Philipp Kirkorov
Encyclopedia
Philipp Bedrosovich Kirkorov ' onMouseout='HidePop("15032")' href="/topics/Varna">Varna
, Bulgaria
) is a Bulgarian-born Russian singer and producer living and working in Moscow
.
, Bulgaria
. His father is Bulgaria
n singer of Armenian
and Belarusian
ethnicity Bedros Kirkorov. His mother, Victoria, is Jewish. In 1984, he entered the Gnesin State Music School and graduated with honors in 1988. His musical style is generic Russian pop music with occasional Western influences and, like many Russian pop stars of the 90s and later, he frequently records duets with other artists working in the same field.
In 1994 he proposed to Alla Pugacheva
, and she accepted. On January 13, the couple announced their engagement in Moscow. On March 15, the marriage was registered in St. Petersburg by then-mayor Anatoly Sobchak. On May 15 the wedding of Kirkorov and Pugacheva took place in Jerusalem. Kirkorov represented Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1995
held in Dublin with the song "Kolybelnaya dlya vulkana" ('Lullaby for the volcano
') and finished in 17th place. He co-wrote the Belarusian
entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007
, "Work Your Magic
" for Dmitry Koldun
, and wrote the 2008
Ukrainian
entry "Shady Lady
", performed by Ani Lorak
. He was also a judge in the second season of Music Idol
in Bulgaria. Kirkorov makes a cameo
in Verka Serduchka
's video "Do Re Mi". Other than his native Bulgarian
, he is fluent in Russian
, and possesses great communication skills in Spanish and English.
The most notorious scandal followed an incident in Rostov-on-Don
on 20 May 2004. At a press conference he insulted (using Russian obscene language
) Irina Aroyan, a female journalist who had asked why so many of his songs were covers of American and European hits. During the ensuing discussion, Kirkorov eventually told Aroyan that he was "tired of her pink blouse, her tits, and her microphone
" and demanded that she leave the room immediately. When she eventually did, his bodyguards attacked her outside and destroyed her tape recorder. The incident led to a major response and discussions in the mass media. On 11 August 2004, Kirkorov was found guilty of insults (article 130 of the Russian penal code) and was fined 60,000 rubles (about 2000 US dollars at the time).
At a pro-Viktor Yanukovych
candidacy concert during the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election
Kirkorov mistakenly called on Ukrainians to vote for the opposing candidate Viktor Yushchenko
- to wild cheers from the audience.
There was also an incident where Kirkorov sent his guards to attack the Russian rock
singer and DDT
band frontman Yuri Shevchuk
after their emotional skirmish in a public place (as known, Shevchuk keeps no guards of his own). The reason for the argument reportedly were Shevchuk's offensive statements against Kirkorov, his wife, and his alleged lip-synching.
On 15 May 2009 Kirkorov resigned as head of the Russian jury at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest, which has a 50% say in who will be national Russian Eurovision representative, after having been seen posing for cameras with Greek entry Sakis Rouvas
and having dinner with Norwegian entry Alexander Rybak
. Furthermore, Kirkorov admitted that he and Rouvas had been personal friends for years. Since the integrity of the jury was deemed damaged, Kirkorov had little option but to resign once these stories had been made public.
On 3 September 2009 Philipp Kirkorov, clad in his (in)famous 2008 Music Awards 'gold' suit was caught on camera while 'confiscating' journalist's Veronica Kozlova camera. Since the act might have been qualified as robbery, some reports said the singer was facing 2 to 7 years' imprisonment and a heavy fine. All charges were dropped, though, Kirkorov himself stating that his actions were 'provoked' by the journalist (the latter having been immediately dubbed as 'Pink Blouse the Second' by her colleagues).
In 2010 Kirkorov was seen striking a female audience member while in the crowd at a performance.
Another incident erupted on the 4th of December, 2010, when he allegedly slapped a female assistant because he was unhappy with the lighting at a concert venue. The woman was identified as Marina Yablokova, and threatened to sue Kirkorov . As a result, Kirkorov fled to Israel
in a psychiatric hospital. On the 7th of December on the official website of the singer, it was reported that he admits his illness and publicly apologizes to the victim.
