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H: Sasha, first question. What is the purpose of your visit to Moscow, and please tell us about your new Russian album you came here to present.
AR: Well, I had the big privilege, when I won Eurovision, that I started touring through Europe.
And I realized that during the last year I have visited so many countries and almost forgot about the Russian-speaking countries.
But I have my main roots here... I have the big advantage that I have finally understood your culture, after all I was born in Belarus.
So I thought it's time to write Russian songs, and I have written "Strela Amura". But now I have written a song about the girl who pursues me.
I was thinking: "What would be interesting for Russian market?" And this story is special.
The main thing is that this story is taken from my real life, as I always write music only about myself.
H1: What was the reaction of your female fan TO the song "Dostala", if there was any?
AR: You see, I.... I have understood immediately that this girl only needs attention, no matter positive or negative attention. The main thing for her is that people got to know about her.
But I still don't want to say her name, it will be not right. But everybody on Facebook - and I have the largest page in Scandinavia on Facebook, I have already 500.000 people there -
They all know who I'm singing about. But I won't say it officially. But she has liked the song, she feels like she is my muse. She is satisfied, I'm satisfied.
H2: A bit of a tricky question. Did you have to learn Russian especially for this album release? To hire a teacher or...
AR: Well, no it is very easy for me to sing in Russian. But to speak Russian is.. it's also getting better and better, but it's not my first language.
I read books... Well, such children books as "Three heroes" (Tri Bogatyrya), "Finist the Falcon", "Buratino" (Russian Pinocchio) and I also watch old Soviet movies...
H: What is your favourite one?
AR: "Karnavalnaya noch" (Carnival Night), "Volga, Volga"... I like such movies.
So this way I learn Russian language. Because I have such a privilege that I'm invited to this country, so I'd like to not only give you music, but also to communicate with you.
H1: Sasha, turning back to the female fan. Judging from the song, she has driven you up the wall, but why? Haven't you thought to make a musical experiment to freak her out?
For example, you could have used an almost traditional, national Norwegian music genre, such as death metal.
AR: Aaah, but I have already cooperated with death metal group 'Keep of Kalessin". They were also at Eurovision.
And it was interesting for me, but this time I needed to find a song and a genre which fit together and fit to the lyrics.
H1: But in general do you plan to have experiments in your musical career?
AR: Yes, of course, as always. I have a problem and a privilege at the same time that I don't have a format.
I'm A non-format artist. The most important thing is I have a melody, I have a violin, I have a voice. This is why almost every new song of mine is in a different genre.
H1: But let's turn to the Eurovision Song Contest. To my question I asked you at the press-conference,
which of 2 previous Norwegian winning songs do you find most interesting, you answered with "Nocturne" by Rolf Lovland. But in your album you have included a cover version of another one of his songs, why?
AR: Secret Garden, yes.
It's DOES not always coincide what I like and what I like to perform.
Even though my favourite of his songs is "Nocturne" I fully realize it was already done beautifully and there is no reason to make another cover of it.
But I always regarded "Song from the secret garden" as made exactly for me.
H2: Sasha, you probably always try to follow MGP, at least during the last few years. Melodie Grand Prix. AR: Ah, Yes, yes.
H2: Well, let's not prevaricate and say Norway hasn't shown good results after your victory.
AR: Well, there is nothing to complain about from me.
H2: Don't you have any of your personal recommendations for this contest? AR: To a Norwegian ? H2: Yes.
H1: Among those who never participated in MGP.
AR: Well I think we have very good artists in Norway, f.e. Lido Lido, is a new group, a very good one.
But I also think that unfortunately - I don't know how it is here in Russia - but in Norway the artists are afraid to participate in Eurovision.
Especially the artists which are already famous. They don't want to spoil their career in case they don't win, in case they don't make it to the final.
H2: But you won. Weren't you afraid?
AR: I was not afraid, because I was known only in Norway. Nobody knew me in Europe. And the main thing for me is music. It's important to be a musician, not a celebrity.
H1: So is that the reason why among Norway's representatives were no original Norwegians with songs written by Norwegian composers?
AR: What reason? H: Because of the fear of Eurovision. As you said famous artists are afraid to participate in it. The last song which was performed by a Norwegian in Norwegian was...
AR: You know Norway is a very rich country. And we have such a policy to invite foreigners all the time, so...
Even though Stella is from Kenya and Tooji is from Iran, they both are Norwegians. We are very liberal people.
H1: A bit of a provocative question. There is a joke among journalists that the song which goes to Norwegian MGP are those which have failed at the Swedish Melodiefestivalen. Is that true?
Tell me please, have you applied with "Fairytale" to the Swedish contest?
AR: No. I have made "Fairytale" especially for Norway. I knew even if it wouldn't win people will still like it, because it's Norwegian music. So I never applied...
But I have shown it to different radio stations, and they told me just like here in Moscow: "Sorry, Sasha, we'll never play it, it's not a song for the radio, it's not the format."
