Ukrainian female pop group "VIA Gra"
, created in 2000 in Kyiv, is considered one of the most successful Russian-language groups of the 2000s. "VIA Gra" recorded 5 studio albums, has released more than 30 radio singles and video clips. The name of the group is an allusion to the drug Viagra and stands for VIA - vocal and instrumental ensemble; Ukrainian gra - game. Distinctive feature group is a frequent change of participants, which once again proves that "Via Gra" - commercial project. Music producer groups - composer Konstantin Meladze.
For 2013 on TV channels 1+1 (Ukraine) And NTV (Russia) Konstantin Meladze's reality show is planned to start “I want to go to VIA Gro”, consisting of eight episodes and telling viewers how girls from all over the CIS are trying to become soloists popular group. Meladze plans to give the new group, which will include the winners of the reality project, a different name. At first it was reported that the project would start in the spring, but later the start of the show was postponed indefinitely.
13. Alena Vinnitskaya(born December 27, 1974, Kyiv) - Ukrainian author and performer of pop-rock songs, one of the first members of the female pop group “VIA Gra”. Lives and works in Ukraine, writes and performs songs in Russian.
12.Nadezhda Granovskaya(born April 10, 1982, Zbruchivka village, Volochyssky district, Khmelnitsky region) - Ukrainian singer, actress, TV presenter, poetess. Former soloist of the Ukrainian female pop group “VIA Gra” (2000-2006); (2009-2011).
11. Tatyana Naynik(born April 6, 1978, St. Petersburg) - lead singer and producer of the group “Maybe”. Former member of the Ukrainian female pop group “VIA Gra” (April 2002 - November 2002).
10. Anna Sedokova(born December 16, 1982, Kyiv) - Ukrainian pop singer, TV presenter, actress. Former soloist of the “golden lineup” of the Ukrainian female pop group “VIA Gra”.
9. Vera Brezhneva(born February 3, 1982, Dneprodzerzhinsk, Dnepropetrovsk region) - Ukrainian singer, actress, TV presenter, former member pop VIA group Gra (2003-2007).
8. Svetlana Loboda(born October 18, 1982 Kyiv, Ukraine) - Ukrainian singer, presenter, actress, designer of her own brand “F*ck" n" macho", photographer. She represented Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. She performs under the stage name LOBODA. In May 2004, she replaced the departed Anna Sedokova in the VIA Gra group and four months later she left the group for a solo career. Honored Artist of Ukraine (2013).
7. Albina Dzhanabaeva(born April 9, 1979, Gorodishche, Volgograd region) - Russian singer, actress, TV presenter. Former soloist of the Russian-Ukrainian female pop group “VIA Gra” (2004-2012).
6.Christina Kotz-Gottlieb(born May 2, 1983, Donetsk, Ukraine) - Ukrainian fashion model, singer. Former member of the Ukrainian female pop group VIA Gra (2006). Winner of the competition "Miss Ukraine Universe 2009".
5. Olga Romanovskaya(born January 22, 1986, Nikolaev) - Ukrainian designer, singer. Former member of the female pop group “VIA Gra” (2006-2007). She was known in the group as maiden name Koryagina.
4. Meseda Bagaudinova(born October 30, 1983) - Russian singer of Avar and Ukrainian-Belarusian origin, former member of the Ukrainian women's group"VIA Gra" (2007-2009).
2.Eva Bushmina(born April 2, 1989, Sverdlovsk, Lugansk region) - Ukrainian singer, former soloist group "VIA Gra" (March 22, 2010 - January 2, 2013).
1. Santa Dimopoulos(born May 21, 1987, Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR, USSR) - Ukrainian singer, former soloist of the Ukrainian female pop group “VIA Gra” (December 2011 - October 2012), graduate of the third season Ukrainian project"Star Factory", former soloist of the Ukrainian group "Seventh Heaven". World Fitness Champion (2011).
