Childhood and youth
Irina was born in 1958 in the capital of the Georgian USSR, Tbilisi, into a family of doctors. The singer’s paternal surname is Otiyan, and she is Armenian by nationality. On his father's side, his roots go back to the ancient princely dynasty of Amatuni.
Natalya, Irina’s older sister, followed in her parents’ footsteps and also entered medical school. The same was expected from the youngest, but the biography of the future star turned out differently. For a long time, parents did not pay attention to their daughter’s talent and her desire for the stage. However, in addition to the classical school, they were allowed to attend a music school. It was there that it became clear that the child had a surprisingly rare voice range of 3.5 octaves. After graduating from music school, Irina began performing with various groups in Tbilisi - and thus began the path to success.
Music
Her first success is considered to be a victory at the Moscow Jazz Music Festival, when Irina was only 17. Otieva was accepted into the pop department at Gnesinka without exams - by that time she had just received a certificate. Irina often said that she attaches great importance to education and theoretical knowledge, which is why she received a second higher pedagogical education. In fact, Otieva was the first certified singer on the Soviet stage.
Irina transformed the surname Otiyan to Otieva, which is more familiar to Russian ears. After graduating from college, she was accepted by a jazz orchestra led by Oleg Lundstrem. In 1984, the masterpiece joint composition “Music is My Love” was recorded, which is still covered by modern stars.
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Despite the fact that at that time it was customary to treat jazz with caution, the singer received a large number of musical prizes and awards as part of the orchestra. The Ministry of Culture prohibited Otieva from entering international competitions and inviting her to radio and television.
Despite the intrigues, in 1982 she managed to receive a prize for performing a Soviet song at the All-Russian competition, then at the Berlin “8 hits in the studio”. In 1983, Irina took first place in another important competition of pop artists, which was held in Sweden. In 1985, Otieva decided to create her own group “Stimul-Band” and became more recognizable and loved, recording albums one after another.
In the early 90s, she toured extensively in Europe and Asia: she was well received in Poland and Vietnam, Bulgaria and Cuba, Japan and Slovakia. Irina gave about 10 concerts in America, where jazz music was especially popular.
In 1995, a project was released to the Russian audience that became incredibly popular in the country for many years - “Old Songs about the Main Thing.” There, Irina, together with Larisa Dolina, performed the song “Good Girls,” after which she became famous not only in jazz circles, but also among the ordinary viewer.
In 1996, Irina released her last album, “20 Years in Love,” which she dedicated to her twentieth anniversary of creativity. She also put an end to their tour schedule by stopping concerts. One of her latest creations is the final song for the popular film “You Never Dreamed of” - “The Last Poem”.
In the early 90s, Irina was compared to Alla Pugacheva. They even said that the two stars quarreled due to rivalry. However, Otieva denied this, saying that she did not seek to become Alla Borisovna’s double. Pugacheva avoided answering questions about comparisons with a jazz star.
Jazz star or rural saleswoman: how has Irina Otieva changed?
Irina Otieva
Irina Adolfovna chose a thorny path to fame, performing jazz, which was unpopular in Soviet times. But hard work and determination did their job.
At the age of 17, the future star won a prestigious metropolitan music competition, gaining the opportunity to enter Gnesinka without exams. After graduating from college, she began working in a jazz orchestra. Then she recorded the song “Music is my love,” which touched the hearts of millions.
In 1985, Otieva created her own group called “Stimul-Band”. From this period, the talented performer’s career rapidly took off. The more successful Irina was, the brighter her makeup and the more provocative her outfits. The only thing that remained unchanged was the combed hairstyle in the style of that time.
The singer was not shy about showing off her curvy figure
The actress always wore bright makeup
The singer's popularity peaked in the dashing 90s. She toured the countries of Europe and Asia, but enjoyed the greatest success in America, where jazz music was almost idolized. In 1995, Irina Otieva took part in the musical television project “Old Songs about the Main Thing,” where, along with Larisa Dolina, she played a rural saleswoman. Thanks to her appetizing curves, the “himka” on her head and the appropriate “war paint”, she managed to adequately transform into a new image.
A year later, Otieva released the album “20 Years in Love,” which became her last. After that, almost nothing was heard about the artist. It was rumored that she had quarreled with Alla Pugacheva - the two divas allegedly could not share the big stage. But the rumors were never confirmed.
