Popular in Russia, the author and performer of chanson songs is Alexander Novikov. His biography is extremely eventful. He is a creative person, he not only writes lyrics and music, but also makes films, manages art projects, participates in the construction of the church, and makes musical equipment.
Childhood and youth
In the village of Burevestnik near the island of Uturup on the Kuril Islands, Alexander Novikov was born on October 31, 1953. The biography of the future poet and composer usually began. Father is a military pilot, mother is a housewife. Carefree childhood of a Soviet boy.
At 6 years old, the boy moved with his parents to Kyrgyzstan, in the city of Bishkek. In 1960, Sasha went to first grade, and received a diploma of secondary education in Sverdlovsk in 1970. He was critical of the Soviet regime. Fundamentally, Alexander Novikov did not join the Komsomol. His biography interested organs. From his youth, he was under the watchful eye of the authorities.
After graduating from Sverdlovsk school, he studied alternately at three institutes. First he entered the Ural Polytechnic University, then he was a student of the Mountain Sverdlovsk and Forestry Ural University. He was expelled from each university for one reason or another.
The beginning of creativity
Passion for urban romance and rock music came to Alexander Novikov in the late 70s. The singer began his work with work in the restaurants "Malachite", "Cosmos", "Ural dumplings." He created his own studio, Novik Records, and the Rock Polygon group. With the latter he recorded his first album under the same name - "Rock Proving Ground".
The creativity of rock musicians at that time was not approved by the authorities, so the activities of the group were not entirely legal. Musical equipment was produced by Novikov himself. In all respects, it was better than the one that was available for sale and was available and popular in the Soviet Union in the early 80s. The stereo, made by Alexander, was an analogue of a foreign one; musicians still use some equipment today.
Along with active creative activity, Alexander worked part time in a sports club.
Passion for chanson
Soon, Alexander unexpectedly for all moved away from rock music and was seriously carried away by chanson. In 1984, he released the popular album Carry Me, a Cabman, which contained 18 songs. Abramov, Khomenko, Chekunov, Kuznetsov, Elizarov took part in the creation of the album. We recorded songs at night in the House of Culture of the Sverdlovsk plant Uralmash. Beware of sniffing the authorities. According to Alexander's memoirs, prisons were not afraid, they were only afraid that they would not be allowed to finish work. By circulation and popularity, the album broke all records. Alexander Novikov became popular. His biography, however, from that moment turned off the straight path.
Arrest and conviction
The ideological sector of the Central Committee of the CPSU was outraged by this behavior of the musician. He was monitored, the phone was constantly tapped. The arrest occurred in October 1984. The musician was seized by people in civilian clothes and placed in a pre-trial detention center in the city of Sverdlovsk. In a criminal case, each song from the famous album was reviewed, in which the words had an offensive tone. The relevant authorities considered that the musician had a place either in a psychiatric hospital or in prison. According to political views, criminal liability for ideological inconsistency with communist norms was extremely undesirable, so Novikov was accused of making and selling fake musical equipment. The court in 1985 gave the musician 10 years of heavy duty. Alexander Novikov was found guilty. The singer’s biography, personal life is now tarnished by a criminal record on trumped-up charges.
He was forced to repent and renounce his work, exerting a strong moral impact (the singer never spoke about physical violence). However, Alexander withstood the pressure and remained faithful to his songs and creative colleagues. The biography of Alexander Novikov was not tarnished by betrayal.
In the camp
During the sentence, Alexander was offered various concessions. However, it is known that Novikov refused all concessions in the form of work in a club or library. The musician, along with the rest, worked in the most difficult areas - logging, construction. For the modest behavior and industriousness all prisoners respected and appreciated him. Sitting in solitary confinement for over a month, he wrote the song "On East Street."
On the loose. Unwanted face again
Alexander was released in 1990, when the new government declared the case trumped up and annulled the charge. In the same year, Novikov became the artistic director of the Song Theater, restored the Novik Records studio. He was always honest and a little categorical, for which some respected him, others did not like him. The musician publicly criticized the Russian pop art and Soviet show business, exposed the corruption schemes of television.
For his harsh remarks, he was included in the list of undesirable persons. Again, the biography of Alexander Novikov interested vigilant bodies. However, this only strengthened his respect and interest among ordinary compatriots.
Director's work
In 1994, in Germany and Luxembourg, Alexander Novikov and director Kirill Kotelnikov made the documentary "Oh, this Farian." The film tells about the group "Bonnie M" and its creator Frank Farian. It included unique materials from Farian’s personal archive, as well as exclusive interviews with him. In Europe, the documentary was a great success, was shown on several popular channels. Unfortunately, the Russian audience did not see this work.
Other documentaries by Novikov are “Gop-Stop Show”, “I'm Just Out of the Cage” and “Remember, Girl?”
Creative lift
By the mid-90s, a creative upsurge began. Singer Alexander Novikov, whose biography appeared on the pages of many popular periodicals, performed on radio and television, gave concerts, toured, recorded albums.
