Valentina Valerievna Legkostupova: biography, career and personal life

“The singer of one song” is what her detractors call her, but with this song, if she wants, she can still gather huge stadiums of spectators. Having lived through a difficult time of change at the junction of the collapse of the USSR and the emergence of modern Russia, she experienced ups and downs in her creative biography, betrayal and loneliness. Now Valentina Legkostupova is a happy woman, a prosperous mother, wife and grandmother, and creatively everything is fine with her: her “Yagoda-Raspberry” is remembered by millions of people, she regularly performs in front of fans, and has no plans to leave the stage.

What is known about the childhood and student life of the artist, who simply hypnotized the whole country with her voice in the late 80s? Who influenced her life the most for her to become a pop singer? Why did Valentina Legkostupova divorce her first husband, and is it true that she took her second one away from the family? Are the rumors really true that a certain huge “star” of our show business did not forgive Pauls for his creative “betrayal” with Legkostupova, but took revenge on the singer, and not the composer? Valentina Valerievna’s biography has a huge number of dark spots, and the artist’s many fans are interested in knowing every little thing about her.

Official data

Full last name, first name, patronymic: Valentina Valerievna Legkostupova;
Place of birth: Khabarovsk, USSR;
Date of birth: 1965, December 30;
Zodiac sign: Capricorn; according to the eastern calendar - Snake (element of the year tree); patron planet Saturn;
Height and weight: 166 cm, 56 kg;
Higher education; Graduated from the Russian Academy of Music. Gnessins (pop vocal department);
Occupation: singer, vocal teacher, producer;
Marital status: married, husband – Grigoriev, Yuri Alekseevich;
Children: daughter - Anetta Bril (born in 1991); son - Matvey Grigoriev (born in 2001);
State awards: Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.

About her childhood, school years

Valentina was born in the Far East, in Khabarovsk, and what is most interesting are the details of how her parents met. The girl’s father, who later became a professional composer, came to Khabarovsk very young to study choral singing there. As his daughter later said: “He was entrusted with a women’s choir, and the girls in the Far East were all as beautiful, and he chose the most beautiful of them, who very soon married him and gave birth to me.”

She says to herself that she was born a singer: “How could it be different if I fell asleep to Schubert and woke up to Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumblebee?” Her mother sang folk songs all her life, her father loved jazz, and music was constantly playing in the house. As a little girl, getting on a Khabarovsk bus with her parents in winter, she tore off her hat and scarf and began the concert - singing loudly. And when she was three years old, the family moved to Feodosia in Ukraine - the singer’s father was from there. And the residents of Feodosia, according to Legkostupova, were “doomed”: if she met more than three people at once, they were obliged to listen to her impromptu performance.

Mom was constantly on the road (she took part in performances of philharmonic societies throughout the Soviet Union), and dad was also often not at home for the same reason. And their daughter sat at the gate and waited for one of them to finally return home with gifts. She still remembers the wonderful red patent leather boots her parents brought her. She also has memories that she put on these boots and walked around the neighbors until late at night and showed off the gift.

She sang magnificently: everyone who heard her predicted that this was the future Lyudmila Zykina. But the trouble is, “Zykina No. 2” had an annoying drawback - the girl lisped a lot and couldn’t pronounce the letter “r”. Naturally, the future artist was saved in the seventh grade by her English teacher and class teacher Tatyana Efimovna. Valentina remembers very well the moment when the teacher called her over and quietly said: “I heard that you want to become a singer? But there are no burry singers.” It only took the girl a few days to correct her pronunciation with enormous willpower. She entered the class and loudly, correctly said: “Hello, Tatyana Efimovna!”

Persistence coupled with hard work – these qualities were nurtured in her by her dad from an early age. He saw: his daughter wants to become an artist, and all the prerequisites for this are there, but there will also be difficulties, and she needs to steel herself in anticipation of them in advance. Valery Legkostupov inspired his daughter: “First learn to do what you don’t like or find difficult, and the easy things will be done by itself.” It was her father who insisted that Valya go to study to become a music teacher, saying: “Your magic voice may disappear, and as an artist you will become of no use to anyone, but the profession of a teacher is stable, serious, always in demand, you won’t be left without bread and butter.” But he turned out to be right: during difficult years, deprived of the opportunity to perform, Valentina Legkostupova worked for a long time in a teaching position.

She had to choose a musical instrument that she would learn to play - what would a music teacher be without an instrument? The girl made her choice of her future “bread and butter” by watching TV, looking closely at what different musicians were playing. I paid attention to the violin: it seemed that moving the bow along the strings was the simplest thing, not like, for example, a piano or an accordion (one instrument is too large, the second is heavy, it must be stood on your knees). “Then I realized that I had chosen the most difficult instrument, but there was no turning back - I chose the violin and eventually devoted twelve years of my life to it,” from the memoirs of Legkostupova. As you might guess, she went to music school to learn to play the violin.

