Ruslan Alekhno

{{short description|Russian and Belarusian singer|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Infobox person

|name = Ruslan Alekhno

|native_name = Руслан Аляхно

| native_name_lang = be

|image = Ruslan Alehno123.JPG

|caption = Alehno in 2012

|birth_name =

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|10|14}}

|birth_place = Bobruysk, Byelorussian SSR, USSR

|years_active = 2001–present

|occupation = singer, performer

|awards = File:Medal of Francysk Skaryna 2017 rib.png

| module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed = yes

|genre = Pop, Pop rock, Russian romance

}}

|website = [http://alehno.ru/ www.alehno.ru]

}}

Ruslan Fyodorovich Alekhno ({{langx|ru|italic=yes|Руслан Фёдорович Алехно, Ruslan Feodorovich Alekhno}}, {{langx|be|italic=yes|Руслан Фёдаравіч Аляхно, Ruslan Feodaravich Alyakhno}}; born October 14, 1981) is a Belarusian-Russian singer who rose to popularity after winning Narodniy Artist – 2, the Russian version of Pop Idol. Alekhno received the Medal of Francysk Skaryna in 2019.{{cite web |title=Лукашенко вручил орден Макею, наградил артистов и журналистов |url=https://www.belta.by/president/view/lukashenko-vruchil-orden-vladimiru-makeju-nagradil-artistov-i-zhurnalistov-332348-2019 |website=Belta.by |date=January 11, 2019 |publisher=BelTA |access-date=4 May 2021}}

Early life

Ruslan Alekhno was born in October 14, 1981, in Babruysk, Byelorussian SSR, USSR now Belarus. Alekhno grew up in a military family, his father was a military officer.{{cite web |title=Руслан Алехно |url=https://smotrim.ru/person/241163 |website=Smotrim.ru |publisher=Russia-1 |access-date=4 May 2021}} Although Alekhno only has one younger brother, he grew up alongside a total of 23 cousins.{{cite web |last1=Vinogradov |first1=Maksim |title=«У меня 23 брата и сестры»: Руслан Алехно показал, как проводил время в деревне |url=https://www.goodhouse.ru/obshchestvo/novosti/u-menya-23-brata-i-sestry-ruslah-alehno-pokazal-kak-provodil-vremya-v-derevne/ |website=Goodhouse.ru |publisher=Domashniy Ochag |access-date=4 May 2021}} As a child, Alekhno was interested in music and took classes to play bayan and trumpet. When he was 16, Alekhno wrote his first musical composition. The role of the only spectator and critic as well was given to his mother.[http://www.eurovision.tv/event/artistdetail?song=24515&event=1470#biography Ruslan Alekhno official biography on Eurovision Song Contest site] Retrieved January 25, 2010.

Alekhno graduated the Babruysk State Auto-Transport College with a degree in transport planning.{{cite web |title=Руслан Алехно |url=https://www.vokrug.tv/person/show/ruslan_alehno/ |website=Vokrug.tv |publisher=Voktrug TV |access-date=4 May 2021}} Subsequently, he was drafted into the Belarusian army. During his service, he was invited to become part of the Belarusian Armed Forces Academic Song and Dance Ensemble after one of the solists had heard his singing voice at an evening activity. Alekhno stayed into the Ensemble for four years, before decided to leave the army to pursue a solo career in music.{{cite web |last1=Andrianov |first1=Sergey |title=Руслан Алехно служит в российской армии |url=https://www.kp.ru/daily/25770/2755293/ |website=KP.by |publisher=Komsomolskaya Pravda |access-date=4 May 2021}}

Career

=Early career=

In 2001, Ruslan Alekhno was the winner of the Belarusian TV project Hit-Moment, and in 2003 he was the winner in "Clear Voice" nomination at the "Crossroads of Europe Festival" in Belarus and was also the laureate of "Molodechno-2003" vocal contest in Belarus. In 2004, he also won the second prize in the International Malvy Festival in Poland. In 2005, together with Aleksey Goman, winner of Narodniy Artist – 1, he was the prize winner of Festival of Patriotic songs with "This is my Homeland", devoted to Victory anniversary.

Ruslan Alekhno won the Russian TV project Narodniy Artist – 2 (in Russian Народный артист – 2, translated as People's Artist – 2, the Russian version of Pop Idol). Upon his victory, he released his first studio album Rano ili pozdno (Sooner or later) in 2005.

=Eurovision 2008=

File:Ruslan Alekhno, Belarus, Eurovision 2008.jpg)]]

In 2008, Ruslan Alekhno became the winner of National Television Musical project EuroFest, the Belarusian annual competition to decide who would sing for the Republic of Belarus at the Eurovision Song Contest.{{cite news|url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=2252 |title=Ruslan Alehno wins Eurofest 2008 tonight |work=Oiko Times |access-date=January 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210222930/http://oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=2252 |archive-date=February 10, 2010 |url-status=dead }}

