Philipp Kirkorov

Philipp Kirkorov was born on 30 April 1967 in Varna, Bulgaria. His father is a Bulgarian singer of Armenian descent Bedros Kirkorov. In 1984, he entered the Gnesin State Music School, graduating with honors in 1988. His musical style is mainstream Russian pop music with various Western influences and, like many Russian pop stars of the 1990s and 2000s, he frequently collaborates and records duets with other Russian pop artists. His mother Victoria Kirkorovа (née Likhachevа) was a Bulgarian singer.

In 1988, Kirkorov met the Russian mega-star singer Alla Pugacheva for the first time. She invited him to take part in her New Year's concert show. The following year, Kirkorov toured and performed with Pugacheva in Australia and Germany. He was also a finalist in the Russian national "Song of the Year" competition.

In 1990, Kirkorov won the Grand Prix in the competition "Shlyager-90" (Hit-90) in Leningrad with the song "Nebo i zemlya" (Sky and earth). In 1992, his music video to the song "Atlantida" was selected as "Music Video of the Year". His popularity began to spread outside of Russia and he toured in the United States, Canada, Germany, and Israel.

In 1993, he won the Russian Ovation award for "Best Singer of the Year" and also scored a win at the Bulgarian international singing competition Golden Orpheus. The following year, he unveiled his new solo concert program, titled "Ya ne Rafael" (I am not Raphael), which included cover songs by Engelbert Humperdinck, Tom Jones, Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka and Elvis Presley. He also recorded "Ya podnimayu svoy bokal" (I raise my glass), which he said was a love letter to Alla Pugacheva.

In 1994, he proposed to Alla Pugacheva and she accepted. On 13 January the couple announced their engagement in Moscow. On 15 March the marriage was registered in St. Petersburg by then-mayor Anatoly Sobchak. On 15 May the wedding of Kirkorov and Pugacheva took place in Jerusalem. Kirkorov represented Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1995 held in Dublin with the song "Kolybelnaya dlya vulkana" ('Lullaby for the volcano') and finished in 17th place. He co-wrote the Belarusian entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007, "Work Your Magic" for Dmitry Koldun, and wrote the 2008 Ukrainian entry "Shady Lady", performed by Ani Lorak. He was also a judge in the second season of Music Idol in Bulgaria. Kirkorov makes a cameo in Verka Serduchka's video "Do Re Mi". Other than his native Bulgarian, he is fluent in Russian, and is proficient in Spanish and English.

He became a father in 2012. His daughter, Alla-Victoria Filippovna Kirkorova was born in Miami. He decided to call her Alla-Victoria after Alla Pugacheva and his mother Victoria.

In December 2012 he signed an open letter criticizing a St. Petersburg bill banning "homosexual propaganda", along with pop stars like Dima Bilan and Valery Syutkin.

Kirkorov performing at "Slavic Bazaar" in Vitebsk, 2014

Kirkorov maintains a "bad boy" public image for most of his career. He caused a number of media controversies.

The most notorious scandal followed an incident in Rostov-on-Don on 20 May 2004. At a press conference he insulted (using Russian obscene language) Irina Aroyan, a female journalist who had asked why so many of his songs were covers of American and European hits. During the ensuing discussion, Kirkorov eventually told Aroyan that he was "tired of her pink blouse, her tits, and her microphone" and demanded that she leave the room immediately. When she eventually did, his bodyguards attacked her outside and destroyed her tape recorder. The incident led to a major response and discussions in the mass media. On 11 August 2004, Kirkorov was found guilty of insults (article 130 of the Russian penal code) and was fined 60,000 rubles (about 2000 US dollars at the time).

At a pro-Viktor Yanukovych candidacy concert during the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election the father of Kirkorov famous Bulgarian singer Bedros Kirkorov mistakenly called on Ukrainians to vote for the opposing candidate Viktor Yushchenko – to wild cheers from the audience.

There was also an incident where Kirkorov sent his guards to attack the Russian rock singer and DDT band frontman Yuri Shevchuk after their emotional skirmish in a public place (as known, Shevchuk keeps no guards of his own). The reason for the argument reportedly were Shevchuk's offensive statements against Kirkorov, his wife, and his alleged lip-synching.

On 15 May 2009 Kirkorov resigned as head of the Russian jury at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest, which has a 50% say in who will be national Russian Eurovision representative, after having been seen posing for cameras with Greek entry Sakis Rouvas and having dinner with Norwegian entry Alexander Rybak. Furthermore, Kirkorov admitted that he and Rouvas had been personal friends for years. Since the integrity of the jury was deemed damaged, Kirkorov had little option but to resign once these stories had been made public.

On 3 September 2009 Philipp Kirkorov, clad in his (in)famous 2008 Music Awards 'gold' suit was caught on camera while 'confiscating' the camera belonging to journalist Veronica Kozlova. Since the act could have been interpreted according to the law as a robbery, some reports said the singer was facing 2 to 7 years' imprisonment and a heavy fine. All charges were dropped, however, and Kirkorov stated that his actions were 'provoked' by the journalist. Kozlova was immediately dubbed 'Pink Blouse the Second' by her colleagues and other journalists.

In 2010 Kirkorov was seen striking a female audience member while walking through the crowd at a performance.

