Alla Pugacheva: biography
Alla Pugacheva is a living legend of the national stage, People’s Artist of the USSR, composer, producer, director, actress, TV presenter, which has been the most discussed media person in the world for half a century. Songs of Alla Pugacheva often became almost national hits in many countries, which allowed her to win the status of «The Queen of the stage.» The repertoire of Alla Pugacheva includes more than 500 songs, and the discography has about 100 solo albums, the total circulation of which reaches 250 million copies.
Alla Pugacheva was born on April 15, 1949 in the Russian capital to a family of soldiers, Zinaida Arkhipovna Odegova and Boris Mikhailovich Pugachev. She was the second child in the family — her elder brother Gennady died in early childhood from diphtheria. In childhood the future Primadonna of the Russian stage lived in the Umbrella Lane in Moscow, where she grew up together with other children in the post-war period.
Music entered the life of Alla Borisovna before she entered school — in 1954. When Pugacheva was only 5 years old, her mother invited a music teacher to visit her, who discovered the girl’s perfect musical abilities. From that day the future People’s Artist had piano lessons that lasted 3 hours a day at Moscow music school No. 31.
Persistent studies on the musical instrument had borne fruit in few months — five-year-old Alla went to the stage of the column hall of the House of Unions and took part in a large concert of Soviet musicians.
In 1956 Pugacheva went to school. She differed from her classmates by a very wayward character and often received remarks from teachers for bad behavior, but this did not stop the future singer from being almost the best pupil. It was easy and simple for a smart girl to study music. Teachers promised her bright future of the pianist, but Alla Borisovna was sure that she would become a singer.
First songs
By the time she finished the eighth grade of the secondary school No. 496, Pugacheva has already graduated from a music school in the piano class. The young singer did not imagine her future life without music, therefore, without hesitation, she entered the music school of Ippolitov-Ivanov for the conductor-choir Faculty. Already in the second year of her studies the future Diva participated in her first tour as a part of the Mosesstrada program.
After the first tour Pugacheva recorded her first song «Robot», which was presented in the program «Good morning». Alla Borisovna’s debut was accompanied by great success and she was noticed by musical composers who began to offer collaboration to the singer. Among all proposals Pugacheva chose a little-known at that time composer Vladimir Shainsky. He wrote for her such compositions as «Do not argue with me» and «How I should not fall in love», which received «Songs of the Month» awards and took Alla Borisovna to the first place on the air of the All-Union Radio.
The next few years, Pugacheva as a part of the «Youth» toured in the Far North and the Arctic. She sang «Just really love», «The King, the Flower Girl and the Fool» and «The Only Waltz» before drillers, oil workers and geologists. These tours negatively affected her studies in the music school. Pugacheva didn’t pass final exams, as a result she didn’t get a diploma.
As a punishment, the student was sent to work as a music teacher in Moscow school No. 621. After a six-month internship, Alla Borisovna, who was nicknamed «Alka-Krychalka» for her loud voice, managed to pass state exams and to get the diploma of «Choir Conductor».
Professional career
Having received the diploma, Pugacheva didn’t want to become a conductor of the choir — she got a job as a singer in a circus. She toured in villages, entertaining local workers with circus and musical numbers. In 1969 the singer left the circus and tried herself as a singer of the musical group «New Electron». In 1.5 years, Pugacheva moved to the group «Muscovites», and after a while came to the group «Funny Guys». As a part of «Funny Guys» the singer received Grand Prix for the legendary composition «Harlekino» at the festival «Golden Orpheus».
On the wave of success in 1976, Alla Pugacheva attended various international festivals. She visited Cannes music festival MIDEM; GDR, where she took part in many German programs and recorded the first single «Harlekino»; Czechoslovakia, where she was invited as an honorary guest at the festival «Bratislava Lira»; and Poland, where she performed at the concert of the international festival «Sopot-76».
The other participants of «Funny guys» didn’t like such a tremendous success of Pugacheva, because they actually became the accompanists of Alla Borisovna. Pavel Slobodkin, the head of the group, also expressed his dissatisfaction on this matter. After their conflict Pugacheva left the group.
At the end of 1976, Primadonna finally decided to start her solo career and became a singer of Mosconcert. In the same year for the first time she became a laureate of «Song of the Year-76» and took part in the New Year’s concert «Blue Light» with the song «Very Good.»
A year later Alla Pugacheva gave a big solo concert in Luzhniki and received an honorary «red line» from Moskontsert, which gave the right to tour with solo concerts not only on the territory of the USSR, but also abroad. In the same period, the singer successfully entered the Soviet cinema — firstly she was invited to the New Year’s film «The Irony of Fate» as a singer, and then was offered the main role in the film «The Woman Who Sings». The background music was written by Alla Borisovna.
For the role of Anna Streltsova in «The Woman Who Sings» Pugacheva received the award «Best Actress of the Year», and her free dress, in which the singer appeared on television, became a distinguishing feature of the legendary singer.
