Laima Vaikule (born 31 March 1954) is a Latvian actress, singer, director, and choreographer, best known in Europe and in the former USSR for such popular hits as "Vernisage" and "Charlie," among other songs.
Laima Vaikule
Vaikule in 2017
Background information
Born
(1954-03-31) March 31, 1954 (age 68) Cēsis, Soviet Latvia, Soviet Union (now Latvia)
Vaikule was born on 31 March 1954, in Cēsis, Latvia. Her parents moved to Riga when she was three. Young Laima was fond of music and dancing. In 1966, at the age of 12, she took part in a competition of young singers and was noticed. Between 1970 and 1973, she studied nursing at the Vilnius Medical College, while also continuing to sing with a band. Eventually, she became a lead singer with a local band in Riga, Latvia and worked night gigs at local clubs and restaurants for several years. In the 1980s she studied acting and directing at Moscow State Institute for Theatrical Arts (GITIS), graduating as actress and director.
In 1985, Laima Vaikule made her first hit in the Soviet Union. Since 1986, Vaikule has been enjoying a fruitful collaboration with popular Latvian composer, Raimonds Pauls, and Russian poet Ilya Reznik, who wrote such hits as "Vernisage", "Charlie" and "Skripach na kryshe" ("Fiddler on the roof"). She is among the original organizers of the Jurmala Festival of popular music,[1] along with Raimonds Pauls. During the 1980s and 1990s Laima Vaikule was a regular participant at international music competitions and festivals across Europe. Vaikule was awarded the Golden Lyra at the 1987 Bratislavská lýra,[2] was a guest singer and a host at "Jurmala 92" festival, and also took part at "AU music world" in Monaco, among other festivals and competitions. She was awarded the title Peoples Artist of Latvia (1995) and the Grand Music Award (1996) for her special contribution to the music and culture of Latvia.
Personal life
Vaikule is currently living and working in Riga, Latvia and owns a second home in Moscow, Russia. She is an animal rights activist and a vegetarian.[3][4][5]
Controversy
In a 2018 interview to the Ukrainian press, when asked about performing in the Russian-annexedCrimea, Vaikule responded "I won't go there, whatever royalties they offer me" and explained "I'm a citizen of the European Union, I don't have the right to travel there", receiving criticism from Russian Senator Aleksey Pushkov and several Russian cultural figures.[6] Vaikule later went on Russian national television, where she said her answer had been misinterpreted and what she meant was that the law forbids her from going to Crimea, not that she would not want to perform there. When asked by the anchor, whether she would perform in Crimea if no Latvian law forbade it, Vaikule answered positively.[7]
^Российские знаменитости устроили акцию протеста на льдах Белого моря против убийства тюленей [Russian celebrities staged a protest on the White Sea ice against murdering of seals]. ИА Регнум. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
^Зона, свободная от убийства [Murder free Zone]. НТВ. 11 March 2008. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
^Зелёные знаменитости: вегетарианство входит в моду [Green celebrities: Vegetarianism is catching on]. Retrieved 3 February 2012.[permanent dead link]
^"Laima Vaikule: Latvian pop star angers Russia with Crimea snub". BBC. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
^"Latvian singer Laima Vaikule faces Crimean controversy". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
^ abc"Биография Лаймы Вайкуле". РИА Новости. 1 March 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
^"Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 07.07.2011 г. № 900 - О награждении орденом Дружбы Вайкуле Л." Presidential Executive Office (in Russian). 7 June 2011. from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
^"Certificate of Merit of the President of Latvia". Valsts prezidenta kanceleja. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
^""Русское Радио" подвело итоги года: в Кремле состоялась XXIV Ежегодная Церемония вручения национальной музыкальной Премии "Золотой Граммофон"". Интерфакс (in Russian). 29 November 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
