Kino

Translation of the video text by Anna Russia

  - Part 1. -

About Vitas' mother

 Vitas in chronicle video:

I wish to enter the music school and become professional dancer and musician. And my dream is to sing at “The Morning Star” contest. [a popular Russian musical contest for unknown young talents, whose goal is to make them popular]

Malakhov’s voice:

And here the boy shows the Moon walk of his idol. But at that time, Michael Jackson from Odessa hadn’t known yet that ten years later he would become a star of the Russian pop music and gather full concert halls. Today Vitas will tell for the first time all about his private life and how he stands the death of his mother, who died from the cardiac arrest at the age of 50. And you will know why Vitas’ mother-in-law is still offended at her son-in-law that he stole her 15-years-old daughter from the parental house.

Meet Vitas! His first TV interview!

/Vitas performs the song “Mother”/

Malakhov:

Good evening! Thanks you very much for your coming to our program to give the first TV interview. I think many mothers, listening to this song a few minutes ago, were crying, feeling as if it was composed for them. I know that this song was dedicated to a particular mother.

Vitas:

You know, it’s very hard to stand the death of the closest and dearest person. It’s hard to me to tell about this now. The most awful is that my closest person was dying in front of my eyes. In 2001 she fell ill strongly, the diagnosis was too grave, and the process was irreversible. I had to carry her from Odessa to Moscow, she stayed at the hospital for a very long time. Then she was discharged from the hospital and stayed at my home. You know, she never called me, and when I came into her room and asked her: “Dear mommy, do you want drinking or eating?”, she showed me by gestures that she felt so bad that totally switched off the ambient world. And once at nearly 3 a.m. she called me to her room and said: “Dear son, you know, I feel very bad. I need a medical ambulance”. I called in an ambulance, and the doctors said after her medical inspection: “Be ready for her death in three days”. I left my mother in the hospital and had to go with concert to Sochi next day. I knew that my fans waited for me there. I bent over my mother and said: “Dear mommy, I must fly to a concert tomorrow, but I will surely come back”. She looked at me and said (I will never forget these words): “Dear son, you look very tired. You need to rest”. I answered: “Dear mother, don’t worry, I’ll come back, and all will be good”. Next day I left for Sochi, and in the morning she phoned me. Just imagine that the person who hadn’t spoken for 5-6 months suddenly phoned me! She said: “Dear son, hello! This is me”. I said: “Hello!” She said: “You know, I feel better today”. This made me very glad, but unfortunately this was my last talking to her. That evening she died. You know, there was a show in my concert when my dancers rose a parachute and then pull it down. And at some moment a swallow suddenly flew under the parachute. The dancers hit it against the floor, and the swallow died. And this was obviously a sign of the forthcoming tragedy. After the concert I was told that my mother had died. Next day I phoned to my father and told him about the mother’s death, and I first heard how the man cried. He cried like a child. In a day he phoned me and said: “You know, I had a dream last night: Lilya [Vitas’ mother] rang the door bell, I opened the door, and she entered the room, holding something in hands”. My father asked her what was that, my mother opened her hands, and he saw a swallow. But what is most curious that my father didn’t know about the swallow that had died at my concert. And since that time, I have believed in energy exchange and energy relationship between the soul mates. It’s a pity that my mother is not in this studio today but... (Vitas sighs, and his eyes become filled with tears) I hope she is here now and she hears us... Mother, I love you!

 - Part 2 -

 Malakhov:

And how old were you when your mother deceased?

 Vitas:

This happened in 2001.

 Malakhov:

So, you were 20. What was the name of your mother?

 Vitas:

Liliya.

 Malakhov:

I know that today your aunt came to this studio.

 Vitas:

She is afraid to burst into tears.

 Malakhov (comes up to Vitas’ aunt):

Are you proud of your nephew?

 Vitas’ aunt:

I’m very proud of him! And I love him very much! I love him so much as his mother loved him. They were always together. And I think they are still together.