In 1978 Alla Pugacheva recorded her first solo album «The Mirror of the Soul». Famous composers Alexander Zatsepin, Boris Rachkov and the primadonna under the pseudonym Boris Gorbonos worked on this album. Alla Borisovna’s debut album became the most sold album on the territory of the whole Union, therefore it was decided to release several export versions of the album in different languages, which brought world success to the singer.
In early 80’s Alla Pugacheva released two more albums «Be Beyond a Fuss of Life» and «Something’s Still to Come.» Then she met Raymond Pauls and Ilya Reznik, who wrote for Alla Borisovna the immortal hits «Maestro», «Delu vremya» and «Millions of scarlet roses». These songs brought tremendous success to Pugacheva – they were sold as mini-album in 6 million copies around the world and gave the singer the status of «soviet superstar».
The next decade in Pugacheva’s career was associated with music and success. Endless tours around the world, the release of hits «Iceberg», «Without Me», «Two Stars», «Hey, you there on the top» were accompanied by a change in Alla Borisovna’s image. Pugacheva began to position herself in the style of a rock singer, who allowed her to shine even in New York’s Carnegie Hall.
In 1988 the legend of the Soviet stage decided to found her own «Song Theater», in which she invited all the promising singers. After that she created an annual song festival called «Christmas Songs», where the singers of the Diva could demonstrate their achievements.
In December 1991, the day before the collapse of the USSR, Alla Pugacheva was awarded the title People’s Artist of the USSR and became the last person in the Union, who received this honorary title. After the country joined the new era, cardinal changes followed in Pugacheva’s career. She decided to try herself in business – she launched the brand of footwear, the perfume and the magazine «Alla», edited by the singer.
The vacation and return to the stage
In 1995 Alla Pugacheva said that she was going on a vacation and invited everyone to take her place on the stage. She recorded the final solo album of her singing career «Do not hurt me, ladies and gentlemen,» which included such hits as «Love Like a Dream», «True Colonel» and «Mary.»
Two years later, the Primadonna decided to return to the stage and participate in the international song contest «Eurovision-97».
The history of getting into the contest is not so simple. Initially, ORT channel chose among all the contenders the sweet-voiced Valeryi Meladze, for whom Alla Borisovna wrote the song «Primadonna». But right before the contest Meladze fell ill, and the channel’s management decided to send Alla Pugacheva to the Eurovision Song Contest, where she took 15th place.
After participation in Eurovision the singer decided to return to the big stage — she prepared two big solo concerts «Izbrannoe» and «Da!». Then she went on a big tour around the world. Pugacheva gave more than 150 concerts in Russia, CIS countries, as well as in Germany, Israel, Greece, the United States and Britain. In addition to her concert activities, she also revived the project «Christmas Meetings».
Having not the easiest life, Alla Borisovna achieved her goal. She is respected, appreciated, imitated. In 2005, she became the organizer of the most popular at that time music festival «Song of the Year» along with Igor Krutoy, as well as no less significant musical show in Jurmala — «New Wave».
In 2007 Pugacheva became artistic director of the radio station «Alla». Alla Borisovna chose the repertoire carefully, and she also hosted the programs on air. In a short time «Alla» radio station became very popular and more than million people listened to it. But after the death of Alexander Varin, the ideological inspirer of the project, Pugacheva did not find a common language with the new leadership of the radio station, and in 2011 “Alla” Radiostation stopped broadcasting.
In addition, the Primadonna created her own musical award «The Golden Star of Alla». She allocated 50 thousand dollars from personal funds for the development of the singers and the participants of the 5th season of the «Star Factory». Three new albums were released and.
Alla Pugacheva’s achievements in the musical field were marked by a number of prestigious awards, among which there is a medal of the Cambridge Center «2000 outstanding musicians of the XX century» and the «Ovation» award in the nomination «The Singer of the Decade».
«Life after the show»
On March 5, 2009 Alla Pugacheva announced the termination of her tours and went on a farewell tour «Dreams of Love», in which she gave 37 concerts in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Israel, the US and 8 other countries.
Since that moment, the Diva keeps her word and doesn’t perform on the stage, although she has recorded several new songs. In addition, the singer is a frequent guest on Russian TV — she is looking for talented singers for «New Wave» and «Factor A», participates in many TV projects and hosts the program «Morning Mail» along with Maxim Galkin.
In 2014 Alla Pugacheva took part in the show «Toch-v-Toch» as a judge, and in early 2015 she opened a children’s center «Family club», which includes a trilingual kindergarten, a children’s development group, a school for pregnant women and a professional school of children creative development. The Primadonna is not only the organizer and artistic director of the center, but also its teacher.
Politics
After leaving the big stage, Alla Pugacheva became interested in politics. In 2005 she joined the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation as a representative of all-Russian associations. The Primadonna also received membership in the Commission of Social Development, but in two years she visited only few meetings.
