Alsou
Encyclopedia
Alsou Ralifovna Abramova ' onMouseout='HidePop("74338")' href="/topics/Russia">Russia
. She competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000
in which she came in second place giving her recognition all over Europe
as well. Alsou hosted the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
held in Moscow
.
. Her father, Ralif Rafilovich Safin is a Russian oligarch
, a former LUKoil
executive and a current member of the Federal Council
, the upper chamber of the Russian parliament. He is also the owner of the FC Zhemchuzhina-Sochi football
team and was named the 100th richest Russia
n by Forbes Magazine in 2004. Alsou's mother, Razia Iskhakovna, is an architect. She has a younger brother, Renard, and an older brother, Marat, (not the tennis player Marat Safin
). Alsou is an ethnic Tatar and Muslim
.
When Alsou was a year old her family moved from Tatarstan
to Siberia
. Until the age of 8, she lived with her grandparents in Siberia. At 5 years old Alsou asked her parents for a piano
. She was then allowed to attend a private music school. After living in Moscow
due to her father's business, she then moved to New York City
and later to the UK
where she entered a private architecture college. While living in London
Alsou visited Russia often.
In 1998, at the wedding
of her brother Marat which was celebrated on the bank of the Moskva River
, Alsou sat at the grand piano and sang I Will Always Love You
. After this private performance her family began to persuade her to pursue a professional singing
career.
in Los Angeles
, California
. The name for the girl was chosen by the father, Yan Abramov. It is spelled the same way as Alsou's maiden name but with the accent falling on the second syllable making its pronuncuation different from Alsou's maiden name (Her maiden name is pronounced with the accent falling on the first syllable). On April 29, 2008 Alsou gave birth to her second daughter Mikella.
" and impressed the manager. He began work with Alsou the next day. Her debut Russian album was the self titled Alsou (Russian: Алсу́) was released September 16, 1999. It was very successful in Russia
and spawned 3 singles: "Zimniy Son" ("Winter Dream") "Vesna" ("Spring"), "Inogda" ("Sometimes"). After the huge success of Alsou's debut Russian album she was signed to Universal Music Russia and became its first domestic artist. By 2000 more than 700.000 legal copies of CD Alsou were sold in Russia.
In 2000, Alsou recorded her first English language single "Solo"
and was entered into the Eurovision Song Contest 2000
, eventually finishing second overall. "Solo" went on to sell 100,000 copies and became the biggest selling single of all time in Russia, surpassed only by her next single, a duet with Enrique Iglesias
entitled "You're My #1". `I really enjoyed performing with him in Kremlin and I hope our paths will cross again`.
After her success in Eurovision 2000, Alsou began a large-scale tour of Russia. She celebrated her 17th birthday by performing in her native town of Bugulma, where 86,000 of the 120,000 population gathered in the main square to see her.
Alsou performed "Solo" again at Congratulations, the 50th anniversary Eurovision concert in Copenhagen
, Denmark
, in October 2005.
, Norway
, Poland
, the Czech Republic
and Malaysia.
The lead single "Before You Love Me
" was released in the UK on April 30, 2001, soon after charting at #1 on MTV Select and several TV appearances by Alsou. However, it only managed to chart at #27 in the UK Singles Chart
. Later that year it was released in Germany and Australia.
A follow-up single, "He Loves Me", was released only in Germany
on October 15, 2001, with limited success.
The album was cancelled in the UK, though released through 2001–2002 in several European countries and Malaysia.
In the summer of 2002, Alsou began a tour of the former Soviet countries. Her new video for an up-and-coming single "Letyashaya Nad Oblakami" ("Flying Over The Clouds") was shown in Russian cinemas before the Russian romantic movie Atlantida. Alsou had recorded two songs for the movie.
at the same time. The "Trilogy" project was deemed by the local papers as one of the most "important social and cultural events". The uniqueness of the "Trilogy" idea was that no one singer in the world had ever given three completely different performances during a period of only 10 days.
The first show was held in the "Rossiya" concert hall, where Alsou performed her old set entitled "Alsou And Her Authors", which had never been presented in Moscow before. The second show was an exclusive orchestra
l concert in Tchaikovsky Hall, where there are only 1,500 seats. The third show was a Euro pop show entitled "Solo". It was held in the Olympic Sport Complex and contained new Russian and English songs, with a fantasy-oriented set. After the third show, Alsou shot a video for the song "Vchera" ("Yesterday").