Valentina Legkostupova, biography, personal life, children, songs

The incredible hit of Valentina Legkostupova, which was called “Berry-Raspberry,” was at one time as popular as all the compositions of the sweet-voiced Yegor Creed now. This musical performer is often remembered by her business card - “Berry-Raspberry”. This hit made the singer a megastar, although the artist’s repertoire includes many other compositions that also deserve attention.

Valentina is a native of Khabarovsk, her father is a professional composer who writes songs for his daughter, and her mother is a singer. It goes without saying that in such a family it was impossible not to become a singer, so Valentina Legkostupova simply had no other choice.

When the future artist was only three years old, Valentina’s family moved to Feodosia, Crimea. At this point, the girl grew up and became more aware that she should connect her future life exclusively with music. Valentina discovered her vocal abilities early, which were warmly received by her family. At home concerts, the young performer attracted a full house of relatives and local street children.

When Valentina grew older, she immediately found use for her vocal abilities on the stage of the school music studio. After some time, Valentina became a real school star; she performed songs at a variety of events and school evenings. The artist received her musical education at the Feodosia Music School, where she attended violin class.

No one was even surprised that after graduating from high school, Valentina moved to Simferopol and entered the Tchaikovsky Music School. The future artist received a diploma and continued her education in Moscow. The violinist entered the capital's Gnessin Music and Pedagogical Institute, where she chose the vocal department of Professor Joseph Kobzon.

Youth and student life

Valentina studied at school with excellent marks in all subjects: she calls herself “an excellent student in life.” An exemplary schoolgirl, obedient and responsible, at the age of fifteen she decided not to go to the ninth grade, but to go to a music school. Simferopol, Tchaikovsky Music School - she entered there after leaving Feodosia. The subject that was studied there was again playing the violin. The parents were not at all worried that their daughter was far away and without control. “From an early age, I became my own controller, my dad and mom were calm: everything will be fine and correct for me,” Valentina later said.

She not only studied independently, she lived without parental supervision far from home. The girl immediately started working part-time – in the evenings after school she sang in a restaurant. “They paid as much as ten rubles per evening, very good money at that time. It was enough for an independent life, sometimes I even sent some to my parents,” from a recent interview with Valentina Legkostupova. And after graduating from college, she goes to Moscow to enter the Gnessin Institute (that’s what the Academy was called then). What appeared before the examination committee was not “Frosya Burlakova” from a southern provincial town, but actually an accomplished singer - she already had extensive experience performing on stage.

She chose the Faculty of Pop Art because it was just opened to accept students in 1985, when she came to enroll at Gnesinka. And the teacher at the pop vocal department was none other than Professor Joseph Davydovich Kobzon, a legend of the Soviet stage. In the same 1985, she already performed her first solo concert: this happened in the Ukrainian city of Kherson. The performance took place together with the then legendary group led by Semyon Son (known as Senya Son, professor at the Barcelona Academy of Music).

A year later: Valentina Legkostupova goes to the Jurmala competition. She is a first-year student, and even though she has already performed a lot in front of the public, the excitement is still terrible: the first competition, a big stage, a picky jury, a full hall of spectators. “I will never forget the sea of emotions, this live jazz symphony orchestra, the universal support of both the performers and the audience. Even then, such unity between artists and audience was rare to find,” from her memoirs. She sang “Let the Snowstorm” and “The Shore of Happiness”, and so magnificently that everyone behind the scenes congratulated the young singer on her victory.

She fell asleep that evening happy: would she really get the main prize? And the next day they announce that Legkostupova is in second place. Did you get upset, cry, or become depressed? Not at all! “I went there to test my strength, demonstrate my abilities, to understand whether I could compete in this area,” Valentina later said. The second place did not upset her at all, especially since Raymond Pauls paid close attention to her and demonstrated a desire to work together. Less than a year later, he and Ilya Reznik wrote the song “Two” for the singer, then the composer entrusted her with performing another of his singles, “In the White Keys of Birches.”

Childhood and youth

Valentina was born in 1965 in Khabarovsk. She was only three years old when her parents decided to move to Feodosia, Ukraine. It was there that the future star spent his childhood. In those years, she was little different from her peers. In the same way I studied, went out, made friends, fell in love. Only one hobby made her special - singing.

Valentina started singing very early. Even her closest family and friends can't remember when she staged her first impromptu concert. It seems they have always been there. At first the girl sang only for her own pleasure, then she realized that she was very good at it.

Soon Valentina began going to classes at the school music studio. When she first appeared on stage, she created a real sensation. So the girl became the most popular student in her school. The talented blonde with huge eyes could not go unnoticed.

Valentina had no doubts about which future to choose. After graduating from school, she went to Simferopol, where she entered the local music school. However, despite her undoubted singing talent, she chose the violin class. However, she didn’t care how to communicate with music. This world beckoned the girl, she dreamed of becoming an integral part of it.

