The love and support of millions of Russians inspired and gave strength to this special child, forced every day to fight a serious congenital illness. But after any victory you need to return home, to ordinary life. How life is after “The Voice”, AiF.ru was told Danil and his mom Irina Afanasyeva.
"I'm still in shock"
For Danil’s participation in the show competition “The Voice. Children”, without exaggeration, was watched by the whole country. The emotions each performance of the young Sochi musician evoked in the majority of Russians could be judged by the reaction of the audience in the studio of the program, its presenter and mentors. All of them did not hide their admiration for the guy’s performance, and singers Pelageya Tears even flowed down my cheeks. But, of course, Danil Pluzhnikov himself experienced the strongest emotions at such moments, although outwardly he was completely collected and, like a real artist, did not show any excitement. The guy looked natural on stage, and sang very artistically and with soul. Surely this also helped him gain the maximum number of votes during the audience SMS voting. Although for his family he became a winner even earlier.
“Danka really wanted to participate in this competition and he submitted an application on the Internet, I only helped him,” says Irina Afanasyeva. “He was very happy when he passed the casting, then the blind auditions. For us, every step was a huge victory and joy. And when Danka reached the final and then became first, he was simply happy. Moreover, we did not initially count on this. We went to “The Voice” just to try our hand at it. You know, all the children there were very talented, and we were probably lucky. In any case, when Danya reached the final, for me and for all our relatives he was already a winner.”
Danil himself also willingly shares his impressions of his experiences thanks to his participation in the project.
Vladimir Alexandrov, AiF.ru: Have you already come to your senses after such success?
Danil Pluzhnikov: Not yet, I'm still in shock and still can't believe it. Emotions are overwhelming. But I sleep peacefully, I don’t dream about “The Voice” at night.
— Was it difficult to win, because you had strong opponents?
- Of course, there was great excitement and strong tension. It’s very difficult—it’s a live broadcast, after all. But I, like the guys who were in the top three with me, managed it. Lisa and Damir are very good, there was no competition between us at all, we always rooted for each other, communicated and wished good luck.
— What do you remember most and what impressions did your mentors — Bilan, Pelageya, Agutin — make?
— Every moment on the project was precious, and participation in it gave me just a tremendous experience. But I can’t single out anything. You know, all mentors are good in their own way, but I only keep in touch with Dima Bilan. We call him and discuss different topics— we talk about music, about life. We communicate very well with him.
— Now everyone congratulates you on your victory, they want to talk to you and do an interview. Are you tired of all this attention yet?
- No, of course, I’m not tired. I feel a lot of support, which gives me strength and helps me maintain a positive attitude.
—Where do you get inspiration for your creativity?
- From nature, from parents, from everyone around. And of course, the fact is that I really love music. I am a music lover and listen to everything. Music is my favorite thing and it brings me great joy.
— What do you dream about and what are your plans?
- I have one dream - I want to become famous singer or a composer, I write the music myself. But for this you need to study, study and study again. In the future I plan to enroll in College of Music, then to the conservatory.
Not just music
Danil continues to communicate with the guys from “The Voice” - via the Internet. He has a lot of pen pals because the guy is very sociable, which is clearly visible in the television stories with his participation. Not only children, but also adults like to communicate with him - he can find mutual language and topics for conversation with almost everyone. But still, a child with disabilities, and even someone as famous and beloved as Danya does not have too much live communication with her peers. And none modern means connections cannot completely replace it. Due to his illness, Pluzhnikov is studying at home, and during lessons alone at the music school, where his parents take him, he doesn’t communicate much. Moreover, the winner of “The Voice” takes music very seriously. It’s good that there is a person living next door with whom Danya can always have a heart-to-heart talk in the same language.
“My son has quite a lot of friends on the Internet, but this is the Internet,” shares Irina Afanasyeva. - And in life there is one boy with whom Dani really has a real friendship. They have been communicating for many years, understand each other and support each other in everything. Well done, I really like it. Nikita is healthy, tall, handsome guy, he is involved in athletics and takes prizes in competitions.”
Danya himself loves to draw and therefore is sensitive to the works sent by admirers of his talent. Photo: Danil Pluzhnikov’s VKontakte page
Music is the most important thing for Danil, and he devotes a lot of time to it. The boy attends vocal classes and learns to play the synthesizer. Although he also knows a lot about other types of creativity. Danya loves to draw with pencils and paints, and work with images in Photoshop. In general, he really likes the computer, although he doesn’t play games like many of his peers. Unless sometimes he sits down for a while with simple “worms” so that his brain can rest a little. He also has his own literary passions. Favorite genres are detective and science fiction, and my favorite works are “Sherlock Holmes”, “Harry Potter” and “The Chronicles of Narnia”. Moreover, reading, like watching films, is not just entertainment for him. Great importance makes sense to Dani. For example, after watching “Kung Fu Panda,” he shared with his mother that this animated film has a lot of instructive things, that it talks about good and evil.
