The Baltic Vacation. The 'New Wave' of pop-VIPs will cover Jurmala again.

'Isn't there too much Baltic coast?' - grin our artistic Bohemia. And this is quite clear because Tallinn hosted 'Eurovision'  and Jurmala - the first 'New Wave' competition last year. This year 'Eurovision' moved to Riga, and its oriental analog 'New Wave' will stir peaceful Jurmala second year running. The Baltic holidays are turning into a tradition for our show-business. Like in ancient times. People go to the Crimea, Bohemia - to the Baltic coast.
The destiny of 'New Wave' is quite good so far. The competiton hasn't started yet but already has got into history as 'an event where Iosif Kobzon wasn't  allowed.'  The Latvian authorities refused him a visa for the sake of  national security. 'If one old Jew threatens the state security of the whole country, then what kind of country and security are they?' wonders the singer and the deputy, unable to go abroad once again. He's received no answer so far...
Besides Kobzon, the duet 'Smash!!'  (who got Grand-Pris last year and were quite logically expected now as guests) have found themselves 'personas non-grata' this year. The young talents do not present any threat to security. However, they simply couldn't be devided between two festivals. The 'New Wave' organizers, being the people of principle, expressed their disaproof of the duet's recent trip to 'Slavianskiy Bazar' and asked them to choose between the two festivals. Alas, show-business is all about rivalry. In the end everybody was in the hole: Vitebsk promised little concert fee but countrywide broadcasting to 'Smash' but failed them as it is customary in Belorussia. And 'The New Wave''s spectators were left without their last year favourites. But hopefully their absence will not spoil the atmosphere of a holiday because this year Jurmala is going to accept too many star-guests, from Alla Pugacheva with her husband to the French chanson-hit-singers In-Grid and Patricia Kaas (with their boyfriends).
Today 'Zvukovaya Dorozhka' introduces the Russian participants and tries to figure out 'who is who' and the chances each of them has.
     
Anastasia Stotskaya
Very pretty, blond some time ago (now her hair is rather red than white), actress, one of the main faces in CHICAGO. Protege of Phillip Kirkorov. Singing quite well, too.             
                   




'Radiokafe'    
They are sort of girls' 'Smash!!', but not 'Tatu' of course! Their names are Natasha and Alessia. Compared to other contestants, the girls are really independent. No show-bizz monsters like Kirkorov or Orlov back them up. The duet has become a real dance sensation in St.Petersburg and their inflammatory music probably deserves a larger audience.

 

Vadim Azarkh
Unshaven brunet, 'macho' and so on. He is a protege of Evgeniy Orlov who has brought 'Otpetye Moshenniki,' 'Slivki,'  'Smash!!' on stage. It's unlikely that Grand-Pris will see the same hands again but who can tell for sure... his striking ability to make a sugar-candy out of anything is quite well-known (his unprecedented appearance happened in'ZD' just a week ago).
The non-competition side of the festival is going to be very lax: Phillip Kirkorov, Valery Leontiev, Alsou, Valeria, Patricia Kaas, 'A-Teens' and 'the sweet-hits of the season' Sarah Connor and In-Grid. 'ZD' will naturally join this bright company.

'The Moskovskiy Komsomolets'
'Zvukovaya Dorozhka' ('The Sound Track')