 Malakhov:

I know you also got a stroke of fate.

 Vitas’ aunt:

Yes. In 2008 I lost my son. (cries) Sorry.

 Vitas:

You know, my aunt often came to my concerts. I often was with concerts in Novosibirsk, and she and my cousin came to these concerts. And at my last concert she was alone.

 Malakhov (to Vitas’ aunt):

I think now Vitas is more than a nephew to you.

 Vitas’ aunt:

Of course. He is like a son for me. (Applauses in the studio) I love him as much as his mother did.

 Malakhov (to Vitas):

I heard that after your concerts you always bring all the flowers presented you by spectators to your mother’s grave.

 Vitas:

Yes. I loved my mother very much, therefore I’m ready to give her all my soul and my heart, because she is the closest and dearest person to me. And flowers aren’t the point here... Unfortunately, she couldn’t see all what I’d like her to see. She can’t come to my concert. Every time I come to Odessa, my concert there is the most special, because I feel her presence, and during each song I feel something like an emotional explosion. So, the concerts in Odessa are surely the most difficult for me. It’s impossible to explain this by words.

 Malakhov:

There was one more story in your life that was related to Odessa. I think it will be better to hear it from another heroine of our program, your mother-in-law Irina Grankovskaya. Meet Irina Valentinovna!

 Vitas’ mother-in-law (I.G.)

appears in the studio)

I .G. (to Vitas):

Hello my dear! You must always remember that you have one more mother. This is me. (Vitas and I.G. hug)

 Malakhov (to I.G.):

Good evening! Sit down, please. How long do you know Vitas?

 I.G.:

I’ve been known him since his 19.

 Malakhov:

How did you get acquainted with your future son-in-law?

 I.G.:

We got acquainted at the concert at the Odessa Theater of Musical Comedy. He came up to me and asked: “Are you Svetlana’s mother?” I replied: “Yes”. He asked: “May I steal her for a few hours?” Since I didn’t know him, I asked my older daughter for advice (she knew him very well), and she said: “Dear mommy, don’t worry! Everything will be OK”.

Malakhov:

And these a few hours passed into more than ten years.

 I.G.:

Yes.

Malakhov:

How old was Sveta when he decided to steal her?

 I.G.:

15. As a mother, I stood all this very hard, it grieved me. When I got known about Svetlana’s departure to Moscow, I didn’t know what to do and couldn’t sit still. I didn’t know where to run, where to phone... And only some time later I received Sveta’s note:  “Dear mommy, forgive me, please. I love you very much but also love Vitaly. Therefore, don’t stop me. I know I will feel fine together with him, so I decided to do this”.

Malakhov (to Vitas):

And how did you decide to behave so with a 15-years-old girl?

 Vitas:

I was in big love with her but, understanding that I go to Moscow not for one day but for a long time, I didn’t understand that she was underage and I could be brought to trial fro stealing her.

 Malakhov:

It was your first big love.

Vitas:

Yes. When I saw her eyes, I felt as if I was hit by current. I understood that I would be unable to live without this girl for even a second.

 Malakhov:

Now you have a daughter. How old is she?

 Vitas:

On November 21, she reached the age of three. Already adult.

 Malakhov:

I hear her voice beyond the door.

 Vitas:

Yes, she felt that we are talking about her.

 Malakhov (smiling):

I was told she had given regards to me before the program. Let’s see a video. I prepared to meeting with her, because it’s pleasant when a 3-years-old fan gives you regards.

 Alla is shown on the screen, who says: “Andrey! I love you!”)

Malakhov (smiling in response):

I haven’t seen her yet but already love her, too.

And why did you decide to name her Alla? In whose honor?

Vitas:

I, being an artistic person, always think, making mental images. Alla is a puff, Alla is lightness, Alla is the sun, Alla is the universe, Alla is the Galaxy... And when I proposed to Svetochka to name our daughter Alla, she immediately agreed. There were no debates on this point.