Over its history, VIA Gra has changed 17 lineups. Since September 2000, when the once main female group of Russian show business appeared, 16 girls have been its participants. There were periods when teams broke up two months after their formation. Today's lineup - Anastasia Kozhevnikova, Misha Romanova and Erica Herceg - has not changed for two years now and is considered the longest-lived in the history of VIA Gra. Let's remember best years group and its hottest members.
Having celebrated her 33rd birthday on December 16, she did not pass the age limit when she took part in the very first casting at Via Gro. She was 17 years old. Then Alena Vinnitskaya and Nadezhda Granovskaya were taken into the group. And only when in 2002 it was decided to turn the duo into a trio, Anna passed the casting and became the first red-haired member of the group. She spent 2 years and 1 month in the group, and all this time her voice was “ business card» team. That very time is considered the “golden composition” of the group. This means that he was the most popular and creatively fruitful. It is generally accepted that it included Vera Brezhneva, Nadezhda Granovskaya and Anna Sedokova.
The redhead, like Anna Sedokova, did not get into VIA Gro the first time. For some time she was a backing vocalist for Valery Meladze, and was familiar with his brother, the group’s producer Konstantin. After Anna left, they approached her with an offer to fill the vacant position. But Albina refused: at that time she had just given birth and was busy with related chores. Then they took Svetlana Loboda. But you can’t escape fate, and after 4 months she was again asked to sing in a group, which is what Albina did. In terms of “life expectancy” in the group, Albina is the undisputed leader - her experience at VIA Gre totals 8 years and 1 month. Also, some believe that the team had a second “golden line-up”, which included Dzhanabaeva, Brezhneva and Granovskaya. It existed for a year and a half, from September 2004 to January 2006.
After graduating from the choreographic school in the late 1990s, young Nadezhda Meikher got a job as a choreographer at a theater in Khmelnitsky, Ukraine. Fate gave her a lucky chance: Valery Meladze, who came on tour, performed in this theater. She asked for his autograph, and Valery advised her to send her photographs to her brother in Kyiv. He was then putting together a future group and was just looking for such spectacular girls. Nadezhda followed the advice, after which she received an invitation to audition. She was accepted on two conditions: to take her mother's last name - Granovskaya - and lose a few kilograms. In total, Nadezhda came and left the group 3 times and devoted 7 years and 10 months to VIA Gre. Now Meikher-Granovskaya is busy, first of all, with her family - she recently gave birth to her third child.
A native of Grozny, Meseda Bagaudinova has Dagestan and Ukrainian roots. The hot brunette joined the group in April 2007 and stayed there for a little over a year and a half. At the beginning of 2009, she had to give up her place so that Nadezhda Granovskaya could return to the team, the public’s interest in which had clearly fallen due to endless changes in the composition. Her further career in show business she went broke: she got married, gave birth to a child, gained a fair amount of kilograms, got carried away plastic surgery, and most importantly, she cut off her luxurious long hair and painted the remaining ones first chestnut, and then completely light brown.
Perhaps the most underrated member of VIA Gra, Alena Vinitskaya (real name Olga), spent the first two and a half years of its existence in the group. Many fans of the band's early songs note that it was Vinnitskaya's original voice timbre and manner of performance that made VIA Gre's first glory, after which the band's strategy changed to aggressive sexuality. After leaving the group at the beginning of 2003, Alena took up solo career, while also acting as a composer. Her songs are very popular in Ukraine.
In January 2006, Nadezhda Granovskaya left the group for the second time, and it seems that it was at this moment that a tendency began to constantly change members, whose faces and names became difficult to remember. Christina Kots-Gottlieb from Donetsk joins the group. She had the shortest career in the entire history of the team - 3 months. During this time, she managed to star in the video for the song “Deceive, but stay,” in which she has a reddish hair color, almost like Albina Dzhanabaeva. At that time, there were rumors about the complete collapse of the group, which were periodically denied. Perhaps the producers really did not understand what to do with their group, whose recognition was falling every day. After leaving the group, Christina complained to the press that she found out about her dismissal when she turned on the TV and saw another girl (Olga Karjakina) in her place. In 2009, she passed the Ukrainian stage of the qualifying round of the Miss Universe contest and represented the country at this beauty contest.
