Twist and Shout: Girl Bands of Russia

Via Gra

Maria Alalykina, Irina Toneva, Alexandra Savelieva, Sati Kazanova – Fabrika

Via gra aka Nu Virgos became popular in Russia predominantly due to their sensual presence and outlandishly provocative costumes which undergo numerous, sometimes as many as a dozen, changes per show.

The girls in the band keep coming and going, and recently have been joined by Tatania Kotova, Miss Russia 2006. Current chirps Albina Dzhanabaeva, Nadia Granovskaya were once accompanied by lead Ukrainian chanteuse Svetlana Sloboda who recently made the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest hosted in Moscow this May.

On a career long awards and accolade winning streak for top songs and videos, the vibrant and highly suggestive group has released two English language albums Stop! Stop! Stop! and L.M.L which have become popular in many countries including Germany, Britain, Japan, Israel, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Scandinavia and America. So provocative and sexually appealing, the group has appeared in several spotlight features in Maxim and FHM.

 

Blestyashchie

Natalia Ruchka, Anna Semenovich, Ksenia Novikova, Yulia Kovalchuk of Blestyaschie

Brilliant in Russian, Blestyashchie is one of the first and most enduring all-girl singing groups in today’s Russia. Originally comprised of three girls…Olga Orlova, Polina Iodis and Varvara Koroleva, the group through the years has been populated by the most beautiful and talented Russian female pop singers to strut on stage including the inimitable Janna Friske and figure skater, actress & model Anna Semenovich.

Through the release of 8 albums, the group consistently maintains a stranglehold on the top music and video spots of “Russian Top Ten” and “Top-20″ on MTV as well as what have become traditional Russian seasonal favorites sung by everyone from hipsters to children during summer and winter months.

 

Reflex

 

One of the most stunning and sensual techno dance music trios, Reflex is consistently seen at the top of Russian pop music charts as well as international men’s magazines such as Playboy and FHM. Long time blond diva Irena Nelson (above center) left the group in 2007 and was soon replaced by the vivacious lead vocalist Evgeniya “Jenny” Malakhova, while background singer Alena Torganova continues to grind out the provocative visuals and background vocals.

Reflex performed a return U.S. tour this past Memorial Day weekend joined by Nelson as a special addition for the engagements. After being declared among the ten most popular Russian music stars in a 43 million sample poll conducted by TNS Gallup Media, in 2007, Irina Nelson aka “Rabbit” (don’t ask) was voted one of the TOP-100 most beautiful women in the world by FHM magazine. Blond hair and blue eyes, the type that would knock out most guys.

 

Fabrika

Fabrika (Factory in English) is a delicious Russian pop girl group from Moscow. The delectable band was formed by four talented girls, Sati Kazanova, Irina Toneva, Alexandra Saveljeva, and Maria Alalykina who took part in the first season of the Russian talent show Star Factory in 2002 where they finished second in the show. After seeing these girls perform, we’re left scratching our heads as the winner of the contest was a boy band! After the shooting of the group’s first video, Maria Alalykina to our regret left Fabrika to complete her university studies.

On November 5, 2003 Fabrika released their first album Devushki Fabrichnye (Girl Factory). This was followed on 25 December 2008 by a second album entitled My Takie Raznye (We’r So Different). From anyone we’ve seen performing in the States, they thankfully are.

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Slivki

Michelle, Karina Koks, Masha – Slivki

In Russian Slivki means “cream”, not the body lotion, but the appetizing, delicious stuff that comes with most Russian meals. And indeed the drop dead gorgeous girls of Slivki, Michelle, Karina and Masha, are the cream of the Russian pop culture crop.

The salacious band surfaced in Saint-Petersburg in 2000 and throughout their ten year tenure have refined their image as ‘Russia’s Homegirls’ to bump and grind along with their unique sound that combines Russian pop music, western funk, disco and R’n’B.

Slivki transformed from a Saint-Petersburg club band dubbed Discovery who sang in English to the somewhat international sensation they are today. They became quite popular in the Petersburg club industry and were noticed by famous producer Eugeny Orlov – that’s how they became Slivki.

Their first album Pervaya vesna…First Spring by ARS-Records saw the world in 2000 and witnessed it’s release successfully sold out. Their first song Sometimes and first video You Messed Up were on all central radio stations and TV channels throughout Russia and CIS.

Although the girls in the band have come and gone, Slivki has won several prestigious awards including Song of the Year 2001, nominated for Debut of the Year, and won the Golden Gramophone award from Russian Radio and others. The luscious trio has since gone international, are huge hits in Japan and have toured many countries to sold out venues including the U.S. and Israel. In 2006 Slivki became the voices of the children computer game Bratz.

When a girl band is a captivating and talented as this one, we can easily forgive them for
being bratz.

 

Hot Chocolate

Ukraine bands, especially girl groups, are supposed to be radiant blonds. However. Ani Karo, Tanya Reshetnyak and Alina Pylypenko are the most wicked and enticing brunettes you’ll find this side of Kharkiv. And so hot, you’ll have to forgive the lack of range in their performances. Ani is a former model from Tbilisi, Georgia and contender for Miss Universe competition before pursuing a singing career in Kyiv.

Alina is a second year university student of international relations from Belorussia. And Tanya from Kyiv is a graduate of the Kyiv Cultural Institute. All three girls remember how their attitude towards their part time singing aspirations changed the first time they went on stage. After each diva’s initial performance they were all hooked on performing.

The band’s song Furia has become a major hit in Ukraine recently amid controversy as it’s a reply to another popular song about women’s vices. Hot Chocolates song tells of women’s virtues, something the band takes seriously, and feel is an important message. We hear you loud and clear, girls.