not sure how I feel about this one. I'm glad they're making music again, though.

Yeah i don't like this one. I've tried listening to it a couple of times and i just can't get into it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8UfysuDsmE

I found this demo of "I'm Not Afraid" from 2005 with Nadia... Does anyone know if Vera is in the background vocals of this version?
They have so many different versions of their songs with different singers. But it's funny on compilation albums, they always end up using the versions with Anna's vocals...
Oddly enough, on the ELLO YouTube channel, there's a version of the "100 Steps Back" music video with Albina's voice dubbed over Anna's and I don't think a version with Albina was ever officially released. Kinda weirded me out.

I've really gotten into ViaGra/NuVirgos lately. At first I had a hard time with all the changing members, especially since at first glance, some of the girls look slightly similar to me (doesn't help it's always: blonde, redhead, brunette) but I think I know all members by heart now. I really like the song Allo Mam. I love how they've gone through a more "serious" direction of music since 2006, or specifically, Flower & Knife (my first and favorite Nu Virgos song)
But is there any news at all about a new album? Even a compilation? It's been almost 4 years since their last album release and they've already been through like 3 line up changes since. :p

Yes, it's Vera. It was the only song where Nadya had the leading vocal. Nadya left in early 2006 and the song remained orphaned until 2007, when VIA Gra was reduced to a duet with Albina and Meseda, and it was released as a single then.
Fully mastered versions for almost all songs exist only once, when they were recorded for the original album, matter of costs.
No album. Russia has become an album free spot on Earth. Nobody buys one. The official site hasn't been updated for almost a year, and it's not even clear if there will soon be another change in the line-up. The last new member fully disappointed so far and it's no secret that she is on the ejection seat, and Albina is already in an age where it becomes difficult to fulfill the requirements of a girlgroup member, at least with the image of VIA Gra.

Yeah, I think Albina looks really out of place with the current line up... which is a shame, 'cause it seemed nearly perfect with Eva, Albina and Nadia. Albina's the only remaining touch of "old" ViaGra (definitely not original, but she's been in long enough. 8 years!) and if Albina leaves, I don't know if it would even be ViaGra.
Santa and Eva look really young, so they make ViaGra look like a teen girl group, making Albina look off. Albina looks fine for her age, but partnered with two girls who could pass as teenagers, not exactly.

Albina looked fine with Nadia because Nadia looks older than she really is. I was surprised she was only 18 or 19 in ViaGra's first song. It's a shame she left (again), forever even. It was nice to have the original member while it lasted. Albina, Nadia and Eva seemed quite powerful. The veteran, the original girl, and the new "unique" girl; all three had their talents. I'm not sure how I feel about Santa, but at least "Hello Mom!" was a great song. Funnily, Santa played the home wrecker.
ViaGra was really popular in my families home countries of Laos and Thailand back when it was Nadia, Vera, and Anna. :p I wish I could find more footage of their South Asian tours. I enjoy following the solo projects of Anna and Vera though.

sorry for the double post... buuut... apparently, Santa/brunette #6000000 has left the group :gigi: That was hardly a year. Yikes. I can't find any stated reason though, granted I don't understand Russian. Google Translating pages isn't giving me much results... I heard some of her live clips and I was not impressed, so her weak singing was probably a factor, if she were involuntarily kicked out. Guess she was the "Kristina" of this era of ViaGra.

I'm hearing rumors that Albina/Redhead#3 is going to leave too? Which is kind of upsetting since she's the longest running member of the group and has basically become the face of ViaGra (when I was younger and didn't know much of via gra, I literally thought Albina's name WAS Via). If she leaves, it won't feel like ViaGra anymore. Eva/Blonde#4 might as well have a solo career, she's strong enough vocally and physically to carry herself solo. Or, just have another girl group under a different name even if by the same management.

...then again, Japan does have girl groups consisting of 57969769 members that graduate/add new members every year.

Let's believe Santa's own words:
edit:
By the way, there is serious rumour that the new one will be Maria Yaremchuk, one of last years praised "New Wave" participants. Eek, that's going to be :grustno:

....I just watched one video of this Maria girl, but I can't say I'm so fond of her youthful presence.
I quite like this one though. If she does become Brunette#7, I hope they do something so she seems more mature. :|

I feel less bad if Santa left on her own terms. I guess Albina and Eva can withstand the "robotic functions" of a pop group since they have the talent to support themselves... whereas, Santa really was the background girl. Seemed like fans didn't like her much so it's better for her to leave by herself than the embarrassment of being kicked out.
Santa basically has the same fate of the other brunettes - Tatiana N. and Kristina. Hardly any solos, standing in the background, leaving after mere months. Olga and Meseda seemed to have left with pride though imo. They left some pretty good marks on ViaGra.

it's funny - every time I go to the ELLO youtube page, one of the old ViaGra members has a new song out on the front page. Glad some of them are still active anyway.

Offtop:
Also apppears that Valeriy has stopped coloring his hair, not even reaching 50 years old yet. Eh.

I will always love Nadya, Tanya, and Albina. Anti-Geisha will forever be my favorite song/video from VIA Gra. After Den Bez Tebya, I've lost most of my interest.

I only know Tanya K. as the blonde pageant winner who always lip sang (and apparently made fun of a lot on this forum, lol). AntiGeisha is realy catchy though. Post 2006 I think their songs took a huge jump in improvement, having a much more mature sound that sets them apart from being a "typical pop girl group". I think all their post-2006 songs would make an amazing compilation.
Den BezTebya has a really cool chorus for me but I wish they did something to look less funny for the video... :bum:

Albina, Vera, and Olga are my "heart" line up only because they were the first ones I properly saw. Fell in love with the song and video of Cvetok I Nozh. It to me seemed like a great introduction to the group. The song, story, cinematography and the girls were so interesting.
I don't even remember how I first landed on the video... I just remember the youtube thumbnail with the shirtless guy kind of attracted me. :gigi: anyway, Olga really shined in that video and I was slightly disappointed she hasn't done much else after.

Also, brief breaking update from today on Anna, leader of the golden line up, and redhead #1. Anna went to a Justin Bieber concert in LA yesterday. How fantastic. I follow her facebook. Girl needs to tone down the instagram.....