In 2011, the «Queen of the stage» noticed the party «Right cause» (the leader of the party businessman Mikhail Prokhorov). She saw in him a man who is really ready and can do a lot of useful things for the country. But after Prokhorov’s dismissal from the post of the party leader Pugacheva also left it.
In 2012, Alla Pugacheva became a member of the civil committee of the party «Civil Platform». Mikhail Prokhorov was also a member of the party. Three years later, the legend of Russian show business left the «Civil Platform» as well as the businessman.
Personal life
Personal life of Alla Pugacheva is no less interesting than her solo career. People are watching her personal life even after she stopped singing.
For the first time Pugacheva married in 1969 to a circus man from Lithuania Mykolas Orbakas. After the marriage, Pugacheva took the name Orbakene, but performed under her old name. The Diva gave birth to her daughter Christina Orbakaite in 1971. Two years after the birth of her daughter, the couple broke up. But that didn’t break the star, which was left with a little daughter.
In 1977 Alla Pugacheva married for the second time to a film director Alexander Stefanovich. Their marriage also lasted only 4 years. The reason for the divorce of the couple was the career of the Diva, in which there was no place for personal life.
In 1985, Alla Borisovna opened her heart to a new man — he was Roskoncert’s program director Yevgeny Boldin, who became the producer of the singer for the next 8 years. They divorced because of Pugacheva’s relations with Vladimir Kuzmin, who at that time was her partner on the stage.
People said that Alla Borisovna had relations with Raymond Pauls, Alexander Rosenbaum, Igor Talkov and Sergei Chelobanov, who remain the «mysterious» part of Pugacheva’s personal life.
It is known that in the third marriage, Primadonna had a chance to become a mother for the second time, but decided to terminate the pregnancy because of her career. This decision became fatal for the singer — she lost the opportunity to have children. For that she blames herself till this time
In 1994 the «Queen of the stage» released the hit «Love, like a dream» and devoted it to Philip Kirkorov, who at that time was the main favorite of the singer. The new «love» chapter of Pugacheva’s personal life begins on March 15, 1994. 45-year-old Primadonna married to 28-year-old singer. Their marriage was registered by the Mayor of St. Petersburg, Anatoly Sobchak.
The wedding of Pugacheva and Kirkorov was very modest, but the development of their relationship did not bore their fans, since musicians have always been surrounded by conflicts of a «non-creative» nature. Many called their marriage a producer project of the Diva, who was famous for her patronage over the young artists of the Russian show business.
Despite everything the happy union of Pugacheva and Kirkorov «lived» more than 10 years, after which rumors began spreading about the divorce of the star couple. In 2005, the singers officially divorced without advertising the true reasons for the separation. Friends of the artist are sure that Alla Borisovna and Kirkorov divorced because of Philip’s debts on the failed musical «Chicago», in which he invested $ 5 million.
On December 23, 2011 Alla Pugacheva married to a famous humorist Maxim Galkin, whom she met in 2000. Pugacheva admitted that she began her romantic relationship with Galkin in 2001 and since 2005 they have been living a civil marriage, and only 10 years after the meeting they decided to get married.
The love story of Alla Pugacheva and Maxim Galkin and is now widely discussed among their fansMany people are sure that the humorist has become another «project» of the queen of the Russian stage. Nevertheless, this does not prevent the couple sincerely love each other. According to the friends of the Primadonna, Alla Borisovna felt herself like a real woman with Maxim for the first time in her life, and not just a pop star.
Despite the 27-year-old age difference, the couple became really close to each other and have a lot in common. Moreover, Maxim Galkin became the first husband of Alla Borisovna, who invited her to live in his house — the couple has a very cozy family «nest» in a country castle in the village Gryaz on the Istra water storage, which was built by a humorist.
Children
On September 18, 2013 in the family of Galkin and Pugacheva there was a big event — the twins Harry and Elizabeth were born. According to Alla Borisovna, the surrogate mother carried the kids, but the blood of Alla and Maxim flows in their veins. As it turned out, the singer took care of her future children 12 years ago and went through the procedure of freezing her eggs.
The Children were born in the village Lapino in the clinic of Mark Kutser «Mother and Child» and became a real copy of their «biological» parents.
Harry and Lisa are brought up in a family fairy tale and surrounded by the love of their parents – the children have their own floors in the house that are equipped according to all canons of the present day, and have personal babysitters who take care of the children.
The Prima Donna pays special attention to the upbringing of her children. Pugacheva develops creative talents in Liza and Harry, thanks to which the «star» children are already perfectly dancing and singing. Alla Pugacheva calls herself a crazy mother and admits that she always keeps her hand on the pulse in the upbringing of twins. She calls Lisa and Harry the main happiness of her life.
In 2016 Alla Pugacheva’s children were three years old. They already have many achievements, including the study of French in an elite kindergarten. Young Lisa for her musical successes already has a nickname Pugachevochka. According to Alla Borisovna, she will become a thunderstorm for all domestic singers.