Malakhov:

So, you didn’t name her so, following the example of Filipp Kirkorov [a Russian artist, who is in love with another Russian artist Alla Pugacheva and named his daughter in her honor].

(to I.G.)

So, back to your story. Some time after your daughter departure, you got a phone call from her and was soothed she was alive...

I.G.:

Yes, I was soothed she was alive and healthy. And I remember the words she said: “I often told to Vitaly that I missed my mother and father very much, and he answered that now he would a mother and a father to me”.

Vitas:

I hope you will forgive me because today I’m the happiest man in the world.

Malakhov (looking at the screen):

We see your wedding photos. Did you invite the bodyguards for the breed be not stolen?

 Vitas:

No, they are not real, we drew them on these pictures.

Malakhov:

I see. Let’s ask Svetlana if she remembers her wedding tour or maybe she had a dream to go there. Meet Svetlana, Vitas’ wife!

 (Sveta with Alla appear in the studio)

 Malakhov:

Oh, they came together with a daughter!

 (Vitas hugs with Sveta and Alla)

Malakhov (comes up with flowers to Alla):

Allochka, this is me, and these flowers are for you.

 Sveta (to Alla):

Let’s take them together.

Malakhov (to Alla):

You told me you loved me. Or did you tell this to some other Andrey? I put these flowers to your feet.

Sveta, please tell us if you went to a wedding tour.

Vitas:

Sveta, when hugging me, said: “I’m so afraid, Vitalechka!”

Sveta:

Andrey, we went to a wedding tour, very interesting and unusual. Our friends invited us to go hunting. I saw for the first time how...

Vitas:

...how her husband hunts.

Sveta:

Yeah... how he hunts women. (laughs)

Malakhov:

And whom did he kill at the hunt?

Sveta:

A duck.

Malakhov:

Vitas is always at concerts. How do you stand all this?

Sveta:

I know that every parting will be followed by a meeting, Vitalik will come back, hug and kiss us. The most important is that I have such a nice daughter, a golden baby, the best in the world! And look how she resembles him! And it is her who always makes me feel his presence near me.

 Malakhov:

Such deep feelings at the age of 15... Analyzing the past situation, when you rushed to Moscow, having left a note to your parents... – looks like a film story.

 Sveta:

Yes, our story is really like a film. I looked at the train window, and the train began to move. At that moment I thought: “My God, what am I doing?” But then I looked at him [Vitas], looked into his beautiful and kind eyes and understood that I loved this man and wanted to be with him. And what is the most important is that I trust him. I love him very much!

(Vitas and Sveta kiss each other)

Malakhov:

Did he look such as in this video when you saw him first?

 (a video record of young Vitas singing “Opera 2” is shown)

 Vitas:

I used a cord microphone and was afraid to get entangled in it.

 Malakhov:

Let’s see a video from China. Before the program I watched a Chinese video where Vitas is torn into pieces by fans. And I’m curious how Sveta reacts to all these crazy fans at Vitas’ concerts.

(Chinese video of crazy fans is shown)

Malakhov (to S. Pudovkin):

Sergey, what do you think as a producer? I think these videos must shock all other artists, for example, Nikolay Baskov must hang himself with envy, seeing all this.

Pudovkin( laughing):

Let him envy. I send him my regards.

 (Then Malakhov briefly tells what will be after the ad.)

  - PART 3 -

Meet Chinese Vitas! He dreamt to see his Russian idol, and he has a voice like the voice of our Vitas. David Kuo!

(David performs “Opera 2”, then he comes up to Vitas and hugs him)

Malakhov:

Do you see each other for the first time or do you already know each other?

Vitas:

I see him for the first time. A very charming young man. It’s very pleasant that he expresses his emotions and his internality in such a way. And I liked his pronunciation of the word ”plachet” [cries].

David:

I accept Vitas as my brother. But he is too great for all of us, therefore he is like God for us.