Live
Compilation
Varna
Varna is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, with a population of 334,870 inhabitants according to Census 2011...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
) is a Bulgarian-born Russian singer and producer living and working in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
Biography
Philipp Kirkorov was born on April 30, 1967 in VarnaVarna
Varna is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, with a population of 334,870 inhabitants according to Census 2011...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. His father is Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n singer of Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
and Belarusian
Belarusians
Belarusians ; are an East Slavic ethnic group who populate the majority of the Republic of Belarus. Introduced to the world as a new state in the early 1990s, the Republic of Belarus brought with it the notion of a re-emerging Belarusian ethnicity, drawn upon the lines of the Old Belarusian...
ethnicity Bedros Kirkorov. His mother, Victoria, is Jewish. In 1984, he entered the Gnesin State Music School and graduated with honors in 1988. His musical style is generic Russian pop music with occasional Western influences and, like many Russian pop stars of the 90s and later, he frequently records duets with other artists working in the same field.
In 1994 he proposed to Alla Pugacheva
Alla Pugacheva
Alla Borisovna Pugacheva or Pugachova , born 15 April 1949), is а Soviet and Russian musical performer. Her career started in 1965 and continues to this day...
, and she accepted. On January 13, the couple announced their engagement in Moscow. On March 15, the marriage was registered in St. Petersburg by then-mayor Anatoly Sobchak. On May 15 the wedding of Kirkorov and Pugacheva took place in Jerusalem. Kirkorov represented Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1995
Eurovision Song Contest 1995
The Eurovision Song Contest 1995 was the 40th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 13 May 1995 in the Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. The presenter was Mary Kennedy. This contest broke the chain of victories that Ireland enjoyed in 1992, 1993, and 1994...
held in Dublin with the song "Kolybelnaya dlya vulkana" ('Lullaby for the volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
') and finished in 17th place. He co-wrote the Belarusian
Belarus in the Eurovision Song Contest
Belarus has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest eight times, debuting in 2004. The country entered the contest in the same year that semi-finals began to be used to determine who would compete in the final. Belarus has so far managed to qualify for the final twice in 2007 with Dmitry Koldun...
entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007
Eurovision Song Contest 2007
The Eurovision Song Contest 2007 was the 52nd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It was won by first-time appearance as an independent country Serbia and was held at the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland from 10 May to 12 May. The host broadcaster was YLE.Finland earned the right to host...
, "Work Your Magic
Work Your Magic
"Work Your Magic" is the most successful single released from Dmitry Koldun to date. The song ranked 6th in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007. Note that the word Koldun in Russian means magician or sorcerer....
" for Dmitry Koldun
Dmitry Koldun
Dmitry Aleksandrovich Koldun is a pop singer from Minsk, Belarus.Koldun participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 and has been the most successful entrant from Belarus to date...
, and wrote the 2008
Eurovision Song Contest 2008
The Eurovision Song Contest 2008 was the 53rd edition of the Contest. It was hosted in Belgrade, Serbia after Marija Šerifović won the 2007 Contest in Helsinki, Finland. This year was the first contest to have two semi-finals which were held on 20 and 22 May, and the final held on 24 May 2008...
Ukrainian
Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest
Ukraine has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest eight times, debuting in 2003 with a 14th place finish for the popular singer Oleksandr Ponomaryov. The country won in their second year of Eurovision being represented by the famous singer Ruslana at the 2004 contest, and finished in joint...
entry "Shady Lady
Shady Lady
"Shady Lady" was the Ukrainian entry for the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest. It was sung by Ani Lorak, composed by Philipp Kirkorov and written by Karen Kavaleryan. However, in Greece, around the time of the Contest, there were many rumors stating that popular composer Dimitris Kontopoulos had...
", performed by Ani Lorak
Ani Lorak
Karolina Miroslavivna Kuiek, , popularly known as Ani Lorak , born 27 September 1978, Kitsman, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union, is a famous Ukrainian pop singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, and former UN Goodwill Ambassador...
