"Brilliant": what happened to the members of the legendary group. What was the first composition of Viagra The first soloist of the group

"Brilliant" is a Russian female pop group that has been performing since the mid-1990s. One of the first women's groups in the country, which presented the national stage with many talented solo artists.

History of creation

The Brilliant group has been leading its history since 1995, when composer Andrei Grozny (ex-soloist of the Kar-Man group and producer of Viktor Saltykov, the Amega and Bounty groups) with an old friend, musician Andrei Shlykov, decided to create a women's a group similar to the British "Spice Girls".

The first to join the group was 18-year-old Olga Orlova - her producers were recommended by the soloist of the once popular MF-3 group Christian Ray, in whose video high school student Olga starred shortly before.

Orlova suggested that Grozny take his girlfriends into the group, the dancer Varvara Koroleva and Polina Iodis, who at that time was studying in Moscow at the Faculty of Law and left the institute for the sake of the group. Olga acted as the soloist of the group, while the rest of the girls worked mainly as backup dancers.

For the first 2 years, even Russian musicians, not to mention the listeners, did not know the girls by sight, although the songs from their debut album “There, Only There” were very popular. The artists began to be recognized after the release of the first clips in late 1996 and early 1997: by that time, the “Brilliant” had undergone the first changes in the composition - Varvara decided to leave the team and devote herself to her family.

"There, only there" - the first clip of "Brilliant" (1996)

The Queen was replaced by a 20-year-old graduate of the College of Arts, Irina Lukyanova. Then 21-year-old Zhanna Friske was invited to the group to play the role of artistic director. The producers offered the journalism student to choose outfits and put numbers for the group members, but in mid-1997, the charismatic Zhanna became the fourth member of the girl band.

In this composition, the "Brilliant" existed for 2 years, having achieved considerable popularity. Their hits "Clouds", "Cha-cha-cha" and "Where are you, where?" sounded from every radio, and the video for the song "Flowers" was regularly played on the most famous music channels. At the end of 1998, Polina Iodis announced her departure from the team, deciding to devote herself to extreme sports. Today, the girl is one of the founders of the Federation and the Russian Surfing Championship and has been living in Bali for several years now.

“I left without regrets, which were not later. At that time, we toured a lot, but did not develop, ”recalls Iodis.

1999-2002

In mid-1999, the ranks of the "Brilliant" were replenished by the ex-soloist of the youth group "Class" - 19-year-old Ksenia Novikova, who periodically recorded backing vocals for the group. Together with Ksenia, the group released the songs “Winter will come in autumn” and the incredibly popular “Chao, bambina!”, For which a very erotic video was filmed for those times (dir. Philip Yankovsky - the son of Russian actor Oleg Yankovsky). All of Russia was discussing Zhanna Friske in a transparent negligee, who showed in the clip "sharon stone gesture". The viewer's attention was fueled by the fact that many TV channels refused to put this video on the air.

Shiny - Chao, bambino

Meanwhile, a remix of the hit, created with the participation of Alexei Ryzhov, a member of the Disco Crash group, sounded at all discos in the country, and the girl band's album "About Love" was sold out at breakneck speed.

In 2000, due to a conflict with Andrei the Terrible, Orlova left the group. The singer was expecting a baby, but for a long time hid this fact. As a result, the management told the soloist that she did not need her services. “We ordered a group of beautiful girls, not pregnant mothers,” Olga was told. Pregnant Orlova managed to "light up" in the video for the song "White Snow", but a month later the clip was redone, and all the episodes with the singer were cut out.

"Brilliant". Interviews and clips (1998)

In the early 2000s, Zhanna Friske began to engage in solo work, combining work in the "Brilliant". Suspecting the imminent departure of the soloist from the group, the producers invited 18-year-old Yulia Kovalchuk, a student of the Moscow State Institute of Cinematography, to the team. Kovalchuk's debut in the team was the song "Au-au", directed by Roman Prygunov, author of the films "DuhLess" and "DuhLess-2" with Danila Kozlovsky.

