The pop legend is, of course, a respectable age, but calling her an old lady or a grandmother is simply hard to come by. Because Sofia Mikhailovna only blossoms over the years - as if she were drinking the Macropolus remedy, the elixir of youth. And now she looks even more beautiful than at the beginning of her career. “TN” offers to visually - through photographs - trace how the image of the artist has changed over these decades.
1973
Singer Sofia Rotaru during the pop song festival “Golden Orpheus”, 1973. Photo: TASS Photo Chronicle
The singer was photographed on stage during the Golden Orpheus pop song festival. The competition took place in Bulgaria, in the Sunny Beach resort. Sofia then performed two compositions: “Song about my city” and “Bird” (in Bulgarian). And she received first prize. In the same year, she was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the Ukrainian SSR. And in 1971, Ukrtelefilm released a concert film with her participation called “Chervona Ruta” directed by Roman Oleksiv.
1978
Singer Sofia Rotaru, 1978. Photo: Archive/TASS
By this time, the singer’s repertoire already included many songs, among which are always greeted with applause “My Motherland” (“I, you, he, she ...”), “ Swan fidelity", "The Ballad of a Mother" ("Alyoshenka"), "Give Me Back the Music", "Apple Trees in Blossom", "Darkie".
1981
Singer Sofia Rotaru during the filming of the musical film “Soul”, 1981. Photo: Nikolay Malyshev/TASS
Sofia Rotaru was photographed during the filming of the musical film “Soul” directed by Alexander Stefanovich. Sofia Mikhailovna played the role of singer Victoria Svobodina in this musical drama. However, her character was voiced by actress Larisa Danilina - after all, Rotaru speaks with a noticeable Moldavian accent.
There is a very vague story connected with this picture: in one of his interviews, Andrei Makarevich said that initially the role was offered to Alla Pugacheva, but Alexander Stefanovich denies this.
The film is partly based on real events: Rotaru was sick with tuberculosis, and during this period she was in a creative crisis. The prudent director made correct bet: rumors about the singer’s ill health were picked up by fans, which helped to “promote” the film.
Before the film “Soul”, Sofia starred in another film: “Where are you, love?” directed by Valeriu Gagiu.
1986
Singer Sofia Rotaru, 1986. Photo: Gennady Prokhorov/TASS
By this time, very popular songs appeared in Rotaru’s repertoire: Romantice, “Lavender”, “Moon, Moon”, and then others: “Golden Heart”, “It Was, But It’s Gone”, “Only This Is Not Enough”, “Golden Heart” , "Wild Swans". They were written and performed in Euro-pop and even hard rock styles.
1993
Singer Sofia Rotaru, 1993, Kyiv. Photo: Oleg Buldakov/TASS
Sofia Rotaru after a concert in Kyiv. In the 90s, the super hit “Khutoryanka” was released. Even in such difficult times, Rotaru invariably remains at the top of Olympus in show business.
2003
Singer Sofia Rotaru, 2003. Photo: Global Look Press
This year in Moscow on the alley in front of concert hall“Russia” was the name of the singer’s star. In the mid-2000s, songs such as “The sky is me!”, “I loved him...”, “I will name the planet...” were published.
2007
Singer Sofia Rotaru, 2007. Photo: Global Look Press
This year the singer turned 60 years old. Take a closer look at her face: can you really say that this is the face of an elderly woman? A bunch of famous artists and politicians from different countries We came to Yalta that summer to congratulate Rotaru. And in the fall, her concerts were held at the Kremlin Palace.
2008
Singer Sofia Rotaru, 2008. Photo: Anatoly Lomokhov
It is enough to compare two photos - 2007 and 2008 - to understand how the singer likes to change. Sofia is a regular participant in the “Song of the Year”: in the entire history of the competition, Rotaru broke the record by performing 83 songs.
year 2012
Singer Sofia Rotaru, 2012. Photo: Anatoly Lomokhov
In this photo, Rotaru is 65 years old. In 2012, the artist went on an anniversary tour of Russian cities. But already in 2013, her musical style again changes somewhat: she performs the song “You are the best” in an ethno-style.
2017
Singer Sofia Rotaru Photo: instagram.com
Have a nice holiday, Sofia Mikhailovna!
