“Ribbon.<url>” continues a series of interviews about the recent past of our country. Following the restructuring, we recall the key events and phenomena of the 90s — the years of Boris Yeltsin’s rule. Singer and musician, the author of hits of the late 80-ies and 90-ies Sergey Minaev told the Tape.<url>”, gave six concerts per day, why raised the rating of Boris Yeltsin and why lie musicians “honest” politicians lie.
“Ribbon.<url>: In the 90s you at the peak of popularity, the most famous disc jockey, presenter and singer. But, despite your always optimistic attitude, hardly the 90s and you were quite so cloudless. Happened creative crises and failures in that time?
Sergei Minayev: of Course, happened, but usually remembered something else: good luck and success. Although I still try to use their failures with the benefit of the dip periodically required, then again you can move up. When in 1992 the crisis broke out and the audience stopped going to the stadiums, I “fell” to the clubs, I changed my tune, changed the genre, has opened new opportunities.
How would you characterize that time?
If the 80s — this time abandoning the socialist stereotypes, and zero — the rise of domestic show-business, the 90 — layer between them, a kind of NEP. Put simply, the shopkeepers tried to become factory. Someone pretty. As you know, I’m talking about pop music.
In 1990 you have released their very first LP, I mentioned that about she was going to a special arts Council, which you criticized for lack of professionalism and bad lyrics.
Imagine a young lout LP releases, music with lyrics he wrote himself, without referring to the masters of Soviet music, how dare he? I think youth is always annoying the elders with their arrogance, stupidity. But what happened in the 80s, was shocked: in a moment the authorities have turned into “mothballs”. Of course, it is unfair. I remember Michael Tanic gave advice and made comments. Some what agree with him. Now.
In one of your biographies I found this fact: Sergey Minaev — the record for the number of concerts, once he gave in one day as many as six concerts. Was?
Six concerts for the day happened, for example, in Sverdlovsk. For the weekend were sold tickets for three concerts a day, and the Sabbath because of the tragedy in Spitak had to endure and to add to Sunday. Remember, started in the morning and finished late at night. By the fourth concert, I couldn’t remember where I am and who I am.
Vladimir Presnyakov (right) and Sergey Minaev (left)
Photo: Eugene Matwey / Russian Look / Globallookpress.com
But there were cases when instead you acted crook-double?
Twins, unfortunately, was not. I wanted to hire a couple, so for me the “scratched” while I’m on the couch scratching my heel…
Why you out of all the Soviet stars gave a beating in the television show “the Spotlight of perestroika” in 1988? As I recall, you were charged that for a concert you take two thousand rubles.
Gave me because I was a switchman, Alla Pugacheva and Valery Leontiev who touch it-that dares? Yes, and my two thousand and twenty with them to any comparison did not go. For reference, two thousand rubles, then, is about two hundred dollars, but to live them it was possible the whole year, the ruble was hoo!
Performed at private parties in front of the “powers that be”? Well then you pay for such concerts?
I never complained about the salary, but usually the “powers that be” don’t feel like paying, they for “so” agree. Were me and in front of the lads, and to officials — in the 90s they a little than from each other differ. And sometimes all: beginner host of a popular radio bro with experience, as something grabbed my microphone and sang my repertoire itself. I can imagine how the audience “happy”. And this is the most decent from what I can tell.
In show business spinning huge money, which could not fail to attract the criminal world. There were unpleasant moments, threats?
Anything can happen: in the bath, I’ll steal a couple of days somewhere in Siberia, in the hotel room at three in the morning with his key the door will open… What can I say, funny stories enough.
What do you mean “my key”?
The mid-naughties. In Saratov the next tour. In the Central lobby of the hotel approached me suspicious type and offers to head upstairs to the hotel owner. I wonder why it is there? And get me a grouse with pineapple? Get the answer that Vyacheslav Arnoldovich waiting for, and I just did I’ll be happy to meet with him. And if I will sumlevayus, ordered to say that Vyacheslav Arnoldovich familiar to me as “the Eggplant”, and really I could forget him? We have to convey in the text the sound of the explosion of my brain… Really, it is not forgotten.
1992, ibid. Wake up in the room at three in the morning from the sound of poking around in the keyhole of the key. With bottles in the hands of a drunken tumble lad with a girl under his arm. On an intelligent question about what I owe this long-awaited meeting, the team does not respond, pouring the alcohol in the cups. Over time, it becomes clear that the Eggplant (at that time the businessman) wants to meet me its Michelle.
Picture this: I am afraid, in shorts, in front of the Eggplant with the girl in makeup with Volga scale, between the table with the opened bottle of cognac type, doctoral sausage and gun for the final touches of the wild still life. Guests communicate mainly interjections, but after a couple of hours “interview” more like interrogation, could clarify a lot. In the room they were “asking” the keys from the terrified maid, promising to send her there, where Makar calves did not drive and, for greater argument, to instruct her on the “Makara”.
Singer Sergey Minaev acts in the program “Musical ring”, 1990
Tatiana Krylova
Michelle gently inquired of my marital status, and Eggplant wildly interesting: who brought me here and for “hopping”. In fairness, it is worth noting inquisitive mind of the interviewer the questions about the nascent show business. He was interested in “clean all”, but mostly math — that is, numbers.
In short, they, of course, gone, but not before the empty table. Before leaving, Eggplant stuffed the gun under the other armpit (the first was busy again), promising tomorrow at the concert shoot on my signal. The next day the organizers of the concert reassured me, saying that the Eggplant is not terrible, and no one is killed. But for a concert he never came, though I waited for him (and when he sang on stage, and when I sweat at night after the concert). Say, came Vladimir Presnyakov, and Eggplant pulled “the interview” to him.