For almost ten years now, their appearance on stage has been exciting the entire male population of the country. They increase potency, like the medicine of the same name, kindle passion in the hearts and delight fans with more and more new songs, videos, soloists...
Each member of VIA Gra went through a rigorous casting, demonstrating their talents and merits, so we can say with confidence: only the best bodies and faces made it into the team. Alena Vinnitskaya, Nadezhda Granovskaya, Anna Sedakova...Can't remember them all? We will help!
Before the anniversary concert of the VIA Gra group, which will take place on March 27, WomanJournal.ru decided to remember, watch and evaluate all the members of the sexiest group in the country.
VIA Gra soloist Alena Vinnitskaya
It was for her sake that the “VIA Gra” project was started: the talented, sexy and smart “girl with character” Alena Vinnitskaya is still associated with the group “VIA Gra” by most listeners.
But this Ukrainian pop diva was always not averse to classifying her work as rock music. In her youth, she listened to “Kino”, and founded her first musical group at the age of 19. The rock band with a sexy lead singer was called “The Last Unicorn”, but this project, contrary to the name, was not the last for Alena Vinnitskaya.
After a short break and work on television, Alena became the first soloist of the VIA Gra group. Later, the producers found a couple for the girl - singer Nadezhda Granovskaya. With this composition, the duo hit the first wave of fame with the song “Attempt number five.”
Three years later, Alena Vinnitskaya left the team. She later released a solo album, “Dolls,” in which she ridicules the beautiful and brainless puppets of show business, placing herself in contrast to them. She does not like to focus her attention on the fact that she was a member of the VIA Gra group, but this project still remains the most successful in creative career artists.
Now the ex-soloist of VIA Gra has seven solo albums. She is loved in Ukraine and not forgotten in Russia. However, Alena Vinnitskaya’s work is mainly intended for a Ukrainian audience.
Soloist of VIA Gra Nadezhda Granovskaya
She managed to stay among the soloists of VIA Gra the longest: from the first lineup to the last. Nadezhda Granovskaya periodically left the group, either because of pregnancy or because of difficult relationships within the ensemble. Other members of the group often complained about her complex character and stubborn disposition, but this is what helps the singer still stay afloat.
Throughout her childhood, Nadezhda Granovskaya studied at choreographic school and dreamed of conquering the stage, so immediately after graduation educational institution went from the outback to Kyiv. The girl was lucky because during her visit to the capital of Ukraine she accidentally met Valery Meladze, who invited her to participate in the casting.
Nadezhda Granovskaya immediately sent her photographs to Moscow and - to her joy - became the lead singer of the VIA Gra group.
Later, when the duo transformed into the Granovskaya-Sedokova-Brezhnev trio, which was called the “golden lineup” of the VIA Gra group, the girls traveled all over the world, recorded the most popular compositions in the history of the ensemble, sold an incredible number of albums and even became stars in Japan. However, after five years resounding success Nadezhda Granovskaya left the group, and was replaced first by Olga Koryagina, and then by Meseda Bagaudinova.
But in January 2009, Nadezhda Granovskaya returned to VIA Gro again, and has no plans to leave yet.
VIA Gra soloist Tatyana Naynik
A professional fashion model from St. Petersburg, Tatyana Naynik, stayed in the VIA Gra group for only a few months. Having taken the place of the pregnant Nadezhda Granovskaya, this busty beauty recorded several compositions together with Alena Vinnitskaya and Anna Sedakova. However, the artist’s talent, charisma and sex appeal were not enough to replace Granovskaya forever: as soon as Nadezhda gave birth to a baby and decided to return to the group, Tatyana Naynik was sent back to St. Petersburg.
