Via Gra
| Nu Virgos (VIA Gra) |
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L-R: Gerceg, Kozhevnikova and Romanova in 2016. The three were selected as the new formation of the group after the reality show Khochu V VIA Gru, in 2013.
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Kiev, Ukraine |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2000-present |
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| Website | www |
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| Past members | |
Nu Virgos (Ukrainian: ВІА Гра) was the name used to promote the musical group VIA Gra (ВИА Гра) outside of 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 "hra" means "game" in Ukrainian and it is also kind of a signature of the surnames of the two first girls of the group, VI-nnitskay-A and GRA-novskaya, the originally used maiden name of Nadya Meikher. Nu Virgos was a Ukrainian girl group that hit the charts in these countries in September 2000 with their first single "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 13 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 2000 Alena and Nadiya made "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 Nu Virgos 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. The group’s management decided to release the first full-length Nu Virgos effort which was entitled after their major hit Popytka No. 5.
Within 2001 Nu Virgos 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”.
In 2002, Nadiya suddenly found out she was pregnant and left temporarily to give birth. To take her place came the brunette Tatiana Naynik. Upon Nadya's leave, the producers decided to expand the group by adding another soloist. Therefore, 2002 also saw the group becoming a trio instead of a duet with the addition of Anna Sedokova, along with a change in their musical direction. In spring 2002 the group released their new single, "Стоп! Стоп! Стоп!" ("Stop! Stop! Stop!") whose success enabled Nu Virgos to take part in the “Ovation” Music Award Ceremony held at the Moscow’s State Central Concert Hall “Rossiya”. They released the music video for the song the following summer. In September a new song and video, “Good morning, papa!” were released, upon which time Nadya had returned, and for the first and only time, there were four girls in the group. At this time, Alena felt that her time at the group had come to an end, and left. Additionally, Tatiana realized there was not enough room for two brunettes, and left. To close that year’s end the group's members played the roles of crowned heads in a TV musical called "Zolushka" (Cinderella).
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