Awards and titles
Alla Pugacheva was awarded a lot of state and music awards, including the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, the state award of the Russian Federation in the field of pop art, the highest award of Armenia «The Order of St. Mesrop Mashtots», the prize of the Belarusian president «Through art — to peace and mutual understanding. »
In addition to prizes and awards, the Diva is named «the great woman of the 20th century» and one of the 100 most influential women in Russia. She also takes the 4th place in the rating of the smartest women in Russia.
In Finland, in 1985, in honor of Alla Pugacheva, a ferry was named, and also she has several name plates and stars Yalta, Vitebsk and Atakrs. In the Russian capital on the Arbat street near the store «Econika», in which the shoe brand of the Diva is sold, there is a bronze plate on which there is an imprint of the singer’s foot.
Discography
Discography of Alla Pugacheva has more than a hundred solo records and discs, which included 17 albums, 25 collections and 34 singles.
• 1977 — «The Mirror of the Soul»
• 1979 — «Harlequin and Others»
• 1985 — «Oh, how I want to live»
• 1987 — » I’m Here Talking to You»
• 1990 — «Alla»
• 1995 — «Do not hurt me, gentlemen»
• 2001 — «River tram»
• 2003 — «Live peacefully, my country!»
• 2008 — «Invitation to a Sunset»
Filmography
The singer has reached high results in the acting career. Filmography of Alla Pugacheva has about 15 films, in half of which the Primadonna played the main role.
• 1978 — «The Woman Who Sings»
• 1980 — «Rezital»
• 1985 — «I came and I am speak»
• 2004 — «Chasing Two Rabbits»
• 2007 — «The Kingdom of Curved Mirrors»
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Alla Borisovna Pugacheva[a] (born 15 April 1949), is а Soviet and Russian musical performer. Her career started in 1965 and continues to this day, even though she has retired from performing. For her «clear mezzo-soprano and a full display of sincere emotions»,[1] she enjoys an iconic status across the former Soviet Union as the most successful Soviet performer[2][3] in terms of record sales and popularity.[b]
|
Alla Pugacheva |
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|---|---|
|
Алла Пугачёва |
|
Pugacheva performing in 2016 |
|
| Pronunciation | IPA: [ˈalːə bɐˈpʊɡɐˈtɕɵvə] |
| Born |
Alla Borisovna Pugacheva April 15, 1949 (age 73) Moscow, Soviet Union |
| Other names | Boris Gorbonos |
| Citizenship |
|
| Occupation |
Singer |
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Notable work | Discography |
| Title | People’s Artist of the USSR |
| Political party |
|
| Spouses |
Mykolas Orbakas [lt] (m. 1969; div. 1973) Alexander Stefanovich (m. 1976; div. 1980) Yevgeniy Boldin (m. 1985; div. 1993) Philipp Kirkorov (m. 1994; div. 2005) Maxim Galkin (m. 2011) |
| Children | 3, including Kristina Orbakaitė |
| Musical career | |
| Genres |
|
| Instrument(s) |
|
| Labels |
|
| Signature | |
 |
Pugacheva’s repertoire includes over 500 songs in Russian, English, German, French, Kazakh, Hebrew, Finnish, Ukrainian, and her discography has more than 100 records, CDs and DVDs. In addition to Russia and the former Soviet Union, Pugacheva’s albums were released in Japan, Korea, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria. In total, Pugacheva has sold more than 250 million records.[4]
She became a People’s Artist of the USSR in 1991, a Laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation in 1995, and was decorated as a Chevalier of the Order «For Merit to the Fatherland» II, III and IV degrees. She represented Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 with the song «Primadonna», finishing in 15th place.[5]
Early life and educationEdit
Pugacheva was born to Boris Mikhailovich Pugachëv and Zinaida Arkhipovna (born Odegova) Pugachëva in Moscow, on 15 April 1949.[6] In 1956, she enrolled in music school No.31, and attended the Ippolitov-Ivanov music college. She went on to study at school No.496, finishing her studies there in 1964. She then studied in the choral-conducting department of the college. Pugacheva recorded her first track «Robot» in 1965, for a morning programme on Radio Yunost.[citation needed]
CareerEdit
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2022)
Pugacheva finished college in 1966 and subsequently toured with the group Yunost’ (Youth) in western Siberia. The following year she began working as a piano accompanist at the State Circus Musical college. She provided the leading vocals to a number of bands, including Novy Elektron (New Electron), part of the Lipetsk State Philharmonic Society, in 1966, Moskvichi (Muscovites) in 1971, Oleg Lundstrem’s band in 1972–73, and Vesyolye Rebyata (Merry Folks) in 1974–75. She recorded songs throughout that period for numerous movies.[7]
In 1974, she came in 3rd place in the All-Union competition of musicians. In 1975, she received the Grand Prix of the international contest «Golden Orpheus» performing the song «Harlequin» by Emil Dimitrov. The Amiga label released her winning song as a single in East Germany. Subsequently, in Bulgaria, the Balkanton label released the live recording of «Harlequin» from the festival as a single. One year later, Pugacheva returned to the «Golden Orpheus» to perform a concert outside the competition. The Balkanton released the live tracks as Pugacheva’s first album Zolotoy Orfey 76. In that same year, Pugacheva recorded a number of songs for the musical drama-comedy The Irony of Fate as the singing voice of Nadja, the female protagonist.