Malakhov (to David):

Do you consider him as a brother?

David:

Yes, he is my elder brother. He looks like me, doesn’t he?

(all laugh)

Malakhov:

Our program is the place where all who haven’t seen each other for long meet. Sisters, brothers, parents... Therefore you can be his brother, I allow you. (laughs)

David:

He is not only my brother but also my idol. An idol for millions of Chinese.

Malakhov:

I know. Let’s see how fans tear Vitas’ shirt at the concert. Unbelievable!

(Chinese video about the torn shirt of Vitas)

Malakhov:

And why is Vitas loved so much in China?

David:

I think because he is very handsome. He has a very high voice, like a dolphin, and sings perfectly!

Malakhov:

Is it true that there is a Vitas monument in China?

David:

Monument? Surely! I have a small Vitas monument even at home. And there is his monument in my city.

Malakhov:

It is at the center of Shanghai. (to video operators) Please show us its photo!

(Photos of Vitas with an accordion [in fact, this monument is not in Shanghai but in Guangzhou] )

And now look at young Chinese girls singing Vitas’ songs at the streets.

(Video with girls singing “The Star”)

Vitas’ off-screen voice:

A fascinating country!

Malakhov (to the secretary of the China Embassy):

What is your opinion of the reason why Vitas is so popular in your country?

The secretary:

He has all qualities and conditions to become a famous singer here. Chinese people like Russian and former Soviet songs very much, for example, “Moscow Evenings”, which has already become a folk Chinese song.

Malakhov (to David):

I think we must show you how Vitas made a parody of Michael Jackson when he was of the same age as you now.

Vitas (being surprised):

You have even these videos!

Malakhov:

Yeah, we have these videos!

(Video of young Vitas imitating Jackson’s dances)

Malakhov (to Vitas):

I think you must show your dancing skills to David. He is talented and is in fashionable sport shoes now, so I’m sure he will follow your dances successfully. Moon walk of the Russian-Chinese friendship!

(Vitas and David are dancing together)

Malakhov (to David):

Well, all was OK. You will rehearse this walk at home. And now I want to introduce you to Dima, a Russian fan of Vitas, who came with a jar of water. (to Dima) Dima, what for did you bring a jar to the studio?

Dima:

I brought it to charge the water. I can show you many people who cure their headache and all other diseases, because Vitas’ voice is really curing.

Malakhov:

The voice that cures. (to Pudovkin) Sergey, I don’t understand why we haven’t yet opened a company for selling mineral water with Vitas brand all over the world. If people believe that Vitas cures, you must use his ability.

Pudovkin:

And we don’t waste the time! If Vitas’ voice and work bring so much use to people and thus help them to live, thanks to Vitas!

Nikolay (radio DJ):

A small example from my own practice. In winter of 2009, I came with a program to the “Russian House” company. We began preparing for the evening program presentation, and I noticed a group of women (about 10 nice ladies) sitting at the corner of the room and observing the situation around. At some moment, one of them went away from the group, came up to me, and asked in a low voice: “Will boy Vitas perform?” I answered: “No, there will be Yana Churikova, Andrey Makarevich...” [Russian TV and musical stars] And the woman, not listening to all other names, said: “What a pity!” And then she and all her groop stood up and went away. And one more story that happened in my native city of Volgograd two years before the previous one. There were concert posters “Vitas. “Mother” concert program” everywhere, and my friend dealt with organization of concerts in Volgograd pointed to these posters and exclaimed: “I don’t understand how can he be so popular?!” Hats off to the producer! Hats off to the artist’ talent!

(Then Malakhov briefly tells what will be shown after the ad.)

 - PART 4 -

Malakhov:

And now the Moscow mother of Vitas will appear. She replaced his real mother and was a witness how Vitas was growing to a star. Meet Galina Pudovkina (G.P.) [Sergey’s mother] in our studio!

G.P. (presenting flowers to Vitas):

My dear, I give you this bouquet. You are the best!