In 1985, Valentina set off to conquer Moscow. Her plans were not to become an instant star. Being well aware of reality, she decided to continue her education first. The Gnessin Institute easily accepted her into the ranks of its students. Here Valentina finally began to comprehend the art of pop vocals. One of her teachers turned out to be Joseph Kobzon.

Pauls' songs performed by Valentina Legkostupova: rumors and truth

Here it was, that significant moment in her life, both in a positive and negative sense. She herself never told the whole truth about how the beginning of her collaboration with Raymond Pauls influenced her future stage life. Not once did she voice the name of the person who tried to ruin the career of the wonderful singer. Here, too, first and last names will not be indicated, but by comparing the known facts, you can try to figure out: who so fiercely wanted Valentina Legkostupova not just to “clip her wings” but to break them off?

We need to start from afar so that the backstory of how Valentina Valerievna almost left the stage forever became clear, and this happened much later than “Jurmala”.

A “star” arrived on tour in one of the major cities of the then USSR - under this name this undoubtedly talented artist of all times will appear in the story. Summer of the late 80s: a lady “star”, having pre-booked a room with her favorite numbers in a fashionable hotel, suddenly finds out that her apartment is occupied. The hotel administration, with huge apologies, is trying to rectify the situation and offers another room with similar numbering. The “star”, not having a very flexible character, demands “his” number. It must be said that the female administrator on duty also did not behave in the best way: in not very flattering terms, she advised the artist to moderate her ardor and “take what they give.”

The scandal turned out to be terrible, with “unconventional” expressions, it almost came to the arrest of the “star” - the brawler. One of the lady’s ill-wishers “pressed the right keys”, or the cup of patience ran out (there was already a long trail of incidents behind the “star”) - now it is impossible to find out. A wave of instructive articles immediately appeared in the newspapers on the topic: “How some celebrities who have raised their noses to excess behave.” A difficult period began for the artist: they stopped filming her and inviting her on TV for some time. My God, but what does the young singer Valentina Legkostupova have to do with it?

And the thing is that just before this incident, Raymond Pauls and Ilya Reznik wrote the song “Two”, and according to some reports it was supposed to “go” to this “star” - this was not officially announced, but the musical land is full of rumors . The famous composer and songwriter did not want to wait until the unbalanced lady, their regular performer of singles before, came out of disgrace, and gave the song to Easystupova! Then, literally a year later, everything calmed down, Pauls and Reznik wrote many more works to the “diva”. But that moment, when a gorgeous song literally disappeared from under the nose of some upstart student, firmly drove a thick needle of resentment into the heart...

Now, answering the tricky question: “Who wanted the end of your career?” – Valentina avoids giving a specific name in every possible way. She even tries to answer in such a way that the gender of this person is not clear: “This is certainly a very talented person, a star for all time. I admire this talent immensely. I’ll also add: we don’t know each other and have never crossed paths closely.” It is unlikely that Legkostupova is now afraid of revenge for publishing the name of the “avenger”: her natural delicacy and upbringing simply do not allow her to re-inflate the unpleasant story.

Long-awaited glory

But it was not only the songs of Raymond Pauls that helped her become incredibly famous among Soviet listeners, although they gave her a powerful impetus to her rapid path to the top. Another composer, Vyacheslav Dobrynin, noticed a talented girl at Jurmala and wrote “Raspberry Berry” especially for her. Valentina Legkostupova performed it for the first time on January 1, 1987. At that time there were no official ratings for listening and watching clips, but the fragment of “Blue Light”, where this simple melody is sung with such simple but sincere words, was repeated again and again in all famous television programs. “Yagoda-Raspberry” was played at discos, birthdays, graduation parties and anniversaries; it became a drinking song at any holiday.

The composition of Dobrynin and songwriter Plyatskovsky was honored to be included in the official section of Wikipedia! It is noteworthy that Valentina herself chose this song out of a desire to work with Dobrynin and Plyatskovsky, only later appreciating the “folk” qualities of their composition. In the same 1987, “Yagoda-Raspberry” reached the finals of a television competition

“Song of the Year”, and then the singer took it to festivals in Poland and Czechoslovakia. When Valentina is accused of becoming, in fact, a “one-songwriter,” the artist laughs: “So what? Some people hate the songs with which people associate them, but I adore “Malina”! She is my second mother, she is my life and glory, I will never betray her and will not stop fulfilling her.”

And hits rained down on her one after another, which people immediately liked and became popular favorites. These are “A Drop in the Sea”, “Plantain-Grass”, “The Homewrecker-Separation”. Despite the fact that Legkostupova did not take first places anywhere, the government did not spoil her with any significant awards, she became world famous. In 1989, she was included in the delegation that went on tour to Germany; a year later, Valentina, together with Kobzon’s team, made a large tour of African countries. Her career was developing rapidly, and it seemed that Legkostupova was about to reach the pinnacle of fame and become Diva No. 2 in Russia.