The most popular songs of the "Brilliant" in these years were the singles "Over the Four Seas" and "And I kept flying" (verses by Ksenia Novikova) - both songs received the prestigious Golden Gramophone award. The clips for these hits caused a special stir among the male part of the fans.

2002-2007

In September 2002, the group presented the album "Over the Four Seas", performed in genres unusual for the group: from disco house to rap. The album even included "heavy" compositions, which came as a surprise to the artists themselves. Friske summed up that the team is turning from a girlish team into a female one. This was also confirmed by journalists who sought to send Zhanna and Irina Lukyanova to “retirement”.

In March 2003, Irina found out that she was pregnant, and the doctor gave her a choice: either work or a child. The singer chose the latter and left the "Brilliant" - later she returned to dancing. In place of Lukyanova, they took a former figure skater, 23-year-old Anna Semenovich - the girl interviewed the group, after which she received an offer to become part of it. Together with Semenovich, "Brilliant" released the hit "Orange Song" and the album "Orange Paradise".

Brilliant - Orange Song

After participating in the extreme reality show "The Last Hero", Zhanna Friske left the group. Many associate the departure of the singer with the wedding of Andrei the Terrible. Jeanne and the producer once had a short romance, and Grozny even made an offer to the singer, but she refused the admirer. “From that moment on, everyone’s personal life went its own way,” says Andrey. Despite this, Grozny and Shlykov remained her producers throughout Friske's entire creative career.

In 2004, the 23-year-old Ukrainian singer Nadezhda Ruchka joined the group, who had previously sung in the Party group and worked in a casino. In the updated composition, the team recorded the songs "New Year's Song", "Palm Trees in Pairs" and "Oriental Tales" (with the Iranian-Swedish singer Arash).

Shiny ft. Arash - Oriental tales

The video for the last song caused a lot of negative feedback - in particular, the chairman of the Islamic Committee of Russia, Heydar Jemal, said that the clip offends the feelings of Muslims, and the depraved atmosphere of the video has nothing to do with the morality of the followers of Islam. Nevertheless, the song became a real hit, and soon the Brilliant released an album of the same name.

2007-2014

In March 2007, Anna Semenovich left the group, who was replaced by the 22-year-old ex-soloist of Strelok Anastasia Osipova. Six months later, Ksenia Novikova went on a long maternity leave: first, her eldest son Miron was born, and a year and a half later, Bogdan. In her place, they took Natalia Asmolova, whom Shlykov noticed during one of the castings: the girl did not differ in pomp, but she impressed the producer with her outstanding vocals.

Natalia stayed in the group for only 3 months. She was replaced by Friske's younger sister, Natalya, in the "Brilliant". However, she was able to survive in the team for only a year - almost simultaneously with her, Kovalchuk left the Brilliant, whose contract had ended.

At the casting, the producers chose the singer Nadezhda Kondratiev as a replacement for the departed artists (in the end, she never became a soloist, only appearing with the group once) and dancer Anna Dubovitskaya. Interestingly, businessman Sergei Anokhin, who once met with Novikova and Friske Sr., became Dubovitskaya's spouse in 2011. The members of the team confirmed that many girls liked Anokhin, but this did not cause discord in the group.

In 2008, a bright 18-year-old brunette, world vice-champion in ballroom dancing, Yulianna Lukasheva, came to the "Brilliant". With her participation, the tracks “Odnoklassniki” and “You Know, Darling” were recorded and the collection “Odnoklassniki” was released with old covered hits.

Brilliant - Odnoklassniki

In November 2009, Yulianna left the group - she was replaced by Marina Berezhnaya with "very fashionable r'n'b vocals and outstanding external data." In mid-2011, Ksenia Novikova returned to the group from the decree, which in parallel began to work on solo projects.

