Blestyashchie
Encyclopedia
Blestyashchie is one of the first and most enduring all-girl singing groups in Russia
.
, Polina Iodis, and Varvara Koroleva. In 1996 Janna Friske and Irina Lukjanova joined the group when Varvara Koroleva left the group right after the release of their first album Tam, Tol'ko Tam . Featuring original arrangements, lovely lyrics, and artistic music videos, Blestyashchie became quite popular. They went on tour across the country, and they were highly praised. There, Janna became an instant success with her excellent vocal abilities and superb dancing skills.
In 1997 they released the album Tam, Tol'ko Tam (remixes). With the new lineup, Blestyashchie released their second album Prosto Mechti . This album included such musical best sellers, "Gde Zhe Ti Gde?", "Oblaka", and "Cha-Cha-Cha". In 1998, Polina Iodis left the group and the three remaining girls continued to work together.
In August 1999, Xenia Novikova joined Blestyashchie. They released a new album in 2000, titled O Lyubvi . The album featured ten new songs, one of which, "Ciao Bambina", was named the most "provocative" clip of year. The hit "Za Osen'yu Pridet Zima" was another single from O Lyubvi. The group won many awards that year, and went on tour in cities of Russia, the countries of the Near abroad, and abroad.
In 2000, Olga Orlova (the front member and the songwriter of the songs that made Blestyashchie famous) became pregnant and left the group.
The success of the group was later proven by Belym Snegom (By White Snow), a greatest hits collection, including "Belym Snegom" and "Dolgo Tebya Zdala". The video clips for the songs at the time were in "Russian Top Ten" and "Top-20" on MTV.
In June 2001, Yulia Kovalchuk was finishing up her 10th and 11th years of schooling, after which she planned to leave Moscow and return to her hometown, Volgagrad, to take a year's vacation. Her friends had told her that Blestyashchies' producers were going to be in attendance at the school's year-end recital. The rumor was that "Blest" was hoping to include more dance in their shows, and thus they were looking for new talent. And the story goes, Julia was waiting to go onstage for her performance, when a Blest producer happened to pass by. The producer took an instant liking to Yulia, and asked if she could sing. Eventually they went to a studio, where she sang for them, and left her contact information. She went home as planned, for her much needed rest. On July 31, she received a call that she would need to be in Moscow on August 1(the next day), to start her new career as a member of the group Blestyashchie.
Yulia did not receive a very warm reception in Moscow. She was 18, and she was taking her first step into a pop group, whose members were struggling with finding an identity for the group, as well as their own survival. Yulia's first performance in Blestyashchie came at the recording of "Pesna Goda" on September 5, 2001. Yulia described the occasion as "I was in the right place at the right time."
Janna Friske is considered the leader of the group, publicity director, and oversees that girls communicate "daily".
In their 'free time' the four members wrote songs for their next album, Za Chetyre Morya (2002). The first hit from the album was the memorable "A Ya Vse Letala", the video played continuously on all music channels.
In 2003 Irina Lukyanova became pregnant and left the group. Later on Blestyashchie was joined by the former figure skater Anna Semenovich
.
Apelcinoviy Rai (2003) was an extraordinary success and left its mark on the year. The last hit song off the album, "Novogodnaya Pesnya", became a true anthem that goes to the heart of winter holidays at the year's end, and the earlier hit song "Apelcinovie Rai" the summer anthem.
Blestyashchie was one of the first girl-groups in Russia, yet they still have a firm hold on the leading position among other female groups. In 2003, after the release of Apelcinovie Rai, Janna Friske left the group to embark on her solo career.
On April 1, 2004 Friske was replaced by Nadia Ruchka. When asked the question how she joined group Blestyashchie, Nadia answered so: "It is very simple. My friend called and told that Blestyashchie wanted me to audition. My previous band just had just broken up. And 'Blest' was searching for new members. But was on first of April (April Fools' Day), and I mistook the offer as a joke. Therefore I said: 'Please, you will not joke. I do not wish to listen to such silly jokes. You will come home, and we shall talk.' At first I joined in group on a trial period. I have started to go a little with girls by tour. Stepped onstage in two-three numbers. Then I began to participate in recording songs." In the group, Nadia was well accepted. "If there are any questions, we find it easy to communicate," the singer tells. "Everyone understands, the work is complex. Now the trial my period has ended, therefore I work on full power."
