Alla Pugacheva
Alla Borisovna Pugacheva (Russian: А́лла Бори́совна Пугачёва, Russian pronunciation: ['alːɐ bɐ'rʲisəvnɐ pʊgɐˈt͡ɕɵvɐ]; sometimes Pugachova; born 15 April 1949) is a Soviet and Russian singer-songwriter. 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.[4][5][6][7] For several decades, Pugacheva was a sex symbol, a style icon, an inspiration for Soviet women and a heroine of Russian tabloids.[8] In the media, Pugacheva has been called "the Queen of Russian pop music".[9][10][11]
In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Borisovna and the family name is Pugacheva.
Alla Pugacheva
IPA: [ˈalːə pʊɡɐˈtɕɵvə]
Boris Gorbonos
- Singer-songwriter
- record producer
- actress
1965–present
3, including Kristina Orbakaitė
- Vocals
- piano
Her repertoire includes over 500 songs in Russian, English, German, French, Kazakh, Hebrew, Finnish and Ukrainian, and her discography has more than 100 records, CDs and DVDs. In addition to Russia and the former Soviet Union, Pugacheva's albums have been released in Japan, Korea, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Israel. In total, she has sold more than 250 million records.[12][13][14][15][16] Her debut album, Mirror of the Soul, has sold 10 million copies.[17]
During her career, Pugacheva has toured Eastern Europe, the Baltic states, Scandinavia, Central Asia and other countries around the world, including the United States, France, Greece, Italy and Israel.[18][19][20] In 2000, The New York Times called her "the goddess of Russian pop music, Moscow's Tina Turner with a touch of Édith Piaf".[21]
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. In addition to state awards, Pugacheva has been awarded Russian and international music prizes, including the Grand Prix of the Golden Orpheus International Vocal Competition and the Ampex Golden Reel Award. In 2022, she was among three Russian women included in the BBC's 100 Women list.[22][23]
Early life and education[edit]
Pugacheva was born to Boris Mikhailovich Pugachyov and Zinaida Arkhipovna (née Odegova) Pugachyova in Moscow, on 15 April 1949.[24] 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.[25]
Influence on popular culture[edit]
Over the years of her creative activity, which began in the mid-1960s, Pugacheva influenced the art of performers of the 90s of the twentieth century and subsequent generations, as well as the consciousness of people in the countries of Eastern Europe, the Baltics and Central Asia. She embodied the image of a strong and free woman. Pugacheva gave freedom in art, freedom of expression to people from all countries of the former USSR. The media called Pugacheva the “Russian Madonna”.[18][50][51][52][53][54][55]
Italian singer-songwriter Toto Cutugno noted that he considers Pugacheva an outstanding singer; а similar opinion was expressed by Swedish musician, member of the pop group ABBA Björn Ulvaeus.[56][57]
Russian music critic Alexey Mazhaev, in a review of Pugacheva's album "How disturbing this Path is", noted a combination of different genres — folk ("Stairs"), reggae ("Hold Me, straw"), blues ("That's how it Happened, Mom"), gypsy style ("Old Song"). Mazhaev also noted that in 12 of the 16 compositions, the singer wrote the music herself, demonstrating completely different vocal techniques and acting skills.[58]
Cover versions of songs from Pugacheva's repertoire have been recorded by pop, rock and hip-hop artists from around the world, including Patricia Kaas ("I Like It"), Lara Fabian ("Love Like a Dream"), Muslim Magomayev ("Every night and Every Day"), Bi-2 ("Paper Kite"), Tokiko Kato ("Millions of scarlet Roses") and others.[59][60][61][62][63] In addition, 50 Cent used a sample from the song "Shakespeare's Sonnet" from Pugacheva's repertoire in their hit "Piggy Bank".[64]
In 2021, according to the Romir Center for Public Opinion Research, Pugacheva took 1st place in the ranking of the "Most influential Musicians in Russia".[65]
In 2022, Latvian singer Laima Vaikule noted that Pugacheva was and remains the main Russian star.[66] In previous years, similar opinions were expressed by other performers from Eastern Europe and Central Asia, including the Kazakh group A'Studio, Tajik singer Manizha, Russian singer Valery Leontyev and others.[67][68][69]
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)
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.[108] Pugacheva is listed in the Russian Encyclopedia (2005)[109] as well as in encyclopedias in other countries of the world, including the United States[110]
In 1999, the President of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin awarded Pugacheva the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 2nd degree.[16]
In 2017, Pugacheva was included in the list of the "100 most influential Russians of the century" according to Forbes.[111]
She was honored as one of the BBC 100 Women in December 2022.[112]
Notes[edit]
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. The Track Music, Ampex and Melodiya labels have confirmed the music recording certification of Pugacheva's albums and singles published during the USSR period. Of the albums published after 1991, official certification information is available only about the album “Live in Peace, Country!” from 2003 and "Invitation to Sunset" from 2008.