On January 23, 2003, Alsou released her new Russian album entitled 19. The CD was received well by critics, and by April 2003 the sales had reached 500.000 copies. 19 spawned such singles as "Vsyo Ravno" ("Anyway"), "Vchera" ("Yesterday"), "Perviy Raz" ("The First Time"), "Mechty" ("Dreams") feat. Karl Frierson (mixed by Pit Baumgartner from De Phazz
), "Letyashchaya Nad Oblakami" ("Flying Over The Clouds") and "Etkey" ("Father", a Tatarstan single).
After success of 19, she was nominated for the First National Music Award, "Muz-TV". On June 5, 2003, after arriving in Moscow from working in foreign studios, Alsou unexpectedly found herself the winner of the "Best Female Artist" nomination. The voting was held all over Russia, and Alsou could not stop the tears of joy. To support the sales of album 19, Alsou gave successful performances in Russia
, Ukraine
, Georgia
, Azerbaijan
, Latvia
, Israel
and Kazakhstan
.
and Los Angeles
. The lead single, "Always On My Mind", was written by Alsou and Morten Schjolin
. The video was shot in May 2004 by well-known director Joseph Kahn
. At the beginning of 2005, the single premiered on Capital FM and became the best news single of the week. However, despite the heavy UK promotion, a sexy video, touring as a support act with boyband Westlife
, and performing in the London club G-A-Y
, the commercial single was cancelled by Alsou's UK label Mercury Records
, though physical copies were available for a short time. 'Inspired' remains unreleased.
Alsou is credited on most of the tracks recorded for Inspired. The album was produced by several of the industry's best producers including Rhett Lawrence
and Bass Bros. Inspired features a cover version of Lionel Richie
's "Hello
". Another well-circulated track is the Nelly
-featured "Wish I Didn't Know", though only a rough demo has leaked. The album is more guitar-flavored than Alsou's previous works. Originally it was intended to record the album with mostly ballads, but then the album's direction changed.
In 2006, she recorded a wedding song
, "Miracles", written by Alsou and her then-future husband Yan Abramov. It was released as a limited single for the guests of the wedding.
).
During 2008 Alsou recorded an album in Tatar language as well. Released in the fall and named Tugan Tel / Rodnaya Rech ("Mother's Tongue"), the album includes several Tatar peoples' songs, others written specially for Alsou, some Tatar music instruments and a choir. All proceeds were given by Alsou and Universal Music for a sponsorship of talented orphans from Tatarstan.
with Billie Piper
, Luke Mably
, Emma Catherwood
and Sam Troughton
. The film premiered in August 2005. Alsou's powerful self-written ballad "Teardrops" plays over the credits. The film got basically poor reviews and small returns at the box office, and it was soon released on DVD. A release of her second motion picture is awaited in 2008 – earlier in 2006 she starred in Russian historical drama "Vivat, Anna!" from a cycle of films about Russian monarchy. She also recorded a song for the movie, a melody from which serves as 1st track (Intro) of "Samoe Glavnoe".
in Moscow
. The hosts are normally required to translate monologue in French, to which she demonstrated quite fluently for the event.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. She competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000
Eurovision Song Contest 2000
The Eurovision Song Contest 2000 was the 45th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 13 May 2000 at the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden, following Charlotte Nilsson's victory in Jerusalem the previous year. It was the first time since 1996 that the contest was held on mainland Europe. The...
in which she came in second place giving her recognition all over Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
as well. Alsou hosted the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Eurovision Song Contest 2009
The Eurovision Song Contest 2009 was the 54th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest and was hosted by Russia after their win in 2008. It took place between 12 and 16 May 2009 at the Olympic Indoor Arena in Moscow, Russia....
held in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
Early life
Alsou was born in Bugulma, TatarstanTatarstan
The Republic of Tatarstan is a federal subject of Russia located in the Volga Federal District. Its capital is the city of Kazan, which is one of Russia's largest and most prosperous cities. The republic borders with Kirov, Ulyanovsk, Samara, and Orenburg Oblasts, and with the Mari El, Udmurt,...
