We met Sveta Loboda (the blonde singer of the Russian group “Viagra”)
at the “Our Village” restaurant eating Armenian kyufta, “hatcharov
plaf”( spelt rice), and other Armenian meals. Sveta had come to Armenia
for a three-day visit. She had not come for concerts, but rather to
meet with her “friends”. Of course, she was not ready for an interview,
but in the end she also offered some of her photographs. The singer,
who has been singing in the group “Viagra” for the past five months,
has already managed to leave the band and will start a solo career
soon. She prefers jazz music rather than “pop”. Sveta did not wish to
say who her new producer was going to be. She only said: “We already
have some songs recorded. My first solo performance will be in Moscow
on October 5. A big concert is going to take place and other famous
Russian singers are going to participate also. I don’t like to be in a
group, I want to show myself. In a group, every one does the same
thing. When I was in the group, I did not even have the right to talk
or appear in different scenes with journalists without the consent of
the producer. I could not adapt to that.”
Valerie Meladze will be the group’s back vocal substituting for Sveta.
Valerie, who is pregnant, has just returned from her vacation given to
her by her workplace. As for the previous blond “Viagra” singer who was
substituted by Sveta, she is still pregnant and that has been the main
reason for her leaving the group. There was a time when there were
rumors spreading around that “Valerie Meladze had some connections with
the blonde, the black-haired and the brunette”. Sveta did deny that,
but she also did not affirm. She only said the following: “I do not
know anything about that.” Then she added: “I know one thing for sure.
From now on I will be doing a solo career and I will never return to
“Viagra”. Despite the fact that “Viagra” is considered the
highest-paying group in all of Russia, it does not make a big
difference for Sveta, who will be turning 22 years old on October 18.
She does not regret what she did.
Being one of the most sexual and scandalous groups, the girls of
“Viagra” have not turned down, shall we say, arrogant suggestions.
“A woman has to be sexual and desirable, especially on stage. Being
sexual is the first requirement for “Viagra” and then singing and
dancing well,” says Sveta. Perhaps fans go over the limit sometimes,
but people like that are calmed down easily.” By hearing this comment,
one of Sveta’s friends said: “If a man is not admired by just looking
at you, then what kind of man is he?” Sveta then gave a sexual tease.
I did not like your kyufta, but Armenian men are something else
Sveta compared Armenian kyufta with the medically tested sausages, but
she thought that Armenian men are the most passionate and desirable men
who ever walked the Earth. Was that an exaggeration or reality? We
should ask Armenian men. “Armenian men treat women with respect,” says
Sveta. “They court them nicely; however, I can not say the same for
Russians.” As for Armenian women, Sveta wasn’t the first Slovakian
woman who tried showing off: “During these past couple of days, I did
not see one girl with a short skirt (by the way, Sveta was wearing a
short sleeve shirt that day-A.M.). In Russia, every third girl tries to
show her beauty. Russian girls look after themselves better than
Armenians.” Sveta’s “friend” made a reply to this last statement, but
this time in Armenian: “You showed off a little too much, don’t you
think?”
Sveta was visiting Armenia for the first time and her friends promised
to take her to Saghmosavank and just stroll through Yerevan at night.
Of course, it is hard to imagine what Sveta will see in Armenia during
these three days, but perhaps being surrounded by Armenian men was
enough for her to picture Armenia.