laima, vaikule, born, march, 1954, latvian, actress, singer, director, choreographer, best, known, europe, former, ussr, such, popular, hits, vernisage, charlie, among, other, songs, vaikule, 2017background, informationborn, 1954, march, 1954, cēsis, soviet, l. Laima Vaikule born 31 March 1954 is a Latvian actress singer director and choreographer best known in Europe and in the former USSR for such popular hits as Vernisage and Charlie among other songs Laima VaikuleVaikule in 2017Background informationBorn 1954 03 31 March 31 1954 age 68 Cesis Soviet Latvia Soviet Union now Latvia GenresPop musicestradaOccupationsSingeractorInstrumentsSingingYears active1966 presentLabelsMelodiyaRiTonisMCAGRPMicrophoneSoyuzExtraphoneUniversal RussiaWebsitelaima wbr com Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life 3 Controversy 4 Popular songs 5 Awards and honors 6 References 7 External linksBiography EditVaikule was born on 31 March 1954 in Cesis Latvia Her parents moved to Riga when she was three Young Laima was fond of music and dancing In 1966 at the age of 12 she took part in a competition of young singers and was noticed Between 1970 and 1973 she studied nursing at the Vilnius Medical College while also continuing to sing with a band Eventually she became a lead singer with a local band in Riga Latvia and worked night gigs at local clubs and restaurants for several years In the 1980s she studied acting and directing at Moscow State Institute for Theatrical Arts GITIS graduating as actress and director In 1985 Laima Vaikule made her first hit in the Soviet Union Since 1986 Vaikule has been enjoying a fruitful collaboration with popular Latvian composer Raimonds Pauls and Russian poet Ilya Reznik who wrote such hits as Vernisage Charlie and Skripach na kryshe Fiddler on the roof She is among the original organizers of the Jurmala Festival of popular music 1 along with Raimonds Pauls During the 1980s and 1990s Laima Vaikule was a regular participant at international music competitions and festivals across Europe Vaikule was awarded the Golden Lyra at the 1987 Bratislavska lyra 2 was a guest singer and a host at Jurmala 92 festival and also took part at AU music world in Monaco among other festivals and competitions She was awarded the title Peoples Artist of Latvia 1995 and the Grand Music Award 1996 for her special contribution to the music and culture of Latvia Personal life EditVaikule is currently living and working in Riga Latvia and owns a second home in Moscow Russia She is an animal rights activist and a vegetarian 3 4 5 Controversy EditIn a 2018 interview to the Ukrainian press when asked about performing in the Russian annexed Crimea Vaikule responded I won t go there whatever royalties they offer me and explained I m a citizen of the European Union I don t have the right to travel there receiving criticism from Russian Senator Aleksey Pushkov and several Russian cultural figures 6 Vaikule later went on Russian national television where she said her answer had been misinterpreted and what she meant was that the law forbids her from going to Crimea not that she would not want to perform there When asked by the anchor whether she would perform in Crimea if no Latvian law forbade it Vaikule answered positively 7 Popular songs EditIt s Not Evening Yet Yellow Leaves Vernisage What Does the Pianist Play Fiddler On the Roof Charlie On Piccadilly StreetAwards and honors EditZlata Bratislavska lyra 1987 8 Merited Artist of Latvian SSR lv ru 1990 World Music Awards 1993 8 Peoples Artist of Latvia 1995 Grand Music Award 1996 8 Order of Friendship 2011 9 Certificate of Merit of the President of Latvia 2019 10 Golden Gramophone Award 2019 11 AwardsWorld Music AwardsPreceded by1992 Oleg Gazmanov Best Selling Russian Artist1993 Laima Vaikule Succeeded by1994Alexander MalininReferences Edit Novaya Volna Official site USSR Yearbook 1988 Russia Novosti 1988 42 Rossijskie znamenitosti ustroili akciyu protesta na ldah Belogo morya protiv ubijstva tyulenej Russian celebrities staged a protest on the White Sea ice against murdering of seals IA Regnum Retrieved 3 February 2012 Zona svobodnaya ot ubijstva Murder free Zone NTV 11 March 2008 Retrieved 3 February 2012 Zelyonye znamenitosti vegetarianstvo vhodit v modu Green celebrities Vegetarianism is catching on Retrieved 3 February 2012 permanent dead link Laima Vaikule Latvian pop star angers Russia with Crimea snub BBC 14 August 2018 Retrieved 29 September 2018 Latvian singer Laima Vaikule faces Crimean controversy Public Broadcasting of Latvia 24 October 2018 Retrieved 29 September 2018 a b c Biografiya Lajmy Vajkule RIA Novosti 1 March 2020 Retrieved 2 September 2021 Ukaz Prezidenta Rossijskoj Federacii ot 07 07 2011 g 900 O nagrazhdenii ordenom Druzhby Vajkule L Presidential Executive Office in Russian 7 June 2011 Archived from the original on 18 April 2021 Retrieved 2 September 2021 Certificate of Merit of the President of Latvia Valsts prezidenta kanceleja Retrieved 2 September 2021 Russkoe Radio podvelo itogi goda v Kremle sostoyalas XXIV Ezhegodnaya Ceremoniya vrucheniya nacionalnoj muzykalnoj Premii Zolotoj Grammofon Interfaks in Russian 29 November 2019 Retrieved 2 September 2021 External links EditOfficial site in Russian Laima Vaikule discography at Discogs Laima Vaikule at the World Music Awards 1993 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Laima Vaikule amp oldid 1117027192, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