. Her father, Ralif Rafilovich Safin is a Russian oligarch
Business oligarch
Business oligarch is a near-synonym of the term "business magnate", borrowed by the English speaking and western media from post-Soviet parlance to describe the huge, fast-acquired wealth of some businessmen of the former Soviet republics during the privatization in Russia and other post-Soviet...
, a former LUKoil
LUKoil
Lukoil/LUKoil ; ) is Russia's second largest oil company and its second largest producer of oil. In 2009, the company produced 97.615 million tons of oil; ....
executive and a current member of the Federal Council
Federation Council of Russia
Federation Council of Russia ) is the upper house of the Federal Assembly of Russia , according to the 1993 Constitution of the Russian Federation...
, the upper chamber of the Russian parliament. He is also the owner of the FC Zhemchuzhina-Sochi football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team and was named the 100th richest Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n by Forbes Magazine in 2004. Alsou's mother, Razia Iskhakovna, is an architect. She has a younger brother, Renard, and an older brother, Marat, (not the tennis player Marat Safin
Marat Safin
Marat Mikhailovich Safin is a retired Russian tennis player of Tatar descent. Safin won two grand slams and reached the world number 1 ranking during his career. He was also famous for his emotional outbursts and sometimes fiery temper on court. Safin also holds the record for most broken...
). Alsou is an ethnic Tatar and Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
.
When Alsou was a year old her family moved from Tatarstan
Tatarstan
The Republic of Tatarstan is a federal subject of Russia located in the Volga Federal District. Its capital is the city of Kazan, which is one of Russia's largest and most prosperous cities. The republic borders with Kirov, Ulyanovsk, Samara, and Orenburg Oblasts, and with the Mari El, Udmurt,...
to Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
. Until the age of 8, she lived with her grandparents in Siberia. At 5 years old Alsou asked her parents for a piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. She was then allowed to attend a private music school. After living in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
due to her father's business, she then moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and later to the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
where she entered a private architecture college. While living in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Alsou visited Russia often.
In 1998, at the wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
of her brother Marat which was celebrated on the bank of the Moskva River
Moskva River
The Moskva River is a river that flows through the Moscow and Smolensk Oblasts in Russia, and is a tributary of the Oka River.-Etymology:...
, Alsou sat at the grand piano and sang I Will Always Love You
I Will Always Love You
"I Will Always Love You" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton in 1973, who first released the song as a single in 1974.-Dolly Parton version:...
. After this private performance her family began to persuade her to pursue a professional singing
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
career.
Later life
On March 18, 2006 Alsou married Yan Abramov, a millionaire, who comes from a Mountain Jewish family. Abramov allegedly proposed to her with a fireworks display. On September 7, 2006 Alsou gave birth to a baby daughter Safi'na at the Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterCedars-Sinai Medical Center
Originally established as Kaspare Cohn Hospital in 1902, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a non-profit, tertiary 958-bed hospital and multi-specialty academic health science centre located in Los Angeles, California, US. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The name for the girl was chosen by the father, Yan Abramov. It is spelled the same way as Alsou's maiden name but with the accent falling on the second syllable making its pronuncuation different from Alsou's maiden name (Her maiden name is pronounced with the accent falling on the first syllable). On April 29, 2008 Alsou gave birth to her second daughter Mikella.
Beginning of musical career
At the age of 15 Alsou was introduced to music manager Valeriy Belotserkovskiy. She again performed "I Will Always Love YouI Will Always Love You
"I Will Always Love You" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton in 1973, who first released the song as a single in 1974.-Dolly Parton version:...
" and impressed the manager. He began work with Alsou the next day. Her debut Russian album was the self titled Alsou (Russian: Алсу́) was released September 16, 1999. It was very successful in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and spawned 3 singles: "Zimniy Son" ("Winter Dream") "Vesna" ("Spring"), "Inogda" ("Sometimes"). After the huge success of Alsou's debut Russian album she was signed to Universal Music Russia and became its first domestic artist. By 2000 more than 700.000 legal copies of CD Alsou were sold in Russia.
In 2000, Alsou recorded her first English language single "Solo"
Solo (Alsou song)
"Solo" was the Russian entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2000. It was performed by Alsou, and was composed by Andrew Lane and Brandon Barnes....
and was entered into the Eurovision Song Contest 2000
Eurovision Song Contest 2000
The Eurovision Song Contest 2000 was the 45th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 13 May 2000 at the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden, following Charlotte Nilsson's victory in Jerusalem the previous year. It was the first time since 1996 that the contest was held on mainland Europe. The...