Danil’s mother Irina Afanasyeva makes every effort to ensure that her son is happy. Photo: Danil Pluzhnikov’s VKontakte page
“Of course, not all children think about such things at this age,” says Irina Afanasyeva. - But, in general, I noticed that many guys with diseases like Dani’s are really wise beyond their years and often say some smart things. Although at the same time they still remain children.”
If only I had health
Whatever you say, the health of Danil Pluzhnikov for himself and his family is the most main question, which is more important than any fame. In infancy, he seemed like an ordinary child, but at about nine months his parents began to notice that he had stopped growing. It turned out that the boy has a severe genetic disease in which his limbs stop developing. Because of this, his height is now less than a meter, and he is forced to move on crutches.
“Since 2003, I already went to doctors with my son,” says Irina Afanasyeva. — At the age of seven he had his first operation, and after that there were two more at the Elizarov Center in Kurgan. They helped straighten and slightly lengthen his legs, but this is not completely curable. You can only improve the condition so that your bones don’t hurt and your muscles develop better.”
After his victory, Dani has no end to fans who want to take pictures with him and get an autograph. Photo: Danil Pluzhnikov’s VKontakte page
Like any disabled child, Dana is entitled to special free treatment according to quotas, but not everything is so simple. The state provides funds only for the boy, and there is no question of compensating the parents’ expenses, which cannot be avoided. For example, during trips to operations in Kurgan, Irina Afanasyeva paid for her accommodation herself. And this despite the fact that their family is not rich. Only the boy’s father works constantly, and his mother has been taking care of her son at home since his birth. To cover all expenses, they had to turn to charitable organizations. On the other hand, there are problems with finding competent specialists, especially with such a complex disease. But Danya needs constant treatment and rehabilitation.
The fame that came to the boy helped solve these problems, at least partially. I took care of his health host of the famous TV show Elena Malysheva. Thanks to this, Danya underwent an in-depth medical examination, based on the results of which the best doctors in the country held a consultation. But even they were powerless in the face of such a disease and could not work a miracle. But they helped determine the only Right way further treatment of the boy.
While participating in the Channel One project, Dana received messages with words of support from all over the country. Photo: Danil Pluzhnikov’s VKontakte page
“They came to the conclusion that it is not yet possible to perform new operations on Danka,” continues Irina Afanasyeva. “Now he needs to strengthen his muscles and spine. Elena Malysheva promised to place us in a rehabilitation center in Gelendzhik for three months this year, and I am sure that she will keep her word. She said that she wanted to ensure that in a year Danilka would be able to walk without crutches. I will be very grateful to her if this happens. Apparently, then we will meet again on her show.”
But complex and painful treatment is not the only problem that Dana and his parents had to face. The saddest thing is that this is sometimes compounded by the misunderstanding of others.
“It happens that people laugh, discuss me, there are also those who have a negative attitude,” Danil admitted while participating in the “Voice” program. “But I don’t care, I am who I am.”
But there is still good news. Thanks to the Paralympic Games, Sochi not only became more convenient for people with disabilities in terms of infrastructure. According to the boy’s mother, the attitude of the townspeople has also changed. They have become noticeably more tolerant, and one can only regret that there is only one such Olympic capital in Russia.
According to Irina Afanasyeva, after the Paralympics, Sochi residents began to treat people with disabilities better, like her son. Photo: Danil Pluzhnikov’s VKontakte page
Waiting for the best
Dana is very lucky with her parents. They try their best to make his life as comfortable as possible, although it is not so easy. For example, you need to arrange your home in such a way that a boy with his short stature will be comfortable. According to Irina Afanasyeva, now they want to order special furniture for him, but it’s difficult to find, and the family’s finances are limited. Even to pay for trips to Moscow for the “Voice” project, the boy’s parents turned to local deputies and to charitable organizations. There are other everyday problems that the family constantly faces.
“We have only two rooms, one of which Danya lives in,” says Irina Afanasyeva. - And the kitchen and hallway are combined - such a strange layout. So, in this room we always have a very, very damp wall, and black mold forms. The apartment is on the ground floor, and when it rains, water seeps in a lot. We are in the subtropics. Because of this, repairs have to be done literally every year. Dampness is harmful to Dani’s health, but I don’t know how this problem can be radically solved. Maybe someone will respond and come up with something and help us. I’ll be just happy if our wall becomes dry and the mold disappears forever.”
