Soon it will be fifteen years since Russian stage a stunning team appeared that won the heart of every man - the group " VIA Gra" Over the entire history of its existence, more than ten soloists have changed, and therefore few people now remember who was part of the first composition of Viagra, from which it all began. So who was at the origins? What was the very first composition of Viagra - the legendary women's group Russian stage? Let's remember.
History of the group's creation
Two friends, two talented musician, two music-obsessed people with a desire to change the world decided to create a new one. women's team, which will change ideas about Russian stage. In 2000, successful television producer Dmitry Kostyuk and composer Konstantin Meladze, having analyzed the success of the Spice Girls in the West and Blestyashchie in Russia, joined forces to create a new group that would not only be able to compete with popular groups, but would also become a standard for them.
Selection of soloists
Since the task was not easy, the work progressed very slowly. The first composition of Viagra took a very long time to recruit. The first to join the group at that time was the TV presenter of the Biz-TV channel, general director which was Dmitry Kostyuk. He invited the talented and smart girl to participate in the project, but she doubted it for a long time, as she preferred rock music. The interest to see what would come of this idea prevailed over doubts, and Vinnitskaya agreed.
Numerous castings did not produce results; the producers could not find those who would fit the group’s format one hundred percent. The first composition of “Viagra” - Alena Vinnitskaya and selected girls Marina Kashchin and Yulia Miroshnichenko - began work on the first compositions, but the result did not satisfy Konstantin Meladze and Dmitry Kostyuk, and they decided to close the project.
After some time, they returned to their unrealized dream and started all over again, only this time they began to be even more demanding of applicants for a place in VIA Gre.
Not a trio, but a duet
It was originally planned that VIA Gra would consist of three amazingly attractive and charming girls who could sing. Desperate to find suitable soloists, the producers thought about creating solo project with Vinnitskaya. But Nadezhda Granovskaya became an unexpected discovery for them. The girl met all the requirements, the main one being a stunning sexy appearance. Thus, Viagra was finally formed.
The first line-up (photo above) did not last long, but did a lot.
“Attempt No. 5” was the name of the girls’ first song, which instantly made them incredibly popular - they literally woke up famous. This happened on the fourth of September 2000, the day after the premiere of the composition on the Biz-TV channel. The debut was awarded the “Golden Gramophone”, “Stopudovy Hit”, “Golden Firebird” and “Golden Weight” awards. The group's first album was released in 2001.
Many years have passed since then, and the soloists in the group often changed, but no one will argue with the fact that Alena Vinnitskaya and Nadezhda Granovskaya are the real, very first VIA Gra. By the way, are you wondering why the group was named that way? There are several versions.
Origin of the band's name
It turns out that the team was not named after the drug of the same name. According to one version, “VIA Gra” is a combination of the abbreviation “vocal-instrumental ensemble” and the word “gra” (in Russian - “game”).
According to another, the name consists of the first letters of the soloists' surnames. “VI” - Vinnitskaya and “GRA” - Granovskaya. "A" between them for readability.
However, the sexy appearance of the artists, members of the group, is more inclined to be associated with a well-known medical drug. In addition, the name is perceived the same way by ear.
Alena Vinnitskaya: facts from biography
It was with this girl that the history of the group began. She joined the first team " VIA Gra", and her name is still associated with the team. Alena Vinnitskaya participated in the project of Meladze and Kostyuk for three years, after which she left the group and set off on a free voyage through the expanses of show business. Despite the fact that the artist already has eight solo albums and thousands of fans in Russia and Ukraine, critics call the VIA Gra period the most successful stage of her creative life.
Nadezhda Granovskaya: some facts from life
A young provincial girl, Nadezhda Meikher, who came from the outback to the capital of Ukraine, managed to get into the first lineup of the Viagra group. Names changed, soloists left, new ones came to replace them, but Nadezhda Granovskaya turned out to be the most frequent guest in the group. She left the group several times, then returned again. The reasons for this were different - pregnancy, conflicts within the team, etc. However, the door was always open for her at VIA Gre. Interesting fact is that before participating in the project, Nadezhda Granovskaya had no vocal experience at all. “VIA Gra” taught her to sing and turned her into a real star. Now she is a successful singer, actress and TV presenter.
