Russya
Encyclopedia
Irina Volodymyrivna "Russya" Poryvai is a Ukrainian
singer, and musician
.She released her first hit song "Don't stand by my window" in 1989. Russya had Top 10 hits
on the Ukrainian charts in the late 1980s, and through the early and mid 1990s. She is a two-time winner in category Best Female Artist of Ukraine in 1990 and 1991. Russya retired from recording pop music in 1997 but continued to tour (sometimes with her sister, Natasha Koroleva) till 1999. In 2007 she returned to recording with an album "The Best Of Russya"
, Ukraine
, Russya was raised within a family of
musicians. Her father Volodymir Poryvai and her mother Ludmila Poryvai
(maiden name Bystrik) were conductors
of the Kiev Teachers Choir
Cappella
"Svitoch".
From an early age, Russya had an intense interest in music, especially
Ukrainian folk music
and European classical music.She started her first
piano
lessons at age 5 and continued studying through graduation from high
school. Later, she was enrolled at Kiev Music College, named after composer
Glier, where she studied piano
and choir
conducting
.
Shortly before graduating from College she met and latter
married Konstantin Ossaoulenko, musician and songwriter.
Together they formed a team and became one of the most successful
performer-songwriter teams in Ukrainian pop music of late 80's and
early 90's. Russya's first album "The Fortuneteller" 1989, was a major success.
The album contained 3 Top 10 Ukrainian hits, #1 "Don't Stand By My Window', "The
Mermaid", and the title track itself, "The Fortuneteller. The follow-up
album, "The Enchanted Circle" in 1989, brought her wide recognition in Ukraine
and another #1 title song. The following year 1990, she released the album,
"Forgive Me Mommy". This album won her the title, Best Female Artist of Ukraine.
The album spawned another #1 "Forgive me Mommy" and three more Ukrainian
Top 10 songs, "Whatever Will Be, Will Be", "Let Them Talk", and "Little
Swan".In the summer and fall of 1990 Russya continued touring in support
of the album, "Forgive Me Mommy".
The fourth album
, "Cinderella", was released in May 1991 . The song
"Blondie Girl" went straight to #1 for the entire summer of 1991. The album also
produced two more Ukrainian top 10 songs, "Cinderella" and "Don't Forget".
For the second time, back to back in 1991, she won The Best Female Artist of Ukraine award.
In late 1991, Russya traveled to Canada
to record an album for the Yevshan
Ukrainian record label
in Montreal
. It was her first release of an album in
Canada and the United States. The album was entitled just simply "Russya". She
remained in Canada to support the album release and performed at concerts in
Ukrainian clubs and Churches throughout Canada and the United States. In 1993 after the
untimely death of her father
, she returned to the studio to record an
album of classical Ukrainian pop songs, "Cheremshyna", dedicated to the
memory of her parent. The album was released in 1994. It did not receive the
high acclaim of her previous albums mainly due to the difference in
style
and genre
. The same year she went back into the studio and recorded
the album, "Kiyv Girl". The title song made its way into the Ukrainian top 10 in 1994.
The next album, "My American Guy" was released in 1997.
Russya retired from recording pop music in 1997 but continued to tour,
sometimes with her sister Natasha Koroleva til 1999.
In 2007 she returned to the recording studio and released her CD
entitled, "The Best Of Russya". In 2009 she recorded new album "Small Presents" It is her first release since 1997 in presenting new songs in more than 12 years.
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...
singer, and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
.She released her first hit song "Don't stand by my window" in 1989. Russya had Top 10 hits
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
on the Ukrainian charts in the late 1980s, and through the early and mid 1990s. She is a two-time winner in category Best Female Artist of Ukraine in 1990 and 1991. Russya retired from recording pop music in 1997 but continued to tour (sometimes with her sister, Natasha Koroleva) till 1999. In 2007 she returned to recording with an album "The Best Of Russya"
Biography
Born in the KievKiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, 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...