Marriage, the birth of a daughter - this took the singer out of her series of performances for a short time. She later talked with a smile about her return to the stage, but one can imagine what a shock the changes that happened in the country were for Valentina while she was sitting at home and caring for her newborn daughter. “I went on maternity leave in one era, and returned in a completely different one. All my life I tried to be an excellent student. A Komsomol member, I was even going to join the party - and suddenly the system in which I was born and grew up was completely destroyed,” her words. The market, which rapidly burst into the economic life of the country, also entered the stage, and many artists were unable to quickly adapt to the changes, including our heroine.

Here it was, a turning point, when they could lend her a helping hand, orient her in new harsh and merciless conditions. But for some, this difficult moment in Valentina Valerievna’s career became a convenient reason to push her down from the edge of the abyss on which she was balancing. The singer disappears from television screens, her songs are almost never broadcast on the radio - it seems that her creative career is about to end. But there were kind people who did not leave her alone with the new market conditions that had reigned in the country! This person turned out to be Lev Leshchenko, who in 1993 hired the artist to work at his “Pop Song Theatre”. And everything went well! Of course, not like before, but the singer began performing again, trips and tours returned:

1994: release of the disc “Berry-Raspberry”, which, in addition to this hit, included the rest of Valentina’s popular songs;
1995: she performs at the Russian Song Festival in Bulgaria;
1996: recording of several new singles, the author of some of them is Valery Legkostupov, her father;
1998: she sings in Yalta at the Crimean Dawns festival;
2001: release of the collection “I Smile.”

Finally, in December 2001, the hard-won state award “reached” her: by decree of the President of the Russian Federation, she was awarded the high title of Honored Artist of the country.

Valentina Legkostupova is a hardworking and energetic, positive and talented woman. This is a famous pop singer, whose songs are loved and sung by several generations. “A Drop in the Ocean”, “Yagoda-Raspberry” are hits that are still heard today in a variety of places and bring back to Soviet times. “Sweet hit” by Valentina Legkostupova at one time sounded from all windows, radio points and televisions. This singer is still remembered today by her “calling card” - a wonderful hit about an alluring wild berry. Although there are many other wonderful compositions in her repertoire.

Valentina Valerievna Legkostupova was born on December 30, 1965 in Khabarovsk. She was only three years old when her parents decided to move to Feodosia, Ukraine. It was there that the future star spent his childhood. In those years, she was little different from her peers. In the same way I studied, went out, made friends, fell in love. Only one hobby made her special - singing. Valentina started singing very early. Even her closest family and friends can't remember when she staged her first impromptu concert. It seems they have always been there. At first the girl sang only for her own pleasure, then she realized that she was very good at it. Soon Valentina began going to classes at the school music studio. When she first appeared on stage, she created a real sensation. So the girl became the most popular student in her school. The talented blonde with huge eyes could not go unnoticed.

Valentina had no doubts about which future to choose. After graduating from school, she went to Simferopol, where she entered the local music school. However, despite her undoubted singing talent, she chose the violin class. However, she didn’t care how to communicate with music. This world beckoned the girl, she dreamed of becoming an integral part of it. In 1985, Valentina set off to conquer Moscow. Her plans were not to become an instant star. Being well aware of reality, she decided to continue her education first. The Gnessin Institute easily accepted her into the ranks of its students. Here Valentina finally began to comprehend the art of pop vocals. One of her teachers turned out to be Joseph Kobzon. Valentina Legkostova's path to fame turned out to be quite easy. She went to Moscow already a fully established artist. In 1985, the girl gave her first solo concert in Kherson. Despite the fact that few people knew her before the performance, she left the concert hall with many fans. On the wave of this success, the decision was made to go to Zlatoglavaya. A year later, the singer triumphantly performed at the festival in Jurmala. Although she took second place, the main victory was won. Thousands of listeners remembered the girl and sang her songs. Another important gift was collaboration with Raymond Pauls, a famous pop composer. He wrote a number of songs for the performer, many of which became hits and are still heard today.

1987 was another important milestone in Legkostupova’s career. She was invited to several foreign music festivals, and was successful at each of them. But the joint work with Vyacheslav Dobrynin became much more important. The composition “Berry-Raspberry” sounded from all radios. Valentina has become a welcome guest on the most popular TV shows. The singer performed her most famous hit in “Blue Light” and “Song of the Year”.

Soon Valentina Legkostupova begins to tour throughout the Soviet Union. Her repertoire is enriched with a number of hits, for example, the songs “A Drop in the Sea” and “Crimean Beach”. In 1989, the singer gave concerts in Germany, as well as in many African countries. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, previously banned Western music poured into the country in an endless stream. Most artists were unable to compete with her. Among them was Valentina Legkostupova. For some time she was involved in the “Pop Song Theatre”. There were also rare tours, but soon the performer’s name sank into oblivion. In 2007, the show “You are a Superstar” started on the NTV channel. It revived many undeservedly forgotten names. Valentina Legkostupova also took part in it. She didn't win, but she won much more than the main prize. Listeners were happy to hear their once favorite songs. The artist’s touring activities have resumed. Easystupova’s personal life is characterized by consistency and the absence of any scandals. Her husband is Alexey Grigoriev. Children Anetta and Matvey. Currently, the artist lives in the Canary Islands and is involved in real estate.

