Nu Virgos
Encyclopedia
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 Ukrainian
, and "gra" means "game" (or "play") in Ukrainian
. VIA Gra is a Ukrainian
/Russia
n girl group
that hit the charts in these countries in September 2000 with their first single
"Popytka No. 5".
Their first success outside the Russian language area was in May 2004 with the single "Stop! Stop! Stop!", 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. 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.
.
Within 2001 VIA Gra 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 “Tavriyski 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!" (Russian) whose success enabled VIA Gra 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 VIA Gra released "Ne ostavlyay menya, lyubimiy" (“Don’t leave me, beloved”), complete with an eponymously titled video tape containing a collection of VIA Gra's videos. They released Stop! Snyato!
(Stop! That’s a wrap!) which included five new songs along with seven remixes. They attended the Russian MUZ TV awards and the “Soundtrack” award all won by VIA Gra. In May the group released the new video "Ubey moyu podrugu" (Kill my girlfriend).
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" (last two videos released in 2004). In the summer of 2004, VIA Gra 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. In November group released two more videos - "Mir, o kotorom ja ne znala do tebya" and English version of this clip - "Take you back".
The year 2005 was marked by the launch of the Russian version of VIA Gra's official website as well as by the release of three new videos: "Net nichego khuzhe", "I don’t want a man" (English version of "Net nichego khuzhe") and "Brillianty" (Diamonds). Additionally the group picked up their second in a row MUZ TV’s “The Best Pop Act” award.
2006. Despite the heavy touring that year the group have offered four more videos: "Obmani no ostansya" (Tell me lie, but don't leave me), "L.M.L." (Russian and English), and "Tsvetok i nozh" (Flower and knife) and completed a new English album, their second after Stop! Stop! Stop!.
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 July 2007, Vera Brezhneva
, the blond girl of the group, left the group after she married Mikhail Kiperman. She then went on to host a Russian version of Power of 10
a year later.
In May 2007, VIA Gra once again won Best Group at MUZ TV Awards.
On September 5 VIA Gra premiered a video for the song "Potselui" (Kisses) in Ukraine, and September 10 - in Russia. November 1, 2007, the group released a new compilation album, called Potselui
(Kisses) with 19 tracks. VIA Gra appeared in "Maxim" and FHM. In December 2007, the 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 released a new video in February 2008.
In March 2008, the Miss Russia
2006 Tatiana Kotova
joined VIA Gra.
In June 2008, once again VIA Gra collected their 4th "Best Group" award & "Best Video" for "Potseluy" at Muz-TV Awards 2008h.
In August, it was revealed that their new single was "My Emancipation" and have released a music video. In November they have just finished filming a music video for song "Amerikanskaya zhena" (American wife) which was a soundtrack for Russian film "Stilyagi
".
In the beginning of 2009 Meseda left the group. In March, group released another new video - "Anti-Geisha".
Nu Virgos returned with a new song in Autumn 2009 called "Sumasshedshiy" ("Crazy"). The song's "crazy" character has dictated "crazy" video plot where one of the vocalists – Tatiana Kotova – has a very unexpected look. The video was released in September.
In March 2010, new soloist - Eva Bushmina joined VIA Gra. She replaced Tatiana Kotova
in the group.
In April, new song and music video were released - "Poshel Von" ("Get out").
In September, "Den' bez tebya" ("Day without you") was released.
Compilation albums
Commonwealth of Independent States
The Commonwealth of Independent States is a regional organization whose participating countries are former Soviet Republics, formed during the breakup of the Soviet Union....
. 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
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
" in Ukrainian
Ukrainian language
Ukrainian is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. It is the official state language of Ukraine. Written Ukrainian uses a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet....
, and "gra" means "game" (or "play") in Ukrainian
Ukrainian language
Ukrainian is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. It is the official state language of Ukraine. Written Ukrainian uses a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet....
. VIA Gra is a Ukrainian
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...
/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 girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
that hit the charts in these countries in September 2000 with their first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Popytka No. 5".
Their first success outside the Russian language area was in May 2004 with the single "Stop! Stop! Stop!", 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. 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.