Sample from «Zhenshchina, kotoraya poët» (The Woman Who Sings), title track of Pugacheva’s most popular musical film
The Woman Who Sings, 1977Edit
Pugacheva went on to work on the musical film The Woman who Sings in cooperation with the band Ritm (Rhythm) in 1977. She played the leading lady, a famous pop singer who sacrifices her personal life for her career. The soundtrack, which was co-written by Pugacheva and composed of pop songs, culminated with the dramatic title ballad «Zhenshchina, kotoraya poyot». The Soviet audience, regarding the film as autobiographical,[8] brought the soundtrack to reach record audience of the year in 1979, as it was bought by 55 million people.[9] The soundtrack was first released in 1977 as part of the double album Zerkalo dushi (Mirror of the Soul), which was a collection of her songs from 1975 to 1977. The Victor label released a collection album Alla Pugacheva in the same year in Japan. In 1978, performing the song «Vsyo mogut koroli» («Kings Can Do Anything»), Pugacheva received the Amber Nightingale prize at the Sopot International Song Festival which at the time meant automatically winning the Grand Prix of the Intervision Song Contest.[10] In 1980, the Kansan label of Finland released her above-listed works as the compilation album Huipulla (At the Top). Tonbandausnahmenkompanie Bayer GmbH did the same in West Germany, releasing Alla Pugachova.
Stockholm, 1980–1988Edit
During the 1980s, Pugacheva was a frequent visitor to Stockholm. She started out with multiple guest appearances on the popular Swedish radio show Galaxen (April 1980 year) conducted by Jacob Dahlin, and later frequently appeared on his TV show Jacobs Stege (Jacob’s Ladder). Dahlin and Pugacheva used to perform duets, such as «Superman» where Dahlin sings as the title character. In Stockholm, Pugacheva recorded an album in English, released by the World Record Music label in Sweden as Watch Out and by the Melodiya label in the Soviet Union as Alla Pugacheva in Stockholm.[citation needed]
Private lifeEdit
In 1969, she married Lithuanian circus performer Mykolas Orbakas [lt], and on May 25, 1971 she gave birth to a daughter, Kristina Orbakaitė, who is also a popular singer.[11] Pugacheva divorced Orbakas after four years of marriage in 1973. She married film director Alexander Stefanovich (1945–2021) in 1976 and starred in several of his movies. The union was dissolved in 1980.
In 1985, Pugacheva married producer Yevgeniy Boldin, with whom she had numerous professional collaborations. She had a working and romantic relationship with a young musician and singer, Vladimir Kuzmin during this period. In 1993, she divorced Yevgeniy Boldin stating that their professional lives interfered too much with their personal life.
In 1994, she married a pop singer, Philipp Kirkorov. Their divorce was announced in November 2005.
On 23 December 2011, Pugacheva married satirist Maxim Galkin, who is 27 years younger.[12] The couple has twins delivered by a surrogate mother.
Edit
In March 2014, Pugacheva signed a petition against the persecution of Andrei Makarevich, who protested against the annexation of Crimea and war in Donbas.[13]
In March 2022, Pugacheva and Galkin left Russia for Israel following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[14] In August 2022, Pugacheva returned to Russia, saying «she would clean up the mess in my head, in people heads».[15] In September 2022, after her husband had been declared a «foreign agent», she spoke out publicly condemning the war and useless deaths of Russian men who are forced to die for illusory reasons. She also demanded Ministry of Justice to declare her a foreign agent, too.[16][17] Russian authorities began investigating Pugacheva for «discrediting» the Russian military under Russian 2022 war censorship laws.[18] In October 2022, Pugacheva revealed that she had left Russia again for Israel.[19][20]
Honours and awardsEdit
President Dmitry Medvedev awards the 3rd Degree Order «For Merit to the Fatherland» to Pugacheva on her 60th birthday.
Pugacheva’s most notable title is «People’s Artist of the USSR», the highest honor that could be bestowed to a musical artist in the state, awarded to her in 1991. While the lesser titles of «Accomplished Artist of the Russian SFSR», and «People’s Artist of the Russian SFSR» had been already awarded to her in 1980 and 1985 respectively, the government was hesitant to award her its highest honor, reportedly largely because of statements and actions on her part that were inconsistent with the Party’s agenda.[21] Pugacheva is listed in the Russian Encyclopedia (2005).[22]
On 15 April 2009, her 60th birthday President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev awarded Pugacheva the 3rd Degree Order of Merit for the Fatherland.