How Valentina Legkostupova’s career continued in the 21st century

In the past there were intense performances, when she gave up to one hundred and thirty concerts a month: even now, not every young, full-of-energy performer can boast of such a frantic performance capacity. One might get the impression that Valentina Legkostupova earned a lot of money in Soviet times if the number of concerts she had every month exceeded a hundred. She announced in an interview the cost of one scene according to the then approved tariff - seven rubles and kopecks! Yes, in general, more than a lot comes out in a month. The singer herself says on this matter: “Few people know that we, like ballet dancers, have a pension life of twenty years. And often, twenty years later, from concerts without rest, from moving, flying, changing water and food, we turn into invalids.”

So I remembered my father’s words about the fact that the voice can be lost, but pedagogical music education will come to the rescue and will not let you “run aground.” The singer’s voice was fine, but she couldn’t expect such a large number of performances. The artist went to work at the Gnessin Music Academy, where she was once a student herself. “For the first three lessons, I do my best to dissuade my students from going into this profession, telling them about all the tricks and meanness that they will inevitably encounter in the world of show business,” Valentina shared in the program “Alone with Everyone” in 2016.

Still from the program Alone with Everyone

She is convinced: the more talented a person is musically, the more difficult it will be for him to break through the crowds of “gray” mediocrity, because almost one hundred percent of these mediocrity have a “long hairy arm.” “And this “hand” will try to uproot the wings of talent, trample it into the dirt,” the singer’s words. She considers her main task to immediately instill in students firmness to face future difficulties, and then develop the talent they have found. Easy-Stupova has trained many good singers, among them Yulia Pak, who talks about her teacher: “She is strict and kind at the same time, she is like Chip and Dale, who will always come to the rescue!”

2007: this year she made an attempt to return to television screens, and she succeeded: talent - it will not go anywhere, even after several years. Valentina Legkostupova, among the famous performers, was invited to the project “You are a superstar!” Her old fans clung to their screens with admiration and pleasure to see and listen to their favorite again. But few of them knew what was going on in her soul during the competition, what strength (both mental and physical) it took her to participate there.

You can easily find a list of participants in this project; it is not worth mentioning them by name. But we need to quote from Valentina’s later interview: “I immediately suggested to everyone: let’s sing only live, because this is the easiest way to show yourself! The response was bewilderment and tense silence: not only was my idea not received with enthusiasm, it caused terrible irritation!” Yes, not everyone is ready to perform on their own; singing to “plywood” is much easier and safer. Legkostupova’s competitors tried to explain in a gentle way their reluctance to sing themselves: “What if I got sick, lost my voice?” To which the woman mercilessly retorted: “Well, that means your singing career is over, you need to have the courage to come to terms with it.”

By the end of the competition, she lost fifteen kilos, according to her, and began to have health problems - that’s how this event “hit” her. “I watched programs, listened to episodes about myself and didn’t understand why? What bad things did I do and to whom, was it really worth criticizing me like that, throwing mud at me?” Maybe her appearance on television again stirred up old memories in someone, or old envy returned? Valentina said later: “Most likely, there was no targeted bullying. It’s my own fault: I took the performances too seriously and didn’t take into account the new features of such projects. I lost weight, developed a blood disease, but at least I reminded myself - it’s worth a lot!”

An unwillingness to compromise under any circumstances is a trait of her character, and after the competition the singer demonstrated this once again. Since then, she has spoken sharply negatively without any embarrassment about the NTV channel: “The touch of “yellowness” on this channel is simply off the charts! It wasn’t just me who was bullied, it wasn’t just my dirty laundry that they dug through during the “You’re a Superstar!” project, I’ll be honest. All the artists had a rich musical history behind them, all were talented in their own way. Why couldn’t it be shown from their good side, to present the viewer with something positive? Is it really necessary to trample people into the dirt so shamelessly in pursuit of ratings?”