The actress had a passion for bright clothes
With age, Otieva's clothes became more conservative
Just the other day they heard about Irina Adolfovna again and started talking about her. She does not strive for past glory - she likes a calm and measured life away from the showdowns and intrigues of show business. “It’s scary when you’ve worked all your life. And then bam - you don’t work. Scary. Old people are no longer needed. We need this moronic youth. Everyone turned their backs on me. And Dolina, and Peskov, and Serov, and Krutoy. That’s it,” she noted sadly.
This is what Irina Adolfovna looks like today
The years have taken their toll on the appearance of Otieva, who turned 61 in November. She doesn’t have that lush head of hair, bright blush, provocative outfits or sparkle in her eyes. Perhaps fatigue and many years of resentment towards those whom she considered close were taking their toll. “I am beautiful with makeup and without makeup. And in your favorite nightgown. One hundred percent cotton! Comfortable, convenient, cozy, noble, does not cause allergies,” the singer shared on her personal blog, ironically hinting that she does not care what the public thinks about her.
Photo: Gennadiy Usoev/Legion-Media, official website of singer Irina Otieva
Personal life
Otieva is constantly surrounded by male attention, but she never officially got married. For a long time she lived in a civil marriage with Alexei Danchenko, the concert director of the group. In 1996, the couple separated, maintaining working and friendly relations.
At that time, Irina was 32 - no family, no children, only songs and videos. The star practically began to rave about the child: she admits that once, in a moment of despair, she shouted at God. Irina appealed to the fact that “all evil spirits give birth, but normal people do not.” Apparently, the cry got through, and in 1996, Otieva’s daughter Zlata was born. It is unknown who the girl's father is. According to rumors, he was married at the time of his affair with Irina, and the singer broke off the relationship as soon as she realized that she was pregnant.
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Irina Otieva in her youth
After the birth of Zlata, the young mother does not stop having affairs. She has repeatedly stated in interviews that she prefers younger men, as they charge with energy. Moreover, we are talking about young Apollos - the youngest, according to the singer, was 20. Without a drop of embarrassment, Irina said that her favorite hobby was making love.
More than once Otieva said that she was a small and weak woman. The main weakness is bad habits: Irina smokes and drinks strong alcohol, preferring vodka with tomato juice. The singer has developed intuition and also has mystical abilities: Irina often encounters déjà vu and is able to understand the motivation for the actions of others.
Irina Otieva openly spoke about all the secrets of her personal life
The legend of Russian jazz, singer Irina Otieva, has always been straightforward. In an exclusive interview, Irina Adolfovna openly spoke about her love for young men, her current companion, difficulties in show business, and also about her magical abilities.
– Arina Adolfovna, do you feel like an enviable bride?
– It so happened that I have been an enviable bride all my life, in fact. As you understand, I never had a end to suitors. But nevertheless, you can imagine that, having lived to the age of 55, I was never officially married. Never! I probably haven’t met the only one I could marry. But I don't regret it.
I only regret one thing - that I only have one child. If there were at least two, or better yet three, it would be great!
- Are you alone today?
- How to say? I have a fan. But I'm not going to officially get married. I don't hide it. We hang out with him from time to time. We just go to places where few people can recognize us, follow us, spy on us. Although, in principle, we are not doing anything wrong: he is not married, I am not married. He simply doesn’t need publicity: he’s not a PR man, he has nothing to do with show business, and, frankly speaking, I’m already fed up with this show business. We feel good together in a relationship of beautiful silence. He is handsome, interesting and, as I like, young.
– Much younger?
- For sixteen years. Although I had more interesting precedents (laughs). One was twenty years old, the other twenty-seven. Somehow this is how it turns out. You see, I don't accept old men, I can only deal with young people. I find it interesting to be with them, they light me up, I myself become energetic and young with them. But I don’t think about getting married. This is fun!
– Why don’t you like your peers?
– I like everything about them, I communicate with them with pleasure, talk... But I’m bored with them, they seem old to me. Maybe because I teach, I am around young people all the time. Or maybe because I won’t grow old myself. But I feel comfortable with young people.
– Your previous boyfriend, with whom you lived for about two years, recently ran away from a restaurant when he accidentally met you. Why did he behave this way?
– The fact is that traitors are all very cowardly! It’s just that when a person has a cannon-like face, he is of course afraid of me like fire, this is natural. He himself understands that he behaved in an unsuccessful way. In fact, his behavior is terribly funny. My daughter Zlatka and I laughed so hard, we didn’t know that he would appear there. But I don't forgive betrayal. Especially from men.