In 2005 the group released their 8th album, Vostochniye skazki
featuring a duet with the famous Iranian singer Arash Labaf.
They also released the singles "Palmi Parami", "Kak Zvezda", "Agent 007", and the earlier mentioned "Novogodnyaya Pesna".
In March 2007, Anna Semenovich left the group to pursue a solo career, and was soon replaced by Anastasia Osipova. In summer 2007, amid rumors of pregnancy and a solo career, Kseniya left the group. At the 2007 Russian Music Awards, it was announced that Natalia Friske was the newest member of Blestyashchie. The announcement was made by her sister, Janna Friske, during a performance by Blestyashchie, including present and former members, while they performed a medley of Blest hit songs, live.
Yulia Kovalchuk, whose contract with Blestyashchie expired on December 31, 2007 has left the group to start her solo career. Under contract with Martin Music, she is expected to release her first single in February, 2008. There may be a music video for it in the spring, and her debut album is supposed to be released in fall 2008. On February 5, 2008, the group announced their newest member, Anna Dubovitskaja.
Compilation albums
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...
.
History
Originally Blestyashchie consisted of three girls: Olga OrlovaOlga Orlova (singer)
Olga George Orlova, was born Olga Nosova, in Moscow, Soviet Union) and is a Russian singer and actress. She was the founder and lead singer of the pop-group Blestyashchie, from 1995 until 2000. She had a leading role in the movie "The Golden Age" and was a participant in the reality show, "The...
, Polina Iodis, and Varvara Koroleva. In 1996 Janna Friske and Irina Lukjanova joined the group when Varvara Koroleva left the group right after the release of their first album Tam, Tol'ko Tam . Featuring original arrangements, lovely lyrics, and artistic music videos, Blestyashchie became quite popular. They went on tour across the country, and they were highly praised. There, Janna became an instant success with her excellent vocal abilities and superb dancing skills.
In 1997 they released the album Tam, Tol'ko Tam (remixes). With the new lineup, Blestyashchie released their second album Prosto Mechti . This album included such musical best sellers, "Gde Zhe Ti Gde?", "Oblaka", and "Cha-Cha-Cha". In 1998, Polina Iodis left the group and the three remaining girls continued to work together.
In August 1999, Xenia Novikova joined Blestyashchie. They released a new album in 2000, titled O Lyubvi . The album featured ten new songs, one of which, "Ciao Bambina", was named the most "provocative" clip of year. The hit "Za Osen'yu Pridet Zima" was another single from O Lyubvi. The group won many awards that year, and went on tour in cities of Russia, the countries of the Near abroad, and abroad.
In 2000, Olga Orlova (the front member and the songwriter of the songs that made Blestyashchie famous) became pregnant and left the group.
The success of the group was later proven by Belym Snegom (By White Snow), a greatest hits collection, including "Belym Snegom" and "Dolgo Tebya Zdala". The video clips for the songs at the time were in "Russian Top Ten" and "Top-20" on MTV.
In June 2001, Yulia Kovalchuk was finishing up her 10th and 11th years of schooling, after which she planned to leave Moscow and return to her hometown, Volgagrad, to take a year's vacation. Her friends had told her that Blestyashchies' producers were going to be in attendance at the school's year-end recital. The rumor was that "Blest" was hoping to include more dance in their shows, and thus they were looking for new talent. And the story goes, Julia was waiting to go onstage for her performance, when a Blest producer happened to pass by. The producer took an instant liking to Yulia, and asked if she could sing. Eventually they went to a studio, where she sang for them, and left her contact information. She went home as planned, for her much needed rest. On July 31, she received a call that she would need to be in Moscow on August 1(the next day), to start her new career as a member of the group Blestyashchie.
Yulia did not receive a very warm reception in Moscow. She was 18, and she was taking her first step into a pop group, whose members were struggling with finding an identity for the group, as well as their own survival. Yulia's first performance in Blestyashchie came at the recording of "Pesna Goda" on September 5, 2001. Yulia described the occasion as "I was in the right place at the right time."
Janna Friske is considered the leader of the group, publicity director, and oversees that girls communicate "daily".
In their 'free time' the four members wrote songs for their next album, Za Chetyre Morya (2002). The first hit from the album was the memorable "A Ya Vse Letala", the video played continuously on all music channels.