In a word, Sofia Rotaru only gets prettier over the years. No wonder after New Year's celebrations In 2017, there was a joke circulating online: “If you show Blue Light from 1997 today, no one will notice the catch. Well, maybe Rotaru has gotten younger.”
On August 7, the favorite of millions - folk singer Sofia Rotaru celebrates her anniversary! Sofia Mikhailovna will turn 70 - but who can say?! Time has no power over this gorgeous woman!
As befits an artist, Sofia Mikhailovna will celebrate her birthday with an anniversary concert in Baku as part of the “Heat” music festival. Just before the singer’s flight to the capital of Azerbaijan, we managed to ask her a few questions about the upcoming event, because the artist’s birthday is a real holiday for all her fans!
Big concert
Sofia Mikhailovna, tell us what the audience will see in Baku?
Concert, dedicated to the anniversary. (Smiles.) Young artists will perform covers of my hits, and I have prepared new versions well famous songs and, of course, the premiere!
In one of your interviews, you said that you want to devote this year to yourself. Will you be able to rest in the near future or will you continue to give concerts, because, as the media write, your concert schedule is already scheduled!
Preparing for the anniversary concert took me more than three months. My team and I created concert costumes for this show, made arrangements, and recorded new songs. This is pleasant, but still a hassle. Of course, I will try to find time to relax with my family. Let's go travel. (Smiles).
How do you generally celebrate your birthday? Perhaps you are going to a large family table?
Yes, traditionally we celebrate this day with our family, my relatives cook for me pleasant surprises. Every year they come up with something new and interesting. (Smiles.)
And only round dates are celebrated magnificently, with concerts and numerous guests.
At the concert in Baku, of course, your fans will congratulate you. What was the most memorable gift you received from them?
The most precious gift from fans of my work is their support and love. When they send congratulations with warm wishes, I am very pleased!
Sofia Mikhailovna, you are an example ideal woman! Share your beauty secrets!
A lot of them! Well, for example, for the last few years, Sveta (Svetlana Evdokimenko - Sofia Mikhailovna’s daughter-in-law - editor’s note) or sister Aurika and I go to a wellness clinic twice a year for two or three weeks, where we stay special diet, we actively play sports and go to various massages.
This helps to cleanse the body, restore strength and clarify thoughts, which, of course, is reflected in appearance. (Smiles.)
The secret of youth
For her age, Sofia Mikhailovna, how true woman, is philosophical. When Katya Osadchaya once asked the singer about the upcoming anniversary, she answered with a smile:
“Well look at me. When I turn 30, then I will celebrate my anniversary!”
Indeed, looking at Sofia Mikhailovna, you involuntarily begin to think that she knows the secret eternal youth! And the point here is not about material opportunities (which, for example, many other celebrities have, but few look like Rotaru), but about their attitude towards themselves and life.
And also, according to the singer, beautiful appearance she also owes it to her family, who bathe her in love.
They are her rear and reliable support.
Son Ruslan is the singer’s concert producer, daughter-in-law Svetlana is the creative director. The couple gave Sofia Mikhailovna two grandchildren - Anatoly and Sofia, of whom she is very proud.
From left to right: son Ruslan, daughter-in-law Svetlana, granddaughter Sonya, grandson Anatoly Young people are the same creative personalities, like their grandmother. Sofia has achieved significant success in modeling business, Anatoly is engaged in fashion photography.
In her few interviews, the singer likes to recall how once, while still a schoolboy, Tolya came home very sad. “We are trying to find out what happened. And he: “They told me that Sofia Rotaru cannot be my grandmother. Because grandmothers are never that young. But I’m your grandson!”
How nice it was for me to hear such words... I am not afraid of the word “grandmother,” but it so happens that my grandchildren call me by name. They just don’t associate my image with this word...” Sofia Mikhailovna says with a smile.
Sonya-little and Sonya-big
Another forever close person for Sofia Rotaru was her husband, Anatoly Evdokimenko (passed away in 2002 - Ed.)
The story of their acquaintance and relationship is worthy of a book or film adaptation. For the first time Anatoly saw a young girl Sonya... on the cover of the magazine "Ukraine" (Rotaru was published there as the winner of one of singing competitions). I saw it and fell in love!
But the young man served in the Urals and only upon returning to his native Chernivtsi began searching for the beauty who occupied all his thoughts. Of course he found her! And became a lifelong companion!
