Putting on another face

The presentation of Mikhail Shufutinsky’s new musical image and album, called "Macho-Man," took place in the Kristall entertainment complex on Jan. 16. Shufutinsky doesn’t plan to say goodbye to "Russian chanson" – the style that made him famous – or to radically change his image. He is going to work in both styles. Why the need for change? To judge from what has been happening, it is simply that he urgently needs more money. The singer himself puts it differently. "The time has come for me to show that I can successfully make different music and not just ‘chanson’," he said. "On my new disc you will hear mambo and latino, rock-n-roll and hip-hop, blues, soul and much else. I think that ‘Macho’ will interest the young because they hear me much less as Mikhail Shufutinsky."

Making piano music the old way

Alexander Serov’s new flat (250 sq. meters) was destroyed by fire on New Year’s Day, compelling the musician to move back to his old apartment in Serebryany Bor, according to a report in 7 Dnei. The fire was caused by a short circuit in the electrical wiring in the neighboring apartment and, according to preliminary estimates, repairs will cost $50,000. Understandably, Serov is terribly upset, in particular about the loss of his piano.

The daughter of famous movie director Nikita Mikhalkov, Nadya Mikhalkova, 14, presented a collection called Nadin —which is what Nadya is called at home – in a contest of junior fashion designers, says 7 Dnei. Nadya said her mother, Tatyana Mikhalkova, formerly a model and now president of the "Russian Silhouette" fund, was a particularly big influence on her collection. "We both prefer black and like wearing simple and comfortable clothes," Nadya said. On the big day, Nadya’s parents diplomatically stayed away from the event, giving their daughter a chance to shine in her own right. Nikita Mikhalkov, however, demonstrated his support in another way – by providing the Russian Culture Fund, of which he is president, as a venue for the event. Nadya, justifying parental hopes, was awarded an honorable diploma "For High Quality of Design."

Valery Komissarov, host of the popular TV program "Moya Semya" ("My Family"), has filed a lawsuit against a certain newspaper for publishing allegations that he was not the true author of his books and used the labor of "literary slaves." According to Komsomolskaya Pravda, Komissarov has demanded one million rubles in compensation for the "moral damage" inflicted on him by the publication. "The allegation is nothing but a flagrant provocation, blatant stupidity, envy and politically motivated," he is reported as saying. If he wins the lawsuit, he plans to contribute the money to one of Moscow’s orphanages. "I sleep around four hours a day and work on weekends. I manage to write 10-20 pages a day. That’s enough to produce a book a month. I get a lot of enjoyment out of it and I intend to go on writing that way."

Used to be brilliant

Ex-vocalist of the popular Russian girl-band, Blestyashchiye (Brilliant), Olga Orlova is about to become a mother, according to 7 Dnei. She is six-months pregnant and according to ultra-sonic tests she will give birth to a boy. The father of her future baby, Alexander, has nothing to do with the show-biz world – he’s a businessman. After her maternity leave, Olga is not going to return to the band. Instead, she’s going to have a go at being a soloist. Competing for her place in the band are Zhanna Friske and Ksenia Novikova.

Home sweet home

Businessman Ruslan Baisarov, who is pop-star Kristina Orbakaite’s common-law husband, has made a public statement saying that there is love and peace in his family, says a report in Komsomolskaya Pravda. Baisarov insists that they (he, Kristina and their son Deni) live together in their flat at Kutuzovsky Prospekt, that they celebrated the New Year holiday together, that Kristina and he plan to go on vacation to a top-class ski resort in France and that rumors about his fight with her have been greatly exaggerated!

Prickly subject for a party

‘Nogu Svelo" soloist Maxim Pokrovsky performed his new song at Radio Maximum’s "invitation-only" party that was held to celebrate their 9th anniversary, according to Komsomolskaya Pravda. The obscene three-letter word meaning the male organ was both the name and the subject of the song. Pokrovsky simultaneously eulogized it and blamed it for being responsible for all the world’s troubles. "All the blame lies with kh…," sang Pokrovsky as other DJs sang along with him.

London’s good for airing the brains

Bravo band leader Yevgeny Khavtan has just returned to Moscow after spending his winter vacation in London, reports Intermedia Agency. During his week in the British capital, the musician went clubbing, listened to young bands – of special interest were the Webb Brothers – and, predictably, upgraded his wardrobe. "I haven’t been to London for a long time and what surprised me most was the absence of pomposity. In Moscow it’s ubiquitous," Khavtan said. "For example, I didn’t hear words like ‘hyper-fashionable’ or ‘hyper-liberated.’ London is my favorite city. My aim was to air my brains so the trip was a success. But the moment I returned home and switched on my TV, all I saw was bare arses on all the channels."

A prime minister gets a first lady

After six months of dating, pop-singer Yulia Nachalova is to marry Dmitry Lanskoi, soloist with the "Prime Minister" band. The couple first met when they were students in the Gnesiny Institute. The wedding, to which only close relatives are being invited, is expected to take place outside Moscow on Jan. 20 and after that the newlyweds will go on a honeymoon trip around Thailand. Meanwhile, their friends are going to have to wait for summer, when the couple plans to throw a big party to commemorate the occasion.

(Intermedia Agency)