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). By the end of the year VIA Gra's repertoire comprised 7 songs that were enough to embark on a tour. The group’s first live performance ever took place in Dnipropetrovsk on the stage of the city’s Ledoviy Palace in front of 4,000 spectators. The group’s management decided to release the first full-length VIA Gra's effort which was entitled after their major hit Popytka No. 5Popytka No. 5
Popytka No. 5 is the debut album by Nu Virgos.-Track listing:-Certifications:-External links:*...
.
Within 2001 VIA Gra 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 “Tavriyski 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!" (Russian) whose success enabled VIA Gra 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 VIA Gra released "Ne ostavlyay menya, lyubimiy" (“Don’t leave me, beloved”), complete with an eponymously titled video tape containing a collection of VIA Gra's videos. They released Stop! Snyato!
Stop! Snyato!
- Track listing :-Release history:- Certifications :...
(Stop! That’s a wrap!) which included five new songs along with seven remixes. They attended the Russian MUZ TV awards and the “Soundtrack” award all won by VIA Gra. In May the group released the new video "Ubey moyu podrugu" (Kill my girlfriend).
The end of 2003 having completed their new Biologiya
Biologiya
Biologiya is the third studio album by Nu Virgos.- Track listing :-Release history:-Certifications:...
(Biology) album, they entered international music scene. Their first English-language album Stop! Stop! Stop!
Stop! Stop! Stop! (album)
Stop! Stop! Stop! is the first English and the fourth overall studio album by Nu Virgos.- Track listing :#Stop! Stop! Stop!#Till The Morning Light#Hold Me Closer#Good Morning, Daddy!#Let Me Introduce My Mama#Kill My Girlfriend...
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" (last two videos released in 2004). In the summer of 2004, VIA Gra 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. In November group released two more videos - "Mir, o kotorom ja ne znala do tebya" and English version of this clip - "Take you back".
The year 2005 was marked by the launch of the Russian version of VIA Gra's official website as well as by the release of three new videos: "Net nichego khuzhe", "I don’t want a man" (English version of "Net nichego khuzhe") and "Brillianty" (Diamonds). Additionally the group picked up their second in a row MUZ TV’s “The Best Pop Act” award.
Recent history (2006-2010)
In January 2006, VIA Gra were a participant at MIDEMMidem
-MIDEM:Short for Marché International du Disque et de l'Edition Musicale, MIDEM is the world's largest music industry trade fair, which has been held annually at and around the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, since 1967...
2006. Despite the heavy touring that year the group have offered four more videos: "Obmani no ostansya" (Tell me lie, but don't leave me), "L.M.L." (Russian and English), and "Tsvetok i nozh" (Flower and knife) and completed a new English album, their second after Stop! Stop! Stop!.
A second English language album L.M.L.
L.M.L.
L.M.L. is the second English album and fifth overall studio album by Nu Virgos.- Release :The album was released in Russia on September 13, 2007, and in Asia on September 19, 2007. The album hit the charts for a few months and the result was worth the efforts, In the first few months after release,...
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 July 2007, Vera Brezhneva
Vera Brezhneva
Vira Viktorivna Halushka , better known by her stage name Vera Brezhneva , is a Ukrainian pop-singer and television presenter.- Family :...
, the blond girl of the group, left the group after she married Mikhail Kiperman. She then went on to host a Russian version of Power of 10
Power of 10
Power of 10 is an international Sony Pictures Television game show format featuring contestants predicting how a cross-section of local people from the host broadcaster's country responded to questions covering a wide variety of topics in polls conducted by the broadcaster and production...
a year later.
In May 2007, VIA Gra once again won Best Group at MUZ TV Awards.
On September 5 VIA Gra premiered a video for the song "Potselui" (Kisses) in Ukraine, and September 10 - in Russia. November 1, 2007, the group released a new compilation album, called Potselui
Potselui
Potselui is the second compilation album by Nu Virgos.- Track listing :-Release history:...
(Kisses) with 19 tracks. VIA Gra appeared in "Maxim" and FHM. In December 2007, the 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 released a new video in February 2008.