Sofia Mikhailovna often recalls that without her Tolya she would not have dared to undertake many musical experiments: he was her advisor, mentor, friend...
Anatoly led the Chervona Ruta ensemble, where young Sonya was a soloist, and later acted as stage director for absolutely all of her concert programs...
Sofia Mikhailovna obeyed him in almost everything, with the exception of... the birth of a child!
“After a year of our marriage, I began to dream of a baby. And she hinted about this to Tolik from time to time,” the singer recalls. - But he made big creative plans and was in no hurry with the child. In addition, we lived with our parents in a 2-room apartment; he had not yet graduated from university. There was not enough money; asking our parents for it was not customary in our family. “Okay, okay,” I think... And somehow I tell him: “Listen, the doctor said that I will soon become a mother.” Although in reality I was not in a position at that moment - I had to use a little feminine trick. Tolik shook his head: “Well, good.” He relaxed, let down his guard and began to wait for the heir to be born.”
But he had to wait not nine months, but eleven, because Sonya became pregnant only two months after that conversation. Their son Ruslan was born in 1970.
Sofia ROTARU - Water is Alive 1976
“Now I believe that I did everything right,” Rotaru admits to the press. “Then I simply wouldn’t have time - these endless tours would begin... Although my mother kept asking me to give birth again: “Daughter, just give birth and continue working, and we will raise a second one.”
She also said: “You will really regret that you only have one child.” And I really regret it.
Therefore, when Tolya was born to Ruslan and Sveta, after a couple of years I already started pestering them to give birth again, and they did it seven years later.
I remember that little Tolya reported that Sveta was pregnant for the second time. He came and showed me a piece of paper - probably an extract from the antenatal clinic. He says: “Here, take it, you wanted it! I will have a brother or sister." And all I said was: “Glory to you, Lord.”
By the way, we were sure that a girl would be born the second time. And with the choice of name, everything was clear: the son and daughter-in-law immediately thought of naming their son Tolik in honor of their grandfathers (Svetlana’s father is also Anatoly), and the girl in my honor. And so that there is no confusion, at home they call me Sonya the big one, and my granddaughter - Sonya the little one. Although recently little Sonya has been taller than big Sonya..."
Sonya-little and Sonya-big This is how the Rotaru-Evdokimenko family lives: with love for each other and a great passion for music.
And we would like to wish Sofia Mikhailovna many more anniversaries: her talent, femininity and wisdom serve as an inspiration for millions of people!
Just the facts:
- The singer was born on August 7, but due to a mistake by the passport officer, her date of birth was recorded as August 9. So the singer celebrates her birthday twice.
- Sofia Rotaru has two brothers and three sisters. They all sing very well. Little Sonya was instilled with a love of music by her older sister Zina.
- Sofia Rotaru's repertoire includes more than 500 songs, including compositions in Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Polish, German, Italian, Spanish and English.
- She was the first Soviet singer to sing recitative.
- In 2000, the Supreme Academic Council of Ukraine recognized Sofia Mikhailovna as the best Ukrainian pop singer XX century. Among her other titles are “Man of the 20th Century”, “Golden Voice of Ukraine”, “Woman of the Year”.
Congratulations from loved ones
Svetlana Evdokimenko, daughter-in-law:
Every birthday of Sofia Mikhailovna is a real holiday for us. We try to get together on this day. What can we say about the anniversary: we will definitely get together with the whole family. Anatoly will fly in from London, Sofia - from Paris, and we'll go fishing! Sofia Mikhailovna is a wonderful mother-in-law! I am inspired by her determination, ability to enjoy little things, respect people, value sincerity and friendship. And also a subtle sense of humor and boundless kindness of soul!
Ruslan Evdokimenko, son:
I would like to wish my mother good health, peace of mind and real friends! We love her very much! And I am grateful to her for everything! She is very strong man, and I’m glad that many of her character traits were passed on to me. For example, sincerity and kindness. She is a monogamist, she has loved and continues to love only my dad, Anatoly Kirillovich, all her life. Family is the main thing for her. I learned this from her and try to set the same example for my children.