2014–2017

In July 2014, the group performed at the New Wave festival in Jurmala - already without Anna Dubovitskaya, who went on maternity leave after the wedding. In the summer of 2015, after 8 years of "service", Anastasia Osipova left the group - she was replaced by ex-soloist Natalia Asmolova. As for the first time, Asmolova only lasted a couple of months at the Brilliant and left after Ksenia Novikova - she switched to her own Ksyusha project and the Our Meaning of Life charitable foundation she created.

At this time, storm clouds were gathering over the ex-soloist of the band Zhanna Friske. A woman who recently gave birth to a son was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in her brain. For 2 years she bravely fought the disease. Money for the treatment of the people's favorite was collected with the help of Channel One. It was possible to collect more than 60 million rubles; but even the doctors of an elite American clinic could not save the singer. In the summer of 2015, Zhanna Friske died. The hardest loss was experienced by Olga Orlova, who until the last hours of her life was next to Zhanna. The new composition of the "Brilliant": Berezhnaya, Zolotova, Illarionov, Asmolova

Scandals

In January 2016, aspiring artist Elena Petrova came to the show “Let them talk”, accusing the “brilliant” Silvia Zolotova and her fiancé, composer Denis Kovalsky, of beating their mutual friend with particular cruelty at the birthday party. The girl claimed that because of the fight she lost the child. Sylvia and Denis denied Petrova's story and, in turn, accused her of thirst for PR.

Discography

• There, only there (1996)
• Just Dreams (1998)
• About Love (2000)
• White Snow (2000, compilation)
• Over four seas (2002)
• Orange Paradise (2003)
• Oriental Tales (2005)
• Odnoklassniki (2008, compilation)
• Best 20 (2016, compilation)

"Brilliant" now

At the moment, the "Brilliant" are Marina Berezhnaya, Sylvia Zolotova and Kristina Illarionova. Sometimes Asmolova performs with girls, and at the beginning of 2018 there were rumors that Veronika Romanova, the host of the Startup morning program on the RBC TV channel, could become a new member of the group.

Brilliant - The Paint Brigade (2015)

In 2017, the girls released three singles "Redhead Girl", "The Sun" and "This is Love", as well as a video for the last song, which was filmed in Portugal. The group actively tours, performs in clubs and takes part in concerts.

From the old composition of the legendary Na-Na group, Vladimir Politov and Vyacheslav Zherebkin remained in the team, who have been performing in the group since 1992. How have the guys changed since then and what happened to the musicians who left the gang?

Vladimir Lyovkin

In 1997, the artist was diagnosed with cancer of the lymphatic system, with which Levkin fought for 10 years. The next year after Levkin found out about his illness, he left Na-Na. At first, Lyovkin was engaged in other musical projects, but over time, the disease did not leave him the strength to work.

“I imagined a terrible sight,” Vladimir said in an interview with the Sobesednik portal. - Pale and thin, like death itself, completely bald. Even my eyebrows fell out from chemotherapy! In the mouth, the blood ulcers hurt wildly, it was impossible to swallow even a piece of food. The only salvation was anesthetic paste. I lubricated the sores in my mouth with it, the pain went away for a while. And quickly, quickly, choking, he ate bread or pasta.

In 2012, Levkin became the father of a girl, Nika, who was born by actress Marina Ichetovkina, the fourth wife of the musician. Levkin met Marina in the company of friends, and the girl did not hide that for a long time she went crazy both in the group and personally in Levkin, although she never tried to get in touch with the idol.

At the wedding, the bride did not hide her delight about the dream come true. “I married Levkin!” - the girl laughed.