In 2003 Irina Lukyanova became pregnant and left the group. Later on Blestyashchie was joined by the former figure skater Anna Semenovich
Anna Semenovich
Anna Grigorievna Semenovich is a Russian retired competitive ice dancer, a singer, actress and model.-Skating career:Early in her career, she skated with Maxim Kachanov. They competed at the 1994 Goodwill Games and placed 5th. She teamed up with Vladimir Fedorov in 1995. They won the Finlandia...
.
Apelcinoviy Rai (2003) was an extraordinary success and left its mark on the year. The last hit song off the album, "Novogodnaya Pesnya", became a true anthem that goes to the heart of winter holidays at the year's end, and the earlier hit song "Apelcinovie Rai" the summer anthem.
Blestyashchie was one of the first girl-groups in Russia, yet they still have a firm hold on the leading position among other female groups. In 2003, after the release of Apelcinovie Rai, Janna Friske left the group to embark on her solo career.
On April 1, 2004 Friske was replaced by Nadia Ruchka. When asked the question how she joined group Blestyashchie, Nadia answered so: "It is very simple. My friend called and told that Blestyashchie wanted me to audition. My previous band just had just broken up. And 'Blest' was searching for new members. But was on first of April (April Fools' Day), and I mistook the offer as a joke. Therefore I said: 'Please, you will not joke. I do not wish to listen to such silly jokes. You will come home, and we shall talk.' At first I joined in group on a trial period. I have started to go a little with girls by tour. Stepped onstage in two-three numbers. Then I began to participate in recording songs." In the group, Nadia was well accepted. "If there are any questions, we find it easy to communicate," the singer tells. "Everyone understands, the work is complex. Now the trial my period has ended, therefore I work on full power."
In 2005 the group released their 8th album, Vostochniye skazki
Vostochniye skazki
-Track listing:#"Vostochniye skazki" #"Palmy parami" #"Agent 007" #"Hey, allo au" #"Kak zvezda" #"Poverila" #"Kapitan dalnego plavaniya"#"Operupolnomochenniy"...
featuring a duet with the famous Iranian singer Arash Labaf.
They also released the singles "Palmi Parami", "Kak Zvezda", "Agent 007", and the earlier mentioned "Novogodnyaya Pesna".
In March 2007, Anna Semenovich left the group to pursue a solo career, and was soon replaced by Anastasia Osipova. In summer 2007, amid rumors of pregnancy and a solo career, Kseniya left the group. At the 2007 Russian Music Awards, it was announced that Natalia Friske was the newest member of Blestyashchie. The announcement was made by her sister, Janna Friske, during a performance by Blestyashchie, including present and former members, while they performed a medley of Blest hit songs, live.
Yulia Kovalchuk, whose contract with Blestyashchie expired on December 31, 2007 has left the group to start her solo career. Under contract with Martin Music, she is expected to release her first single in February, 2008. There may be a music video for it in the spring, and her debut album is supposed to be released in fall 2008. On February 5, 2008, the group announced their newest member, Anna Dubovitskaja.
Line-up
- 1995-1997: Olga Orlova, Polina Iodis & Varvara Koroleva
- 1997-1998: Olga Orlova, Polina Iodis, Zhanna Friske & Irina Lukyanova
- 1998-1999: Olga Orlova, Zhanna Friske & Irina Lukyanova
- 1999-2000: Olga Orlova, Zhanna Friske, Irina Lukyanova & Kseniya Novikova
- 2000-2001: Zhanna Friske, Irina Lukyanova & Kseniya Novikova
- 2001-2003: Zhanna Friske, Irina Lukyanova, Kseniya Novikova & Yulia Kovalchuk
- 2003-2003: Zhanna Friske, Kseniya Novikova & Yulia Kovalchuk
- 2003-2003: Zhanna Friske, Kseniya Novikova, Yulia Kovalchuk & Anna Semenovich
