Nu Virgos is the name used to promote the group VIA Gra (ВИА Гра) outside of Russia, Ukraine and other nearby countries. The name VIA Gra is both a reference to the drug Viagra and a play on words, since the first three letters stand for “vocal-instrumental ensemble” in Ukrainian, and “gra” means “game” (or “play”) in Ukrainian. VIA Gra is a Ukrainian/Russian girl group that hit the charts in these countries in September 2000 with their first single ”Popytka No. 5″. After “Popytka No. 5″ more videos were out on the screens: “Obnimi menya” (Hold me closer), “Bomba” (Bomb), “Ya ne vernus” (I won’t be back). By the end of the year VIA Gra’s repertoire comprised 7 songs that were enough to embark on a tour. The group’s first live performance ever took place in Dnipropetrovsk on the stage of the city’s Ledoviy Palace in front of 4,000 spectators. 2002 saw the group becoming a trio instead of being a duet and changing their musical direction. In spring the group appeared in the new video “Stop! Stop! Stop!” (Russian) whose success enabled VIA Gra to take part in the “Ovation” Music Award Ceremony held at the Moscow’s State Central Concert Hall “Rossiya”. In September a new video “Good morning, papa!” was released , and close to that year’s end the group’s members played the roles of crowned heads in a TV musical called “Zolushka” (Cinderella).Within 2001 VIA Gra collected some of their first awards: “A Hundred Pood Hit” from HIT FM Radio, “Golden Gramophone” from “Russian Radio”, and the “Golden Firebird” prize at the Ukrainian annual festival “Tavriyski Igry”.
The group’s management decided to release the first full-length VIA Gra’s effort which was entitled after their major hit Popytka No. 5. Their first success outside the Russian language area was in May 2004 with the single “Stop! Stop! Stop!”, an English version of their 2002 Russian song. The group is known for their frequent lineup changes, with 11 different individuals having at one time been in the group. The group was co-created by Dmitriy Kostyuk and Konstantin Meladze. Kostyuk is the manager of the group and the co-producer of the group’s albums. Meladze is the writer of the group’s songs and the co-producer of the group’s albums.
In the beginning of 2003 VIA Gra released “Ne ostavlyay menya, lyubimiy” (“Don’t leave me, beloved”), complete with an eponymously titled video tape containing a collection of VIA Gra’s videos. They released Stop! Snyato! (Stop! That’s a wrap!) which included five new songs along with seven remixes. They attended the Russian MUZ TV awards and the “Soundtrack” award all won by VIA Gra. In May the group released the new video “Ubey moyu podrugu” (Kill my girlfriend). The end of 2003 having completed their new Biologiya (Biology) album, they entered international music scene. Their first English-language album Stop! Stop! Stop! saw the daylight in Israel, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia and Scandinavian countries. More videos appeared on TV – melodically and lyrically strong “Okean i tri reki” (Ocean and three rivers) and “Prityazhenya bolshe net” (“No attraction anymore”) (both in duet with singer Valeriy Meladze) shortly followed by “Biologiya” (last two videos released in 2004). In the summer of 2004, VIA Gra were awarded with the Russian music award “MUZ TV 2004” and completed a world tour spanning the territories including South East Asia, Israel and America. In November group released two more videos – “Mir, o kotorom ja ne znala do tebya” and English version of this clip – “Take you back”.
In July 2007, Vera Brezhneva, the blond girl of the group, left the group after she married Mikhail Kiperman. She then went on to host a Russian version of Power of 10 a year later. On September 5 VIA Gra premiered a video for the song “Potselui” (Kisses) in Ukraine, and September 10 – in Russia. November 1, 2007, the group released a new compilation album, called Potselui (Kisses) with 19 tracks. VIA Gra appeared in “Maxim” and FHM. In December 2007, the group recorded a new song called “Ya ne boyus” (I’m not afraid). In 2008, the team is scheduled to tour with English-speaking album L.M.L. for a variety of countries such as Japan, Germany, Britain and others. The group released a new video in February 2008.
Nu Virgos returned with a new song in Autumn 2009 called “Sumasshedshiy” (“Crazy”). The song’s “crazy” character has dictated “crazy” video plot where one of the vocalists – Tatiana Kotova – has a very unexpected look, and plays a man who’s being lusted after by the rest of the members in the group. The video was released in September. The year 2005 was marked by the launch of the Russian version of VIA Gra’s official website as well as by the release of three new videos: “Net nichego khuzhe”, “I don’t want a man” (English version of “Net nichego khuzhe”) and “Brillianty” (Diamonds). Additionally the group picked up their second in a row MUZ TV’s “The Best Pop Act” award. In August, it was revealed that their new single was “My Emancipation” and have released a music video. In November they have just finished filming a music video for song “Amerikanskaya zhena” (American wife) which was a soundtrack for Russian film “Stilyagi”. In January 2006, VIA Gra were a participant at MIDEM 2006. Despite the heavy touring that year the group have offered four more videos: “Obmani no ostansya” (Tell me lie, but don’t leave me), “L.M.L.” (Russian and English), and “Tsvetok i nozh” (Flower and knife) and completed a new English album, their second after Stop! Stop! Stop!. A second English language album L.M.L. was scheduled for release in November 2006 . In early April 2007, due to unexpected pregnancy, Olga left the group, the English album project was broken so the label decided to release it digitally.
In May 2007, VIA Gra once again won Best Group at MUZ TV Awards. In June 2008, once again VIA Gra collected their 4th “Best Group” award & “Best Video” for “Potseluy” at Muz-TV Awards 2008h. In March 2008, the Miss Russia 2006 Tatiana Kotova joined VIA Gra. In March 2010, new soloist – Eva Bushmina joined VIA Gra. She replaced Tatiana Kotova in the group. In April, new song and music video were released – “Poshel Von” (“Get out”). In September, “Den’ bez tebya” (“Day without you”) was released. In the beginning of 2009 Meseda left the group. In March, group released another new video – “Anti-Geisha”.
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