Vladimir Asimov

Senior Sergeant Asimov got into the group after military service in the Space Forces. For 12 years of work in Na-Na, Asimov, in his own words, repelled more than one sexual attack from desperate female fans. The girls guarded the musician at the entrance, made their way to hotel rooms, bribing maids, gave the artist their underwear, but Asimov remained faithful to his wife, banker Tatyana Tomilina, who at one time sponsored the group. The couple got married in secret, and Tatyana and her son Semyon (born in 1995) lived separately from Vladimir - Na-Na producer Bari Alibasov forbade his wards to marry, as this, in his opinion, could affect popularity. In addition, Alibasov liked Tatyana, he himself proposed to the girl. Upon learning that Asimov was caring for Tomilina, the producer threatened his artist with dismissal, so Asimov kept his marriage a secret for 7 years - even the parents of the spouses did not know about their status.

In 1991, Asimov's wife was diagnosed with blood cancer - doctors predicted the girl would have two years of life, but she not only defeated the disease, but gave birth to a child during the rehabilitation period, although the doctors feared that the young mother would not survive childbirth.

After leaving the group, Asimov and his family moved to Spain, where he continues to record songs, including in Spanish. The 22-year-old son of the artist was educated in Spain and works in the civil service.

Pavel Sokolov

Sokolov became the vocalist of the group in 1997, and before that, the artist participated in the backup dancer "Na-Na" for 8 years, starting to dance in ballet from the age of 14. As Sokolov recalls, it was a crazy time: the artist’s life included alcohol, illegal substances, and sex with female fans…

Pavel regrets that there were drugs in his life, he speaks frankly about this with his three children - Sokolov's eldest daughter is 26 years old, she is a lawyer.

Sokolov left Na-Na in 2008 and has not been in contact with his former bandmates since then.

Vladimir Politov

Politov still works at Na-Na, recalling with nostalgia the best years of the team: “When we were at the peak of fame, we could afford anything. Slavka and I came back from the tour with two sports bags of money. And thought: where to spend them? They squandered 5 thousand dollars a day - for clothes, for girls, for clubs, for gifts.

Having created a family, Politov began to behave more modestly. Now his daughter Alena is 16 years old, she is finishing school and plans to return to Moscow from Goa, where she lives with her mother Olga. For some time after the divorce, Alena lived with her father, while the ex-wife of the musician traveled around India, carried away by Eastern philosophy.

In the summer of 2011, the Na-Na musicians faced tragedy: the founder of the group's Moscow fan club, 30-year-old Margarita Gileva, was killed. The killer turned out to be another fan of the group, Victoria Kharitonova, who stabbed and strangled her friend out of jealousy towards the musicians. Later, the offender turned himself in, and in 2012 Kharitonova was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Vladimir Politov, who was closest to the girl, offered condolences to the girl's family and met with Rita's parents.

Vyacheslav Zherebkin

After serving in a tank unit and working at a factory, Zherebkin was cast in Na-Na. Three years later, Slava became a father for the first time - in 1994, his wife Tatyana gave birth to a daughter, Xenia, from the artist. Now there are four children in the family, the youngest of whom, son Denis, was born exactly a year ago.

In the company of two young members of the group, Leonid Semidyanov and Mikhail Igonin, Vladimir Politov and Vyacheslav Zherebkin continue to tour and release videos.

"A'Studio" is a Kazakhstani pop group known for the hits "Julia", "Unloved", "Soldier of Love", "I'm Running to You", "I'm Flying Away", etc.

Soviet and Russian group A "Studio

History of the group

The founder and ideological inspirer of the A-Studio group was the son of the famous Kazakh opera baritone Ermek Serkebayev Baigali. While still a student at the conservatory, in 1982 the young man got a job as a keyboard player in the Arai ensemble of Roza Rymbayeva, which at that time gathered the best musicians of Kazakhstan.

During the years of work in the team, Baigali traveled on tour throughout the Soviet Union and the countries of Eastern Europe, more than once became the laureate of prestigious music competitions and gained invaluable experience. In the end, he felt cramped within Arai, his soul demanded different music, and for this a new group was needed.