. He was also a judge in the second season of Music Idol
Music Idol
Music Idol is the Bulgarian version of the British television hit show Pop Idol. It is a talent contest to determine the superior pop performer and its first season was aired on bTV from February 26 until June 7, 2007. During its third season, the show went international and auditions took place in...
in Bulgaria. Kirkorov makes a cameo
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
in Verka Serduchka
Verka Serduchka
Andriy Mykhailovych Danylko , better known as his drag character Verka Serduchka , is a Ukrainian comedian and pop and dance singer. In the role of Serduchka, he represented Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 and finished in second place...
's video "Do Re Mi". Other than his native Bulgarian
Bulgarian language
Bulgarian is an Indo-European language, a member of the Slavic linguistic group.Bulgarian, along with the closely related Macedonian language, demonstrates several linguistic characteristics that set it apart from all other Slavic languages such as the elimination of case declension, the...
, he is fluent in Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
, and possesses great communication skills in Spanish and English.
Controversies
There are a number of media controversies surrounding Kirkorov.The most notorious scandal followed an incident in Rostov-on-Don
Rostov-on-Don
-History:The mouth of the Don River has been of great commercial and cultural importance since the ancient times. It was the site of the Greek colony Tanais, of the Genoese fort Tana, and of the Turkish fortress Azak...
on 20 May 2004. At a press conference he insulted (using Russian obscene language
Russian mat
Mat is the term for strong obscene profanity in Russian and some other Slavic language communities.Use of mat is censored in the media and use of mat in public constitutes a form of disorderly conduct, punishable under article 20.1.1 of the Offences Code of Russia, although it is only enforced...
) Irina Aroyan, a female journalist who had asked why so many of his songs were covers of American and European hits. During the ensuing discussion, Kirkorov eventually told Aroyan that he was "tired of her pink blouse, her tits, and her microphone
Microphone
A microphone is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. In 1877, Emile Berliner invented the first microphone used as a telephone voice transmitter...
" and demanded that she leave the room immediately. When she eventually did, his bodyguards attacked her outside and destroyed her tape recorder. The incident led to a major response and discussions in the mass media. On 11 August 2004, Kirkorov was found guilty of insults (article 130 of the Russian penal code) and was fined 60,000 rubles (about 2000 US dollars at the time).
At a pro-Viktor Yanukovych
Viktor Yanukovych
Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych is a Ukrainian politician who has been the President of Ukraine since February 2010.Yanukovych served as the Governor of Donetsk Oblast from 1997 to 2002...
candidacy concert during the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election
Ukrainian presidential election, 2004
The Ukrainian presidential election, 2004 was held on October 31, November 21 and December 26, 2004. The election was the fourth presidential election to take place in Ukraine following independence from the Soviet Union...
Kirkorov mistakenly called on Ukrainians to vote for the opposing candidate Viktor Yushchenko
Viktor Yushchenko
Viktor Andriyovych Yushchenko is a former President of Ukraine. He took office on January 23, 2005, following a period of popular unrest known as the Orange Revolution...
- to wild cheers from the audience.
There was also an incident where Kirkorov sent his guards to attack the Russian rock
Russian rock
Russian rock refers to rock music made in Russia or in the Russian language. Rock and roll became known in the Soviet Union in the 1960s and quickly broke free from its western roots. According to many music critics, its "golden age" years were the 1980s , when the Soviet underground rock bands...
singer and DDT
DDT (band)
DDT is a popular Russian rock band founded by its lead singer, Yuri Shevchuk , in Ufa in 1980...
band frontman Yuri Shevchuk
Yuri Shevchuk
Yuri Yulianovich Shevchuk , born 16 May 1957, is a Soviet and Russian singer/songwriter who leads the rock band DDT, which he founded with Vladimir Sigachev in 1980. Shevchuk was born in Yagodnoye in Magadan Oblast and raised in Ufa, Bashkir ASSR, though he now resides in St. Petersburg, Russia....
after their emotional skirmish in a public place (as known, Shevchuk keeps no guards of his own). The reason for the argument reportedly were Shevchuk's offensive statements against Kirkorov, his wife, and his alleged lip-synching.