In 1995, the musician in the nomination "City Romance" received the "Ovation" award.
In 1997, he wrote songs to Yesenin’s poems. Music critics and art critics praised the released album under the name "Sergey Yesenin" and recognized it as the best and most successful ever since the Russian poet died.
Over 200 songs were written by Novikov over the years of his work. It was he who became the creator of the genre of urban romance - new and unusual at that time. The albums "Cabman", "Remember, Girl", "Ancient City" and others have already become classics today. He created over 300 songs and poems. Unique and first of its kind was his clip "Chansonette", which did not use computer graphics, all painted characters were made by hand.
Held as an actor, Alexander Novikov. The biography of the musician was replenished with new episodes when he starred in several of his videos.
Bells
The biography of singer Alexander Novikov is interesting in many aspects, because he is not only creative, but also a deeply religious person.
In honor of the Romanovs house, the musician, together with the master Pyatkov from Uralsk, himself cast the bells in the amount of 7 pieces. In 2000, the products were transferred to the monastery, which in the same year received a blessing from Alexy II, who visited Yekaterinburg. The belfry of the temple on the Ganina pit serves today. Each bell has its own name in honor of one of the princes, whose bas-reliefs are cast on each bell.
In 2002, the musician received a blessing from the Russian Church and began to raise funds for the bells for the Church on the Blood, built on the spot where the royal family of the Romanovs was shot. Each bell, and there are 14 of them, had a unique design, on each icon is cast - one or more. The weight of the largest product is 6 tons, the smallest - 1 ton.
In 2003, Alexander was awarded the Order of the Holy Prince of Moscow.
Novikov Alexander. Biography, family
Today, Alexander Novikov is married, has a son and daughter. He is fond of fishing, loves hunting and fast driving. Fans are keenly interested in the personal life of the musician, but the singer himself does not like to talk in detail about his family. It is known that his children received a good education. Novikov is very proud of his youngest daughter Natasha. She is engaged in design, lives separately. As a child, I went to the School of Arts, loved to draw and wanted to become a fashion designer. Today, Natalia sometimes helps her father in the design of the covers of his discs. The son contains a photo studio.
There are many rumors around the personal life of the musician. Fans and just gossipers are very interested in Alexander Novikov. Biography, wife, children ... At the next Chanson Award ceremony in the Kremlin, Novikov gave a great interview in which he said that he was proud of the wisdom and devotion of his wife, who managed to keep the family together even during their separation. It was the second half that helped him survive in prison. During the imprisonment of Alexander, she was raising two young children alone, she also had to run to interrogations and listen to criticism of friends. The singer has been with her for over 27 years and categorically denies rumors of a divorce from his wife. He emphasized that he would never part with his wife. Although the yellow press immediately posted information that when popularity came to the musician, temptations and fans came along with her, there were difficult moments in married life. But the wise wife of Novikov understands everything and forgives everything to him.
Alexander admits that he enjoys authority in criminal circles, but sees nothing wrong with that.
In an interview Novikov also said that he began to believe in God after his release, when he became wiser. But as a child, he read classics and has long been familiar with the biblical theme. Already in adulthood, he wanted to not just go to church, but to do something pleasant, from the heart. With bells, he had the opportunity when he was already quite popular and financially independent.
Alexander does not complain about his health, does sports, does not smoke, does not drink, does not follow any diets.
Creativity today
Novikov is a patriot of his homeland; he won the love and recognition of his compatriots. He is the creator of a completely new original genre - the urban romance of our time. It is considered an outstanding poet of the 20th century.
Alexander calls the song "Remember, Girl?" Annually participates in the National Chanson of the Year Award, which takes place in the Kremlin.
Today Novikov, a singer, composer, musician, author and public figure, is the president of the Ural Foundation “400 Years of the Romanov Dynasty”, which he headed in 2004. Since 2010 he has been managing the Variety Theater, which is located in Yekaterinburg. by order, as a artistic director, he removed the performance "The Blue Puppy" from the show, as he noticed pronounced signs of pedophilia and homosexuality in the script.
Infrequently, the composer and poet can be seen on the screen, but he has a lot of tours, and he still loves his hometown of Yekaterinburg. Alexander Novikov sings only chanson, believing that his songs have a deep spiritual meaning. The musician is sure that he has chosen the right path, and does not regret the incomplete higher education, believing that life itself has become the main university for him.
He relates his texts to male lyrics and says that his songs can not be sung, but read like poems. Alexander also believes: despite the fact that he has seen a lot in the zone, it is possible and necessary to manage songs without profanity. He tries not to participate in disputes, but he is always ready to fight back and stand up for himself and his relatives. The musician is sure that his songs are about love and fidelity, and they are not at all connected with the bunks, the prison and the lads. Chanson will be loved and popular among the people, while the Russian soul is alive.