A "Studio at the beginning of the creative path

He began to look for like-minded people, and the first person he turned to was guitarist Vladimir Mikloshich. The guys had known each other for a long time, together they were "fans" from The Beatles, they exchanged scarce records.

Batyrkhan Shukenov became the first soloist of the A "Studio group

The guitarist Bulat Sydzykov moved from the old composition of Arai to the new group, Sagnai Abdulin played the drums, and Najib Vildanov performed the vocal parts. Later, a young singer and musician Batyrkhan Shukenov joined them, and in 1987 the group began independent performances under the name Alma-Ata Studio, which eventually transformed into A-Studio. In 1988, the debut album "The Way Without Stops" was released, which included 8 songs in Russian and Kazakh.

The main stages of creativity

It is not known how the creative fate of the newly minted group would have developed if Philip Kirkorov had not heard their song "Julia" at one of the national concerts. He showed it to Alla Pugacheva, and the Primadonna wanted to personally meet talented Kazakh musicians. Soon they met in Moscow, and two months later the group was already touring the country as part of the Pugacheva Theater.

In 1990, "A-Studio" first appeared on television in the legendary "Christmas Meetings" by Alla Borisovna and from that moment firmly established itself among the best domestic pop groups.

A "Studio - Julia

In the same year, their album "Julia" was released (according to fans, this is the best A'Studio album), but rather the musicians went to London at the invitation of producer Greg Walsh, who offered them a long-term collaboration with his record company.

Greg Walsh (left) helped A "Studio record albums

The band met the new millennium at the peak of its popularity, having six successful albums, about a dozen video clips and many prestigious music awards in its creative baggage. Therefore, the sudden departure of Batyrkhan Shukenov in the fall of 2000 came as a complete surprise to the rest of the group. The vocalist decided to pursue a solo career (the ethnic project "Batyr"). Fifteen years later, he died untimely from a heart attack.

In 2001, they took his place Polina Griffis, whom the musicians met during a trip to America. The girl perfectly fit into the team, adding to it a peculiar note of “Westernness”. "A-Studio" became a welcome guest of foreign club parties, the leading DJs of London became interested in their work, who began to make remixes for the group's popular songs.

Having received wide recognition in Europe and America, the team reached a new level, but at that moment Polina fell in love with the leader of the Nevergreen group and decided to create a joint project with him.

A "Studio - Such things

The place did not remain vacant for long: soon the seventeen-year-old Georgian singer Keti Topuria burst into the group like a powerful hurricane. Her arrival in March 2005 was a breath of fresh air for the group: the musicians were captivated by her talent, temperament and incredible charm, and they themselves seem to have lost a couple of decades.

The very first composition “Fly away”, recorded with Keti, became an absolute hit in 2005, for which the team received many prizes and awards. It became clear that "A-Studio" began a new life, and the group is not going to give up their positions.

A-Studio - I'm flying away

The joy of conquering a new peak was overshadowed by the death of guitarist and composer Baghlan Sadvakasov, who died in a car accident in 2006. Exactly 10 years later, the second guitarist of A'Studio died - Bulat Syzdykov from the first line-up of the group.

In 2015, the group solemnly celebrated their 25th anniversary with a grand concert in the Kremlin, in the organization of which they were helped by an old friend Greg Walsh. The performance was attended by Russian pop stars who performed their best songs. The recording of the performance was released as a separate album “Concert in the Kremlin. 25 years".

Collaborations with other artists

• "Top Model in Russian" - A' Studio ft.

  Discography

  • Way Without Stops (1988)
  • Julia (1990)
  • Soldier of Love (1994)
  • Live (1995)
  • Unloved (1996)
  • Sinful Passion (1998)
  • Such Things (2001)
  • Fly away (2005)
  • 905 (2007)
  • Total (2008)
  • Waves (2010)
  • Concert in the Kremlin. 25 years old (2015)

  Group "A-studio" now

  The band celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2017 with a series of large-scale concerts in their homeland, after which they solemnly completed their festive tour in the capital's Crocus City Hall.