After this successful project, like VIA Gra, it was not easy for Tatyana Naynik to continue her career in show business. The girl was helped by the fact that she worked as a professional model, traveled around the world and posed for magazines, but about unfulfilled dream Tatyana could not forget the pop star.
Now Naynik produces and is a participant herself girl group Maybe. The little-known group sometimes performs at corporate events and even records their own songs, but Tatyana Naynik herself is content with the rare attention of the press, which is interested in the artist only as an ex-soloist of VIA Gra.
VIA Gra soloist Anna Sedakova
Singer Anna Sedakova has always been considered one of the most seductive members of the VIA Gra group. Her magnificent bust on posters lured fans to concerts. Together with Vera Brezhneva and Nadezhda Granovskaya, this Kiev beauty conquered not only Russia and Ukraine, but also became widely known abroad.
When Anna Sedakova married football player Valentin Belkevich in 2004 and immediately became pregnant with his child, the producers were horrified. The artist left the group, and VIA Gra's ratings immediately fell. Photos of Anna Sedakova continued to be placed on posters, despite the fact that the girl had been replaced by new member- Svetlana Loboda.
Now Sedakova is successful Solo career singer and TV presenter. She writes books about how to seduce men, records new hits and stars in TV series. She divorced her first husband, and since February 2011 her husband is businessman Maxim Shevchenko.
In November 2010, when Anna appeared on anniversary concert group "VIA Gra" in Kyiv, the audience greeted her with incredible applause. Journalists later wrote that all VIA Gra fans are actually fans of Anna Sedakova, who to this day remains one of the sexiest stars national stage.
VIA Gra soloist Vera Brezhneva
Charming, sexy and talented Vera Brezhneva has been recognized more than once as a sex symbol of the national stage. She joined the VIA Gra group in 2002 - then the producer of the group kindly invited the singer to take the place of the soloist of the first line-up - Alena Vinnitskaya.
As part of VIA Gra, Vera Brezhneva gained the love of the audience, fame and, undoubtedly, vast experience in show business. In 2008, she decided to leave the team and start a solo career.
Brezhnev became a presenter on TV, simultaneously recorded several videos for her own songs, and took part in the show “ glacial period"and won the title of "The Most sexy woman» Russia.
After such successes on stage and television, Vera Brezhneva was invited to star in the film “Love in big city", where actor Alexey Chadov became her partner.
Busy life Vera Brezhneva would not be so happy without her beloved daughters, Sonya and Sarah. The girls have different fathers - the singer had a second child quite recently, in a marriage with Ukrainian businessman Mikhail Kiperman. They say that Vera Brezhneva has a very jealous husband, nevertheless, the girl continues to expose herself in front of cameras and still leads an active social life.
VIA Gra soloist Svetlana Loboda
A very brave and very enthusiastic person, Svetlana Loboda, took the place of Anna Sedakova in the VIA Gra group in 2004. The little-known singer immediately began to be compared with the previous participant - and this comparison was clearly not in favor of the new soloist.
Svetlana Loboda stayed in the group for only four months, but during this time she traveled all over Asia with VIA Groi, recorded new videos and established friendly relations with Valery Meladze. So, just a month after she left the group, the artist’s first solo song appeared on the radio. In 2009, she represented Ukraine at Eurovision, and now she has set about creating her own clothing brand.
In addition to the creative achievements of Svetlana Loboda, fans of the VIA Gra group love to discuss her appearance. They say that once a girl made an incredible amount plastic surgery to change her appearance and hide from the producers of a certain group “Cappuccino”, with whom she had a two-year contract. The consequences of these “adventures” are clearly visible on Svetlana’s face: enlarged lips, rhinoplasty, and braces at such an early age turned her into a victim of plastic surgery.
VIA Gra soloist Albina Dzhanabaeva
The soloist of the next lineup of the group is known not so much for her creative achievements as part of the ensemble, as well as due to the connection with the singer and producer Valery Meladze. They are united by their common son Kostya and a romantic relationship, which in the past became a “pass ticket” to the group.