The anniversary celebration was overshadowed. Her contract with the production center ended, and the girl decided not to renew it. Now Nastya has plans for a solo career. . The colleague of the 30-year-old and 26-year-old was the 22-year-old, familiar to viewers from her participation in the projects “, Season 3, and “. Yesterday, producer Konstantin Meladze presented the updated composition of the popular female group.
Updated composition of the group "VIA Gra"
Today, members of the group “VIA Gra” went to the studio to record a new track. “#VIAGRA has started new stage. Rehearsals, photo shoots, many performances and new hits await you soon,” Konstantin Meladze shared on his microblog on Instagram (the author’s spelling and punctuation are unchanged. - Note ed.).
Ulyana Sinetskaya, Erica Herceg and Olga Meganskaya
In addition, Konstantin Meladze published a video of the first performance of the VIA Gra group with an updated lineup. It took place last Saturday on the stage of a capital club. True, not all Internet users were delighted with the show. Many spoke negatively about the lineup change. " The new girls are lost compared to Erica, but maybe they will sing well? We'll see...” one fan complained. " Ulyana’s curls spoil her... Maybe she’ll look better with straightened hair,” wrote another. “The composition is super! Ulyana will show herself yet! Olya is also a beauty!!! Well done Konstantin for noticing Sinetskaya, she’s unique!” - one of the fans came to Sinetskaya’s defense.
The first performance of the group "VIA Gra" in a new lineup on the stage of the capital's club
Let us remind you that the VIA Gra group has existed since 2000. Over 18 years, several compositions have changed. In 2012, the group's producer Konstantin Meladze announced the collapse of VIA Gra due to the fact that the group had exhausted itself. In 2013, it was completely formed new line-up a group with a familiar name to the public. The selection of participants took place as part of a reality show. Erica Herceg, along with Misha Romanova and Nastya Kozhevnikova, under the strict guidance, won the competition and earned the right to bear the title of the new composition of the VIA Gra group.
“Golden cast” of the group “VIA Gra”: Nadezhda Granovskaya, Vera Brezhneva, Anna Sedakova
By the way, at the end of March this year she left the group. The artist said that she wants to focus on her personal life. After this, Romanova disappeared from social networks and now only occasionally pleases fans with photos on her account. Olga Meganskaya replaced Misha in the team.
Anastasia Kozhevnikova, Misha Romanova and Erica Herceg
By the way, in “Valery Meladze admitted that he regrets the collapse of the “golden composition” of the VIA Gra group: "VIA Gra" is a project forever. Mainly due to the baggage and the songs that Kostya wrote. Honestly, I’m incredibly upset that the previous composition of VIA Gra fell apart. Kostya wrote songs that even grown women could sing. It's a shame when people get tired of working in show business. This happens for various reasons - I in no way blame anyone for this. There are different circumstances."
Valeriy Meladze. Exclusive video interview "Around TV"
8 November 2010, 13:54Starter composition of the group,
the very one from which it all began became two Ukrainian girls, Alena Vinnitskaya and Nadezhda Granovskaya. The story of their arrival in the group turned out to be different. Alena, at that time working for the Ukrainian television company Biz-TV, was invited to participate in the group by Dmitry Kostyuk himself. Another producer was Konstantin Meladze. It was he, together with Dmitry, who was lucky enough to open Nadezhda for the group. The starting point that persuaded him to decide to accept Nadezhda into the team was her amateur photo shoot. 
There are several versions about why the group was named that way. On the one hand, VIA is an abbreviation that stands for “Vocal-Instrumental Ensemble”, and “Gra” is translated from Ukrainian language how is game". On the other hand, many believe that the name is a derivative of the surnames of the vocalists, in which “VI” is the beginning of the surname “Vinnitskaya”, “A” is the first letter of Alena’s name, and “Gra” is, accordingly, the beginning of the surname of Alena’s partner in group, Nadezhda Granovskaya. There is also a version that “Gra” stands for “Voice, Joy, Artistry.” But the real reason was that all sorts of decodings somehow formed the word “VIA Gra”, which has the same name as pills that increase sexual potency in men, which was fully facilitated by the external image and sex appeal of the vocalists. In 2002, the VIA Gra group was shocked by some changes. A new stage in its evolutionary development has begun. The structure was changed - from a duet the team turned into a trio. It all started with the fact that Nadezhda Granovskaya was preparing to become a mother, and accordingly, it was necessary to put an end to her busy touring activities for a while. In order to make up for the temporary loss of Nadezhda, a casting was urgently announced. The producers decided to increase the number of participants to three people, which was successfully done. An ex-TV presenter was invited to the group Anna Sedokova,
worked on the O-TV and " New channel", as well as a model from St. Petersburg - Tatyana Naynik. 