Malakhov (to G.P.):

Long ago, Sergey took Vitas to your home to show him to you.

G.P.:

It was fascinating! I saw this boy, he was so young. You know, I saw many artists whom Sergey showed me, but no one had such a unique voice! Moreover, there are many artists in Russia, but no one is so intelligent.

Malakhov:

Is it true that when he came to Moscow, he was very thin?

G.P.:

Oh, “thin” isn’t the word for it! When I saw him, I asked my son: “Sergey, does he eat at least anything?” My son answered: “Strange enough but he does!”

Malakhov (to Vitas):

And now we will know a great secret: Is it true that Yuri Nikolaev [the host of “The Morning Star” contest] didn’t allow you to participate in “The Morning Star”?

Vitas:

Maybe I won’t disclose you this secret. (laughs) Yes, I always wanted to take part in this contest, and in my early childhood I also had a producer, my beloved grandpa Arkady Davydovich. He conducted the talks with “The Morning Star” and sent tens or even hundreds of letters, but unfortunately no answer followed.

Malakhov:

And all that time you played the accordion. We have a unique video, let’s watch it.

(Video of young Vitas performing the cute song “I’m dolt Vitaly”)

Malakhov:

Vitas, accordion, and a strange girl. Were you crying or laughing when watching this video?

Vitas (laughing):

Now I’m laughing. Yes, it was a musical sketch in the theater studio. When our theater teacher Anatoly Ivanovich Paduka came to the studio, we demonstrated him various bright surprises prepared specially for him, and this is one of such surprises, but I don’t think it is so bright.

Malakhov (to Gennady Vetrov (G.V.), a famous Russian humorist):

Gena, it is the first interview by Vitas today, so many guests in the studio keep silence. But please tell us if you opened anything new in this singer today.

G.V.:

To tell the truth, I’m highly impressed. And the fact he began talking on public is really a big opening for all. He told so many secrets, including very personal ones, today! And owing to his charming smile... - Vitas, smile for us, please! (Vitas smiles) – he will stay a mystery for all.

Malakhov (to Alexander Peskov (A.P.), a Russian parody artist):

And you were one of the first artists who noticed Vitas in Odessa and told about him in Moscow.

A.P.:

I’m so proud now that I played at least a minor role in his life. I came with a concert to Odessa, and after it I needed to take a meal. Our group came to the club... as far as I remember, it is called “Mirage”...

(Vitas nods)

There were a large table, a stage, and nobody around. The table was set for supper, there was so much delicious food! – as at the Privoz market. [the famous big market in Odessa] And what do you think? Soon the variety show girls came out and began dancing, all was very beautiful, and after them a guy came out and began to sing. You know, all our group fell in stupor. I called him: “Come here!” He came up, sat at the table, and I asked him: “Do you understand that you hold a wrong life position? You must sing not on this stage but in Moscow!” I gave him several phone numbers. Two or three months later, I came to the collective concert of artists organized by Alla Pugacheva [the most famous Russian singer] at the Moscow Operetta Theater. All artists gathered at a meeting. Alla Pugacheva was talking to different artists, and suddenly I heard she said: “Just a moment! Vitaly, please sing for us!” And he took high notes. Alla Pugacheva turned to Vladimir Presnyakov [a famous Russian artist who can also sing in falsetto] and told him: “Listen how you must sing!” I was so happy and in such a big stupor! And I’m happy that I made at least a small contribution to Vitas’ artistic life!

Malakhov:

I was in Vladivostok not long ago, where I met with schoolchildren. They asked me to share the main secret for making great life achievements. I said: “The most important thing is to have a dream and clearly mark it. If you can’t mark it, you will not reach success, because you don’t know in what direction to move”. Let’s listen to what young Vitas said when he was asked about his life dream.

Vitas (documentary video):

I wish to enter the music school and become professional dancer and musician. And my dream is to sing at “The Morning Star” contest.