Albina for a long time worked as backing vocals for Valery Meladze, after which she was invited to the VIA Gra group in place of Svetlana Loboda. Dzhanabaeva’s debut in the group was the video for the song “The World I Didn’t Know About Before You.”
Albina Dzhanabaeva is still the soloist of the country’s “hottest” band. In 2009, the girl decided to study as a psychologist, so in addition to concerts, tours and star parties, the artist attends lectures at the institute. And in 2010, Albina Dzhanabaeva also became interested in the fashion business, becoming the face of one of the clothing brands.
VIA Gra soloist Christina Kots-Gottlieb
The winner of numerous beauty contests, holder of the title “Miss Ukraine 2009” and professional fashion model Christina Kots-Gottlieb was in the VIA Gra group for only three months. The girl justified her record-breaking short tenure in the ensemble as being too “complex in character,” which did not allow her to bend to the demands of the producers.
Christina has a very bright appearance and beautiful, long hair. But the girl never studied vocals and was unable to bring anything to VIA Gro except her beautiful face. Christina Kots-Gottlieb appeared in the “Lie, but Stay” video, took part in several photo shoots as part of the group, and then disappeared from show business without a trace.
Make a career in modeling business Christina Kots-Gottlieb managed to conquer the fans of the group “VIA Gra” much easier than that.
Soloist of VIA Gra Olga Koryagina
No one imagined what the new composition of “VIAGRA” would be like when Konstantin Meladze’s show began to select new participants for the team. There were many worthy contestants; the Russian land is rich in beautiful and talented girls. And yet, three of them turned out to be the strongest - the amazing beauty of their voices, femininity and magnetic charm did their job. Recently, the new composition of VIAGRA was introduced to the people. It included three beautiful girls - Anastasia Kozhevnikova, Misha Romanova and Erica Herceg.
"VIA Gra": was, is and will be
The famous producer and composer Konstantin Meladze has been the mentor of the VIA Gra group throughout the entire period of its existence, more than 13 years. During this time, the team changed several times. The changes that took place in the group concerned not only the fate of its participants, but also reflected technological, stylistic and sociological trends in the field of show business. After all, “VIA Gra” has always been the No. 1 female group on the stage. And it has become a “school of life” for many popular stars of our time. Graduates of this school are Vera Brezhneva, Svetlana Loboda, Albina Dzhanabaeva, Nadezhda Meikher-Granovskaya, Anna Sedokova and others famous singers, TV presenters and actresses.
History of the show “I want to go to VIA Gro”
This time, producer Konstantin Meladze instructed the people to choose a new composition for VIAGRA. Millions of television viewers decided the fate of the group and created its history.
Fifteen thousand participants from four CIS countries (Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Ukraine) fought for several months for the right to become one of the soloists of the popular group. Two contrasting trios were selected for the finals. The charming favorite of one of the jury members Vernik Igor - Maria Goncharuk, red-haired Yulia Lauta and sizzling brunette Diana Ivanitskaya competed with amazing and extremely talented girls from Ukraine - Anastasia Kozhevnikova, Misha Romanova and Erica Herceg. Two completely different teams there was only one step left to take to victory. But there was also something that united them - the irrepressible energy of the participants, the undoubted talent of each of the girls, their amazing sexuality and femininity.
The winners have been determined!
Viewers decided the fate of the participants by SMS voting. It was difficult to guess who they would give preference to. Upon completion of voting and counting of votes, Igor Vernik opened the envelope with the names of the winners of the show. They were beautiful Ukrainians - Anastasia Kozhevnikova, Misha Romanova and Erica Herceg. According to the group’s producer, Konstantin Meladze, the girls are very promising, creative, diversified, so they will certainly be able to absorb best traditions"VIA Gra" and increase the success of the team with a thirteen-year history of existence. He also noted that the updated group “VIAGRA” will not be exactly the same as the audience is accustomed to. New line-up will contribute to it bright colors. In addition, it was decided to slightly change the image of the team, taking into account the characteristics of its new members.