, eventually finishing second overall. "Solo" went on to sell 100,000 copies and became the biggest selling single of all time in Russia, surpassed only by her next single, a duet with Enrique Iglesias
Enrique Iglesias
Enrique Iglesias is a Spanish pop music singer, a son of singer Julio Iglesias.Enrique started his musical career on Mexican label Fonovisa...
entitled "You're My #1". `I really enjoyed performing with him in Kremlin and I hope our paths will cross again`.
After her success in Eurovision 2000, Alsou began a large-scale tour of Russia. She celebrated her 17th birthday by performing in her native town of Bugulma, where 86,000 of the 120,000 population gathered in the main square to see her.
Alsou performed "Solo" again at Congratulations, the 50th anniversary Eurovision concert in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, in October 2005.
English career
During 2000–2001, Alsou began working on her debut English album also called Alsou, which was released in Russia on June 28, 2001. It was also released in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
and Malaysia.
The lead single "Before You Love Me
Before You Love Me
"Before You Love Me" is a song by Alsou, her first single released from her first album, Alsou. It was released on April 30, 2001 in Australia and the United Kingdom, and a few weeks later in May, 2001 in various countries throughout Europe....
" was released in the UK on April 30, 2001, soon after charting at #1 on MTV Select and several TV appearances by Alsou. However, it only managed to chart at #27 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. Later that year it was released in Germany and Australia.
A follow-up single, "He Loves Me", was released only in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
on October 15, 2001, with limited success.
The album was cancelled in the UK, though released through 2001–2002 in several European countries and Malaysia.
Between number albums
Alsou's debut Russian album was re-released twice – in 2001 and 2002, spawning two singles – "Osen" ("Autumn") and "Kogda Lubov Ko Mne Pridiot" ("When Love Comes To Me").In the summer of 2002, Alsou began a tour of the former Soviet countries. Her new video for an up-and-coming single "Letyashaya Nad Oblakami" ("Flying Over The Clouds") was shown in Russian cinemas before the Russian romantic movie Atlantida. Alsou had recorded two songs for the movie.
Trilogy and 19'
In August 2002 more studio sessions began for a second Russian longplay. Alsou was also preparing for her concerts in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
at the same time. The "Trilogy" project was deemed by the local papers as one of the most "important social and cultural events". The uniqueness of the "Trilogy" idea was that no one singer in the world had ever given three completely different performances during a period of only 10 days.
The first show was held in the "Rossiya" concert hall, where Alsou performed her old set entitled "Alsou And Her Authors", which had never been presented in Moscow before. The second show was an exclusive orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
l concert in Tchaikovsky Hall, where there are only 1,500 seats. The third show was a Euro pop show entitled "Solo". It was held in the Olympic Sport Complex and contained new Russian and English songs, with a fantasy-oriented set. After the third show, Alsou shot a video for the song "Vchera" ("Yesterday").
On January 23, 2003, Alsou released her new Russian album entitled 19. The CD was received well by critics, and by April 2003 the sales had reached 500.000 copies. 19 spawned such singles as "Vsyo Ravno" ("Anyway"), "Vchera" ("Yesterday"), "Perviy Raz" ("The First Time"), "Mechty" ("Dreams") feat. Karl Frierson (mixed by Pit Baumgartner from De Phazz
De Phazz
De Phazz is a downtempo jazz ensemble integrating modern turntablism and elements of soul, Latin, trip hop and drum and bass into a lounge music sound. De Phazz is led by Pit Baumgartner, a German producer who has varied the lineup of artists for every new album. Some regular members are Barbara...
), "Letyashchaya Nad Oblakami" ("Flying Over The Clouds") and "Etkey" ("Father", a Tatarstan single).
After success of 19, she was nominated for the First National Music Award, "Muz-TV". On June 5, 2003, after arriving in Moscow from working in foreign studios, Alsou unexpectedly found herself the winner of the "Best Female Artist" nomination. The voting was held all over Russia, and Alsou could not stop the tears of joy. To support the sales of album 19, Alsou gave successful performances in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
.