She was honored as one of the BBC 100 Women in December 2022.[23]
- Orders
- Order «For Merit to the Fatherland», 2nd class (15 April 1999)
- Order «For Merit to the Fatherland», 3rd class (15 April 2009)
- Order «For Merit to the Fatherland», 4th class (17 April 2014)
- Order of St. Mesrop Mashtots (Armenia, 26 September 2009)
- Dostlug Order (Azerbaijan, 4 September 2009)
- Titles
- People’s Artist of the USSR (20 December 1991)
- People’s Artist of the RSFSR (1985)
- Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1980)
- Honorary citizen of the city of Makhachkala (2006)
- Awards
- State Prize of the Russian Federation (7 June 1995) – For outstanding contribution to the development of literature and art
- Belarus president award Through Art – to Peace and Understanding (7 July 2006)
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ovation | ||
| Preceded by | Living Legend Award 1994 Alla Pugacheva |
Succeeded by
1995 |
DiscographyEdit
Famous songsEdit
- «Две звезды» (Two stars)
- «Я тебя поцеловала» (I kissed you)
- «Миллионы алых роз» (Millions of scarlet Roses)
- «Папа купил автомобиль» (Dad bought a car)
- «Мадам Брошкина» (Madame Broshkina)
- «Осенний поцелуй» (Autumn Kiss)
- «Осторожно листопад» (Careful leaf fall)
- «Песенка про себя (Также как все)» (A song about myself (Just like everyone else))
- «На Тихорецкую состав отправится» (The train will go to Tikhoretskaya)
- «100 друзей» (100 friends)
- «Айсберг» (Iceberg)
- «Волшебник-недоучка» (The half-educated Wizard)
- «Всё могут короли» (Kings can do anything)
Original solo albumsEdit
| Year (P) | Number | Original title | Title in English | Format | Label, country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Золотой Орфей 76 | Golden Orpheus 76 | Live LP | Balkanton, Bulgaria | |
| 1977 | C60 09799-2 | Зеркало души | The Mirror of the Soul* | Double LP | Melodiya, USSR |
| 1979 | C60 11975-6 | Арлекино и другие | Harlequin and Other Songs* | LP | |
| 1980 | C60 14429-0 | Поднимись над суетой | Be Beyond a Fuss of Life* | ||
| 1980 | C60 14935-6 | То ли ещё будет | Something’s Still to Come* | ||
| 1982 | C60 17663-6 | Как тревожен этот путь | How Disturbing Is This Way* | Double | |
| 1985 | C90 21357-8 | Ах, как хочется жить | Ah, How I Want to Live | LP | |
| 1985 | WRM LP01 | Watch Out | Watch Out | World Record Music, Sweden | |
| 1986 | C60 24717-8 | …счастья в личной жизни! | …and Happiness in Private Life* | Melodiya, USSR | |
| 1986 | C60 25059-0 | Пришла и говорю | I’m Here Talking to You* | ||
| 1990 | SUCD 60 00122 | Алла | Alla | CD | |
| 1991 | 10191-40191 | Рождественские встречи 1990 | Christmas meetings 1990 | 2LP | Russian disc, USSR |
| 1992 | STEREO R60 00887 | Рождественские встречи 1991 | Christmas meetings 1991 | Russian disc, Russia | |
| 1995 | SZCD0475 | Не делайте мне больно, господа! | Don’t Hurt Me, Gentlemen | CD | Soyuz, Russia |
| 1998 | Ex 98073 | Да! | Yes! | Extraphone, Russia | |
| 2001 | АБП 0037 | Речной трамвайчик | River Tram | Alla, Russia | |
| 2002 | АБП 0038 | А был ли мальчик | Was There a Boy? | ||
| 2003 | АБП 0055,
МТ 702909-288-1 |
Живи спокойно, страна! | Live Peacefully, My Country! | Alla & Monolit, Russia | |
| 2008 | АБП 0055,
МТ 702909-288-1 |
Приглашение на закат | Invitation to a Sunset | Alla |
* Official English title.