Life before and after
The composition of the new group "VIAGRA" has been determined, and now fans of the legendary musical group people are increasingly interested in the biographies of its new participants. Let's find out what the girls' lives were like before they came to Konstantin Meladze's show.
Brief biography of Anastasia Kozhevnikova
Nastya was born in the city of Yuzhnoukrainsk in Ukraine. Already at the age of six she took up vocals and began singing in the children's choir “Droplets”. At the age of eight, Nastya went to music school to study piano. In parallel with studies in secondary and music schools the girl managed to do choreography and study acting at the pop song theater called “Galatea”.
Nastya’s childhood dream of becoming an artist on the big stage led her through life. She never missed a single opportunity or her talent. The girl took part in all sorts of music competitions, including “The First Swallows”, “Running on the Waves”, “Young Galicia” and others. But she did not achieve much success at that time. The only thing the jury paid attention to was the irrepressible energy of the young girl.
When Anastasia turned sixteen, she took part in her first casting for the show “Superzirka”. But, unfortunately, the girl was again deprived of attention. Nastya did not give up and went to the casting of the show “X-Factor”, where she also did not make it past the first round. Desperate and leaving my dream of big stage, Anastasia became a student at the Kyiv National University of Technology and Design. When she learned about the start of casting for the show “I want to join VIA Gro,” she decided to try her luck in last time. And this time luck smiled at her - she became part of the new VIAGRA! The photos you see in the article demonstrate the girl’s genuine joy! By the age of twenty, she managed to realize her first big dream, and this is a real victory!
Brief biography of Erica Herceg
Erica was born in a village called Malaya Dobran, which is located near the border of Ukraine with Hungary, near Uzhgorod.
The girl has mixed blood: her father is Hungarian, her mother is the daughter of a Ukrainian and a Hungarian. Erica's parents got married when they were very young - dad was 22, mom was 18. When the girl turned five, the family decided to have a second child. The birth was very difficult, which adversely affected the health of Erica's mother. Concerns about the well-being of the family and raising young children fell entirely on the shoulders of Nikolai, the father of the family. Erica went to a Hungarian school, where she studied only two hours a week Ukrainian language. Every day, to do this, she went 12 kilometers from home and crossed the border. When the rules for crossing country borders became stricter, the girl had to change schools.
In high school, Erica studied at the lyceum at the local church and sang in the church choir.
After receiving a certificate of secondary education, the girl went to the city of Beregovo in order to become a student at the Transcarpathian Hungarian Institute named after Ferenc Rakoczi II. While studying, Erica worked as a waitress in a local cafe.
2008 was a year of change for the girl. She lost as much as 30 kilograms in order to try her hand at modeling. She starred in jewelry commercials and underwear.
Work in modeling agency in 2011 she brought a girl to Kyiv. There, in 2012, she received her first serious contract with a French lingerie company. In the same year, she was invited to star in one of the autumn issues of Playboy magazine. And in 2013, she was already included in the new composition of VIAGRA. At the age of 25, Erica achieves real success.
Brief biography of Misha Romanova
The third soloist of the renewed group was born in the Ukrainian city of Kherson. At birth, the parents gave their daughter the name Natalya. Her own real name- Mogilenets. Misha Romanova is a stage name that the girl came up with in memory of the two men she once loved. The girl studied at secondary school and often suffered from bullying by peers. It's hard to imagine, but as a child she stuttered badly. It started after Misha became an unwitting witness to her parents' quarrel when she was five years old. The girl remembers how hard it was for her, because she couldn’t even buy chewing gum in the store, since the sellers didn’t understand her.