Then I won Eurovision, suddenly the song became the format.
H1: One of your videos is very popular among Russian Internet users, it's "Fela Igjen' which you sang with Opptur. Have you ever thought to make a Russian version of it?
AR: No, there is no Norwegian "Black lightning", so it's the same as there is also no Russian "Fela Igjen".
H2: Sasha, we (asked Lena this question a year after her victory and she reacted quite strongly to this...
AR: So you prepare me now, so I won't be pissed off?
H2: Aren't you afraid that the "shadow of Eurovision" will pursue you the whole your life?
AR: I understood your question. So do you think Zinédine Zidane - football player, you know him, right? - that he is afraid of being pursued by the shadow of his participation in the World Cup?
I don't think so. And I will also always remember Eurovision, thinking about it as the start of my career. And now I'm traveling though all of Europe...
H1: Sasha, don't you have a wish to repeat your trip to Eurovision?
AR: I always repeat it here, in my head. As well as I repeat my first kiss. It's very pleasant, but it's impossible to repeat the first kiss one more time.
So I would gladly be a composer for Eurovision. Because it's my biggest dream to become a composer, a famous composer.
So in 5-10 years, when I will have a wife and children, I hope, there will be no need to travel through Europe.
Now I like to travel through Europe. It's great. And I'm single now, and I'm interested to see the world.
But then I'd like to live with someone, maybe far away from the city, and to write music at the place where I live.
H1: Well, as you have mentioned your private life, I'd like to ask you. You have many female fans, do you think it's possible that such a "Cinderella tale" come true for one of them?
So one of your fans could become the wife of Alexander Rybak? What characteristics should she have?
AR: The most important thing is that she doesn't drive me up the wall the same way as that girl from Israel.
Love doesn't mean she has to call me all the time. But on the other hand it's very important that a girl doesn't play games.
She shouldn't pretend that she doesn't need me. She should be honest all the time.
And she has to have a good "antenna" (gut feeling). For example, she has to feel when I want to talk to her and she has to accept that.
Or when I want to go on vacations with her, she has to understand that too.
Now I speak as if I never talk to the girl. Of course, communication is the most important thing, but it's also important that the girl feels you without any words.
H2: You made such impression of yourself, of course it's not in fact your intention, but you are seen by many as such a "guy from the yard", a hooligan...
AR: Yes, a little bit. H2: What was the biggest prank you ever made in your childhood?
AR: Oi, I don't even know. The most stupid thing we did was throwing big stones into people's windows.
And every time we did it we hoped the stone slips away, but when we saw it hit the window we had to run away.
H2: Was it in Norway or still in Belarus? AR: Yes. In Norway. If it was in Belarus I'd been arrested right away.
H1: Sasha, you were in Baku this year. What was the difference in your own impressions of Moscow ESC and Baku ESC? Both events were quite wide-scaled...
AR: Yes, all the contests were wide-scaled, but... H1: But what was the difference?
AR: Well, I can't say there was a big difference. The biggest difference for me was that this time I could enjoy it much more.
I came to Azerbaijan as a "king", everybody wanted to be friends with me and did whatever I asked.
And finally I had time to see the city. But in Moscow I didn't have time for anything, but practicing, performing, giving interviews etc.
H1: Sasha, what is the "star fever" for you? Is it something natural or something you reject? What do you feel about the "star fever"?
AR: I think when they say a person got "star fever" everybody thinks this person became really arrogant and says insulting things, but I think there are different kinds of "star fever".
There are different kinds of that sickness, if one can say so. Some people can feel depressed. I had depression for 2-3 months, and it still comes back from time to time.
I'm sure I would never get it if I haven't become famous. Some others become drug addicted - I'd also name it a "star fever".
And also "the star" can start being aggressive. This is the most common and well-known kind of star fever.
But I think people who are not involved in show business shouldn't judge it, because they have no idea how it is - to be a famous person,
when you're recognized everywhere and you're always asked to do something.
But personally, I don't complain. Because I'm so well paid that I understand I have to do something really extraordinary in return.
So even if I have to say hello to 5000 people every day, I do it with pleasure, because it's my career, it's my life. Music is my life.
H2: I'll ask you something and it doesn't require a clear answer, because not all the people like to make it public, but still, do you participate with a charity?
AR: I do. This year it's not so often, because I have such a schedule that I don't have time to do anything.
And I also need time for the studio to write new songs. I used to write the songs at the planes, because I hardly had time for anything.
Now I have a calmer life, because I have learned to say "No, I'm sorry, I cannot come to your concert".
H2: Speaking of songs, what is the most comfortable environment for you to write songs? Is it something unusual or it's just a table and a lamp what is needed?
AR: The most important for me is to be all alone, so nobody disturbs me. Then the creativity comes very fast to me.
I have written 8 new songs during the last month. But still I don't want to write a pop album, because then I need to find some concept, but I just like to write one single after another.