Considering all this, it is difficult to even convey how much joy the news that he gave brought to the whole family. Head of Sochi Anatoly Pakhomov. After Dani’s victory in “The Voice,” the mayor called his mother, conveyed his congratulations and promised a studio apartment in multi-storey building, currently under construction in the city center. It is promised to be completed by the end of this year. I would like to hope that by then Dani will have other reasons to be happy. Now they are waiting for a call from Channel One, they promised to contact us just after the May holidays. Everyone hopes that the boy will be offered to take part in some new interesting projects.
The winner of the supershow, as before, was revealed audience voting, which was conducted online while young performers performed.
61.7% of viewers voted for the 13-year-old performer, who first touched everyone with his performance of Oleg Gazmanov’s hit “Two Eagles.”
Who is the winner of The Voice Kids 2016
Little is known about the winner: some facts from the biography of Danila Pluzhnikov:
Danil Pluzhnikov was born on January 26, 2003 in Adler in musical family: Mom sings and plays the piano, dad enjoys playing drums and guitar.
Parents learned about Danila’s illness when the future talent was only 10 months old. The baby stopped growing and his weight also stopped. Doctors diagnosed achondroplasia (a genetic disease that causes the growth of limbs to stop).
At the same time, the parents were concerned that Danil would receive comprehensive development, so he goes to school (though at home), and also attends music school, where he learned to sing professionally and play the synthesizer.
A talented performer and winner of the show “The Voice. Children”, season 3, writes poetry and composes music on her own, and also loves to draw, ride a skateboard and a special scooter.
Danil has already become a laureate of Russian and international competitions in vocal skills, in total he has over 20 medals of the 1st degree and 7 awards of the 2nd degree.
Who won the show The Voice Kids 2016
Now Danil Pluzhnikov has won a long-awaited and not so easy victory in the popular talent show “The Voice. Children", season 3, on Channel One.
The third season of the popular music TV show “The Voice. Children" and laureate of numerous youth music competitions.
Danil Pluzhnikov was born in Adler, the regional center of one of the four inner-city districts of the resort city of Sochi. The boy was born into a family where both parents love music. Mom sings and plays the piano, father plays drums and guitar. It is not surprising that little Danya, having barely learned to speak, was already singing all the songs from “The Bremen Town Musicians” at karaoke.
The clear and cloudless sky above this family began to become covered with clouds when Danil was 10 months old. Mom noticed that her son stopped growing and gaining weight. At first, the doctors reassured him and did not share their own suspicions, but soon made a disappointing diagnosis: the boy had spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia of the upper and lower extremities. This is a complex systemic bone disease.
But life went on. And the courageous parents did everything in their power to ensure that their son received from this life everything that it could give him. Danil Pluzhnikov studies at school. True, the method chosen for him homeschooling: 4 lessons with teachers and 7 more online. At the same time, the boy does not demand any concessions for himself and does not allow himself to relax: Danil is an excellent student.
Music
Dani has many hobbies. The boy loves to ride a skateboard and a special scooter that resembles a two-seater mini-car. Danil Pluzhnikov also loves to draw and writes poetry. But main love Dani's life is music.
Several times a week, parents take their son to a music school, where Danil diligently practices vocals. Not long ago, Danil Pluzhnikov began composing instrumental music, choosing a tune on a synthesizer.
The first victories were not slow to appear. The first year of vocal lessons with her favorite teacher Victoria Brendaus brought Dana 11 awards. Pluzhnikov regularly visited various music competitions. Some were held far from their native Sochi. Today the young performer has more than 20 1st degree medals and 7 2nd degree awards.
In 2014, when Sochi hosted Olympic Games, Danil Pluzhnikov also did not stand aside. The young musician was invited to meet the Paralympic athletes, and Danil gladly agreed.
This one has small in stature– only 98 centimeters – a huge human being and kind heart. The boy, bearing the burden of his own difficult fate with dignity and courage, is engaged in charity work. Danil Pluzhnikov regularly visits the Moscow Oncology Center, where he sings and plays the synthesizer for the youngest patients.
Danil admits that these trips are not easy for him, because seeing seriously ill children and realizing that some of them cannot be saved is very scary. But smiles and good mood kids are given the feeling that he is doing a good and necessary thing.
"Voice. Children"
The decision to participate in the 3rd season of the show “The Voice. Children” was not easy for Danil Pluzhnikov. The boy had long dreamed of going on stage and proving, along with other talented guys, that he could sing no worse. But the fear of a huge audience, which was not limited only to those present in the hall, restrained this impulse of the musician. In the end, Danya made up his mind and made the right decision.