– How often did you have to deal with him?
– My intuition is so highly developed that I feel some time before a person is going to betray me. I already catch these impulses the day before and do everything to get rid of it. Maybe I have a developed instinct of self-preservation. I am also a mystical-minded comrade by nature. When I was pregnant with Zlatka, I suddenly heard a man’s voice that told me that I was having a girl, and even called her name. It’s still a mystery to me who told me this, but I heard it absolutely clearly. Many psychics who can be more or less trusted have said more than once that I have abilities, but I don’t touch it. I'm not trying to develop. Although I could heal people and predict the future. Although I still fly with my voice. I just can’t do it myself, unfortunately. I treat myself with loneliness and silence.
– Irina Adolfovna, is it true that you are very jealous?
- I - yes. But I don’t think there is any need to be treated for this. What, do men like phlegmatic women who are not jealous and who don’t give a damn? I don't think so.
– So in your relationship there is always a volcano of passions?
- For the time being. I can vulcanize for a very long time. But what does “long” mean? No more than two years, and then the process of attenuation of my volcano continues, and I can’t help myself. I'm just leaving the person.
- Wait, what two years? After all, you lived with one of your men for twelve years!
– The journalists got it wrong. I did have a relationship with my director. We lived together for some time, but we turned out to be smart people and managed to transfer our relationship from personal to professional. We did not abandon each other and continued to work. Maybe this is my minus or plus, but I am friends with all my men, with the exception of two. But I will never be friends with them, because I don’t consider them people either.
– Many celebrities say that they are often offered marriage on social networks. Have you received such offers?
– I have fans on Twitter, but I’m not the kind of woman to whom you can offer something on the Internet. And since all men are afraid of fire, I am afraid of fire. If I had been offered marriage on the Internet, I would have immediately blacklisted her. I hate familiarity!
– Irina Adolfovna, tell me, is it hard to be a strong woman?
“And I don’t know who came up with the idea that I’m a strong woman!” This is also one of the myths: I am absolutely not strong at all. Smart rather than strong. But these are completely different things. I think it's even closer to weak. If I were strong, I wouldn’t smoke (laughs). And I smoke, this is also very bad, but what to do if this happens. I tried to quit several times and quit: I didn’t smoke for two years, three years, but then I still started again.
I have bad habits. I can have a nice drink, although I only drink vodka diluted with tomato juice or soda water. I am allergic to all other drinks, including cognac. At least there is no allergy to smoking!
– Your daughter entered university at the Faculty of Journalism this year. Show business will probably soon shudder, you know so many secrets!
– (Laughs.) Yes, yes. I am very proud of Zlatka. The other day she had a specialization, she chose television journalism. She likes everything, she has a blast, she wanted to work in this area. The most important thing is that she is smart and entered on a budget, although in principle we were ready for any scenario. And so the money remained in the family, which is already nice. I didn't help her with her admission. How? I have no connections there at all!
– Would you like your daughter to repeat your fate? Or do you dream that she will meet one man for the rest of her life?
- It depends on your luck. Although I have been living for more than half a century, I have never seen such a couple where everything was perfect. And those couples that are considered ideal in our country, I apologize, in my opinion, are not even close to ideal. This is all a fraud: people live together, get used to it, material problems appear...
– If Zlata wants to build her love on “House-2”, will you agree?
“She, like me, hates it.” Sometimes we click on channels and end up on this program. Such stupidity, such stupidity! We can watch for a couple of minutes, and then we switch to something more significant. Nowadays you can find a lot of good films. For example, I recently rewatched One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. I really got high!
– Nowadays it is fashionable for stars to participate in various TV shows. Why aren't you visible there?
– I was invited to “The Last Hero” several years ago. I refused - it’s unrealistic for me. I even refused to take part in the “Universal Artist” competition, because I believe that competitions of all kinds have their age and their time. But I don’t want to go to the competition and then read messages about myself on the Internet that some lady of post-Balzac age got out. I myself sat on the jury of “Universal Artist,” looked at all this and said to myself: “Thank God I didn’t go.” In my opinion, this is humiliating.
– I recently read on the Internet that you insured your breasts for one million rubles if they lose their shape!
- Oh my God! What stupidity! I have never insured anything in my life except my home against accidents (laughs).