- 2003-2004: Kseniya Novikova, Yulia Kovalchuk & Anna Semenovich
- 2004-2007: Kseniya Novikova, Yulia Kovalchuk, Anna Semenovich & Nadezhda Rucka
- 2007-2007: Kseniya Novikova, Yulia Kovalchuk, Nadezhda Rucka & Anastasia Osipova
- 2007-2007: Yulia Kovalchuk, Nadezhda Rucka & Anastasia Osipova
- 2007-2007: Yulia Kovalchuk, Nadezhda Rucka, Anastasia Osipova & Natalia Friske
- 2008-2008: Nadezhda Rucka, Anastasia Osipova, Natalia Friske & Anna Dubovitskaya
- 2008-2009: Nadezhda Rucka, Anastasia Osipova, Anna Dubovitskaya & Yulianna Lukasheva
- 2009-2011: Nadezhda Rucka, Anastasia Osipova, Anna Dubovitskaya & Marina Berezhnaya
- 2011-2011: Kseniya Novikova, Nadezhda Rucka, Anastasia Osipova, Anna Dubovitskaya & Marina Berezhnaya
- 2011-....: Kseniya Novikova, Nadezhda Rucka, Anastasia Osipova & Marina Berezhnaya
| Member | Participation | Replaced by | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | Name in Latin script (birth name) |
Name in Cyrillic script | ||
| Olga (Ольга) | Olga Orlova Olga Orlova (singer) Olga George Orlova, was born Olga Nosova, in Moscow, Soviet Union) and is a Russian singer and actress. She was the founder and lead singer of the pop-group Blestyashchie, from 1995 until 2000. She had a leading role in the movie "The Golden Age" and was a participant in the reality show, "The... |
Ольга Орлова | 1995–2000 | Yulia |
| Polina (Полина) | Polina Iodis | Полина Иодис | 1995–1998 | Kseniya |
| Varvara (Варвара) | Varvara Koroleva | Варвара Королева | 1995–1997 | Irina |
| Zhanna (Жанна) | Zhanna Friske Zhanna Friske Jeanna Vladimirovna Friske , better known under her stage name Zhanna Friske, is a Russian film actress, singer, and socialite.-Career:... |
Жанна Фриске | 1997–2003 | Nadezhda |
| Irina (Ирина) | Irina Lukyanova | Ирина Лукьянова | 1997–2003 | Anna S. |
| Kseniya (Ксения) | Kseniya Novikova | Ксения Новикова | 1999–2007, since 2011 | 1st time: Natalia current member |
| Yulia (Юлия) | Yulia Kovalchuk | Юлия Ковальчук | 2001–2007 | Anna D. |
| Anna S. (Анна) | Anna Semenovich Anna Semenovich Anna Grigorievna Semenovich is a Russian retired competitive ice dancer, a singer, actress and model.-Skating career:Early in her career, she skated with Maxim Kachanov. They competed at the 1994 Goodwill Games and placed 5th. She teamed up with Vladimir Fedorov in 1995. They won the Finlandia... |
Анна Семенович | 2003–2007 | Anastasia |
| Nadezhda (Надежда) | Nadezhda Ruchka | Надежда Ручка | since 2004 | current member |
| Anastasia (Анастасия) | Anastasia Osipova | Анастасия Осипова | since 2007 | current member |
| Natalia (Наталья) | Natalia Friske | Наталья Фриске | 2007–2008 | Yulianna |
| Anna D. (Анна) | Anna Dubovitskaya | Анна Дубовицкая | 2008–2011 | |
| Yulianna (Юлианна) | Yulianna Lukasheva | Юлианна Лукашева | 2008–2009 | Marina |
| Marina (Марина) | Marina Berezhnaya | Марина Бережная | since 2009 | current member |
Singles
- 1996 - There, only there
- 1996 - Flowers
- 1997 - Fog
- 1997 - Clouds
- 1998 - Cha-Cha-Cha
- 1998 - Where are you, where?
- 1998 - New Year with a mega-
- 1999 - Sweet steering
- 1999 - During the autumn comes winter
- 2000 - Chao, Bambino!
- 2000 - White Snow
- 2001 - How long you waited
- 2001 - Ay-ay
- 2002 - Four Sea ...
- 2002 - And I flew
- 2003 - The Orange Song
- 2004 - The Christmas Song
- 2005 - Palm pairs
- 2005 - Detective
- 2005 - Oriental tales
- 2006 - Agent 007
- 2008 - Classmates
- 2008 - You know, my dear
- 2010 - Ball
- 2010 - Morning
- 2011 - Love
Discography
Studio albums- Tam, tol'ko tam (1996)
- Prosto mechty (1998)
- O ljubvi... (2000)
- Za chetyre morya (2002)
- Apel'sinoviy ray (2003)
- Vostochniye skazki (2006)
Compilation albums
- Tam, tol'ko tam (remixes) (1997)
- Belym snegom (2000)
- Odnoklassniki (2008)