Nu Virgos:
Nu Virgos is the name used to promote the group VIA Gra (ВИА Гра) outside of Russia, Ukraine and other nearby countries. The name VIA Gra is both a reference to the drug Viagra and a play on words, since the first three letters stand for "vocal-instrumental ensemble" in Russian, and "Gra" means "Game" in Ukrainian. VIA Gra is a Ukrainian/Russian girl group that hit the charts in these countries in September 2000 with their first single "Popytka No. 5"[1]. Their first success outside the Russian language area was in May 2004 with the single "Stop! Stop! Stop!"[2], an English version of their 2002 Russian song. The group is known for their frequent lineup changes, with 11 different individuals having at one time been in the group.[3] The group was co-created by Dmitriy Kostyuk and Konstantin Meladze. Kostyuk is the manager of the group and the co-producer of the group's albums. Meladze is the writer of the group's songs and the co-producer of the group's albums.
[edit] History
After "Popytka No. 5" more videos were out on the screens: "Obnimi menya" (Hold me closer), "Bomba"(Bomb), "Ya ne vernus" (I won’t be back)[4]. By the end of the year Nu Virgos’ repertoire comprised 7 songs that were enough to embark on a tour. The group’s first live performance ever took place in Dnepropetrovsk on the stage of the city’s Ledoviy Palace in front of 4,000 spectators[5]. The group’s management decided to release the first full-length Nu Virgos’ effort which was entitled after their major hit Popytka No. 5[6].
Within 2001 Nu Virgos collected some of their first awards: “A Hundred Pood Hit” from HIT FM Radio, “Golden Gramophone” from “Russian Radio”, and the “Golden Firebird” prize at the Ukrainian annual festival “Tavriyskiye Igry”.
2002 saw the group becoming a trio instead of being a duet and changing their musical direction. In spring the group appeared in the new video "Stop! Stop! Stop!" whose success enabled Nu Virgos to take part in the “Ovation” Music Award Ceremony held at the Moscow’s State Central Concert Hall “Rossiya”. In September a new video “Good morning, papa!” was released , and close to that year’s end the group's members played the roles of crowned heads in a TV musical called "Zolushka" (Cinderella).
In the beginning of 2003 Nu Virgos released "Ne ostavlyay menya, lyubimiy" (“Don’t leave me, beloved”), complete with an eponymously titled video tape containing a collection of Nu Virgos’ videos. They released Stop! Snyato! (Stop! That’s a wrap!) which included four new songs along with several remixes. They attended the Russian MUZ TV awards and the “Soundtrack” award all won by Nu Virgos. In May the group released the new video "Ubey moyu podrugu" (Kill my girlfriend).
By the end of 2003 having completed their new Biologiya (Biology) album, they entered international music scene. Their first English-language album Stop! Stop! Stop! saw the daylight in Israel, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia and Scandinavian countries. More videos appeared on TV – melodically and lyrically strong "Okean I tri reki" (Ocean and three rivers) and “Prityazhenya bolshe net” (“No attraction anymore”) (both in duet with singer Valeriy Meladze) shortly followed by "Biologiya". In the summer of 2004 Nu Virgos were awarded with the Russian music award “MUZ TV 2004” and completed a world tour spanning the territories including South East Asia, Israel and America.
The year 2005 was marked by the launch of the Russian version of Nu Virgos' official website as well as by the release of three new videos: "Take you back", "I don’t want a man" and "Brillianty" (Diamonds). Additionally the group picked up their second in a row MUZ TV’s “The Best Pop Act” award.
[edit] Recent history (2006-2008)
In January 2006 Nu Virgos were a participant at MIDEM 2006. Despite the heavy touring that year the group have offered three more videos: "Obmani no ostansya" (Lie, but stay), "L.M.L.", and "Tsvetok i nozh" and completed a new English album, their second after Stop! Stop! Stop![7].
A second English language album L.M.L. was scheduled for release in November, 2006 . In early April 2007, due to unexpected pregnancy, Olga left the group, the English album project was broken so the label decided to release it digitally.
In 2007, Vera Brezhneva, the blond girl of the group, left the group after she married Mihayl Kiperman[8].
In May 2007, Nu Virgos once again won Best Group at MuzTV Awards.
On September 5 Nu Virgos premiered a video for the song "Potselui" (Kisses) in Ukraine, and September 10 - in Russia. November 1 2007, the group released a new album, called Potselui (Kisses) with 19 tracks. Nu Virgos appeared in "Maxim" and FHM. In December 2007 Group recorded a new song called "Ya ne boyus" (I'm not afraid). In 2008, the team is scheduled to tour with English-speaking album L.M.L. for a variety of countries such as Japan, Germany, Britain and others. The group releaded a new video in February 2008.
In March 2008, the former Miss Russia Tatiana Kotova joined Nu Virgos.[3]
In June 2008, once again Nu Virgos collected their 4th "Best Group" award & "Best Video" for "Potseluy" at Muz-TV Awards 2008h[9].
In October, it was revealed that their new single was "My Emancipation" and have released a music video. now they have just finished filming a music video for their new song "Amerikanskaya zhena" (American Wife).
[edit] Personnel
[edit] Current members
- Meseda Bagaudinova – vocals (2007 - present) Born October 30, 1983, Grozny, Chechnya, Russia, to an Ukrainian mother and a Dagestani father[10]
- Albina Dzhanabaeva – vocals (2005 - present) Born April 9, 1979, Volgograd, Russia. Completed the music school majoring in piano and the department of musical theatre actor at the Gnesynikh Institute. Was contracted to work in Korea. In the musical named “Snowy White and the Seven Dwarves” she sang the part of the foreigner-Snowy White in Korean. She joined singer Valeriy Meladze as a backing vocalist, where she stayed for two years. In the autumn of 2004 she joined Nu Virgos following Valeriy’s recommendation. She currently resides in Moscow, brining up a son Kostya.
- Tatiana Kotova – vocals (2008 - present) Born September 3, 1985 in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Won title of Miss Russia 2006.
[edit] Overview of lineup changes
- 2000—2002: Alyona, Nadya (e.g. Popytka No 5)
- 2002—2002: Alyona, Tanya N., Anya (e.g. Stop, Stop, Stop Russian version)
- 2002—2003: Alyona, Nadya, Anya
- 2003—2004: Nadya, Anya, Vera (e.g. Pritazhen'ya bolshe net, Stop, Stop, Stop English version)
- 2004—2004: Nadya, Vera, Sveta (e.g. Biologiya)
- 2004—2006: Nadya, Vera, Albina (e.g. Brillianti)
- 2006—2006: Vera, Albina, Kristina (e.g. Obmani no ostancia)
- 2006—2007: Vera, Albina, Olya (e.g. L.M.L.)
- 2007—2007: Vera, Albina, Meseda
- 2007—2008: Albina, Meseda (e.g. Potselui)
- sinсe 2008: Albina, Meseda, Tanya K. (e.g. My Emancipation)
|