– Is it also not true that your hobby is making love?
- No, it is. I wrote about this as a joke on my official website. It’s just that everything is serious with me: Charles Baudelaire, Friedrich Nietzsche, Bosch. I needed to make people relax and joke. Otherwise they would have thought that I was a completely alien creature. That’s why I wrote it like that and laughed, although, to be honest, it’s a cute thing (laughs).
– How do you feel about Nikita Dzhigurda, who is called the discovery of last year?
- With great doubt. I believe that a man at that age should control himself somehow. It’s unpleasant for me to look at him and listen to him. But this is my personal opinion. It seems to me that it’s time for him to think about his soul: he doesn’t seem to be a boy, but he behaves like a street bully of about sixteen. It's terribly annoying. By the way, I deleted it on Twitter. At first I had him as a friend, and then this swear word started pouring in, I was so tired of him that I blacklisted him.
– Why did you quarrel with Garik Kharlamov on Twitter?
– There was correspondence about his new program. He asked people to watch this program and give their assessment; apparently, he himself was interested. I just wrote to him the truth, that it was completely uninteresting, too vulgar and unfunny. The man asked for it, right? By the way, many people supported me.
– In the social circle they say that you had a very strong quarrel with Pugacheva back in the day when you said that you didn’t want to be like her!
– I have never quarreled with Pugacheva in my life. I just told it like it is. I really never wanted to be like her. But not only her, I don’t want to be like anyone else. This is strange! I'm not a double. I feel different. I want to be individual, I think I look quite holistic. I’m practically not friends with anyone in show business. Because I don’t go to parties, and even if I go somewhere, I’m bored. I've seen so much, I'm already tired of it all. I'm tired of drinking when I don't feel like it. But you sit there like an idiot: everyone is drinking, and you start drinking. In general, I really want to retire and will go soon.
– Are you really going to leave show business?
- No, why? I will give concerts. Their number has, of course, decreased in recent years. But for me, for example, this only works to my advantage. I wouldn’t be able to work now like I did, say, fifteen years ago. I perform and work at corporate events: there is an opportunity to earn better money than at guaranteed concerts.
In general, I am very disappointed in our show business. It is very difficult for young people to make their way: there is money, money, loot, loot everywhere. But that’s not possible either! For example, I have never been under a producer. I am a free artist and have always managed my life myself. Maybe I lost something in a material sense; I probably would have been more successful in earning money. But on the other hand, I don’t owe anyone anything: I manage my time myself, if I want, I work, if I don’t want, I don’t work.
– But fans constantly write to you: Irina, we want to hear from you more often, see you more often!
- Yes it's true. But there are channels that don’t hire me to sing, but only to talk. They think I'm unformatted. God be with them. I've been a non-formater all my life. You'd think I was once a format! I’ve never been, and there’s no need to get used to it now. There was a moment when this upset me. But now, to be honest, I don’t care anymore.
Irina Otieva today
Little is known about Irina’s life today: she does not appear at public parties, and rarely speaks at corporate events. They said that Irina preferred a measured and calm life, realizing herself as a vocal teacher at the Academy. Gnesins.
In January 2020, Andrei Malakhov released a scandalous issue about Irina Otieva, who, according to the message of the program, lost her relevance, lost all connections and began to abuse alcohol. On the air of the show, Otieva opened up with the journalist in a one-on-one conversation, saying that all her former friends, including Larisa Dolina, Alexander Serov and Igor Krutoy, had long forgotten about her existence.
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Irina Otieva with her daughter Zlata and her mother
The turning point, according to the artist, was her 50th anniversary, to which only Nikas Safronov came from all the invited “friends”. Since then, Irina has not celebrated her anniversary.
Let us note that the day before the broadcast, singer Natalia Gulkina hastened to stand up for her colleague on stage, saying that modern television makes its ratings on lies and gossip. Otieva even specially created a page on Instagram to refute everything that was shown on air. The artist asked Malakhov a question about since when he began to “poison honored pensioners.”
The singer admitted that on the day of the interview she had a high temperature, and the program staff, taking advantage of Irina’s condition, allegedly filmed everything that happened on a hidden camera, without warning Otieva herself. Moreover, the artist claims that the interview with her mother was also taken fraudulently - the journalists introduced themselves as employees of the Domashny TV channel. Irina compared what happened to the “Armenian genocide.”