Sofia Rotaru with her son Ruslan Kvinta, composer:
I think I pulled it happy ticket, when I met Sofia Mikhailovna Rotaru. This artist radically changed my work, interest in me increased significantly. There were many highlights, stages in my career, but this is probably the most significant. It was a great honor for me when she took part in my benefit concert “The Sky is Me.” Working with her is a pleasure. I wrote 29 songs for her. It happened that I came to work at her house, and each time she first fed everyone, and only then went on to work. She even brought her signature cheesecakes to the recording studio!
icon Soviet stage, which has retained its status practically unchanged at the present time. "Gazeta.Ru" - about the reasons for its success.
If geographically and politically Soviet Union has been dead for a long time,
then in pop culture it continues to exist as if in nothing
happened - in the person of such figures as Edita Piekha, who recently noted
80th anniversary,
In biographical information about Rotaru alone, it seems
the whole history of the country - born in the village of Marshantsy in the Chernivtsi region of Ukraine in a Moldavian family; in the early 90s there was a joke,
that at the negotiations in Belovezhskaya Pushcha the leaders of Russia and Ukraine
we asked ourselves “how we will divide Rotaru.”
Her career began to develop at a time when Soviet ideologists finally allowed the flowers of national cultures to bloom.
Seventies
Many believe that Rotaru’s fame began to really accelerate with the musical film “Chervona Ruta” of 1971, in which Rotaru played main role and the name of which was then taken by her
for your ensemble.
In fact, for the title of the runway of her career may
argue and the Festival of Youth and Students held in Bulgaria
three years earlier, she won a gold medal there, performing songs in Ukrainian and Romanian.
And the first success came ten years earlier and consisted of
many levels - regional, then republican amateur art competitions, conducting and choral department of the Chernivtsi music school, in the absence of a vocal one.
Is Source: Ekaterina Chesnokova/RIA Novosti
2017 Sofia Rotaru performs at the international music festival"HEAT" in Baku
The key to Rotaru’s success was a clear and even in the best sense words a calculated mixture of national and cosmopolitan
repertoires: so, she is from the very beginning creative activity continued collaboration with composer Vladimir Ivasyuk
from Lvov, but at the same time she sang songs by Arno Babajanyan, David Tukhmanov, Yuri Saulsky, Raymond Pauls, Vladimir
Matetsky; texts for them were written by Robert Rozhdestvensky, Andrei Voznesensky and other poets who need no introduction.
And it’s not just that cooperation with the upper caste
Soviet pop composition and poetry workshop served
pass to the big stage.
Such omnivorousness allowed her to organically weave songs from the Soviet outskirts into different languages into your program and use it skillfully -
at least in a declarative way Soviet authorities to support national cultures.
And thus everyone pleases: both Mosconcert officials and
residents of Russian capitals, and their fellow countrymen on both sides
Ukrainian-Moldovan border.
It’s interesting that the singer, seemingly favored by the authorities, had her share of disgrace in her career.
More precisely, it worked out - in 1975, she had a conflict with the local Chernivtsi regional committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine, in connection with which she and her
The ensemble moved to Yalta.
Nothing definite is known about its causes so far -
Rotaru herself said that she moved to Crimea due to
open asthma. Possible reason was intensified
share of the repertoire in Ukrainian and cooperation with authors
from Western Ukraine.
It is interesting that the shake-up and stress gave new impetus to her career: the singer’s records (first long-players) began to be released by the Melodiya company, and she herself was invited to Munich to record a disc
at the Ariola company. Then she had a large-scale tour of Western and Eastern Europe.
Eighties
The decade of transition from stagnation to perestroika became for her
the peak of her career - it was at this moment that, with the help of radio and television, she became a constant presence in life of the country,
coming to almost every house and sounding from every window.
And the trigger for this popularity is again, as in the case of
"Chervona Ruta" became a movie - more precisely, two films with her songs
and participation. In 1980, “Where Are You, Love?” was released, a kind of
adaptation of the plot of “Come Tomorrow” to more modern ones
realities.
The picture was quite autobiographical - in it a young girl came to an amateur song competition with a composition
Raymond Pauls, the same name of the film, and left as its main triumph.
The picture turned out to be mega-popular - “Melody” released
a record with songs from the film, and songs based on poems by the best Soviet
the whole country sang poets.
A year later, another picture was released - “Soul”, an autobiographical melodrama about the singer’s loss of her voice and reassessment of values.