Again, for some time, she disappears from everywhere, but the reason was not bullying or intrigues of competitors: in 2014, Legkostupova’s fans unexpectedly learned that she had moved to the Spanish island of Tenerife. She could not be called a millionaire, but the artist worked for many years, earned good money, and moreover, she successfully married for the second time, her husband is also not a slacker - in general, they found the means to buy not a palace in the Canary Islands, but a beautiful and cozy house. Valentina talked about her new home: “Finally, I had the opportunity to go to the ocean shore and remain alone until the evening, admire the water, listen to the sound of the waves.”

https://www.instagram.com/vlegkostupova/

Life is such a ruthless thing that it can throw up very unpleasant surprises. In 2017, the singer’s beloved father died, her mother needed support, and Valentina decided to move to her hometown. And not just live there, but do administrative work: “I sent my data to the President’s website with a request to appoint me head of the cultural department of Feodosia. And she wrote (yes, in all seriousness!): “I am ready to serve the Fatherland!” What happened when, six months later, the head of the administration of Feodosia Sergei Fomich received a statement about Valentina Legkostupova’s resignation from her position?

Passions flared up on City Day, where the singer was scheduled to perform with the famous “Berry-Raspberry”. First, just before the concert, Valentina was informed that she would not perform: instead, rapper Igorek would perform with his “folk” hit “Let's Wait for Your Mother.” The song really enjoyed success among a large audience, but Legkostupova was categorically against it being included in the City Day program at all. “A large stage around which people of different ages and tastes stand is not a place for singing songs with swear words,” she said, and after City Day she put her resignation letter on Fomich’s desk.

https://www.instagram.com/vlegkostupova/

The conflict was partially resolved - both eventually performed, and Valentina sang her hit of all times. And Mr. Fomich was then sincerely surprised: “I didn’t quarrel with her, I agreed to her performance, and I wasn’t going to cross her out” (here he is very disingenuous). Further: “I just don’t understand: do we have a slave-owning system, that it is possible to cancel someone’s speech by force?” On the sidelines they whispered that Igorek was Fomich’s favorite singer, and that is why the head of the administration so fiercely insisted on his singing at the holiday. And Igorek himself, to his credit, was generally unaware of what was happening for a long time: “They told me that I should skip ahead on the list to Legkostupova, and I agreed: I respect her very much. My goal was not to fight with anyone for participation, but to “ignite” the audience, which is what I did.”

In 2019, she again appeared on television in a significant project: she was invited to participate in “Three Chords” along with a large group of celebrities. Not only the audience, but also the jury members listened with amazement and delight to the artist from the irretrievably gone Soviet times. The single by Lyubov Uspenskaya and Irina Dubtsova, when Legkostupova sang instead of Uspenskaya, was received with a bang. “I can only say one thing - definitely an ace, it was not just good, but very good!” Rosenbaum said. And Alexander Novikov added: “The song is complex, full of emotions that were conveyed absolutely correctly.”

https://www.instagram.com/vlegkostupova/

The actress Legkostupova is not currently chasing wild popularity. “I could fill stadiums, but I don’t want to. If you have climbed to the top of popularity, you need to maintain this bar, but I’m not sure that I can (or want) to do this as before. Now I no longer have a goal to give more than a hundred concerts a month, I have other values in life, family, children and grandchildren come first,” the singer answered the question of whether she plans to seriously fight for popularity. But her “Berry-Raspberry”, “A Drop in the Sea” and other hits are still remembered by millions, and Valentina does not deny her fans the pleasure of listening to them and performs regularly. She does not have hundreds of thousands of subscribers on Instagram and other social networks, but new and old photos of her are published there, and of course, her fans unsubscribe every day with words of gratitude and admiration.

Career

In 1990, the singer received higher education, after which she began her journey on stage. However, at the time of receiving her diploma, Valentina already had live performances. And the experience that accompanied all the past years helped the girl in building a future career.

Soon, numerous hits appeared in the singer’s repertoire, the most striking of which was the song “Yagoda-Raspberry”. This hit continues to be the most recognizable in the singer’s work even now.

So Valentina Legkostupova continues to be called the star of one song, having never achieved other successes in her career.

But the singer was not at all embarrassed by such a title. She was happy that she was able to perform at least one song that became a popular hit. But there were other memorable songs in the singer’s career that were worthy of listeners’ attention.

Today, few people remember Valentina’s work. So the singer concentrated on work in Feodosia, where she headed the local cultural department. From time to time Legkostupova can be seen on television. In particular, the pop artist appeared in one of the episodes of Andrei Malakhov’s author’s show “Hello, Andrei!”, visiting the studio as a guest. The singer's main hit continues to be heard even after decades, causing pleasant nostalgia for another era.

Personal life

The first marriage seemed successful - she married for love a young man named Kushnarev. They had a daughter, Anetta, who was named after her friend Aneta Pauls: Valentina became such friends with the composer that she maintained a close and warm relationship with his daughter. The unexpected divorce has still not been explained in detail by the singer. If journalists really insist on voicing the reason for the collapse of the family, she replies: “I never forgave betrayal, and in the case of marital fidelity, I was especially not going to forgive.”

They had known each other since childhood with their second husband, Alexey Yuryevich Grigoriev. The Legkostupov and Grigoriev families were very friendly, and their children also regularly met at family gatherings. No one imagined that the handsome young man, the son of the famous sound imitator Yuri Grigoriev, would pay attention to Valya many years later and fall madly in love with her. He also got married, had a prosperous family, Legkostupova had just gotten divorced, they crossed paths on business issues, and then everything suddenly took off.