, Russya was raised within a family of
musicians. Her father Volodymir Poryvai and her mother Ludmila Poryvai
(maiden name Bystrik) were conductors
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
of the Kiev Teachers Choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
Cappella
Cappella
Cappella was an Italian Eurodance act formed in 1987 by producer Gianfranco Bortolotti. The act went through a number of line-up changes over the years but was most successful in the early 1990s when it was fronted by British performers Kelly Overett and Rodney Bishop...
"Svitoch".
From an early age, Russya had an intense interest in music, especially
Ukrainian folk music
Ukrainian folk music
Ukrainian folk music includes a number of varieties of ethnic , folkloric, folk inspired popular and folk inspired classical traditions....
and European classical music.She started her first
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...
lessons at age 5 and continued studying through graduation from high
school. Later, she was enrolled at Kiev Music College, named after composer
Glier, where she studied 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...
and choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
conducting
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
.
Shortly before graduating from College she met and latter
married Konstantin Ossaoulenko, musician and songwriter.
Together they formed a team and became one of the most successful
performer-songwriter teams in Ukrainian pop music of late 80's and
early 90's. Russya's first album "The Fortuneteller" 1989, was a major success.
The album contained 3 Top 10 Ukrainian hits, #1 "Don't Stand By My Window', "The
Mermaid", and the title track itself, "The Fortuneteller. The follow-up
album, "The Enchanted Circle" in 1989, brought her wide recognition in Ukraine
and another #1 title song. The following year 1990, she released the album,
"Forgive Me Mommy". This album won her the title, Best Female Artist of Ukraine.
The album spawned another #1 "Forgive me Mommy" and three more Ukrainian
Top 10 songs, "Whatever Will Be, Will Be", "Let Them Talk", and "Little
Swan".In the summer and fall of 1990 Russya continued touring in support
of the album, "Forgive Me Mommy".
The fourth album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, "Cinderella", was released in May 1991 . The song
"Blondie Girl" went straight to #1 for the entire summer of 1991. The album also
produced two more Ukrainian top 10 songs, "Cinderella" and "Don't Forget".
For the second time, back to back in 1991, she won The Best Female Artist of Ukraine award.
In late 1991, Russya traveled to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to record an album for the Yevshan
Ukrainian record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. It was her first release of an album in
Canada and the United States. The album was entitled just simply "Russya". She
remained in Canada to support the album release and performed at concerts in
Ukrainian clubs and Churches throughout Canada and the United States. In 1993 after the
untimely death of her father
Father
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
, she returned to the studio to record an
album of classical Ukrainian pop songs, "Cheremshyna", dedicated to the
memory of her parent. The album was released in 1994. It did not receive the
high acclaim of her previous albums mainly due to the difference in
style
Music genre
A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other types of music...
and genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
. The same year she went back into the studio and recorded
the album, "Kiyv Girl". The title song made its way into the Ukrainian top 10 in 1994.
The next album, "My American Guy" was released in 1997.
Russya retired from recording pop music in 1997 but continued to tour,
sometimes with her sister Natasha Koroleva til 1999.
In 2007 she returned to the recording studio and released her CD
entitled, "The Best Of Russya". In 2009 she recorded new album "Small Presents" It is her first release since 1997 in presenting new songs in more than 12 years.
Discography
- 1989 - "The Fortuneteller"
- 1989 - "Christmas Eve"
- 1990 - "Forgive me,mommy"
- 1991 - "Cinderella"
- 1991 - "Russya"
- 1992 - "Russya's Greatest Hits"
- 1994 - "Kiyv Girl"
- 1994 - "Cheremshyna"
- 1997 - "My American Guy"
- 2007- "The Best Of Russya"
- 2009 - "Small Presents"
Websites and resources
- Russya's official website.Офіційна українська веб-сторінка Русі
- Natasha Koroleva's web site
- http://kmstudio.com.ua/index.php?nma=cherem&fla=stat&nm=rusia