The participants of “The Time Machine” starred in the role of musicians.
the songs were written by Andrey Makarevich and Alexander Zatsepin, and
Rotaru’s partner was who was then at the peak of popularity
Mikhail Boyarsky.
The second picture completed the formation of personal mythology
around her, and triumphant tours in Canada - the status
a real export star, in trade terms, suitable for both domestic consumption and export.
However, it seems that it was this stardom and this status that became
the reason for the actual second disgrace - she was prohibited by foreign
tours (for which there were more and more requests).
It got ridiculous - representatives of the German concert agency Once, in response to an invitation, they sent a paper:
“That kind of thing doesn’t work here.”
Nevertheless, Rotaru actively participated in “ Songs of the year»,
continued cooperation with both top Russian-speaking
However, it ended - it was a failure, it must be admitted - it fell into disgrace only with the beginning of perestroika.
A turning point in this sense can be recognized as the beginning of collaboration with Vladimir Matetsky, which entailed (or, conversely, was the reason) for a change in image - instead of a chansonnier with folk roots, Rotaru turned into a disco and
rock vocalist. More precisely, she has been the ideal opponent so far
for rock musicians of the Leningrad Rock Club and the Moscow Rock Laboratory, however, starting with the quite romantic “Lavender”,
Over time, she began to perform fast things - the same ones
by which she is still remembered: “Moon, moon”, “It was, but it’s gone”,
“Only this is not enough.”
The latter was a very bold experiment - complete
The nostalgic sadness of Arseny Tarkovsky’s poem was turned by Matetsky into a real rock action movie.
They worked together for 15 long years - until the end of those very 90s,
which the honored artists were decisively scrapped, and new ones were nominated in their place.
Nineties - today
Moreover, it is worth noting that Rotaru never became archival
a star - like a generation pop stars generation older
quietly and with dignity retired into teaching and
"Old songs about the main thing."
She, who began her career with the help of her mother, a trader at the collective farm market, had some amazing, as they say
these days, with marketing sense: in some amazing way
at the right moments in time she guessed the situation and the time when she needed to change her image or do something new.
So, for example, it was she who at one time - back in the early 90s -
I noticed a trend among new pop stars to perform with backup dancers
and invited the then not very famous troupe “Todes” to perform
together with her.
The head of the dance theater, Alla Dukhova, said that these concerts were the first step towards the future fame of the dance troupe.
At the same time, she is not at all characterized by a passion for continuous
renewal and oblivion of the old repertoire - she did not shy away from anniversaries, nostalgic reissues, etc. In 2012-2013, she launched a big anniversary tour dedicated to the 40th anniversary of her creative activity.
Rather, on the contrary - carefully and tightly mixing old hits with new ones, she presented her songs as part of one, never interrupted (and, by and large, not influenced by time) process.
Moreover, it seems that in her case this is not a concept, but a philosophy - because both her biography and her statements indicate that for her this is a way of life.
Another feature of her philosophy remains her political position. Although it would be more correct to say humanitarian - a Kiev resident by registration and a Yalta resident by actual place of residence, in 2004 she distributed food on the Maidan to representatives of both opposing camps.
And later, in the wake of the great entry of Ukrainian musicians into politics, she even tried to run for the Rada from the Lytvyn bloc: after the annexation of Crimea, she did not accept Russian citizenship (according to her, because of registration in Kyiv) and specifically noted that she was a citizen of Ukraine.
At the same time, in fact, she and her songs remain part of the life of divided citizens of a once united country.
Informals of the 80s considered her songs an example of Soviet pop officialdom - now they sound like last memory about that utopia of the unity of the country and the friendship of peoples, to which the Soviet Union at least tried to get closer and the final collapse of which we are witnessing now.
And that is why there is a risk that many leaders of the countries sharing this singer will remain small politicians era of Sofia Rotaru.
Looking at truly folk singer Sofia Rotaru, it’s impossible to believe that today, August 7, she celebrates her 70th birthday.
Of course. Cosmetic surgeons can work wonders. And many observers claim that the artist owes part of her fabulous beauty and youthful appearance to them. But even spiteful critics admit: her activity, youthful enthusiasm, and mobility can be envied.
True, embarrassments do happen. In March of this year, the Soviet pop star was included in the “shooting stars” rating. At one of the concerts she could not resist too much high heels and collapsed, fortunately, not on or off the stage, but into the reliable hands of composer Ruslan Kvinta.