On 15 May 2009 Kirkorov resigned as head of the Russian jury at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest, which has a 50% say in who will be national Russian Eurovision representative, after having been seen posing for cameras with Greek entry Sakis Rouvas
Sakis Rouvas
Anastasios "Sakis" Rouvas II , often referred to mononymously as Sakis, is a Greek musician, television and film artist, businessman, and former pole vaulter who is one of the most successful and influential entertainers of all time in Greece and Cyprus...
and having dinner with Norwegian entry Alexander Rybak
Alexander Rybak
Alexander Igoryevich Rybak or in Belarusian Alyaksandr Igaravich Rybak , born 13 May 1986 in Byelorussian SSR is a Norwegian singer-composer, violinist, pianist, writer, and actor...
. Furthermore, Kirkorov admitted that he and Rouvas had been personal friends for years. Since the integrity of the jury was deemed damaged, Kirkorov had little option but to resign once these stories had been made public.
On 3 September 2009 Philipp Kirkorov, clad in his (in)famous 2008 Music Awards 'gold' suit was caught on camera while 'confiscating' journalist's Veronica Kozlova camera. Since the act might have been qualified as robbery, some reports said the singer was facing 2 to 7 years' imprisonment and a heavy fine. All charges were dropped, though, Kirkorov himself stating that his actions were 'provoked' by the journalist (the latter having been immediately dubbed as 'Pink Blouse the Second' by her colleagues).
In 2010 Kirkorov was seen striking a female audience member while in the crowd at a performance.
Another incident erupted on the 4th of December, 2010, when he allegedly slapped a female assistant because he was unhappy with the lighting at a concert venue. The woman was identified as Marina Yablokova, and threatened to sue Kirkorov . As a result, Kirkorov fled to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in a psychiatric hospital. On the 7th of December on the official website of the singer, it was reported that he admits his illness and publicly apologizes to the victim.
Albums
Studio albums- 1990: Philipp
- 1990: Sinbat-Morehod
- 1991: Nebo I Zemlya
- 1991: Ti, Ti, Ti
- 1992: Takoi Sakoi
- 1994: Ya Ne Raphael
- 1995: Primadonna
- 1995: Ckazi Solncu - "Da"
- 1998: Edinstvenaya
- 1998: Oi, Mama Shika Dam
- 2000: Chelofilia
- 2001: Magico Amor
- 2002: Vlubloniy I Bezumno Odinokiy
- 2003: NeznakomkaNeznakomkaNeznakomka is the fourteenth studio album by Russin pop-singer Philipp Kirkorov, released in 2003 by Sony Russia.-Track listing:- Singles :* "Roza Chainaya" * "Zestokaya Lubov`"* "Nemnogo Zal`"* "Radio-baby"...
- 2007: For YouFor You (Philipp Kirkorov album)For You is the fifteenth studio album by Russin pop-singer Philipp Kirkorov, released in 2007.-Track listing:- Singles :* "Ya Etu Zizn` Tebye Otdam"* "Holodno V Gorode" * "Obichnaya Istoria"* "Serdce V 1000 Svechey"...
- 2011: Drugoy - 2 Edition
Live
- 2001: Vchera, Segodnya, Zavtra... (Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow... )
Compilation
- 2003: Luchshie Pesni (The Best Songs)
- 2004: Dueti (Duets)
Singles
- 1999: Mish`
- 2000: Ogon` I Voda
- 2000: Kilimandzaro
- 2001: Diva
- 2001: Ti Poveriz`?
- 2001: Ya Za Tebya Umru
- 2001: Maria
- 2002: Zesrokaya Lubov`
- 2004: Sam P..A?! Ili Kirkorov MAZZDie!!!