Second English album
For almost four years, Alsou worked on her second English album 'Inspired'. It was recorded in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. The lead single, "Always On My Mind", was written by Alsou and Morten Schjolin
Morten Schjolin
Morten Schjolin is a Danish music producer and composer, now living in United Kingdom.- Early career :He began his musical career with the band Harlot, where the later-to-be famous TV presenter, Alex Nyborg Madsen, was the vocalist....
. The video was shot in May 2004 by well-known director Joseph Kahn
Joseph Kahn
Joseph Kahn is an American music video, advertising, and feature film director.-Early life:Kahn was born in Jersey Village, Texas, a suburb of Houston. He is of Korean ancestry. He spent part of his childhood growing up in Livorno, Italy until his family moved to Texas...
. At the beginning of 2005, the single premiered on Capital FM and became the best news single of the week. However, despite the heavy UK promotion, a sexy video, touring as a support act with boyband Westlife
Westlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
, and performing in the London club G-A-Y
G-A-Y
G-A-Y is a gay nightclub in London. It operated from the London Astoria music venue for 15 years until July 2008. The Boston Globe described it as "London's largest gay-themed club night", NME reported that it "attracts 6,000 clubbers each week", and The Independent described it as "the one London...
, the commercial single was cancelled by Alsou's UK label Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
, though physical copies were available for a short time. 'Inspired' remains unreleased.
Alsou is credited on most of the tracks recorded for Inspired. The album was produced by several of the industry's best producers including Rhett Lawrence
Rhett Lawrence
Rhett Lawrence is a record producer and songwriter. He is originally famous for producing the Grammy Award–winning, Billboard #1 Hot 100 and #1 R&B single "Vision of Love" for Mariah Carey. He produced and co-wrote the Kelly Clarkson pop rock hit "Miss Independent” which was #1 for 6 weeks at Top...
and Bass Bros. Inspired features a cover version of Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
's "Hello
Hello
Hello is a salutation or greeting in the English language. It is attested in writing as early as the 1830s.-First use:Hello, with that spelling, was used in publications as early as 1833. These include an 1833 American book called The Sketches and Eccentricities of Col...
". Another well-circulated track is the Nelly
Nelly
Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr. , better known by his stage name Nelly, is an Grammy Award winning American rapper and actor. He has performed with the rap group St. Lunatics since 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999. Under Universal, Nelly began his solo career in 2000 with his debut album...
-featured "Wish I Didn't Know", though only a rough demo has leaked. The album is more guitar-flavored than Alsou's previous works. Originally it was intended to record the album with mostly ballads, but then the album's direction changed.
In 2006, she recorded a wedding song
Wedding song
Wedding song may refer to* "The Wedding Song ", a song by Paul Stookey, of Peter, Paul, and Mary fame.* "Wedding Song", a song by The Psychedelic Furs.* Wedding Song, a novel by Naguib Mahfouz....
, "Miracles", written by Alsou and her then-future husband Yan Abramov. It was released as a limited single for the guests of the wedding.
The Main Thing and Tugan Tel
Alsou's third Russian album Samoe Glavnoe ("The Main Thing"), her first LP in 5 years, was released March 31, 2008 by Universal Music Russia. The singles from this album are "Nebo" ("Sky", released back in 2005), "Samoe Glavnoe" ("The Main Thing", 2006, the video was shot when she was pregnant though it is not visible), "A u moei ljubvi" ("And My Love Has...", 2007, shot in Nevada desert and directed by Alan CalzattiAlan Calzatti
Alan Calzatti, is a director, cinematographer, and a movie editor.Calzatti is well versed in the creative and technical aspects of directing, shooting, editing and creating CGI/visual effects...
).
During 2008 Alsou recorded an album in Tatar language as well. Released in the fall and named Tugan Tel / Rodnaya Rech ("Mother's Tongue"), the album includes several Tatar peoples' songs, others written specially for Alsou, some Tatar music instruments and a choir. All proceeds were given by Alsou and Universal Music for a sponsorship of talented orphans from Tatarstan.