Malakhov (to Vitas):

And do you remember your first accordion teacher?

Vitas:

Yes, Gennady Sergeevich Komarov. He taught me by intuition, since he is blind. We began our music lessons not with notes. He always took an accordion, played a musical composition, and 15-20 min later I could already play this composition.

Malakhov:

Today there will be one more surprise to you: Gennady Sergeevich came to this studio.

Vitas (surprised):

Really?

Malakhov:

Yes. Meet the first music teacher of Vitas!

(Gennady Komarov (G.K.) appears in the studio and hugs Vitas)

Vitas (taking him by hand):

Sit down here, please.

Malakhov:

Good evening, Gennady Sergeevich! Please tell us something about Vitas. I understand that too much time has passed since that time, but I think you must remember something about such an unusual pupil.

G.K.:

Good evening, Andrey! Good evening to the audience!

Surely Vitas had excellent gifts: a good musical memory, a good ear for music, he was a very plastic, flexible, and emotional boy.

Malakhov:

So, at that time you could already predict the great future for this boy?

G.K.:

I understood that this boy was heaven-gifted and requires a delicate treatment.

Malakhov (introducing another music teacher of Vitas):

Here is Zhanna Mikhailovna Migal’, one more of your music teachers. Probably you have already recognized her.

Good evening! What could you tell us about this pupil?

Zhanna Migal’ (Zh. M.):

He was a unique pupil. I’ve been working at the school for many years but had no more such pupils and I think there will be no such any more. He didn’t like theoretical subjects. He was taught by Gennady Sergeevich, played the accordion excellently but didn’t attend the lessons on theoretical subjects for three years. But not long before his finishing of the school, the head teacher told me: “He needs to pass the exam but he didn’t attend the lessons, so please check what he knows, he must get a school diploma in some way”. I began to check his knowledge: He had none knowledge of subjects studied not only at his class but at all lower-grade classes as well. I understood we must begin with zero. So, we began to study. He was nontalkative in childhood but so tender! A bright example: Once in the late evening I heard a door-bell. I opened the door and saw Vitalik with a bunch of flowers. There was no holiday at that day. I asked him: “Vitalik, what has happened?” He said, heavily breathing from emotions: “Zhanna Mikhailovna, look at these beautiful flowers! They have such beautiful cores! I passed by and couldn’t help buying them for you!”

Malakhov (to Zh.M.):

And now may I give you a bunch of flowers for such a wonderful pupil? They also have nice cores. Thank you that you came to this program and spent so much time here.

(Then Malakhov briefly tells what will be shown after the ad.)

 - PART 5 -

Malakhov:

It’s the first interview by Vitas today, and it takes place in our studio!

During the ad pause, Vladislav Grachev, Vitas’ father, joined our company.

(to Vladas Grachev (V.G.)) Good evening!

I know that you wanted to see your son not an artist but a football player.

V.G.:

He was good in playing football. Once I was sitting with his coach at the training, and the coach said: “He can become a first-rate midfielder”. This is because he could deliver a 15-20 m long pass. Nevertheless, he hasn’t become a football player.

Vitas:

I played in the first eleven in the Odessa team “Chernomorets” [named after the Black Sea]. One day, I was sitting as a reserve player during a football match and then was allowed to go to the playing field. My father was at that match, and after it, when I returned to the bench where he was sitting, he whispered: “Sonny, you are not a football player. Don’t go in for football, it’s not your business. You must pursue a musical career”. So, I chose music as my way of living. I chose this path, and I still keep it, not turning off.

Malakhov (pointing to the photo of young Vitas on the screen):

Excuse me but, looking at this photo, I can more easily imagine you as a member of the “Young Painter” club rather than a football player.

Vitas:

What is the most interesting is that I composed the song “Opera 2” in my flat at 3 a.m., when my father was sleeping in the next room. When I began to put an experiment on searching for a high note, my father looked out of the next room and said: “Sonny, if you don’t stop singing immediately, I’ll have to call to the police”.

