Alsou facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alsou
Alsou in 2024
Background information
Native name	Алсу́
Born	(1983-06-27) 27 June 1983 (age 41) Bugulma, Tatar ASSR, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Origin	Moscow, Russia
Genres	Pop, R&B, synthpop
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1998–present
Labels	Universal Music
Associated acts	Enrique Iglesias, Bon Jovi, Nelly, Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers, Stargate, Morten Schjolin, Kara DioGuardi, Jörgen Elofsson, Christina Milian, Mark Hill, Rhett Lawrence, Les Paul, Al Bano, Andrew Lane, Lev Leshchenko, Vadim Baykov

Alsou Ralifovna Abramova (Russian: Алсу́ Рали́фовна Абра́мова; Tatar: Алсу Рәлиф кызы Абрамова/Alsu Rälif kızı Abramova; née Safina; born 27 June 1983), known simply as Alsou, is a famous singer from Russia. She became well-known across Europe after representing Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 with her song Solo, where she finished second. Alsou also hosted the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow. In 2018, she was honored as a Merited Artist of the Russian Federation, which is a special title for talented people.

About Alsou

Her Early Life

Alsou was born in Bugulma, a town in what was then the Tatar ASSR in the Soviet Union. Her father, Ralif Safin, was a successful businessman and a member of the Russian parliament. Her mother, Raziya Iskhakovna, is an architect. Alsou has an older half-brother, Ruslan, an older brother, Marat, and a younger brother, Renard.

When Alsou was one year old, her family moved to Siberia. At age five, she asked her parents for a piano and started attending a private music school. Later, she lived in Moscow, then in Syosset, New York, and finally in the UK, where she studied architecture. Even while living in London, Alsou often visited Russia.

In 1998, at her brother Marat's wedding, Alsou sat at a grand piano and sang "I Will Always Love You". Her family was so impressed that they encouraged her to become a professional singer.

Later Life and Family

On 18 March 2006, Alsou married Yan Abramov, a businessman. They have three children. Their first daughter, Safina, was born on 7 September 2006, in Los Angeles, California. Their second daughter, Mikella, was born on 29 April 2008, in Tel Aviv. On 10 August 2016, their son, Rafael, was born, also in Tel Aviv.

Alsou's Music Career

How It Started

When Alsou was 15, she met music manager Valeriy Belotserkovskiy. She sang "I Will Always Love You" for him, and he was very impressed. They started working together the very next day.

Her first Russian album, called Alsou (Russian: Алсу́), came out on 16 September 1999. It was a huge hit in Russia and featured popular songs like "Zimniy Son" ("Winter Dream"), "Vesna" ("Spring"), and "Inogda" ("Sometimes"). Because of this success, she signed with Universal Music Russia, becoming their first Russian artist. By 2000, over 700,000 copies of her Alsou CD were sold in Russia.

In 2000, Alsou recorded her first English song, "Solo". This song was chosen for the Eurovision Song Contest 2000, where she finished second. "Solo" sold 100,000 copies, becoming the best-selling single in Russia at that time. Her next single, a duet with Enrique Iglesias called "You're My #1", sold even more copies. Alsou said she really enjoyed performing with Enrique Iglesias.

After her success at Eurovision, Alsou went on a big tour across Russia. She celebrated her 17th birthday by performing in her hometown of Bugulma, where 86,000 people came to see her. In October 2005, Alsou performed "Solo" again at Congratulations, a special concert in Copenhagen, Denmark, celebrating Eurovision's 50th anniversary.

English Albums

From 2000 to 2001, Alsou worked on her first English album, also called Alsou. It was released in Russia on 28 June 2001, and also in countries like Germany, Norway, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Malaysia.

The main song from this album, "Before You Love Me", was released in the UK on 30 April 2001. It quickly reached No. 1 on MTV Select. However, it only reached No. 27 on the UK Singles Chart. Later that year, it was released in Germany and Australia. Another song, "He Loves Me", was released only in Germany in October 2001, but it didn't become as popular.

Her second English album, Inspired, took almost four years to make. It was recorded in London and Los Angeles. The main song, "Always on My Mind", was written by Alsou herself. The music video was filmed in May 2004 by famous director Joseph Kahn. This album included a cover of Lionel Richie's song "Hello". Although Inspired was never officially released to the public, Alsou gave free copies to her fan club members in Moscow in 2013.

Other Russian Albums

Alsou's first Russian album was re-released twice, in 2001 and 2002, with new songs like "Osen" ("Autumn") and "Kogda Lubov Ko Mne Pridiot" ("When Love Comes To Me").

In 2002, Alsou started a tour of former Soviet countries. She also recorded two songs for a Russian romantic movie called Atlantida.