Irina Otieva wanted to commit suicide after breaking up with her young lover
The singer was painfully worried about his betrayal and started drinking
Unexpectedly, the performer of the legendary hits “The Last Poem” from the film “You Never Dreamed of” and “The Witch of the River” from the film “Sorcerers”, 61-year-old jazz singer Irina Otieva, made people talk again. The reason for this was Andrei Malakhov’s “Live Broadcast” program, in which they reported that she was completely drunk and showed her home footage in a not very , to put it mildly .
— My dear, beloved viewers! Don't trust anyone! — Irina Adolfovna addressed the public on a specially created Instagram page. — I got sick, the temperature was 38.3, that day I was expecting my daughter and a friend. The doorbell rings, I open it, two employees of Andrei Malakhov with flowers. I recognized them, let them in, like a good Armenian, with all my heart I invited them to the table, fed them, gave them something to drink. If I had known that this was a provocation, I would not have done this in my life. Because everything I said was recorded on a hidden camera. What abomination, meanness and disgusting! Use a sick man in a robe and nightgown as material for his journalistic rudeness.
“It’s actually good that Ira was shown in this form,” her longtime friend, stylist George Rovals, . “Otherwise she would have died.” Maybe at least this will help change something in her life.
George Rovals skillfully emphasized the beauty of Otieva
She really has a serious problem with alcohol. I've been friends with her for many years. Once upon a time he came to see her almost every day. Then he began to go on tour more with his master classes. I could no longer pay so much attention to her. And when I called her, I suddenly began to notice that Ira answered somehow awkwardly and lost her balance during the conversation. “Ira, don’t drink! - I said. “It’s harmful to health.” When I was nearby, she obeyed me. But as soon as I disappeared, I again fought off my hands.
She had many reasons to drink. Most often these were grievances against colleagues. I remember Ira wanted her daughter Zlata to take part in “The Voice”. I phoned Valera Meladze . He promised to help. But no matter how much Zlata called him, Valera did not answer. Then I met him at the anniversary of Vyacheslav Zaitsev . "What's happened? - I asked. “The child was waiting for you to say something.” “I’m not God,” he threw up his hands.
The artist claims that Malakhov’s messengers filmed her in this form with a hidden camera. Still from the program of the TV channel “Russia 1”
Meanwhile, Ira had high hopes for her daughter and said: “Zlata sings better than me.” Not every artist will put someone above himself. And now Zlata doesn’t sing and, in my opinion, works in some company. Ira herself has been unemployed for some time now. At one time she taught in Gnesinka. Do you know what her salary was? 5 thousand rubles. Well, isn't it a mockery?!
Ira’s personal life didn’t work out either. She broke up with producer Lesha Danchenko Then she had a young lover - singer Rodion Rous . In fact, his name was Mart Babayan . He was 18 years younger than her. I went to her to practice vocals. And Ira fell in love with him. They already lived together. They were going to get married. And then that asshole abandoned her. Apparently, he realized that there was nothing left to take from her.
Otieva with Rodion Rous (Babayan)
Ira experienced his betrayal very painfully. So I started drinking. This has been going on for 5-6 years. Lately, Ira has been sitting at home and doesn’t even go outside. I got to the point where I wanted to commit suicide. The last time we sat with her, she told me about it herself. “Ira, are you crazy?!” - I was horrified. And he began to sound the alarm. I called Malakhov’s program and put everyone there on their ears. “We are losing an amazing singer! - I said. - Do this, please! If you shout that you are her friends, support her and help her get out of this hole!”
Alexander Gradsky’s cousin Natalya offered her help. She previously worked on TV with Malakhov. And then she went to France and settled down luxuriously in Nice. “Let me take Ira to my place,” said Natalya. “Here she can relax in a luxurious castle and come to her senses.” And then these idiots at Malakhov’s suggested sending her for treatment. It is they who need to be treated.
Yes, Ira drinks, but he doesn’t lose his head. It would be better if they gave her a job, then there would be no time for drinking. But no one moves their ass. Lev Leshchenko said to Malakhov: “Oh, we need to help Ira.” Afterwards, he was honored on “Tonight.” I could invite her to perform there. But no. Or the same Vladimir Berezin admired: “What a talented Ira!” Why didn’t he ever invite her to the concerts he led in the Kremlin and Crocus City Hall? I don't trust all these people anymore. They are only promoting themselves. But they don’t have a human soul.