Non-musical work
In June 2004, Alsou performed in the British mystical thriller Spirit TrapSpirit Trap
Spirit Trap is a 2005 United Kingdom thriller comedy horror film. While the story is set in London, the film was actually shot in Bucharest, Romania.-Plot:...
with Billie Piper
Billie Piper
Billie Paul Piper is an English singer and actress.She began her career in the late 1990s as a pop singer and then switched to acting. She started in acting and dancing and was talent spotted at the Sylvia Young stage school by Smash Hits magazine who wanted a "face" for their magazine...
, Luke Mably
Luke Mably
Luke Mably is an English actor, best known for playing Scott Lucas in Sky One's Dream Team, Prince Edvard in The Prince and Me and White in the 2009 thriller Exam. He attended the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama.-Movie career:Mably portrayed White in the thriller Exam under the direction...
, Emma Catherwood
Emma Catherwood
Emma Catherwood is a Welsh actress and former model best known for her role as Jo in My Kingdom and for her role in Holby City. Catherwood studied the Meisner technique in London, and has degrees in English literature and Art History.Catherwood began her career with Models 1, where she modelled...
and Sam Troughton
Sam Troughton
Sam Troughton is a British actor. He is the son of David Troughton and the grandson of Doctor Who actor Patrick Troughton. His younger brother is Warwickshire cricketer Jim Troughton...
. The film premiered in August 2005. Alsou's powerful self-written ballad "Teardrops" plays over the credits. The film got basically poor reviews and small returns at the box office, and it was soon released on DVD. A release of her second motion picture is awaited in 2008 – earlier in 2006 she starred in Russian historical drama "Vivat, Anna!" from a cycle of films about Russian monarchy. She also recorded a song for the movie, a melody from which serves as 1st track (Intro) of "Samoe Glavnoe".
Future plans
Alsou is currently selecting a single for her next Russian album of original songs she is working on. Currently she is also recording a double Russian album of lullabies and popular children songs. In the beginning of 2010, she started recording a jazz album with the help of George Benson. She has presented the final of the 2009 Eurovision Song ContestEurovision Song Contest 2009
The Eurovision Song Contest 2009 was the 54th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest and was hosted by Russia after their win in 2008. It took place between 12 and 16 May 2009 at the Olympic Indoor Arena in Moscow, Russia....
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. The hosts are normally required to translate monologue in French, to which she demonstrated quite fluently for the event.
Awards
Before Alsou turned 18, she had already achieved great success and was honored several times.- The Honourable and The Peoples' Singer of TatarstanTatarstanThe Republic of Tatarstan is a federal subject of Russia located in the Volga Federal District. Its capital is the city of Kazan, which is one of Russia's largest and most prosperous cities. The republic borders with Kirov, Ulyanovsk, Samara, and Orenburg Oblasts, and with the Mari El, Udmurt,...
Republic - The Honourable citizen of BugulmaBugulmaBugulma is a town in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. Population: Bugulma is the birthplace of noted Tatar singer Alsou. It is also the location for a series of short stories by Czech writer Jaroslav Hašek, some of which have been published in English under the title 'The Red...
- The Best selling Russian artist ("World Music AwardsWorld Music AwardsThe World Music Awards is an international awards show founded in 1989 that annually honors recording artists based on worldwide sales figures provided by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . John Martinotti is an executive producer and co-founder of the show...
2001") - The Best Russian singer ("MTV Europe Music Awards 2001")
- The Best selling single of 2000 (National Russian "Record" award for "You're My #1")
Albums
All release dates are Russian unless noted otherwise- АлсуAlsou (Russian album)Алсу is the self-titled debut album by the Russian pop-singer Alsou. The album was recorded and released in Russia on September 15, 1999. By March 2000, nearly 500.000 copies of this album were sold in Russia and more than 200.000 copies in other CIS countries...
(1999) – Her debut album in Russian, re-released in 2001 with the same title including two new songs - AlsouAlsou (album)Alsou was the first English album by Alsou. It was released in Russia on June 28, 2001, and later in Germany, Norway, Poland, Czech Republic and Malaysia....
(2001) – First album in English - Мне приснилась осень (2002) – Second re-release of the debut album including five new songs
- 1919 (Alsou album)19 is Alsou's fourth studio album, was released in Russia on January 23, 2003. This album includes songs in Russian and Tatar languages. Alsou wrote one of the songs. The album was very successful in Russia, with the sales of over 800.000 copies...