Malakhov (pointing to Alla):

I must say that we have such a peaceful atmosphere here today that Allochka even began to fall asleep.

Vitas:

You know, she is often present at my concerts, and as soon as she hears the first accords, she also begins to fall asleep. It’s amazing!

Malakhov (joking):

The magic voice that cures and makes children fall asleep.

(to Pudovkin) Serezha, you and Vitas’ father resemble each other like two drops of water. (these words made Pudovkin greatly surprised) I wonder who is whose relative in this family? (Vitas’ father laughs)

Let’s look at one more member of Vitas’ family, who also came to this studio. It is Vitas’ grandpa, Arkady Davydovich.

Vitas (tenderly calling his grandpa with a smile):

Arkashka!

(the audience applauds)

Malakhov:

A veteran of the Great Patriotic War!

(Vitas’ grandpa (A.D.) appears; the audience continues applauding)

Vitas (coming up to A.D. and hugging and kissing him):

Hi! Did you fly well?

(A.D. tells something to Vitas, but the words are not understandable because of the low sound)

Vitas (to A.D.):

You see, the people are applauding for you!

(A.D. waves to the audience)

Malakhov:

Arkady Davydovich, sit down, please. Vitas’ father earlier wanted to see his son a football player, and you, as I heard, wanted to see Vitas a soldier.

A.D.:

Exactly so! We lived not far from the Frunze Artillery School, therefore I decided to make him a soldier and began to “train” him.

Vitas:

To teach me to march.

A.D.:

And to follow the commands ‘Wakey!’ and ‘Alarm!’ in due minutes or seconds. And he followed my orders. He was only two-years-old, he had just found his feet but complied with all orders. At that time we bought a small drum for him. He often was sitting on the floor, and when our gramophone was playing, he drummed in time with it. I understood he would hardly become a soldier. Gradually we came to playing the accordion. It was a hard time. He wanted to play the piano, but at that time the piano was too expensive.

Malakhov:

Yeah, it was very expensive! I also began playing the violin in the childhood only because it cost twice as low as the piano. Moreover, it doesn’t occupy so much place.

Arkady Davydovich, I guess that the most frequent question you are asked is about Vitas’ gills, whether he really has them or not.

A.D.:

This legend appeared when he began to perform “Opera 2” on a big stage [in Moscow], in the image of a fish-man. For this MV, the video producers stuck plasticine on his neck, imitating gills. This was something like a psycho idea. (Pudovkin laughs) Soon people began to phone me and ask if it was true that Vitas had gills and didn’t sing with his voice but generated some underwater or underground sounds.

Vitas’ father:

I remember he phoned me from Moscow and said: “I had a surgery and now have set-in gills”. My wife Liliya was shocked, but I told her: “Don’t listen to him. All this is nonsense. Probably a joke”. And some time later, he again phoned me and said that he really had joked. (to Vitas) Don’t you remember this?

Vitas:

No.

Malakhov (to Katya Lel’, a Russian singer):

Katya, and how did you react to the news about Vitas’ gills? Did you believe it?

Katya:

I must say that I cried so much during the today’s program because I was so deeply moved by the story about your mother and family! Vitalik, I should say you are a very happy man! All person’s qualities come from his family and the people surrounding him when he is a kid and those who accompany him throughout his life. I want to thank all who were always together with you, who believe in your abilities, and who go together with you along the life road.

Malakhov (to A.D.):

I know that you sometimes spend time together and even sing together. Could you demonstrate us anything in duet? 

A.D.:

We can show you a musical performance.

(The audience applauds. Vitas and his grandpa begin to sing “Friendship”. After the performance, the audience applauds for a long time)

Malakhov:

(to A.D.) Thanks for the nice grandson!

(to Vitas and all guests of the studio) Thanks for the wonderful evening!

(to the TV spectators)

Take care for yourselves and your dear people!