  
  

  In 2018, the group worked on new material, and the ambitious Keti Topuria was sure that she would soon become the owner of the coveted Grammy with the rest of the team.

  At the moment, five people play in the main part of A-Studio: soloist Katy Topuria, vocalist and keyboardist Baigali Serekbaev and bassist Vladimir Mikloshich. They invite drummer Evgeny Dalsky and guitarist Sergey Kumin as session musicians.

The first soloists of the group, created in 1999, were Alena Vinnitskaya and Nadezhda Granovskaya. Debut video clip - "Attempt No. 5". The composition of the group changed 17 times. Now Erica Herceg, Anastasia Kozhevnikova and Misha Romanova are performing in the VIA Gra team.

Factory

Silver medalists of the first "Star Factory" (2002). Initially, the quartet included Irina Toneva, Alexandra Savelyeva, Sati Kazanova and Maria Alalykina. the group became a trio. Acting soloists - Irina Toneva,
Alexandra Saveliev and Alexander Popov.

shiny

Olga Orlova, Polina Iodis, Varvara Koroleva - a trio that introduced the group "Brilliant" to the public in 1996 with the song "There, only there." Last summer, Nadya Ruchka, the last "old man", left the team. Now Marina Berezhnaya, Sylvia Zolotova and Kristina Illarionova perform under the name "Brilliant".

Lyceum

Anastasia Makarevich is the permanent soloist of the group. The girl began her career with Izolda Ishkhanishvili and Elena Perova, when the hits of the Lyceum were the songs “Girlfriend Night” and “Autumn”. Now Ekaterina Nepruk and Sophia Taikh are going on stage with Anastasia.

Roots

Alexei Kabanov, Alexander Berdnikov, Pavel Artemyev and Alexander Astashenok with their song “And I'm Losing Roots” was known in 2002 by almost every viewer. Now Artemiev and Astashenok went on a solo voyage, and Dmitry Pakulichev took their place.

Ivanushki International

For more than 20 years of the existence of the Ivanushki International group, there were only 5 soloists: Andrey Grigoriev-Apollonov,
Kirill Andreev, Kirill Turichenko (currently performing), Igor Sorin and Oleg Yakovlev. Igor in 1998 - fell out of the window. Oleg passed away last summer.

Arrows

In 1997, 7 (!) Soloists performed in the group, and the team itself could be called “Snow Whites”, “Alenushki” or “Lyu-lu-toys”. The girls band ceased to exist in the 00s, but not forever: three years ago, the Strelka returned to the stage in the "golden line-up", and now they are performing together - Ekaterina "Radio operator Kat" Kravtsova, Svetlana "Hera" Bobkina, Maria "Margo » Bibilova.

hi-fi

In the late 90s, the group was created by Pavel Yesenin - the composer himself wanted to become the frontman of Hi-Fi, but gave way to Mitya Fomin. The singer was accompanied by Oksana Oleshko and Timofey Pronkin. The latter still performs with the band's songs, but now he takes the stage with another soloist, Marina Drozhdina.

Silver

Before Marina Lizorkina, Elena Temnikova and Olga Seryabkina had time to unite in the trio "Serebro", they went to the Eurovision 2007 contest, where they took 3rd place with the song "Song # 1". Seryabkina is still performing, and the brunette and blonde from the first line-up have changed more than once - now Ekaterina Kishchuk and Tatyana Morgunova are included in Serebro.

It will soon be fifteen years since a stunning team appeared on the Russian stage that won the heart of every man - the VIA Gra group. Over the entire history of its existence, more than ten soloists have changed in it, and therefore few people remember who was part of the first composition of Viagra, from which it all began. So who was at the origin? What was the very first composition of Viagra - the legendary female group of the Russian stage? Let's remember.