Without allowing the updates to “take root,” the group continued “right off the bat.” A magnificent video was shot for the song “Stop! Stop! Stop!". He showed that the group was moving in the right direction and the fact that Anna Sedokova was in the group was extremely beneficial. On September 12, 2002, filming of the video for the song “Good Morning, Dad!” ended. This event was marked by the return to duty of Nadezhda Granovskaya, who less than a month ago gave birth to a son, who was named Igor. Some time after filming the video, Tatyana leaves the group. Golden composition In 2003 there were changes again. Alena Vinnitskaya decided to start her own, solo career. Accordingly, again casting, painful elections, as a result of which one gets into the group Vera Brezhneva. The next “era” is being formed, a line-up that is often called the golden line-up among fans of the group. Indeed, such a definition in relation to Vera, Anna and Nadezhda is quite reasonable. This year is becoming very fruitful in terms of the team’s creativity. At the beginning, a video clip for the song “Don’t leave me, darling!” is shot. This is followed by the release of the group's second album, Stop! Removed! 
In 2004, Anna Sedokova left the group. They urgently look for a replacement for her, who is found in the person of Svetlana Loboda, but the replacement turned out to be a little unequal, despite the fact that on June 4, 2004, VIA Gra won the Muz-TV 2004 award, a video clip for the song “Biology” was shot. . Still, Svetlana is not “accepted” by fans who immediately draw analogies between her and Anna Sedokova. 
Despite this, slight dissatisfaction with Svetlana grew and the decision was made to break up with her. Currently, Svetlana is engaged in a solo career. They take Loboda's place Albina Dzhanabaeva, who worked for a long time as backing vocals for Valery Meladze and joined the group on his recommendation. And everyone would just like to breathe easy, but suddenly Nadya Granovskaya leaves. 2005 year. And the group is urgently looking for a replacement. In a hurry they take Christina Kotz-Gottlieb. Albina becomes the center - as the strongest vocalist. The group looks like this: Christina also didn’t “get used to it.” I had to urgently hire a girl who was Meladze’s backup dancer. The girl is modest and diligent. Her name is Olga Koryagina.
And so it would seem... Everything is fine. We are working. Not so! New Olga Koryagina is leaving the ViaGra team. Married Albina and Vera worked as a duet for a short time and the producers found the perfect Mesedou.
All of these above-mentioned changes in composition overwhelmed Vera Brezhnev and she left the team. Meseda and Albina perform beautifully as a duet... In March 2008, the producers take on a new soloist - the winner of the Miss Russia 2006 contest. Tatyana Kotova. In January 2009, there was a change in the team. Meseda Bagaudinova had to part with the group due to the fact that the soloist of the first line-up of the group and the main old-timer of the group, Nadezhda Meikher, returned to the group. On March 22, 2010, Tatyana Kotova finally left the group of her own free will. The producers of the group invited the finalist of the Ukrainian project “Star Factory 3” to replace Tatyana - Eva Bushmina.
Now soloists VIA group Gras are Nadezhda Meikher-Granovskaya, Albina Dzhanabaeva and Eva Bushmina. During the entire period of performances, many participants passed through the project and all of them eventually connected their later life with show business. Alena Vinnitskaya successfully made her solo career in Ukraine. Tatyana Naynik producer and member of the trio Maybe. Anna Sedokova and Svetlana Loboda They are actively trying to promote themselves solo in Russia and Ukraine. Christina Kotz-Gottlieb is engaged in modeling business. Olga Romanovskaya (Koryagina) shot a video for the song “Lullaby” and after the birth of the child, big stage she never returned, but she opened her own boutique in Odessa. Left the group in August 2007 Vera Brezhneva decided to try her hand at television and hosted the program “Magic 10”, and later made a successful solo career. Meseda Bagaudinova plans to do a solo project. Tatyana Kotova Immediately after leaving the team, she began filming in one of the new Russian TV series and released the solo song “On.” The author of the lyrics and composer of all the group's songs is Konstantin Meladze. He, together with Dmitry Kostyuk, plays a producing role. 
