Thread: V.I.A. Gra / Nu Virgos

How popular are they in Russia? And why do they have two names. And how comes in some videos there are only 2 of them, and in others there are 3. And are they from Russia or Ukraine?

Ukrainian, there is 3 of them, and i've only seen Viagra as their name.

How popular are they in Russia?

Pretty popular. In its last poll Gallup Media put them at 19th place in Russia's domestic artists Top-100. They where even more popular couple of years ago.

And why do they have two names.

Nu Virgos is their "export" name, they use it outside CIS (that's because Viagra is a trademark, I guess).
In Russia and the rest of the CIS they're ВИА Гра, which is a pun:
Виагра - well you know what is Viagra
ВИА - acronym for Вокально-инструментальный ансамбль (in Soviet times it was an official euphemism for a pop-group, today some groups use it just because it sounds funny - ВИА Сливки etc)
Гра - well "гра" is Ukrainian for "game"

And how comes in some videos there are only 2 of them, and in others there are 3.

In the very beginning (2000) there were only two girls in the group: a blonde and a brunette.
Then producers decided they need a redhead, so the duet turned into trio.
Then the blonde left the group for a solo career, and was replaced by another blonde.
Then the redhead got married, became pregnant and was substituted for another redhead.
Then the second redhead left the group (solo career again) and was replaced by one more blonde.
Now there are 3 girls there: two blondes and the veteran brunette.

(IMHO the first redhead was the hottest of them. First blonde was cute too. Last blonde is OK. I don't like the second blonde. And I hate the brunette )

And are they from Russia or Ukraine?

All the girls are from Ukraine (with the possible exception of the last blonde), but they're all native Russian-speakers (at least that's the impression I've got from their interviews).

anyone who knows that much about a russian pop band ... well, your own life is probably punishment enough.

So Dogboy, where is that one girl in Russki Razmer from again?

SPB