In March 2008, the Miss Russia
Miss Russia
Miss Russia is the annual national beauty pageant of Russia, responsible for selecting representatives to Miss Universe and Miss World.-History:The pageant has been running since 1992, however there was no Miss Russia 1994, 2000 or 2008....
2006 Tatiana Kotova
Tatiana Kotova
Tatiana Nikolaevna Kotova is a Russian beauty pageant titleholder who won the Miss Russia 2006 title and the opportunity to represent Russia in the Miss World 2007 and Miss Universe 2007. In Miss Universe 2007, she did not make it to the semifinals. Kotova represented her country on December 1...
joined VIA Gra.
In June 2008, once again VIA Gra collected their 4th "Best Group" award & "Best Video" for "Potseluy" at Muz-TV Awards 2008h.
In August, it was revealed that their new single was "My Emancipation" and have released a music video. In November they have just finished filming a music video for song "Amerikanskaya zhena" (American wife) which was a soundtrack for Russian film "Stilyagi
Stilyagi (2008 film)
Stilyagi is a 2008 Russian film, named Hipsters for its American release. It is a musical that deals with Soviet youth subculture "stilyagi" of the 1950s....
".
In the beginning of 2009 Meseda left the group. In March, group released another new video - "Anti-Geisha".
Nu Virgos returned with a new song in Autumn 2009 called "Sumasshedshiy" ("Crazy"). The song's "crazy" character has dictated "crazy" video plot where one of the vocalists – Tatiana Kotova – has a very unexpected look. The video was released in September.
In March 2010, new soloist - Eva Bushmina joined VIA Gra. She replaced Tatiana Kotova
Tatiana Kotova
Tatiana Nikolaevna Kotova is a Russian beauty pageant titleholder who won the Miss Russia 2006 title and the opportunity to represent Russia in the Miss World 2007 and Miss Universe 2007. In Miss Universe 2007, she did not make it to the semifinals. Kotova represented her country on December 1...
in the group.
In April, new song and music video were released - "Poshel Von" ("Get out").
In September, "Den' bez tebya" ("Day without you") was released.
Current members
- Albina DzhanabaevaAlbina DzhanabaevaAlbina Borisovna Dzhanabaeva is a Russian singer. She completed music school majoring in piano and also in the department of musical theatre at the Gnesynikh Institute. Then, in 1999 she traveled to Korea to take part in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves where she sang the part of the foreign Snow...
– vocals (2004–present) Born April 9, 1979, VolgogradVolgogradVolgograd , formerly called Tsaritsyn and Stalingrad is an important industrial city and the administrative center of Volgograd Oblast, Russia. It is long, north to south, situated on the western bank of the Volga River...
, RussiaRussiaRussia 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...
. - Eva Bushmina – vocals (2010–present) Born April 2, 1989 in Sverdlovsk, Ukraine.