Fortunately, he was also on stage at that time and provided support for the “comet” of Russian and Ukrainian show business in time. Rotaru was not at a loss then. We must give her credit, she recovered from the fall quickly. She asked the musician for forgiveness, and then joked: “Hold me tight!” And then she calmly continued her speech.
And Sofia Mikhailovna decided to celebrate her 70th birthday in a close circle of close people, away from the bustle, from annoying reporters and not always adequate fans. She and family members flew to Sardinia on a private jet.
The celebration takes place in a rented villa with a gorgeous, fantastic view of the Mediterranean Sea. Members of the star family have already started posting photos and videos about this little summer adventure on the Internet.
The “rehearsal” for the anniversary was Sofia Rotaru’s creative evening, held as part of the “HEAT” festival, which recently ended in the Azerbaijani capital Baku. Together with the hero of the day, her granddaughter Sofia shone on stage. The singer's namesake is making a career as a model, and is already quite successfully mastering the European catwalks.
If geographically and politically the Soviet Union has long been dead, then in pop culture it continues to exist as if nothing had happened - in the person of such figures as, who recently celebrated her 80th birthday, or Sofia, who turns 70 on August 7.
The biographical information about Rotaru alone seems to contain the entire history of the country - she was born in the village of Marshantsy in the Chernivtsi region of Ukraine in a Moldovan family; In the early 90s, there was a joke that during the negotiations in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, the leaders of Russia and Ukraine asked themselves the question “how will we divide Rotaru.”
Her career began to develop at a time when Soviet ideologists finally allowed the flowers of national cultures to flourish.
Seventies
Many believe that Rotaru’s fame began to really accelerate with the musical film “Chervona Ruta” of 1971, in which Rotaru played the main role and the name of which she then took for her ensemble. In fact, the Festival of Youth and Students, held in Bulgaria three years earlier, can also compete for the title of the launching pad of her career - she won a gold medal there, performing songs in Ukrainian and Romanian.
And the first success came about ten years earlier and consisted of many stages - regional, then republican amateur art competitions, the conducting and choral department of the Chernivtsi Music College, in the absence of a vocal one.
Photo report: Sofia Rotaru was admitted to intensive care
Is_photorep_included10821205: 1
The key to Rotaru’s success was a clear, and even in the best sense of the word, calculated mixture of national and cosmopolitan repertoires: thus, from the very beginning of her creative activity, she continued to collaborate with composer Vladimir Ivasyuk from Lvov, but at the same time she sang songs by Arno Babajanyan and Vladimir Matetsky; Other poets who need no introduction also wrote texts for them. And the point is not only that collaboration with the highest caste of Soviet pop composition and poetry workshop served as a pass to the big stage.
Such omnivorousness allowed her to organically weave songs from the Soviet outskirts in different languages into her program and skillfully use - at least the declarative - course of the Soviet authorities to support national cultures.
And thus everyone will like it: Mosconcert officials, residents of Russian capitals, and their fellow countrymen on both sides of the Ukrainian-Moldovan border.
It’s interesting that the singer, seemingly favored by the authorities, had her share of disgrace in her career. More precisely, it worked out - in 1975, she had a conflict with the local Chernivtsi regional committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine, and therefore she and her ensemble moved to Yalta. Nothing definite is known about its causes until now - Rotaru herself said that she moved to Crimea due to the onset of asthma. A possible reason was the increased share of the repertoire in Ukrainian and collaboration with authors from Western Ukraine. It is interesting that the shake-up and stress gave new impetus to her career: the singer’s records (first long-players) began to be released by the Melodiya company, and she herself was invited to Munich to record a disc at the Ariola company. Then she had a large-scale tour of Western and Eastern Europe.
Eighties
The decade of transition from stagnation to perestroika became the peak of her career - it was at this moment that, with the help of radio and television, she became a constant presence in the life of the country, coming to almost every home and sounding from every window. And the trigger for this popularity, again, as in the case of “Chervona Ruta,” was cinema—more precisely, two films with her songs and participation. In 1980, “Where Are You, Love?” was released, a kind of adaptation of the plot of “Come Tomorrow” to more modern realities. The picture was quite autobiographical - in it, a young girl came to an amateur song competition with a composition by Raymond Pauls, the same name as the film, and left as its main triumph.