The 13-year-old singer took the stage with the wonderful Cossack song “Two Eagles”. Before leaving, he admitted that he dedicated the chosen song to his grandfather, who went through the war. Danil is alarmed that the feat of that heroic generation is underestimated by their peers, and they began to forget who gave them life.
The boy performed this song so thoughtfully and without a shadow of pretense that he amazed not only the audience, but even experienced mentors. On last minutes Song turned to the boy and gasped. A little later, Bilan admitted that his heart almost stopped when he felt the extraordinary, adult spirituality that such a young boy filled the music and words with.
She also expressed sincere admiration. The singer said that this song “suits” Dani’s voice. But the main thing is that in execution young musician“Two Eagles” sounded mature and thoughtful.
Dmitry Nagiyev, admiring the boy’s courage and talent, carried Danil Pluzhnikov away from the stage in his arms. The mentors noted that the performer from Sochi has unlimited capabilities and undoubted talent.
The audience accompanied the singer with a standing ovation. Danila congratulated the Our Future Foundation on successfully completing the “Blind Auditions” stage.
In the show “The Voice. Children" little musician constantly surprised the audience and the jury. Danil Pluzhnikov appeared on screens in the fourth episode of the third season music show"Voice. Children", which aired on Friday March 11, 2016.
On April 1, 2016, Danil Pluzhnikov appeared in the episode of the show at the stages “Fights” and “Song for Departure”. At the “Duels” stage, Danil performed the song “Oh, roads...” by Novikov and. The boy was the second participant in the third trio and emerged as the winner of the stage.
In the competition “Song for Departure,” Danil Pluzhnikov again sang Gazmanov’s song “Two Eagles,” which brought the young performer victory at the auditions. The song did not disappoint this time either young singer– Danil advanced to the next, final stage.
Another triumph of the young performer was the finale, in which the boy sang the song “They beat us, we fly.” After Pluzhnikov again touched the audience and the jury, the boy advanced to the super final. Danil Pluzhnikov’s rivals were the song “Don’t disturb my soul, violin” and “Rubber Hedgehog”. Daniil Pluzhnikov himself performed the hit “I’m Free.” 61.7% of viewers voted for Danil.
On April 29, 2016, Danil Pluzhnikov became the winner of the show “The Voice. Children-3" under the guidance of project mentor Dima Bilan. In addition, Pluzhnikov performed three times in non-competitive performances. The young musician took part in the group performances of the project’s children on the songs “Cisara” and “The Winner Takes It All”, and also sang the song “I Remember You” with his mentor Dima Bilan and his teammates.
Pluzhnikov is a repeated participant in the Foundation’s projects. In February of this year, the young Sochi singer participated in the International festival-competition “Success Factor”, which was held in hometown musician. Then creative biography Danila Pluzhnikova added another victory: the boy became a 1st degree laureate.
Personal life
The boy admits that his short stature does not bother him at all in life. Danil realized long ago that he would never become like his peers, and began to be calm about the reactions of others.
Today personal life Danila Pluzhnikova and the most great love- it `s music. Danil loves different songs, but always with deep meaning. In addition to Oleg Gazmanov’s songs, the young performer’s repertoire includes compositions and.
Danil is also interested in composing music; the boy even received a grand prize for his own work as a composer. Fans of Pluzhnikov’s work hope to soon hear original music performed by the young artist.
Danil Pluzhnikov now
After winning the TV show “The Voice. Children" Danil Pluzhnikov began touring Russia. In 2016, the young musician performed at the rock festival “Invasion” in front of a crowd of two hundred thousand. The song “I am free”, which Danil performed in the project “Voice. Children" inspired the organizers to take a crazy, but at the same time logical step: to invite the boy to perform together with Valery Kipelov, who performs this composition in the original. As a result, Kipelov and Pluzhnikov performed with two songs, “I am free” and “Lizaveta”.
In 2017, on Russia Day, Danil Pluzhnikov spoke at festive concert in Sochi. The boy sang with the Yin-Yang group, who became the headliners of the event.
In 2017, Danil Pluzhnikov spoke with new song"Pilgrim". This is a composition written specifically for the young musician after winning the children's “Voice”. The musician presented this song to the public also in Sochi, but already at solo concert, which took place on July 15.
Once again, the young singer delighted listeners with a new composition. Grand opening First World Congress of People with Disabilities at the Palace game types sports in Yekaterinburg. The musician also recorded this track in the studio, and today the composition “Pilgrim” is available for purchase on the iTunes platform.
Discography
Danil Pluzhnikov has not yet released solo album, but the songs performed by the young musician were included in two collections:
- 2016 - #LIVE
- 2017 – “Two Eagles” (collection released as part of the “Voice.Children” project)
Singles on iTunes:
- 2017 – “Pilgrim”