Overview of lineup changes
| Member | Participation | Replaced by | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short name | Name in Latin script (birth name) | Name in Cyrillic script | ||
| Alena (Алёна) | Alena Vinnitskaya | Ольга (Алёна) Винницкая | 2000–2003 | Vera |
| Nadya (Надя) | Nadezhda Meiher Nadezhda Granovskaya Nadiya Meiher is a Ukrainian singer.-Early life:... (pseudonym Pseudonym A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym... : Granovskaja) |
Надежда Мейхер (Грановская) | 2000–2002; 2002–2006; 2009-2011 | 1st time: Tatiana N. 2nd time: Kristina 3nd time: Santa |
| Anya (Aня) | Anna Sedokova Anna Sedokova Anna Sedokova is a Ukrainian-Russian pop singer, actress and presenter, and with now also a writer.-Childhood:... (pronounced Pronunciation Pronunciation refers to the way a word or a language is spoken, or the manner in which someone utters a word. If one is said to have "correct pronunciation", then it refers to both within a particular dialect.... "Sedakova") |
Анна Седокова | 2002–2004 | Svetlana |
| Tanya (Таня) | Tatiana Naynik | Татьяна Найник | 2002 | Nadezhda |
| Vera (Вера) | Vera Galushka Vera Brezhneva Vira Viktorivna Halushka , better known by her stage name Vera Brezhneva , is a Ukrainian pop-singer and television presenter.- Family :... (pseudonym: Brezhneva) |
Вера Брежнева (Галушка) | 2003–2007 | Tatiana K. |
| Sveta (Светa) | Svetlana Loboda Svetlana Loboda Svitlana Loboda is a Ukrainian singer and composer. Loboda represented Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 and finished in 12th place with 76 points.-Early life:Loboda was born in Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR... |
Светлана Лобода | 2004 | Albina |
| Albina (Альбина) | Albina Dzhanabaeva Albina Dzhanabaeva Albina Borisovna Dzhanabaeva is a Russian singer. She completed music school majoring in piano and also in the department of musical theatre at the Gnesynikh Institute. Then, in 1999 she traveled to Korea to take part in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves where she sang the part of the foreign Snow... |
Альбина Джанабаева | since 2004 | current member |
| Kristina (Кристина) | Kristina Kots-Gotlib Kristina Kots-Gotlib Kristina Kots-Gotlib ; is the current Miss Ukraine Universe 2009.-Biography:Kristina was crowned Miss Ukraine Universe on February 29, 2009 and represented her country Ukraine at the Miss Universe 2009 pageant at the Bahamas on August 23, 2009.She started her career modeling while studying at... |
Кристина Коц-Готлиб | 2006 | Olga |
| Olya (Оля) | Olga Koryagina | Ольга Корягина | 2006–2007 | Meseda |
| Meseda (Меседа) | Meseda Bagaudinova Meseda Bagaudinova Meseda Bagaudinova is a Russian singer, ex-member of the popular Russian pop group Nu Virgos .-Early life:Meseda Bagaudinova was born in Grozny, Chechnya, to an Avar father and a Ukrainian mother.... |
Меседа Багаудинова | 2007–2009 | Nadezhda |
| Tanya (Таня) | Tatiana Kotova Tatiana Kotova Tatiana Nikolaevna Kotova is a Russian beauty pageant titleholder who won the Miss Russia 2006 title and the opportunity to represent Russia in the Miss World 2007 and Miss Universe 2007. In Miss Universe 2007, she did not make it to the semifinals. Kotova represented her country on December 1... |
Татьяна Котова | 2008–2010 | Eva |
| Eva (Ева) | Yana Shvetz (pseudonym: Eva Bushmina) | Ева Бушмина (Яна Швец) | since 2010 | current member |
| Santa (Санта) | Santa Dimopulos | Санта Димопулос | since 2011 | current member |
Discography
Studio albums- Popytka No. 5Popytka No. 5Popytka No. 5 is the debut album by Nu Virgos.-Track listing:-Certifications:-External links:*...
(2001) - Stop! Snyato!Stop! Snyato!- Track listing :-Release history:- Certifications :...
(2003) - BiologiyaBiologiyaBiologiya is the third studio album by Nu Virgos.- Track listing :-Release history:-Certifications:...
(2003) - Stop! Stop! Stop!Stop! Stop! Stop! (album)Stop! Stop! Stop! is the first English and the fourth overall studio album by Nu Virgos.- Track listing :#Stop! Stop! Stop!#Till The Morning Light#Hold Me Closer#Good Morning, Daddy!#Let Me Introduce My Mama#Kill My Girlfriend...
(2004) - L.M.L.L.M.L.L.M.L. is the second English album and fifth overall studio album by Nu Virgos.- Release :The album was released in Russia on September 13, 2007, and in Asia on September 19, 2007. The album hit the charts for a few months and the result was worth the efforts, In the first few months after release,...
(2007)
Compilation albums
- Brillianty (2005)
- PotseluiPotseluiPotselui is the second compilation album by Nu Virgos.- Track listing :-Release history:...
(2007) - EmancipationEmancipation (Nu Virgos album)Emancipation is the third compilation album by Nu Virgos.- Track listing :-Release history:-External links:*...
(2008)