Another incident occurred on 4 December 2010, when he allegedly slapped a female assistant because he was unhappy with the lighting at a concert venue. The woman, later identified as Marina Yablokova, threatened to sue Kirkorov. As a result, Kirkorov fled to Israel and had himself interred at a psychiatric hospital. On 7 December 2010 the singer publicly admitted that he had psychological problems on his official website and apologized to his latest victim.

Russian actor Nikita Dzhigurda during a talk show hinted on non-hetero sexual orientations of several prominent Russian pop stars, including Kirkorov. Dzhigurda conlcuded with the warning: "Come out! Come out from below ground, before it's too late!"

On November 29, 2016, Russian media reported that Didier Marouani has been detained in Moscow by Russian police on charges of extortion and defamation. The charges were based on a complaint by Kirkorov with whom Marouani had a disagreement regarding a copyright infringement case.

Orders

• Order of Honor (30 April 2017) - for great contribution to the development of national music art and many years of creative activity.
• Order of Francesc Skarina (Belarus, 18 May, 2012) - For a significant personal contribution to the development and strengthening of Belarusian-Russian cultural ties, high performing skills.

Titles

• People's Artist of the Russian Federation (12 February 2008)
• People's Artist of Ukraine (29 May 2008)
• Honored Artist of the Russian Federation (2001)
• People's Artist of Chechnya (2006)
• People's Artist of Ingushetia (2006)
• Honorary Citizen of Yalta (2010)
• Honored Art Activist of Autonomous Republic of Crimea (2000)
• Goodwill ambassador of United Nations (2000)

Medals

• Medal "10 years of Astana" (Kazakhstan, 2008)

Public awards

• Record holder of the Russian Book of Records (2017)

Albums

Studio albums

• 1990: Philipp
• 1990: Sinbat-Morehod
• 1991: Nebo I Zemlya
• 1991: Ti, Ti, Ti
• 1992: Takoi Sakoi
• 1994: Ya Ne Raphael
• 1995: Primadonna
• 1995: Ckazi Solncu – "Da"
• 1998: Edinstvenaya
• 1998: Oi, Mama Shika Dam
• 2000: Chelofilia
• 2001: Magico Amor
• 2002: Vlubloniy I Bezumno Odinokiy
• 2003: Neznakomka
• 2007: For You
• 2011: Drugoy – 2 Edition

Live

• 2001: Vchera, Segodnya, Zavtra... (Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow... )

Compilation

• 2003: Luchshie Pesni (The Best Songs)
• 2004: Dueti (Duets)

Singles

• 1999: Mish`
• 2000: Ogon` I Voda
• 2000: Kilimandzaro
• 2001: Diva
• 2001: Ti Poverish`?
• 2001: Ya Za Tebya Umru
• 2001: Maria
• 2002: Zesrokaya Lubov`
• 2004: Sam P..A?! Ili Kirkorov MAZZDie!!!
• 2005: Kak Sumashedshiy Ya (duet with Sakis Rouvas)
• 2009: Zara

Eurovision covers

Philipp Kirkorov has covered a few songs which appeared in the Eurovision Song Contest and its national finals, as well as entering a song in his own right. Songs include:

• "Dreamin'" (Ireland 1995 entry) (English and Russian)
• "(I Would) Die for You" (Greece 2001 entry) (English and Russian as "Ya za tebya umru")
• "Diva" (Israel 1998 entry) (English, Hebrew, Spanish and Russian)
• "Go" (United Kingdom 1988 entry) (Russian as "Lish by ty vsegda byla moej")
• "Maria Magdalena" (Croatia 1999 entry) (Russian)
• "Hero" – Charlotte Perrelli (2008 Swedish entry) (Russian as "Novyj geroj")
• "La Voix" – Malena Ernman (2009 Swedish entry) (Russian as "Golos", English and French) (with Anna Netrebko)
• "Let's get wild" – Helena Paparizou (2005 Greek National Final) (Russian as "Kaif")
• "Carnaval" – DJ Mendez (2002 Swedish National Final) (Russian)
• "Let your spirit fly" – Jan Johansson & Pernilla Walggren (2003 Swedish National Final) (Russian as "Vljublennaja dusha") (with Anastasia Stotskaya)
• "Cara Mia" – Måns Zelmerlöw (2007 Swedish National Final) (Russian as "Koroleva")
• "Playing with Fire" – Paula and Ovi (Romania 2010 entry) (Russian as "Igra s ognem")
• "Hope & Glory" – Mans Zelmerlow (2009 Swedish National Final) (Russian as "Tyi vsyo uvidish sam")

• 1995: "Old Songs About Main Things" (as magician from south)
• 1996: "Old Songs About Main Things – 2" (as Mr. Singer)
• 1997: "Old Songs About Main Things – 3" (young actor)
• 2000: "Salon of Beaty" (as Evgeniy Slavin)
• 2000: "Old Songs About Main Things.Postscript" (as magician from south)
• 2001: "Como El Cine" (as himself)
• 2002: "Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka" (as devil)
• 2003: "Crazy Day or The Marriage of Figaro" (as Count Almaviva)
• 2006: "The Adventures of Verka Serduchka" (as Cameo)
• 2007: "Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors" (as kite Piliph)
• 2007: "Stars Holidays" (as Baron Ctar, intergalactic star)
• 2008: "Goldfish" (as star groom)
• 2008: "On Back Of Black Cat" (as Cameo)
• 2009: "Love In Big City" (as Saint Valentin)
• 2010: "Love In Big City - 2" (as Saint Valentin)
• 2014: "Love In Big City - 3" (as Saint Valentin)