this idea over green screen, as it more than works. Catchy song, perfect vocals and an amazing visual, what more can you want?