(2003) – Second Russian album - Самое главное (2008) – Third Russian album
- Tugan Tel / Rodnaya Rech (2008) – First album in TatarTatar languageThe Tatar language , or more specifically Kazan Tatar, is a Turkic language spoken by the Tatars of historical Kazan Khanate, including modern Tatarstan and Bashkiria...
- Inspired (recorded 2002-2006) – Second English album
English singles
- "SoloSolo (Alsou song)"Solo" was the Russian entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2000. It was performed by Alsou, and was composed by Andrew Lane and Brandon Barnes....
" (2000) – a European single released prior to Eurovision Song ContestEurovision Song ContestThe Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition... - "You're My #1" (2000, featuring Enrique IglesiasEnrique IglesiasEnrique Iglesias is a Spanish pop music singer, a son of singer Julio Iglesias.Enrique started his musical career on Mexican label Fonovisa...
) - "Before You Love MeBefore You Love Me"Before You Love Me" is a song by Alsou, her first single released from her first album, Alsou. It was released on April 30, 2001 in Australia and the United Kingdom, and a few weeks later in May, 2001 in various countries throughout Europe....
" (2001) – the single peaked at #27 in the UK Singles Chart and #1 on MTV UK - "He Loves Me" (2001) – the last single from 'Alsou' released in Europe
- "Run Right Out of Time" (2002) – promo single with the Gala magazine (Russian Edition)
- "Always on My Mind" (2004) – cancelled European single from Inspired
- "Miracles" (2006) – a limited 1-track single released for the guests on Alsou's wedding
Videography
- "Зимний сон" (zimniy son) (winter dream) 1999
- "Весна" (vesna) (spring) 1999
- "Иногда" (inogda) (sometimes) 1999
- "SoloSolo (Alsou song)"Solo" was the Russian entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2000. It was performed by Alsou, and was composed by Andrew Lane and Brandon Barnes....
" 2000 - "You're My #1" 2000
- "Before You Love MeBefore You Love Me"Before You Love Me" is a song by Alsou, her first single released from her first album, Alsou. It was released on April 30, 2001 in Australia and the United Kingdom, and a few weeks later in May, 2001 in various countries throughout Europe....
" 2000 - "He Loves Me" 2001
- "Осень" (osenb) (autumn) 2001
- "Все равно" (vse ravno) (don't care) 2002
- "Летящая над облаками"(letyasaya nad oblakami) (flying over the clouds) 2002
- "Вчера" (vchera) (yesterday) 2002
- "Эткей" (etkey) (papa) (father) 2002
- "Мечты" (mechtbi) (dreams) 2003
- "Первый раз" (pervbiy raz) (first time) 2003
- "Everybody" 2004
- "Always On My Mind" 2004
- "Небо" (nebo) (sky) 2005
- "Самое главное" (samoe glavnoe) 2006
- "А у моей любви" (a u moey lyubi) 2007
- "Sanduğaçım güzelem" 2008
Other collaborations
- Livin' on a Prayer (2003, a duet with Bon JoviBon JoviBon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
recorded for the Russian edition of their album This Left Feels RightThis Left Feels RightUK Bonus TracksJapan Bonus TracksBrazil Bonus Tracks-New songs:Two new songs, "Last Man Standing" and "Thief of Hearts", were written and recorded for inclusion of the album. "Last Man Standing" was a song revealing lead singer Jon Bon Jovi's anger toward the state of the music industry...
and released to Russian radio stations, but then cancelled). - How High the Moon (2005, a guest appearance with Sting, Richie SamboraRichie SamboraRichard Stephen "Richie" Sambora is an American rock guitarist, producer, musician, singer, and songwriter who is the longtime lead guitarist of the rock band, Bon Jovi. He and frontman Jon Bon Jovi form the primary songwriting unit of the band...
and Joss StoneJoss StoneJocelyn Eve Stoker , better known by her stage name Joss Stone, is an English soul singer-songwriter and actress. Stone rose to fame in late 2003 with her multi-platinum debut album, The Soul Sessions, which made the 2004 Mercury Prize shortlist...
, released worldwide on Les PaulLes PaulLester William Polsfuss —known as Les Paul—was an American jazz and country guitarist, songwriter and inventor. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which made the sound of rock and roll possible. He is credited with many recording innovations...
's album American Made World Played).