Interviewed by Natalia RemmerPhotos of Yakub Islamov
VALERY MELADZE - A BRIGHT STAR ON THE SKYWAY OF DOMESTIC SHOW BUSINESS. HE IS NOT ONLY A TALENTED ARTIST, BUT AND JUST A GOOD MAN: COMMUNICATION WITH HIM - ALWAYS JOY. Fortunately, Valery Shotaevich is a frequent guest in the Arab Emirates. DURING HIS NEXT VISIT TO DUBAI, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MEET AND TALK IN PERFORMANCE AT THE BEST JOB HOTEL OF THE WORLD BURJ AL ARAB. BTW, HERE AND PASSED MAY'S CONCERTS OF THE ARTIST.
Valery Shotaevich, you often relax in the Emirates. Please tell us what attracts you to this corner of the world?
Everything is wonderful! The last time I came in April, when it was still cool, but our compatriots were already swimming in the sea. Ten years ago, during my first visit, I lived at the Le Meridien Hotel, last month at the Madinat Jumeirah and stayed at the Burj Al Arab Hotel several times. Sometimes I go to spas, although, in principle, I am not disposed to this type of relaxation. Of course, I can go to the bathhouse, swim in the pool, but if there is a sea, all preferences are given to him.
Do you manage to rest here from the Moscow rhythm of life?
Not very good. Firstly, I have scheduled performances. On the day of the concert I try to limit my movements. I noticed that frost and cold are better for vocal cords than constant transitions from a hot street to an air-conditioned room. Therefore, before the performance I try to turn off the air conditioner and communicate less.
Are you already used to the atmosphere of Russian show business?
Yes, although there are many different currents and communities. We are beyond them all. We have our own family, and we live as we want: on the one hand, we communicate with everyone, on the other - we do not enter into close contacts. We remain in a friendly relationship.
Can you say that you have gone through a period of growth in your life when you had to achieve something every day?
Now it’s a little easier, but you still can’t relax. This is out of the question if you want to achieve something. Therefore, we are constantly working on further advancement, although I could still give concerts for many years, sing my songs, rearrange them. One must always offer something new.
Often you have to deny yourself what you want?
I deny myself the most important thing - communicating with loved ones and relatives. And that makes me very sad. But, unfortunately, no matter how I try to find a middle ground between the profession and the family, it is very difficult to do this, because work requires my constant presence and my time. And we have only 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. I have four children that need to be taken care of, and make sure that everything is fine with them. The good news is that my job is my favorite. After all, a man must realize himself, for us it is more important than for women who still have a family and motherhood. And for men, these components play on an equal footing. Therefore, I always try to find a free minute to spend time with family.
What does your surname oblige you to?
Rather, it’s not even a surname, but a family, and what our parents taught us ... I am a provincial man and I do not care what they say about me and my loved ones. Our surname is ordinary, common in Georgia, but I must be responsible for myself and for the nation that I represent. Both in Russia and abroad. It’s important to behave yourself everywhere. If I represent Georgia in Russia, I have no right to face the dirt, if all of Russia abroad - even more so ... After all, there are many people who can ruin the impressions of our country.
Often you can hear the expression: "Among the Tbilisi Georgians - every first prince" ... Many say so. But I am a Batumi Georgian. My family comes from different parts of Georgia - Gori, Kutaisi and the village of Chkanish. There was no nobility in the family: mostly workers, strong masters, but not princes.
Is there any golden rule of life that your parents passed to you, and you, in turn, teach your children to him?
This rule is not mine and not my parents, but I follow it. As one wise man said: behave with people the way you want them to do with you. If one of my relatives in the company behaves wrong, I will make him a comment. I would be annoyed if people from another company behaved indecently. Therefore, I try on everything myself.
I also really like the expression: "Not the gods burn pots." It means that any person can achieve the desired in life. Although I myself, when I lived in Georgia and then studied in Ukraine, I was sure for a long time: in order to become a singer or musician, you must be born in a family of "demigods". It seemed to me that this was a dynasty profession, suggesting continuity.
Despite the fact that our parents sang beautifully, I never thought that I would become a professional musician. In addition, as I said, I grew up in the provinces, and I was always sure that everything grand was happening only with the inhabitants of the capital. Too long seemed the way from my town to Olympus ...
For twenty years you have been singing about love. And what was the most beautiful love story in your life?
In my life, all the stories were beautiful. I will tell about my first love. She happened at school: I met a girl whom I fell in love with at first sight. It was a fantastic feeling when I fell asleep happy and could not wait for me to go to school to see her, although I did not like studying. It was the first childhood love, absolutely platonic, without any expectations, when you are happy to just see your loved one. In the fourth grade, they moved to another district, and for several years I searched for it, but did not find it. In general, this story did not end with anything ...
Valery Shotaevich, what attracts you to women today? What do you value most?
With age and experience, the attitude towards a woman does not change much. Waiting for you to be understood and accepted as you are. I always felt excessive responsibility to those women whom I met in my life, and this in itself does not give me rest. And if a woman also cultivates this feeling in you, it becomes doubly difficult.
What kind of husbands would you like for your daughters?
I can’t even imagine what kind of husbands they should have. And at the same time, I understand that no one will ask me.
Like any father, I would like her daughters to be happy, that they come across normal, well-mannered guys, with a sense of responsibility.
Will you yourself advise someone?
This is not accepted in our family. Of course, we indirectly influence the choice of children when we educate them, but this does not determine one hundred percent how their future life will turn out.
I know that you like expensive cars. And how, in principle, is luxury important for you?
You know, cars, like everything else, are expensive and very expensive. I consider the latter to be overkill, while the former - good and powerful - I like. I have a sense of proportion.
For example, I probably know that a bottle of wine should not cost more than 100 euros. If you relax in good company, then with any wine you will spend time sincerely. And if the company does not add up, then the most luxurious drink will not improve the situation. I thought about luxury and came to the following conclusion: since a person has only one mouth and two hands, it’s impossible to eat or pick up more than is determined by nature.
And what do you value most in the people around you?Professionalism and responsibility. I also really appreciate the taste, as an understanding of beauty and harmony, consonant with what is happening around.
What feeling do you get home with?
Usually with a feeling of extreme fatigue (laughs - approx. Ed.). And with joy, of course. This is the happiness that every person must come to!
Editor’s Note: We thank M Premiere and personally Yevgeny Morozov for their help in arranging the interview.