Updated 08/11/10 15:09: Ex-soloist of the group “VIA Gra” Olga Romanovskaya exposed herself at the anniversary concert
You can’t look at these women calmly: a real pill for the stronger sex. Alena, Nadya, Vera, Svetlana, Albina - the composition of the group has changed exactly 16 times in 16 years: none modern group cannot compete with these beauties who appeared brightly and left the show just as brightly.
Let us remember how the VIA Gra team was formed and changed over all these years.
And it all started back in 1999, when producer Dmitry Kostyuk came up with the idea of creating a super sexy female team. In 2000, the first composition of the VIA Gra group was presented, consisting of Alena Vinnitskaya and Nadezhda Granovskaya. Their first video for the song “My Attempt No. 5” became a real hit.
In 2002, Nadezhda Granovskaya was preparing to become a mother and therefore girls such as Anna Sedokova and Tatyana Naynik were invited to the team. This composition did not last long: from April to September 2002.
Already in November of this year, Nadezhda Granovskaya returned to the team, and the VIA Gra team looked like this: Alena Vinnitskaya, Anna Sedokova, Nadezhda Granovskaya and Tatyana Naynik.
But after a couple of months, Tatyana Naynik leaves the group, and the team consists of: Alena Vinnitskaya, Anna Sedokova and Nadezhda Granovskaya.
In January 2003, Alena Vinnitskaya decided to leave the team and start her own solo career. As a result of casting, Vera Brezhneva takes her place, and Anya Sedokova becomes the main soloist of the group. Thus, the 5th composition of the group, January 2003 - May 2004: Anna Sedokova, Nadezhda Granovskaya and Vera Brezhneva. Music critics They call this lineup “golden” and the most stylish, sexy and successful in the entire history of the group. At this time the group released a large number of songs, shot many videos and was a leader in the number of rotations on TV and radio.
But in 2004, due to pregnancy, Anna Sedokova left the group, and she was replaced by Svetlana Loboda, who was not particularly accepted by fans. Despite this, the 6th group: Nadezhda Granovskaya, Vera Brezhneva and Svetlana Loboda lasted from May 2004 to September 2004.
In the 7th lineup of the VIA Gra collective (September 2004 - January 2006), no less bright member Albina Dzhanabaeva appears instead of Svetlana Loboda.
Having worked in the team for several years, Nadezhda Granovskaya decides to leave the group, and in January 2006 VIA Gra performs with a new lineup: Vera Brezhneva, Albina Dzhanabaeva and Christina Kots-Gottlieb.
But three months later, Christina, by decision of the producer, leaves the group, and Olga Koryagina is taken in her place. And thus, from April 2006 to April 2007, we could see three beauties on TV screens: Vera Brezhneva, Albina Dzhanabaeva and Olga Koryagina.
In 2007, Olga Koryagina left. Olga's place was taken by a native of Grozny, Meseda Bagaudinova.
A few months later, blond Vera Brezhneva left the group, and the group performed throughout 2007-2008 with two soloists: Albina Dzhanabaeva and Meseda Bagaudinova.
In March 2008, the team was joined by the blond and busty Tatyana Kotova.
And again, fans could observe changes in the composition of the team in 2009. This is already the 13th line-up, in which Albina, Tatyana and Nadezhda Granovskaya shone, who returned to the group again, and Meseda Bagaudinova gave her place.
In March 2010, Tatyana Kotova left the team, and the producers quickly found a young finalist of the Star Factory project, Eva Bushmina, to replace her. From March 2010 to November 2011, the VIA Gra team performed as follows: Nadezhda Granovskaya (Meikher), Albina Dzhanabaeva and Eva Bushmina.
At the end of 2011, due to her second pregnancy, Nadezhda Meikher again left the group and was replaced by a burning brunette - Santa Dimopoulos. Therefore, the 15th team members are: Albina Dzhanabaeva, Eva Bushmina and Santa Dimopoulos.
And again changes: in 2012, Dimopoulos left the team, and from October VIA Gra became a duet that lasted exactly one year.
Today, the new composition of VIA Gra has been joined by completely new faces: Anastasia Kozhevnikova, Erica Herceg and Misha Romanova.