In zero, when the Eggplant, which became a hotel owner, called me to her house, I went to him refused to go. Times have others were. Although the door just in case a chair propped.
In his work you tried to avoid politics (with the exception of the song “Swastika”), making it the basis of lyrical songs and a humorous parody of Western pop hits. Tell me how you experienced what happened in the country in the early 90s?
It is not so, go to my website and you will see that I sang a lot of songs of satirical content, including political issues. Another thing, like whether it’s listening audience? You think someone wants to talk about the problems? As for experiences, we are a great country, and we have the great victory. And troubles. I always worry about everything that with us happens, and sometimes it is embodied in art.
In 1996 during the presidential election an important role in the victory of Yeltsin played an advertising campaign and a music round “vote or will lose”. It’s because you came up with a slogan, or am I mistaken?
I came up with many songs and advertising in that direction. In the horizontal Yeltsin’s rating was vertical.
And what about the slogan you are mistaken. I didn’t relate to his creation. She didn’t like to sing because this phrase is extremely inconvenient, it’s bad rhymes. This slogan was some kind of poster, bulky. Resembled Mayakovsky late, what with the construction in 1996 of the bourgeois bright future does not jibe.
You wrote in your blog that you have been contacted by Sergei Lisovsky, who was then one of the engines of the election headquarters of Boris Yeltsin, and asked to record songs in support of Yeltsin. You recorded the album “vote or lose”.
When Sergei F. Lisowski asked me to create a CD with songs about “vote”, I realized that this is not about flowers write. It turned out that the songs on the disc should be, as usual, about a dozen. “Wow,” I thought, and when should it be done?” Common sense suggests the answer: it would be nice for six months to make it. “Yesterday,” said Lisowski, as usual, without batting an eye. “So ended the childhood” — for some reason I thought (although I understand why).
Had to rent two studios with sound engineers and three arrangers, where I was improvising on the fly and wrote a film that comes to mind. Sang, for example, in the Studio on the old Arbat musical phrase with the words: “Vote! Or progressesi!” And went to another (it was in the old circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard) where he sang another phrase: “vote, vote, vote! Oooo!” While traveling from one Studio to another, thought a third song. At night, the arrangers did a musical treatment that I sketched during the day. And in the morning, snoring under the tortured notes of the staff, I listened to the material and threw out the junk. It lasted almost a week.
Why the most famous song from this album “Fight, Boris is not like the others?
The album was planned as a dance marathon about the voting in then popular in clubs style rave, and was aimed at the inhabitants of these clubs — young people (the electorate was unpredictable, millions of votes could be given both for Yeltsin and against it). When he was almost done, we Lisowski decided that not enough of something simple, a heart. And there was “Fight, Boris — composition, meaning the final drive. I sketched in the mind of the song, rushed to the Studio, somehow played the guitar, barely sang, showed Lisovsky. He cried out: “Ahhh! This is what you need. Let’s write!”
Started… the Whole disc is recorded and mixed for the week, and then three days of policy can’t record. “That’s not it!” — already angry Sergey Fedorovich. “And so?” — asks half asleep. “Even worse” — Fox bristles. I was so worn out that they no longer knew what to do: and so I sing, and that way. And with an orchestra, and without a… On the third day of tantrums it became clear that I have improved, and it was the worse, the better. To play in the kitchen, sing at the table, that is, to give folk is a marginal variant in the style of chanson. How do I brawled, when it realized… Instantly sang one shot and fell down, after almost a week. In short, the socio-political advertising — it’s not about “yesterday” sbatsat.
I wonder why he approached you?
Because we were with him in the team. No one would agree to such a Scam, on such terms, for such money.
Now the man in the street will say again it was all for the money. But to be honest, because you were worried that the Communists could return to power?
Honestly — Yes. Wanted creative freedom. Hard to believe that we live in a democratic state.
There were some interesting cases in the round “vote or will lose”?
My profession for the layman is entirely interesting cases. I in Rostov-on-don, the Prosecutor broke his leg at football, and I in 30 cities tour “vote” went on stage on crutches. Colleagues said “well settled”. Here, they say, stebetsya from the stage, a bright future with the fervor of promises, and he is on crutches.
You met with Boris Yeltsin and Boris Berezovsky? What is your opinion of them was formed?
Decided Boris to reward us for faithful service. We gathered in the waiting room: young, hot, optimistic, even the rockers here. Standing, waiting, anticipating. I was on crutches toil. But Boris never came. Only gramotki handed.
Once, in Cannes, of course, hooked Boris abramitch (Berezovsky — approx. “Of the tape.<url>”) to our company and became my wife to look at while I’m performing on stage. The restaurant is gorgeous, the women are spectacular, the music is catchy. So my dessert and ate until I’m on stage was jumping.
The celebration of the 22nd anniversary of stage activities of the singer and showman Sergey Minayev, 2002
Photo: Yury Martyanov / Kommersant
Your friend and partner Lisowski from music producer was gradually turned into a policy, you also had a chance, but you didn’t go into politics, why?
I’m an artist and life “deceive” the spectator, convincing him that life is beautiful and all is not lost. The maximum to which it can lead to a good mood in the viewer (or bad). In politics, the deception will lead to more serious consequences, so I’d rather the old fashioned way from the stage to deceive will hang.
Today, looking at myself in the 90s, you has regrets? Something would change?
Are not engaged in nonsense. From myself I will not recant. It is necessary to change the present.
What do you think, whether a repetition of the 90s in the future of the country?
In the world everything is possible. But I would like other reps: 9 may 1945, on 12 April 1961.