Other albumsEdit
- 1978 Alla Pugacheva (released in Japan) – compilation
- 1978 Ala Pugachova. Ogledalo na dushata (released in Bulgaria) – compilation
- 1979 Alla Pugacheva i Iosif Kobzon – split
- 1980 Diskoteka A – instrumental remixes
- 1980 Alla Pugatšova. Huipulla (Alla Pugacheva. At the Top; Kansan, Finland)
- 1980 Alla Pugačevova. Zrcadlo duše (Czech version of Zerkalo dushi)
- 1981 Alla Pugačova (Czech version of To li eshche budet…)
- 1981 Alla Pugatšova. Tähtikesä (Alla Pugacheva. Starry summer; Kansan, Finland)
- 1982 U nas v gostjakh maestro (Our Guest is the Maestro) – live / split
- 1982 Parad Planet – split
- 1983 Million Roz (released in Japan) – compilation
- 1983 Alla Pugačova. Dávná píseň (a Czech compilation)
- 1984 Alla Pugacheva – Soviet Superstar. Greatest Hits 1976–84 (World Record Music, Sweden) – compilation
- 1985 Alla Pugacheva – Soviet Superstar vol.2 (released by the World Record Music in Finland) – compilation
- 1988 Pesni vmesto pisem (Songs Instead Of Letters) – split with Udo Lindenberg
- 1989 Paromshik – (Ferryman) (Finnish release of Rechnoy paromshchik)
- 1991 Alla (Ritonis, Riga)
- 1994 Veryu v tebya (I Believe in You) – compilation
- 1995 Put’ zvezdy (The Path of a Star) – compilation
- 1996 A 13 CD compilation of songs previously released only on LP and MC
- 1996 Poët Alla Pugacheva (Alla Pugacheva Sings; songs by Aleksandr Zazepin) – compilation
- 1997 Dve zvezdy (Two Stars; with Vladimir Kuzmin) – compilation / split
- 1998 Syurpriz ot Ally Pugachevy (Surprise from Alla Pugacheva) – tribute
CD singlesEdit
- 1997 Primadonna (Eurovision 1997)
- 2000 Bely sneg (White Snow)
- 2000 Madam Broshkina
- 2002 Eto lyubov (It’s Love)
There is an unknown number of single and EP releases published all over the world.
Films and TV appearancesEdit
- 1978 Teatr Ally Pugachevoy, Estonian Television
- 1978 The Woman who Sings, Mosfilm
- 1981 Lyubovyu za lyubov’ (Love For Love) Mosfilm
- 1984 Vstrechi s Alloy Pugachevoy (Meetings with Alla Pugacheva), USSR TV
- 1985 Prishla i govoryu (I Came and I’m Speaking), Mosfilm
- 1985 Sezon chudes (Season of Miracles), Odessa Film Studio
- 1989–2002 Rozhdestvenskie vstrechi (Christmas Meetings), USSR TV, Ostankino, Public Russian Television, Russian State Television
- 1995 Zhdi i pomni menya (Wait for Me, Remember Me), Public Russian Television
- 1997 Laat de Leeuw (Late de Leeuw), VARA[24]
- 2003 Za dvumya zaytsami (Chasing Two Rabbits)
See alsoEdit
- Russian pop music
- Best selling music artists – World’s top-selling music artists chart.
NotesEdit
- ^ sometimes Pugachova (Russian: Алла Борисовна Пугачёва, romanized: Alla Borisovna Pugachyova, IPA: [ˈalːə bɐˈrʲisəvnə pʊɡɐˈtɕɵvə])
- ^ Encyclopædia Britannica repeats a claim on its features website that Pugacheva has sold around 250 million records. Other internet sources claim figures from 75 million to 250 million records, though there is no official source for this information.
ReferencesEdit
- ^ «ВРЕМЯ Z» – журнал для интеллектуальной элиты общества [Time Z – Journal for the intellectual elite of the society] (in Russian). 13 November 2006. Archived from the original on 14 February 2009. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
- ^ Alison Smale (28 February 2000). «A Superstar Evokes a Superpower; In Diva’s Voice, Adoring Fans Hear Echoes of Soviet Days». The New York Times. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ Jon Pareles (25 September 1988). «Review/Music; Alla Pugacheva’s Moody, Ardent Soviet Pop». The New York Times. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ Susan Doll. «Alla Pugacheva». Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- ^ Всем шоу шоу [All show show]. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
- ^ Alla Pugacheva Archived 16 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine. IMDb. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
- ^ Collection of her songs from movies Archived 11 March 2005 at the Wayback Machine, russiandvd.com. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- ^ «Женщина, которая поет»: кто такой Борис Горбонос? [«The Woman Who Sings»: Who Is Boris Gorbonos?]. volgograd-trv.ru (in Russian). 17 April 2009. Archived from the original on 5 December 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
- ^ Лидеры проката [Top bill]. Kinokultura.com (in Russian). Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2009.
- ^ Międzynarodowy Festiwal Piosenki Polskiej- Sopot Festival Archived 2 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine, pesnyagoda.by.ru. Retrieved 17 May 2015.(in Russian)
- ^ Goscilo, Helena; Strukov, Vlad (4 October 2010). Celebrity and Glamour in Contemporary Russia: Shocking Chic. ISBN 9781136924347. Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- ^ «Алла Пугачева и Максим Галкин поженились (ФОТО)» [Alla Pugacheva and Maxim Galkin got married (PHOTO)]. Mail.ru. 26 December 2011. Archived from the original on 11 June 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
- ^ Pugachev and other leaders are asked to stop harassment by Makarevich Crimea Archived 11 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Ukrayinska Pravda (28 March 2014)
- ^ «Russian Megastars Alla Pugacheva, Maxim Galkin Flee to Israel». Haaretz. 24 March 2022. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ^ «Вернувшаяся в Россию Пугачева пообещала «наводить порядок»» [Returning to Russia, Pugacheva promised to “put things in order”]. RIA Novosti (in Russian). 27 August 2022. Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ «Russian pop star’s war criticism stirs vigorous debate». AP NEWS. 19 September 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ Troianovski, Anton (18 September 2022). «Russian Pop Music Icon Comes Out Against the War in Ukraine». The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 18 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
- ^ «Russian pop legend Alla Pugacheva under investigation for ‘discrediting’ Russian army». Meduza. 20 September 2022.