19 Album

On 23 January 2003, Alsou released her second Russian album, 19. Critics liked the album, and by April 2003, it had sold 500,000 copies. Songs from 19 included "Vsyo Ravno" ("Anyway"), "Vchera" ("Yesterday"), "Perviy Raz" ("The First Time"), and "Mechty" ("Dreams").

After the success of 19, Alsou was nominated for the "Muz-TV" music award. On 5 June 2003, she won the "Best Female Artist" award, which made her very happy. To support her album, Alsou performed in many countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Latvia, Israel, and Kazakhstan.

The Main Thing and Tugan Tel

Alsou's third Russian album, Samoe Glavnoe ("The Main Thing"), was released on 31 March 2008. It included singles like "Nebo" ("Sky"), "Samoe Glavnoe" ("The Main Thing"), and "A u moei ljubvi" ("And My Love Has...").

In 2008, Alsou also recorded an album in the Tatar language called Туган тел (Tugan Tel' | Mother's Tongue). This album featured traditional Tatar songs and new ones written for her. All the money earned from this album was given by Alsou and Universal Music to help talented orphans from Tatarstan.

Other Projects

In June 2004, Alsou acted in a British thriller movie called Spirit Trap. The film came out in August 2005, and Alsou's own song, "Teardrops", played during the credits. She also starred in a Russian historical drama called "Vivat, Anna!" in 2006, and recorded a song for it.

Alsou is always working on new music. She is planning another Russian album and is also recording a double album of lullabies and popular children's songs. In 2010, she started recording a jazz album with the help of famous musician George Benson.

Awards and Honors

Alsou has received many awards for her music.

Even before she turned 18, Alsou had already achieved great success and was honored many times:

• She was named The Honourable and The Peoples' Singer of Tatarstan Republic.
• She became an Honourable citizen of Bugulma.
• Her song "You're My #1" won the National Russian "Record" award for The Best Selling Single of 2000.

Discography

Albums

All release dates are Russian unless noted otherwise

• Алсу (1999) – Her debut album in Russian, re-released in 2001 with the same title including two new songs
• Alsou (2001) – First album in English
• Мне приснилась осень (2002) – Second re-release of the debut album including five new songs
• 19 (2003) – Second Russian album
• Самое главное (2008) – Third Russian album
• Родная речь. Туган тел (2008) – First album in Tatar
• Фея добрых снов (2011) – First album for children
• Inspired (2013) – Second English album, recorded in 2003–2005, only released during a fan club meeting as a gift by Alsou
• Ты – это свет (2014) – Fourth Russian Album
• Письма, пришедшие с войны (2015) – Fifth Russian Album
• Я хочу одеться в белое (2020) - Sixth Russian Album

English singles

• "Solo" (2000) – a European single released before Eurovision Song Contest
• "You're My #1" (2000, with Enrique Iglesias)
• "Before You Love Me" (2001) – the single peaked at No. 27 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 1 on MTV UK
• "He Loves Me" (2001) – the last single from 'Alsou' released in Europe
• "Run Right Out of Time" (2002) – promo single with the Gala magazine (Russian Edition)
• "Always on My Mind" (2004) – canceled European single from Inspired
• "Miracles" (2006) – a limited 1-track single released for the guests on Alsou's wedding
• "Love U Back" (2018)

Videography

• "Зимний сон" (Zimniy Son | Winter Dream) 1999
• "Весна" (Vesna | Spring) 1999
• "Иногда" (Inogda | Sometimes) 1999
• "Solo" 2000
• "You're My #1" 2000
• "Before You Love Me" 2000
• "He Loves Me" 2001
• "Осень" (Osen' | Autumn) 2001
• "Всё равно" (Vsyo Ravno | No Matter) 2002
• "Летящая над облаками" (Letyaschaya Nad Oblakami | Flying Over The Clouds) 2002
• "Вчера" (Vchera | Yesterday) 2002
• "Әткәй" (Atkay | Father) 2002
• "Мечты" (Mechty | Dreams) 2003
• "Первый раз" (Perviy Raz | First Time) 2003
• "Everybody" 2004
• "Always on My Mind" 2004
• "Небо" (Nebo | Sky) 2005
• "Самое главное" (Samoe Glavnoe | The Main Thing) 2006
• "А у моей любви" (A U Moey Lyubvi | And My Love) 2007
• "Сандугачым-гүзәлем" (Sandugaschym-Gyuzalem | My Beautiful Nightingale) 2008
• "Уфа юкәләре" (Ufa Yukalare | Ufa Tilias ) 2008

Other collaborations

• Livin' on a Prayer (2003, a duet with Bon Jovi recorded for the Russian edition of their album This Left Feels Right and released to Russian radio stations, but then canceled).
• How High the Moon (2005, a guest appearance with Sting, Richie Sambora and Joss Stone, released worldwide on Les Paul's album American Made World Played).

See Also

In Spanish: Alsou para niños

• List of Eurovision Song Contest presenters

Images for kids

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  Alsou in 2024