“He is not just a man, but a real man! Many “males” spend many years combining new love and family, do not dare and do not intend to make a decision about who to be with. But Alexey found the strength to explain to his wife that he fell in love with me,” Legkostupova later said. The birth of a son, Matvey, was a long-awaited joy: many years ago, a woman dreamed of giving birth to a boy and calling him Matvey.

Son of Valentina Legkostupova. Photo https://www.instagram.com/vlegkostupova/

True, some complications with his health forced mom and dad to reconsider their life plans. Matvey was diagnosed with false croup, which threatened to develop into asthma. Valentina and her husband decided to move to the village to save his health. The young man does not want to devote himself to music, and his parents do not insist: “Let him work anywhere, and if he becomes a talented surgeon, or scientist, or businessman, for God’s sake. The main thing is to benefit people and get pleasure from it.”

Anetta Bril. Photo https://www.instagram.com/anetta_bril/

Her daughter Anetta is happily married, Valentina has two granddaughters growing up. Nicole and Aurora - these are the names the Bril spouses gave to the girls; the grandmother enjoys reading and singing with them. She not only helps her daughter with raising children: the singer was her teacher at the pop-jazz department of Gnesinka, where Anetta decided to enroll. “I don’t give her any discounts; on the contrary, I treat her as strictly as possible. As before, when communicating with other students, I immediately conveyed to her all the “delights” of show business that she would have to face,” Anetta Bril’s mother, as always, is uncompromising and honest, even with her family.

Interesting facts about the singer

During her first pregnancy, after an ultrasound examination, she could not believe that she was having a girl, she even told the doctors: “Take a closer look! There’s a boy there, his name is Matvey!”
Valentina Legkostupova perceives any person as a vessel: “You shake a full jug, and what’s inside will pour out of it. If there is crap in the vessel, sorry, then it will flow. Of course, I’m not a perfect person, but my vessel is filled with only love from year to year.”
Her daughter Anetta has an excellent relationship with her stepfather, and Valentina herself loves and respects her son-in-law Stas. The friendly family is always together, the singer is proud that her daughter lives in an atmosphere of love and mutual respect.
In the 90s, she not only performed on stages in big cities. Together with Joseph Kobzon, they sang in front of the Russian military in Nagorno-Karabakh, where military operations were taking place at that time. A group of artists traveled there by helicopter at great risk to their lives.
As the performer of the hit “Berry-Raspberry,” fans often gave her jars of raspberry jam. She ate it with pleasure, but at one point she stopped: after someone sent Valery Leontyev jam with crushed glass.
She no longer wants to engage in administrative activities: “I have business acumen, professionalism, and willpower. But fighting windmills that have nothing to do with music is not my thing.”
Now the singer is not only relaxing in Tenerife. For example, in July-August she tries her hand as a producer. Valentina is taking part in the preparation of the International Charity Festival “InterDias”, which will take place in 2020.
About her straightforwardness, which often causes harm, the artist says: “I’m a Capricorn! I go straight ahead, breaking through walls and getting my horns stuck in them. But it would be possible to bypass them...”
A permanent winner who strives for first place in everything - this is how she characterizes herself. And he adds: “True, it doesn’t always work out. Some mysterious forces intervene and tell me: “Slow down, wait!”
She doesn’t worry at all about the fact that her constant success on stage is in the past: “It’s better to remain in people’s memory for a long time than to perform through force every day.”

Valentina LEKOSTUPOVA: My victories are my husband and children

On Friday, the star of the 80s, Valentina Legkostupova, performed at the Parnassus Republic. The singer of the hit “Berry-Raspberry”, with the same infectious smile and delightful dimples on her cheeks that once became her calling card, easily lit up the audience. The singer also easily talked to Komsomolskaya Pravda.

— Valentina, what struck you in Voronezh?

- The number of beautiful women - well dressed, great looking, with a smile. The weather was wonderful, I went for a walk and bought some interesting things. Leggings, for example. Sometimes I allow myself to make gifts, especially in the fall, to improve my mood. I bought something for my husband - jeans, a blouse...

The show “You are a Superstar” took you to the hospital

— What difficulties did you encounter on the show “You are a Superstar”?

— During this project, I had another reassessment of values. But not in favor of the NTV channel and show business. It was necessary to treat this as a game, but I took everything to heart, so my psyche was not ready for what was happening there. I was so stressed, such aversion to what was happening, that food rejection began! Hemoglobin dropped sharply, and problems with blood began. Even now, when I remember about it, I start to pound.

— Are you upset that you didn’t win?

