Global Village, hah! Russia is on a different planet! Or have you ever heard of Vitas? He is selling millions of copies of his albums in Russia, yet not many know him in the Western hemisphere. (The Latvian singer has sold over 10 million CDs since 2001!)
In June he was invited to Beijing and performed two of his songs for Chinese Central Television. Since this memorable moment he is very popular in the Chinese and Korean internet too – they call him the ‘Russian Dolphin’. This derives from his unbelievable powerful falsetto voice, making him one of the most impressive countertenors I’ve ever heard. His musical style is Pop or Easy Listening with a melancholic attitude and even if you don’t like this usually, you have to hear him.
Fortunately I could collect almost all of his more important works on Youtube – handy, isn’t it? I arranged the videos chronologically: Opera #2 started it all, and is still my favourite song. _Here’s a special live version_. Then comes Opera #1, Blessed Guru – strange SF video with Vitas as the Emperor (just kidding, as ‘The Time’.), Smile, The Cold World, Mama, The Star and The Bird of Happiness – nice video too – and Kiss as long as eternity In March 2007 his new album will be published with 20 new songs. I ask all saints and Shores of Russia will be on it, too. And watch him perform an aria from Lucia di Lammermoor. He sings the part of Lucia, naturally.
Visit Vitas’ homepage: The Artist who has been waited for. (English. Featuring his videos in HQ) and this chinese fansite.
Related at the In-Sect: Pop Heroes: Wir Sind Helden, Matthieu Chedid is ‘M’, Go Go Nana Ichi Hachi Hachi, Real Originality: Andrew Thompson, God Bless Tiny Tim!.
Filed under: