Biography
Viktor Korolev, a singer in the chanson style, is known not only in the “narrow” circles of fans of this genre of song, but also among a huge number of people who love to listen to lyrical, perky, cheerful music. He gives only positive emotions with his songs, without burdening the listener with social problems.
Viktor Korolev was born on July 26, 1961 in Siberia, in the city of Taishet, Irkutsk region. Mom Alexandra Vasilievna worked as a school director, and dad worked as a railway builder on the Abakan-Taishet highway.
He graduated with “excellent” grades from nine classes of secondary school. He writes about his childhood:
“At school, and in general as a child, I was very disciplined. First of all - in relation to yourself: always in shape, smart. I was always an excellent student, and if I ever got a B, it was a real tragedy! I have always had the following motto: “Knowledge and teaching.”
Chansonnier Viktor Korolev
In 1977 he entered the music school in Kaluga to study piano. He graduated with honors in 1981. Viktor Korolev very fondly remembers his years of study at the school and believes that the knowledge he acquired during his studies was the main luggage for the development of his future career. After music school, he decided to become an actor and entered the theater institute, but failed the exams.
In 1981, Victor was drafted into the army. He served in the ranks of the Missile Forces in Belarus. He played in the staff orchestra.
Viktor Korolev on stage
After returning from the army, he tried his luck again and in 1984 he entered the Theater Institute named after. Shchepkin at the Maly Theater, after graduating from which, in 1988, he was hired by the Yuri Sherling musical theater.
At the same time, Korolev began acting in films. His first film work was the film “The Battle of the Three Kings” directed by Suheil ben Bark (a military story about the liberation movements in Morocco) with Claudia Cardinale as the queen, released in 1990. Then there was “Silhouette in the Opposite Window” (1991-1992), “Playing “Zombies”” (1992-1993).
Experience in film and theater
When Vitya returned from the army, he made another attempt to enter the Shchepkin Theater Institute. This time he succeeded. In 1984, Korolev became a student; he still remembers these years with warmth. It was then that the musician became interested in painting, literature and the French language. He performed well during his studies, so after college he received an invitation from musical theater director Yuri Sherling. Victor worked there for only seven months, but during this time he managed to gain enormous experience.
Simultaneously with his work in the theater, the singer began acting in films. His debut took place in 1990 in the film “The Battle of Three Kings.” Some time after this, the actor played in the films “Silhouette in the Opposite Window” and “Playing Zombies.” But neither in cinema nor in the theater did Korolev find the desired combination of acting and music. Therefore, he soon decided to debut as a performer.
Variety career
After working in the theater for seven months, Viktor Korolev finally decides to devote himself to music. In 1991 he begins his solo career. And in 1992, he already became a winner of the international festival “Golden Deer” in the city of Brasov (Romania), after which a film about the Russian artist was released on Romanian television.
After this there was a three-year search for my “I” as an artist. Viktor Korolev describes these years as the most difficult, but at the same time the happiest in his life.
In 1997, the first video for the song “Bazaar - Station” (animated by Maxim Sviridov) was released, which gave a start to the artist’s creative career, which began to move quickly forward. The Soyuz studio also released a disc of the same name. About this creative start, Viktor Korolev said:
“Since 1997, life began not in terms of years, months or days, but simply one continuous wave. A wave that carries, carries and carries to the joy of YOU, and only YOU!!! And if at least one of my songs touched even one of the smallest cells of YOUR body, then for me, rather not as an artist, but as a person.”
Afterwards, Viktor Korolev’s discography included the following songs:
- "Cursed Love"
- "Drunk Cherry"
- “And I’m drunk”
- "For love"
- "White lilac"
- "Get hurt"
- "Stolen Night"
- "I'll bite"
- "La-la-poplars"
- "Crystal Castle"
- "You are very beautiful"
Viktor Korolev often performs in duets with other artists. He sang very fieryly with Irina Krug, the wife of the late chansonnier Mikhail Krug, who performs in the lyrical genre. Some of the duo's songs were included in his albums. And the song “Bouquet of White Roses” won the hearts of all his fans.
Korolev recorded songs with the “blat-pop” group “Vorovaiki” (“Red Girl”, “You Got Me”). This group, created by Yuri Almazov, although it performs in the “Chanson” genre, is distinguished by more “pop” dance rhythms. In 2008, Victor, along with other famous artists (Mikhail Shufutinsky, Mikhail Gulko, Belomorkanal, Ruslan Kazantsev) recorded a solo album by the lead singer of the Vorovayki group, Yana Pavlova.
Also in Viktor Korolev’s creative baggage is a duet with the unrivaled Olga Stelmakh. Their beautiful song “Wedding Ring” is an example of high-quality music about love. Stelmakh is a magnificent singer who works with such famous authors and composers of Russia as Vyacheslav Dobrynin, Mikhail Tanich, Mikhail Krug, Sergei Chelobanov, Sergei Trofimov, Larisa Rubalskaya, Andrei Derzhavin, Lydia Kozlova, Igor Azarov, Regina Lisits.
Viktor Korolev sings songs based on his own music and those of other authors. Sometimes he writes texts in collaboration with such masters as Rimma Kazakova, German Enin, and occasionally turns to lyric poems by unknown authors. But he never shares his songs with other performers.
Music career
In 1991, the musician released his first album entitled “Broadway on Tverskaya”. A year later he won the international festival “Golden Deer”, which was held in Brasov. After this, a film about Victor was made in Romania and was shown on local television.
The successful debut was followed by difficult years. Korolev was looking for his own style, worked with different musicians, but was not happy with the result. During this time he recorded two albums, but only one of them was released. The “Pour” disc was released in a small print run and was soon lost. The singer was even glad of this, since the recording did not satisfy him.
In 1996, Korolev’s fans could again enjoy his songs thanks to the released album “Bazaar Station”. Representatives of the Soyuz studio became interested in the perky chanson performer, and they offered him a contract. The following year the album was released in large numbers. The video for the title track of the album was played on all music channels.
Since 1997, Victor’s career has developed steadily. He himself describes his life as “a continuous wave of joy.” Korolev regularly records new songs, and his repertoire also includes a huge number of duets. The musician performed with Irina Krug, Mikhail Shufutinsky, and the Belomorkanal and Vorovayki groups. In addition, in 2008, he helped the vocalist of the latter group, Yana Pavlova, in recording a solo album.
Among Korolev’s most famous works are such compositions as “Bouquet of White Roses”, “Drunken Cherry”, “Cursed Love” and the duet with Olga Stelmakh “Wedding Ring”. Most often he performs songs by other composers, for example, Rimma Kazakova and German Enin. But sometimes a singer creates music on his own. He writes only for himself and prefers not to give these compositions to other performers.
Personal life
One of the main features of Viktor Korolev, which is not at all characteristic of representatives of show business, is his complete reluctance to communicate with the press. For all his apparent openness, there is practically no information about his personal life. This forces the average person to “think out” the facts.
Artist Viktor Korolev
It is only known that Victor is divorced and has three grandchildren. When asked about children, he jokes that his children are songs of his own composition. Although he still does not hide one detail of his personal life: his love for wild life and pretty women. Therefore, if we take into account the lack of “sober memory”, there may still be children somewhere on the large touring expanses.
A heavy touring schedule and a far from “puritanical” lifestyle are reflected in the artist’s non-aging appearance. Therefore, Victor does not disdain the services of beauty salons and plastic surgeons.
Studies
In 1977, the future celebrity, Viktor Korolev, graduated from ninth grade and entered the Kaluga Music College. According to the singer, these were the best years of study, the time when the foundation was laid in his musical consciousness, his worldview and views were formed.
After graduating from college in 1981, Korolev wants to try himself on the theater stage and tries to get into a theater institute, but fails the initial tests. After that, he goes to serve in the army.
After serving, Victor does not return home, but leaves for Moscow in search of happiness and creative self-realization. In the capital, the artist easily enters the Shchepkinsky School, where he successfully studies. As soon as Korolev completes the course, he is accepted into the musical.
Victor Korolev now
Viktor Korolev turned 55 years old in 2020. Despite his age, he seemed to have remained in the scenery and manner of communication in the bygone 90s, when the artists worked with the dashingness and enthusiasm inherent in the time when the Russian stage began to take on the “image of show business.” He, as at the start of his creative journey, is full of energy and hope:
“I, as at 30, am full of optimism, without which, it seems to me, it is generally impossible to live. He always lifted me up and gave me strength along the path of life - a road filled with difficulties, when sometimes it seemed that I would never see the light at the end of the tunnel. Therefore, I try to fill each of my concerts with meaning and the feeling that every person on this planet has the right to be happy.”
Viktor Korolev does not change his image
Viktor Korolev has not changed his image (his cap turned back and the image of a dashing young man of average height) for more than 20 years:
“I looked at myself in the mirror and thought it was time to take off this cap. But no... Then it won’t be Korolev. I came with this cap, and with this cap I will remain on stage until the grave.”
In 2020, the artist is holding new concerts - he will delight the audience with his creativity for a long time.
Singer Viktor Korolev: “Fans write odes to me and want to marry me!”
Singer Viktor Korolev is a frequent guest in Tula. And every time his concerts are sold out! Fans of all ages come to listen to simple songs about a bouquet of white roses, a red-haired girl and a crystal castle - from very young girls to mature ladies, and men also respect Korolev’s work.
Viktor Korolev rarely communicates with the press, but he made an exception for us, and after a live concert, which lasted almost three hours, he invited us to his dressing room.
— Viktor Ivanovich, they love you very much in Tula. Didn't Tula disappoint you this time? — The audience never disappoints me. It’s not just that I say “my dear, beloved, dear ones.” All my songs are written for the audience, for those who listen to them. There are rough spots at a concert, today, for example, in the middle of the concert they ran to the locker room, laid out their fur coats in the hall... I even made a remark - well, why? And so I am always happy and happy when the audience at a concert makes noise, whistles, sings, dances... That’s what songs are sung for. I remember how in my youth everyone gathered for holidays, sang, played the accordion, danced, and played records. And I have such a concert history - I sing, and so that everyone has a holiday. A concert, like a song, should “build and help live”, excite the best in a person.
— Your concerts are always very energetic, where do you get your energy? - This is a projection of my life. I myself am a restless, sparkling person. This is on some astral level. At the age of three and a half I had a very complicated operation, I was already leaving for another world... I remember the hospital well, my mother was crying, and they were giving me injections in the veins on my hand. And then I opened my eyes, and it was as if some kind of energy clot had entered me. I remember this...
After the operation, I was exempt from physical education at school; I couldn’t run or jump, but I wanted to do it so bad! Since then I have a lot of energy and energy, and all my songs are like that. So that the soul unfolds and does not curl up for three hundred years.
— You always have a full house in Tula. What is your secret? - This is acting happiness. It’s great when you don’t flash on the central channels, and the hall is full. And the secret is simple - I sing songs that people love. Maybe these songs are simple, there is nothing fancy musical or poetic in them. But many hits are simple - both in words and in melody - but they live for centuries.
— Do you consider yourself part of Russian show business? — I’m not in show business at all. I'm just an artist who sings, lives, creates. In general, the question of what show business is is very complex. I personally find it incomprehensible and unpleasant. This is not a business, but the Luzhniki market, a show party. Today I may play in the theater, tomorrow in the cinema, the day after tomorrow I sing, and then I will read poetry or do a one-man show. It’s important to me what I create and do as an artist, what I go on stage with, what I want to tell people. And I must say that everything will be fine. When I write songs, I say to myself: “Korolyov, everything will be very, very good!”
— Your program is called “On the Wings of Happiness.” What makes you happy? - A lot of things. When my soul is calm. A successful concert, smiles from the audience. I am happy that my mother is alive and well. I am happy that I have close people. That my voice still sounds, that I can still move, that I can withstand such a load. That I can afford to buy everything I want (laughs). Do what I want, and no one limits me in anything.
— If it’s not a secret, what do fans write to you in notes at the concert? — There are odes (laughs). They confess their love and talk about themselves. They propose to spend the rest of their lives together. They write: “I know how to knit, cook, sew, bake pies”... Such housewives! They leave phone numbers. Well, given my age, I just need a housewife, not a model with Monte Carlo legs (laughs). Moreover, all marriages on models end in fiasco - divorce, division of property and death (laughs). I keep all the notes, I have an archive. Maybe the moment will come when I read one of them and call: “Are you still waiting for me, dear?”
- You maintain your account on Instagram... - The Internet is such an unpunished freedom... Everyone can create, teach, invent, insult, write anything there. When the song “Bouquet of White Roses” was released, I began to categorically disturb someone. There are people who cannot survive someone else's success. They begin to think about how to remove the unwanted person. And there was an online campaign against me, harassment. Then I started Instagram to tell my fans that this is me, here I am talking about myself, what I think, how and what I live, what is my position at the moment.
On the Internet, everyone knows how to look good, how to write a good song... But I’m also a musician, I’ve been playing the piano since I was six years old. I live music, I know it inside and out. We had a brilliant course at our music school. But many talented people squandered their talent.
Talent should not be squandered, I saw how people got lost in this life, disappeared. And I always gave myself the instruction - to work, work and work, as the great Lenin bequeathed (laughs).
I was going through such a difficult period in my life right now, I closed myself off from everyone. I spend all my free time with my mother and my dog, Pekingese Chuck. In my life I have flown a lot, worked hard, haven’t seen my family for months, and now I have to give everything and devote every second to my loved ones.
From the Myslo dossier
Viktor Ivanovich Korolev Born on July 26, 1961 in Taishet (Irkutsk region). He spent his childhood in the town of Sukhinichi, Kaluga region. He graduated from the Kaluga Music College in piano with honors, and the Theater Institute named after. M. S. Shchepkina. He starred in the films: “Remembering Summer”, “The Battle of the Three Kings”, “Playing “Zombies”, or Life after Battles”, “Silhouette in the Window Opposite”. Awards: winner of the international pop song festival “Golden Deer” in Romania (1992), four-time laureate of the “Chanson of the Year” award, awarded the “Thank You” Badge of the Governor of the Moscow Region, winner of two Radio “Piter FM” awards, public order “For Contribution” in the development of Russian culture”, public order “For Contribution to Culture”, II degree.
Gallery
show all photos
Discography
In 2004, the most successful clips were combined on the DVD “Moscow Mischievous Reveler”, after which the following albums by Viktor Korolev were released:
- “Hello, guests” (2005),
- "Lemons" (2006),
- "Black Raven" (2006),
- “The reeds made noise” (2007),
- "Hot Kiss" (2008),
- “Bouquet of White Roses” (2009),
- “For your beautiful smile” (2010),
- “The Bird Cherry Blossomed” (2010),
- "Roman" (2011),
- “I will throw my life at your feet...” (2012).
- "I'll miss you" (2013),
- "Sms" (2013),
- «55!» (2016)