- 2005: Kak Sumashedshiy Ya (duet with Sakis RouvasSakis RouvasAnastasios "Sakis" Rouvas II , often referred to mononymously as Sakis, is a Greek musician, television and film artist, businessman, and former pole vaulter who is one of the most successful and influential entertainers of all time in Greece and Cyprus...
) - 2009: Zara
Eurovision covers
Philipp Kirkorov has covered a few songs which appeared in the Eurovision Song Contest and its national finals, as well as entering a song in his own right. Songs include:- "Dreaming" (Ireland 1995 entry) (English and Russian)
- "(I Would) Die for You" (Greece 2001 entry) (English and Russian as "Ya za tebya umru")
- "Diva" (Israel 1998 entry) (English, Hebrew, Spanish and Russian)
- "Go" (United Kingdom 1988 entry) (Russian as "Lish by ty vsegda byla moej")
- "Maria Magalena" (Croatia 1999 entry) (Russian)
- "Hero" - Charlotte Perrelli (2008 Swedish entry) (Russian as "Novyj geroj")
- "La Voix" - Malena Ernman (2009 Swedish entry) (Russian as "Golos", English and French) (with Anna NetrebkoAnna NetrebkoAnna Yuryevna Netrebko is an Russian operatic soprano. She now holds dual Russian and Austrian citizenship and currently resides in Vienna. She has been nicknamed "La Bellissima" by fans.-Biography:...
) - "Let's get wild" - Helena Paparizou (2005 Greek National Final) (Russian as "Kaif")
- "Carnaval" - DJ Mendez (2002 Swedish National Final) (Russian)
- "Let your spirit fly" - Jan Johansson & Pernilla Walggren (2003 Swedish National Final) (Russian as "Vljublennaja dusha") (with Anastasia Stotskaya)
- "Cara Mia" - Mans Zelmerlow (2007 Swedish National Final) (Russian as "Koroleva")
- "Playing with fire" - Paula and Ovi (Romania 2010 entry) (Russian as "Igra s ognem")
- "Hope & Glory" - Mans Zelmerlow (2009 Swedish National Final) (Russian as "Tyi vsyo uvidish sam")
Filmography
- 1995: "Old Songs About Main Things" (as magician from south)
- 1996: "Old Songs About Main Things - 2" (as Mr. Singer)
- 1997: "Old Songs About Main Things - 3" (young actor)
- 2000: "Salon of Beaty" (as Evgeniy Slavin)
- 2000: "Old Songs About Main Things.Postscript" (as magician from south)
- 2001: "Como El Cine" (as himself)
- 2002: "Evenings on a Farm Near DikankaEvenings on a Farm Near DikankaEvenings on a Farm Near Dikanka is a collection of short stories by Nikolai Gogol, written from 1831-1832. They appeared in various magazines and were published in book form when Gogol, who had spent his life in Ukraine up to the age of nineteen, was twenty two. He put his early impressions and...
" (as devil) - 2003: "Crazy Day or The Marriage of FigaroCrazy Day or The Marriage of FigaroCrazy Day or The Marriage of Figaro is a modern comedy musical staged by Russian and Ukrainian television channels NTV and Inter under direction of Semen Gorov in 2003, based on the Pierre Beaumarchais' play The Marriage of Figaro...
" (as Count Almaviva) - 2006: "The Adventures of Verka Serduchka" (as Cameo)
- 2007: "Kingdom of Crooked MirrorsKingdom of Crooked MirrorsKingdom of Crooked Mirrors is a 1964 Soviet fairy tale film directed by Aleksandr Rou based on a story with the same name by Vitali Gubarev.In the end of 2007 the Russia TV filmed a musical remake - with the same name, featuring stars of Russian scene Nikolay Baskov and Alla Pugacheva. The...
" (as kite Piliph) - 2007: "Stars Holidays" (as Baron Ctar, intergalactic star)
- 2008: "Goldfish" (as star groom)
- 2008: "On Back Of Black Cat" (as Cameo)
- 2009: "Love In Big City" (as Saint Valentin)
- 2010: "Love In Big City - 2" (as Saint Valentin)
- 2012: "Love In Big City - 3" (as Saint Valentin)