History of the group

Two friends, two talented musicians, two people obsessed with music, eager to change the world, decided to create a new women's group that will change the perception of the Russian stage. In 2000, the successful TV producer Dmitry Kostyuk and composer Konstantin Meladze, having analyzed the success of the Spice Girls in the West and the "Brilliant" in Russia, joined forces to create a new group that would not only be able to compete with popular bands, but also become a standard for them.

Selection of soloists

Since the task was not easy, the work progressed very slowly. The first composition of Viagra was recruited for a very long time. The first to enter the group at that time was the TV presenter of the Biz-TV channel, whose general director was Dmitry Kostyuk. He invited a talented and smart girl to participate in the project, but she doubted for a long time, as she preferred rock music. The interest to see what will come of this venture prevailed over doubts, and Vinnitskaya agreed.

Numerous castings did not give results, the producers could not find those who fit the format of the group one hundred percent. The first composition of Viagra - Alena Vinnitskaya and selected girls Marina Kaschin and Yulia Miroshnichenko - began work on the first compositions, but the result did not satisfy Konstantin Meladze and Dmitry Kostyuk, and they decided to close the project.

After some time, they returned to an unfulfilled dream and started all over again, only this time they began to treat applicants for a place in VIA Gre even more demanding.

Not a trio but a duet

It was originally planned that VIA Gra would consist of three surprisingly attractive and charming girls who could sing. Desperate to find suitable soloists, the producers thought about creating a solo project with Vinnitskaya. But an unexpected discovery for them was Nadezhda Granovskaya. The girl met all the requirements, the main of which is a stunning sexy appearance. So, finally, Viagra was formed.

The first composition (photo above) did not last long, but did a lot.

"Attempt No. 5" - that was the name of the first song of the girls, which instantly made them insanely popular - they literally woke up famous. It happened on September 4, 2000, the day after the premiere of the composition on the Biz-TV channel. The debut was marked by the Golden Gramophone, Stopud Hit, Golden Firebird and Golden Kettle awards. The band's first album was released in 2001.

Many years have passed since then, and soloists have often changed in the team, but no one will argue with the fact that Alena Vinnitskaya and Nadezhda Granovskaya are the real very first VIA Gra. By the way, are you wondering why the group was named that way? There are several versions.

Origin of the band's name

It turns out that the name of the team was not at all in honor of the drug of the same name. According to one version, "VIA Gra" is a combination of the abbreviation "vocal-instrumental ensemble" and the word "gra" (in Russian - "game").

According to another, the name consists of the first letters of the names of the soloists. "VI" - Vinnitsa and "GRA" - Granovskaya. "A" between them for readability.

However, the sexy appearance of the artists, members of the team, is more inclined to associate with a well-known medical drug. In addition, the sound of the name is perceived in the same way.

Alena Vinnitskaya: facts from the biography

It was with this girl that the history of the group began. She joined the first part of VIA Gra, and until now her name is associated with the team. Alena Vinnitskaya participated in the project of Meladze and Kostyuk for three years, after which she left the group and set off on a free voyage through the expanses of show business. Despite the fact that the artist already has eight solo albums and thousands of fans in Russia and Ukraine, critics call the VIA Gra period the most successful stage in her creative life.

Nadezhda Granovskaya: some facts from life

A young provincial girl, Nadezhda Meikher, who came from the outback to the capital of Ukraine, managed to get into the first part of the Viagra group. The names changed, the soloists left, they were replaced by new ones, but Nadezhda Granovskaya turned out to be the most frequent guest in the team. She left the group several times, then returned again. The reasons for this were different - pregnancy, conflicts within the team, etc. Nevertheless, the door was always open for her at VIA Gre. An interesting fact is that before participating in the project, Nadezhda Granovskaya had no vocal experience at all. "VIA Gra" taught her to sing and turned her into a real star. Now she is a successful singer, actress and TV presenter.