The film turned out to be mega-popular - Melodiya released a record with songs from the film, and the whole country sang songs based on poems by the best Soviet poets.
A year later, another picture was released - “Soul”, an autobiographical melodrama about the singer’s loss of her voice and reassessment of values. The participants of “Time Machine” starred in it as musicians, the songs were written by and, and Rotaru’s partner was who was then at the peak of popularity. The second picture completed the formation of a personal mythology around her, and her triumphant tour in Canada gave her the status of a real export star, in the language of trade, suitable for both domestic consumption and export.
However, it seems that it was this stardom and this status that became the reason for the actual second disgrace - she was prohibited from foreign tours (for which there were more and more requests).
It got to the point of being funny - representatives of a German concert agency once received a paper in response to an invitation: “This kind of person doesn’t work here.”
Nevertheless, Rotaru actively participated in “Songs of the Year” and continued to collaborate with both top Russian-language authors and Moldovan poets - for example, Gheorghe Vieru, who wrote the songs “Romantica” and “Melancolie” for her. However, it ended - it was a failure, it must be admitted - it fell into disgrace only with the beginning of perestroika.
A turning point in this sense can be considered the beginning of collaboration with Vladimir Matetsky, which entailed (or, conversely, was the reason) for a change in image - instead of a chansonnier with folk roots, Rotaru turned into a disco and rock vocalist. More precisely, she was still an ideal opponent for the rock musicians of the Leningrad Rock Club and the Moscow Rock Laboratory, however, starting with the quite romantic “Lavender”, she eventually began to perform fast things - the very ones for which she is still remembered por: “Moon, moon”, “It was, but it’s gone”, “Only this is not enough.” The latter was a completely bold experiment - a poem full of nostalgic sadness was turned by Matetsky into a real rock action movie. They worked together for 15 long years - until the end of those very 90s, when honored artists were decisively scrapped, and new ones were nominated in their place.
Nineties - today
Moreover, it is worth noting that Rotaru never became an archival star - like the generation of pop stars a generation older, who quietly and with dignity retired into teaching and “Old songs about the main thing.”
She, who began her career with the help of her mother, a trader at the collective farm market, had some amazing, as they say these days, marketing sense: in some amazing way, at the right moments in time, she guessed the situation and the time when she needed to change her image or do something new.
So, for example, it was she who at one time - back in the early 90s - noticed a trend among new pop stars to perform with backup dancers and invited the then not very famous troupe "Todes" to perform with her.
The head of the dance theater, Alla Dukhova, said that these concerts were the first step towards the future fame of the dance troupe.
At the same time, she is not at all characterized by a passion for continuous updating and oblivion of the old repertoire - she did not shy away from anniversaries, nostalgic reissues, etc. In 2012-2013, she launched a big anniversary tour dedicated to the 40th anniversary of her creative activity. Rather, on the contrary - carefully and tightly mixing old hits with new ones, she presented her songs as part of one, never interrupted (and, by and large, not influenced by time) process. Moreover, it seems that in her case this is not a concept, but a philosophy - because both her biography and her statements indicate that for her this is a way of life.
Another feature of her philosophy remains her political position. Although it would be more correct to say humanitarian - a Kiev resident by registration and a Yalta resident by actual place of residence, in 2004 she distributed food on the Maidan to representatives of both opposing camps.
And later, in the wake of the great advent of Ukrainian musicians into politics, she even tried to run for the Rada from the Lytvyn bloc. At the same time, at the present time, she in every possible way refrains from any involvement in the foul-smelling Russian-Ukrainian propaganda wars that cause suffering to both peoples: after the annexation of Crimea, she did not accept Russian citizenship (according to her, because of registration in Kyiv) and especially noted that is a citizen of Ukraine.
At the same time, in fact, she and her songs remain part of the life of divided citizens of a once united country.
Informals of the 80s considered her songs an example of Soviet pop officialdom - but now they sound like the last memory of that utopia of the country’s unity and friendship of peoples, which the Soviet Union at least tried to approach and the final collapse of which we are witnessing now. And that is why there is a risk that many leaders of countries sharing this singer will remain minor political figures of the era of Sofia Rotaru.