— Victory is something else. I won the victories I need in life a long time ago. This is my favorite profession, children, family. The ability to choose your environment and friends. I am a free person, I don’t depend on anyone. This is my most important achievement. I can afford to choose which concert to take part in, which performers to stand on the same stage with and which not to. I’m already a pensioner and I don’t care what happens in that brew called show business. When friends and producers (the husbands of your friends) betray you, you see, this is a normal phenomenon there. I do not like it.

— Would you agree to participate in the project again?

- Don't know. I understand that an artist needs to appear on TV like air. But at what price does this come! And this yellow coating of the channel! After all, all worthy artists took part in the show, each with their own story behind them. Well, why not show them from their good sides, their edges of talent. There is no need to look for something bad, dig in, or lead to a nervous breakdown. This is not human... In the new project I am rooting for Ira Otieva, she is a wonderful vocalist. I also really liked Alena Sviridova, although I was never a fan of her work. From a professional point of view, she performed great - live, seriously. Such a thoughtful, good artist.

“Your Yulia Nachalova is an amazing girl!”

— In general, who do you like in show business?

- I love Kobzon! I love Valera Leontyev very much. When I was little, I dreamed of marrying him. Basque is a wonderful person. Among the young people, I like Yulia Nachalova, your fellow countrywoman. An amazing girl, so positive, beautiful, talented and very musical, I really like the way she sings. And that she doesn't change her style. I am so glad that she has found her feminine happiness, she has such a good family - you can see how she glows from the inside.

— Do they still give you raspberries?

- Yes. Jam. And I used to eat it without fear. And now it has stopped. Leontyev was once given jam with grated glass. And I took note. No one can protect us from unkind people. After participating in “You’re a Superstar,” I went online and saw how much shit was being thrown at the participants—I was shocked! What rudeness! Nothing like this was ever allowed against me.

“Students take extra underwear to my classes.”

— You teach at the Gnessin Academy. Are you a strict teacher?

— This year my daughter entered my class. So I don't envy her. I make more demands on her than on others - in order to avoid reproaches that I do her relative favors. In general, I am a very strict teacher. My students take extra underwear with them because they leave my classes wet and sweaty (and I also run my daughter home). I think you need to master the profession to the fullest, because ours is cruel, without snot. But I am a good teacher: one of the few who teaches correct breathing. And besides, I am a practicing “trainer” - 22 years on the stage, I know all the pitfalls. Therefore, I can immediately see in what image and repertoire the performer should sing.

—Can you tell a student that you chose the wrong profession?

- Easily! I think the truth needs to be told right away, even at the audition - because of the same cruelty of the profession. And no one can force me to take on a student through connections. I won’t engage in mediocrity even for big money. But if I see talent, I’ll help absolutely free. I noticed that talented people don't have money. I have a student Yulia Pak, she is 20 years old. So capable - Whitney Houston is resting! And I feel sorry for the girl, she is talented. But at competitions, including Jurmala, she gets a standing ovation, and others always win. A normal phenomenon in our country. Show business is a market. It is beneficial for producers to have dependent performers who can be used for a while and then thrown away as an unnecessary thing. And a talented artist is initially independent.

“I’m a mommy friend!”

- Are you a strict mother? Are you chasing your daughter's suitors?

- Never. Here I am a mother-friend, on the contrary, I take part in the shows. Sometimes I just open my mouth to tell her why my daughter wore so much makeup. And then I close it, remembering how at her age I couldn’t even take out the trash with my eyes unmade up. There is no need to be too strict with children. The best education is love and kind words. Although sometimes a whip is needed. Anetta sometimes wants to prove that she is an adult and can go to bed at two in the morning. I have to explain that I won’t get enough sleep and will look bad... I just called my son and wished him good night. He misses him very much because his mother is not around. But these are the costs of the profession. It’s better to see your mother rarely, but in demand and happy, than constantly, but dissatisfied and grumpy, in my opinion. The child should be in an atmosphere of happiness. And all the time I have to be torn not only between tours, but also between my son and daughter.

- Why?

— Anetta studies in Moscow, and Matveyka lives permanently in the village. We bought a house there for environmental reasons. There is a pine forest there - let the body develop in the fresh air. My son is a second-grader, studying in a real rural school, where there are nine people in a class and old-fashioned teachers who raise children as before: if an adult enters the class, everyone stands up, if a girl walks, they give way to her. So I go back and forth. In the morning I go up to my son, throw back the blanket, scratch his back - this is the best thrill for both of us! He says to me: “Mommy, hug me, have pity, kiss me.” And we say how we love each other: “I am a billion million times more than you!” But I’m still bigger than you!”

— Your rings are so interesting—unexpected design…

- I'm a little crazy about turtles! I have a lot of them. The skull is a symbol of eternity, not death, as many people think. I am delighted with all the accessories with skulls - bags, boots, etc. Now they are already going out of fashion, but I don’t care about that. I have a blast wearing this!

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Valentina LEKOSTUPOVA: In Voronezh I was amazed by the number of beautiful women. Tatiana PODYABLONSKAYA