H1: Sasha, you say that you have a very tight schedule, but let's imagine this tight schedule has driven you up the wall like that Israeli fan did.
And you say "I have 2 days and I don't want to see or hear anybody". Where would you go to have some rest?
AR: I had many days like this, but unfortunately even if I suddenly want to stop working it will never come true, because people are waiting for me.
And it's the most tense situation for me, because people are waiting for me everywhere. That's why no matter how tired I am I have to work.
So I hardly ever plan my vacations. And even if I do I have to plan it many months in advance.
I'd love to visit Dubai. I already have to plan my next summer vacation, because I have several tours before it.
H2: You say people are waiting for you in many places, but don't you ever had a wish to appear at the music market of some very exotic country?
F.e. somewhere in South-East Asia? And try to conquer the public there.
AR: I'd love to... I don't know how to say... People invite me everywhere, but I see where people just want to make money on me and where they really are interested in my music.
So when I see people really like my music I go to that place.
F.e. I have refused The Oprah Winfrey Show, when she invited me. Well it was not really her who invited, but her agents. They just wanted me to talk about Eurovision.
Well what should I say? I'm a musician, I have to play music. So I refused Oprah, also because I had concerts in Sweden.
Now I like to visit those countries where I'm already known. For example, I'll have many concerts in little Scandinavia soon. I'll have 48 concerts in December, can you imagine?
AR:Together with Elizabeth Andreassen, if you know her. Hosts: Of course we know her..
H1: Sasha, many Eurovision artists release a lot of various promo products. For example, when you were in Moscow there was *** from Petr Efimov (Belorussian participant) or...
AR: Ah! And I didn't have anything. H1: Well you had a very good CD.
AR: Thank you. H1: Which promo product would you never accept to be produced under your name? Let's say the promo products to promote your new album?
AR: It's even impossible to count all the things I'd never accept: condoms, drugs, alcohol... I actually think it's stupid to make promotions with such "adult" things.
I haven't had any promos at all, I only had my CD, and that's all.
H2: You said you receive a lot of offers, what was the most tempting one which you have refused? Oprah Winfrey? Or you had something more tempting?
AR: No, what I regret the most was the offer I got from Philip Kirkorov a year after I won Eurovision.
He offered me a tour though Moscow (he meant though Russia), but then I had a company (booking company) in Russia, which never accepted any offers that didn't come through them.
They have slowed down all my projects... Now I don't work with them anymore, but I still regret I lost such a big opportunity because of them.
H2: What was the most exotic place you have ever performed?
AR: I'd say the most exotic place I ever performed was the huge cave in Aalesund, in Norway. I played a concert for 10-15 people. It was the most luxurious concert I ever had.
H2: Weren't you afraid that the ceiling could collapse? AR: No.
H1: Sasha, you was born in Belarus, but you grew up in Norway, but who are you due to your gastronomic predilections? Belorussian, Norwegian or..
AR: American. H1: That means fast-food? McDonald's?
AR: Yes. H1: And what about Norwegian salmon? And what about Belorussian "draniki" (traditional potato dish)
AR: You just have named all the food I eat: American fast-food, Norwegian fish and Belorussian draniki or "kolduny".
It's my usual food. But when I'm at A hotel or somewhere on tour I eat steaks.
H1: What about Norwegian fast-food?
AR: Fast-food is fast-food, it's a typical American thing. Let's leave this culture to them.
H2: Due to our cultural peculiarities, it's impossible to even imagine that a celebrity in Russia goes all alone to eat in McDonald's or Burger King.
AR: I do it. H2: Are you ready to break such a stereotype and go to McDonald's in the middle of this?
AR: Well I have done that thousands of times. I'm so modest when I'm at McDonald's that people don't even notice me.
Only when I'm done with the food and leave do I start smiling to the people, and only then do they recognize me and the crowd starts following me. But then it's too late and I usually run away.
The trick is to stay purposeful and don't look around. But of course if I'm noticed I won't deny that I am me, saying "No, I'm not Sasha Rybak". No, I don't do that.
Especially when it's children. I have such a privilege that I have a lot of children among my audience.
So, every time I see a child's smile and they want to have an autograph, it doesn't matter in how big a hurry I am to catch my bus or something, I have to stop and give it to them, of course.
H1: Haven't you tried to teach children? Do you have such a wish?
AR: Well, now I'm trying to study, while I'm having this tour, I study pedagogy.
H2: In Norway? AR: Yes, in Norway. By the way I have passed the exam for violin, and got an excellent mark.
H2: Did you ever have a wish to play in A symphonic orchestra as a violinist?
AR: I have played in a symphonic orchestra, I have been the concert master for 4 years in Bergen.
But that's not a creative job. But I have big respect to the orchestral musicians. Next question.
H1: That's all! We can see you're getting tired. Thank you very much for this interview. I think operation "Burger King" will be possible to make true next month, if you have time...