On the advice of doctors, the parents sent the girl to vocal lessons. Misha's surprise and delight knew no bounds when she realized that she did not stutter when she sang. Since then, even in class, when she was called upon to answer, she did not tell the material she had learned, but “sang it.”
In 2001, the girl became a participant vocal studio DK "Neftyanik", soon took the place of a soloist, and later an assistant to the head of the studio.
The dream of becoming an artist gave her the strength to take part in all possible music competitions. She took prizes in “Little Stars”, “Carousel of Melodies”, “World of Talents”. Misha Romanova was educated at the Kiev Variety and Circus School, where she entered in 2007. At the age of 23, her dream came true - she became a real artist, soloist legendary group"Viagra".
New line-up - new song - new concert!
The group has already recorded several new songs, shot a video, and worked on tour. First collaboration girls - the composition “Truce”, for which a video has already been shot by a talented director. And on November 4, 2013, the renewed “VIAGRA” gave its first concert at the State University in Moscow. The new lineup - Erica, Nastya and Misha - captivated the audience, the girls gained thousands of fans, showing their dedicated work on stage. And this was only their first concert!
Promising
Listeners will see many more amazing works by the VIAGRA group. The new composition of the team, which was formed by the people themselves, will certainly be able to justify even the wildest expectations!
It will soon be fifteen years since a stunning group appeared on the Russian stage, winning the heart of every man - the VIA Gra group. Over the entire history of its existence, more than ten soloists have changed, and therefore few people now remember who was part of the first composition of Viagra, from which it all began. So who was at the origins? What was the very first lineup of Viagra, the legendary female Russian pop group? Let's remember.
History of the group's creation
Two friends, two talented musician, two music-obsessed people with a desire to change the world decided to create a new one. women's team, which will change ideas about Russian stage. In 2000, successful television 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 groups, but would 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 took a very long time to recruit. The first to join the group at that time was the TV presenter of the Biz-TV channel, general director which was Dmitry Kostyuk. He invited the talented and smart girl to participate in the project, but she doubted it for a long time, as she preferred rock music. The interest to see what would come of this idea prevailed over doubts, and Vinnitskaya agreed.
Numerous castings did not produce results; the producers could not find those who would fit the group’s format one hundred percent. The first composition of “Viagra” - Alena Vinnitskaya and selected girls Marina Kashchin 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 their unrealized dream and started all over again, only this time they began to be even more demanding of applicants for a place in VIA Gre.
Not a trio, but a duet
It was originally planned that VIA Gra would consist of three amazingly attractive and charming girls who could sing. Desperate to find suitable soloists, the producers thought about creating a solo project with Vinnitskaya. But Nadezhda Granovskaya became an unexpected discovery for them. The girl met all the requirements, the main one being a stunning sexy appearance. Thus, Viagra was finally formed.
The first line-up (photo above) did not last long, but did a lot.
“Attempt No. 5” was the name of the girls’ first song, which instantly made them incredibly popular - they literally woke up famous. This happened on the fourth of September 2000, the day after the premiere of the composition on the Biz-TV channel. The debut was awarded the “Golden Gramophone”, “Stopudovy Hit”, “Golden Firebird” and “Golden Weight” awards. The group's first album was released in 2001.
Many years have passed since then, and the soloists in the group often changed, 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 team was not named after 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 soloists' surnames. “VI” - Vinnitskaya and “GRA” - Granovskaya. "A" between them for readability.
However, the sexy appearance of the artists, members of the group, is more inclined to be associated with a well-known medical drug. In addition, the name is perceived the same way by ear.
Alena Vinnitskaya: facts from biography
It was with this girl that the history of the group began. She joined the first cast of VIA Gra, and to this day 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 went to free swimming across 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 of 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 lineup of the Viagra group. Names changed, soloists left, new ones came to replace them, but Nadezhda Granovskaya turned out to be the most frequent guest in the group. She left the group several times, then returned again. The reasons for this were different - pregnancy, conflicts within the team, etc. However, the door was always open for her at VIA Gre. 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.