- ^ «Russian pop star who criticised Ukraine war says she is in Israel». the Guardian. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
- ^ Boutsko, A. (4 May 2022). «Who are the Russians leaving their country?». Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ Alla Pugacheva biography Archived 16 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine, artistdirect.com. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
- ^ Profile Archived 8 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine, intermedia.ru. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
- ^ «BBC 100 Women 2022: Who is on the list this year?». BBC News. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: «Eurovision — Alla Pugacheva / Алла Пугачёва 1997». YouTube.
External linksEdit
- Russian Music on the net: Info on Alla Pugacheva with lyrics translated to English
- Alla Pugacheva discography at MusicBrainz
- Alla Pugacheva at IMDb
- Alla Pugacheva at the Forbes (in Russian)
- Videos of Alla Pugacheva’s Concert in Kremlin
- Alla Pugacheva discography at Discogs
The superstar’s artistic career has lasted over half a century and she can still pack a stadium.
In Russia and throughout the former Soviet Union, absolutely everyone knows the name Alla Pugacheva. Even people who do not like pop music cannot help but be touched by her soulful songs. But just who is the biggest star of Soviet and Russian pop music?
1. She did badly at school
Archive, Popugayka/Wikipedia
Alla Pugacheva was born in Moscow in 1949. She started playing the piano at the age of five, and it quickly became apparent that she had perfect pitch. At the same time, more traditional subjects failed to pique her interest at school. She did poorly in many classes and devoted all her attention to music, which eventually ended with her leaving school after the 8th grade to enroll in a music college. Just a year later, she went on her first tour of the USSR with other students. It was then that she caught the attention of songwriters. They began inviting her to record their songs, which then made their way to the radio and turned her into a star.
2. She was the first artist to perform in Chernobyl
After the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986, Pugacheva became the first artist to visit the site and perform for people who were involved in the cleanup effort. As she was performing one of the songs, she sang out the words, “Why did they blow up the plant?” and threw a stone at Communist Party functionaries present there. It was behavior like this and other frequent escapades that made the Soviet authorities suspicious and critical of Pugacheva. Nevertheless, she received numerous state awards for her contribution to the arts and culture, as well as the title of a Distinguished Artist and a People’s Artist of Russia.
3. She was the most famous Soviet singer abroad
Back in Soviet times, Pugacheva toured throughout the world and even released albums abroad, selling over 250 million records in total. One of the records—Watch Out!—was released in English and recorded with backing vocalists who had performed with ABBA. The album was released in Stockholm in 1985.
4. Only one film starring Pugacheva received critical acclaim
Legion-Media, Yuryi Abramochkin/Sputnik, TASS
Pugacheva also tried her hand at movies. She starred in several films, including biopics, but none of these were particularly successful. Only one musical drama, The Woman Who Sings, was met with good reviews. Pugacheva received a prestigious award and a cash prize, which she donated to an International Children’s Health Center.
In addition to pop music and cinema, the singer has also dabbled in business endeavors (she made perfume and shoes), launched a radio station named after herself that played her songs every hour and founded an arts school and stage workshops for teenagers.
5. She keeps retiring from performing, but then comes back
Like any pop diva, Pugacheva regularly gives farewell concerts and has been doing so since the mid-1990s. But each time her fans believe that she will come back. And she does. She has even gone on several farewell tours. At the same time, Pugacheva continues to have a busy social life and often appears on TV as either a guest or a presenter. To mark her 70th birthday in April 2019, she gave a huge concert at the Kremlin Palace. The tickets sold out in a week.
6. She battled bad habits for 50 years
Pugacheva tried her first cigarette while still in school and continued to smoke after becoming a famous singer. She managed to quit only in the past several years, although she admitted that this was very difficult after 50 years of smoking.
Pugacheva also managed to lose a lot of weight thanks to implementing healthy eating habits and celebrated her 70th birthday on top form. She has given up salt and bread altogether and has fasting days on a regular basis.
7. She is on her fifth husband
Archive, Mikhail Pochuev/TASS
Alla Pugacheva got married the first time at the age of 20 to a circus performer, Mikhail Orbakas, which led to the birth of her first daughter Kristina—who has also become a popular singer.
At 28, she married her second husband and then, three years later, her third. In 1994, she shocked fans by getting married to a rising star named Phillip Kirkorov who was 18 years her junior. Incidentally, their marriage lasted longer than the others—11 years—and they have remained friends even after the divorce.
In 2011, Pugacheva became a happy bride for the fifth time. The groom was a young comedian and TV host who is 27 years younger than her named Maxim Galkin. A couple of years later, they had twins Yelizaveta and Harry, born to a surrogate mother.
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