Emerging as the victor, he went on to represent Belarus in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest{{cite news|url=http://www.svaboda.org/Article.aspx?id=871724|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914145857/http://www.svaboda.org/Article.aspx?id=871724|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 14, 2012|script-title=be:Р. Аляхно паедзе на “Эўрабачаньне-2008”|trans-title=R. Alekhno to take part in Eurovision 2008|language=ru|publisher=Radio Svoboda|date=January 22, 2008|access-date=January 25, 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://news.tut.by/109530.html |script-title=ru:Руслан Алехно не пробился в финал “Евровидения |language=ru |website=TUT.by |date=May 28, 2008 |access-date=January 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921141449/http://news.tut.by/109530.html |archive-date=September 21, 2008 |url-status=dead }} in Belgrade, Serbia. Alekhno sang in the second semi-final elimination round on May 22, 2008, singing "Hasta la Vista",[//www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaVT1R5RQm0 Ruslan Alekhno live performance in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals on May 22, 2008]. Retrieved January 25, 2010. {{Dead link|date=February 2016}}[//www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW71xNVPWoM Hasta la Vista official release (audio)] Retrieved January 25, 2010. {{Dead link|date=February 2016}}[http://belarus.esckaz.com/alehno_int.htm Esckaz.com: Interview with Ruslan Alekhno] Retrieved January 25, 2010. but failed to qualify to the final.

=2008-present=

In 2012, Alekhno began a new creative phase, recording new songs and working on a new show. His new song "Ne zabyt'" was in rotation on radio stations, and a new video was released, as well as his next single "My ostanemsya".{{cite web|url=http://alehno.ru/en/text/bio/|script-title=ru:Руслан Алехно. Биография|trans-title=Ruslan Alekhno. Biography|language=ru|access-date=January 25, 2023 |title=Ruslan Alehno - singer, composer, artist }}

In May 2013, he released album of war songs Nasledie, which included the famous Russian songs of the Great Patriotic War. According to Ruslan, his new album is a tribute to all veterans of World War II. Ruslan dedicates it to all grandparents, who fought against fascism.{{cite web|url=http://station.ru/NewsView.aspx?id=1447627|script-title=ru:Руслан Алехно споет песни Победы|language=ru|access-date=May 9, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214110447/http://www.station.ru/NewsView.aspx?id=1447627|archive-date=December 14, 2013}}

On May 26, 2013, International Academy of Public Recognition presented Ruslan Alekhno with the Award "For contribution to the development of Russian culture."{{cite web|url=https://www.kp.ru/daily/26082/2986003/|script-title=ru:У Руслана Алехно теперь есть и орден, и медаль|language=ru|access-date=May 28, 2013}}

In 2014, Alekhno released the single "Serdtse iz stekla" featuring Russian singer Valeriya. Its music video was released in Spring 2014.{{cite web |url=http://alehno.ru/news/2014/ruslan_alexno_i_valerija_podarili_serdtse_iz_stekla/#c|script-title=ru:Руслан Алехно и Валерия подарили "Сердце из стекла"|language=ru|access-date=March 13, 2014}}

In 2015, Alekhno won the TV show "Odin v odin!", the Russian version of "Your Face Sounds Familiar".{{cite web|url=https://www.kp.ru/daily/26385.5/3263404/|script-title=ru:Руслан Алехно выиграл телешоу «Один в один»|language=ru|access-date=June 29, 2015}}

Alekhno performed in a concert for Russian troops in Syria at new year 2016.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35234592 |title=Russian stars sing for Syria troops near Latakia |date=6 January 2016 |work=www.bbc.com |access-date=2 May 2023}}

In 2019, he participated in The Voice of Russia. During the Blind Auditions, he sang Jaak Joala's "Podberu muzyku" and did not manage to let any of the coaches turn. One of the coaches, Konstantin Meladze, called Alekhno a "restaurant singer, who you listen to when you are drunk", causing a stir in the Belarusian media.{{cite web |title=Участник «Евровидения» Руслан Алехно не прошел слепые прослушивания в шоу «Голос» |url=https://ont.by/news/uchastnik-evrovideniya-ruslan-alehno-ne-proshel-slepye-proslushivaniya-v-shou-golos |website=ONT.by |date=November 2, 2019 |publisher=ONT |access-date=4 May 2021}}{{cite web |title="Это ресторанное пение, его нужно слушать выпивши». Белорус Руслан Алехно провалился на шоу «Голос" |url=https://news.tut.by/culture/659843.html |website=TUT.by |access-date=4 May 2021}} Alekhno later said that he was happy that he did not pass the audition phase and he had little interest in the show. He admitted getting onto the show purely for the fee that Channel One had offered for his participation and said that the producers of the show had been trying to get him to participate for multiple seasons straight.{{cite web |title=Участник Евровидения рад, что не прошел слепые прослушивания в "Голосе" |url=https://ria.ru/20191102/1560524665.html |website=ria.ru |date=November 2, 2019 |publisher=Ria Novosti}}

Awards

2000 Winner of contest "Viva Victory"
2001 First Prize at the International Competition in Poland
2001 Grand Prix of the International Contest of patriotic songs Russia
2002 Laureate of the Belarusian Song and poetry
2003 Second Prize at the "Golden Hit"
2003 "Clear Voice" reward at festival "Crossroads of Europe"
2004 Second Prize of the International Festival of "Mallow" (Poland)
2004 Winner of the TV channel Russia contest "People's Artist – 2"
2005 First Prize of the All-Russian competition of patriotic songs
2013 The Award "For contribution to the development of Russian culture"
2015 Winner of the TV show "Odin v Odin!"
2019 Award of Francysk Skaryna
2021 Honored Artist of the Republic of Belarus
2022 "Chanson of the Year" Award
2022 "Song of the Year" Award

Personal life

Ruslan Alekhno was in a relationship with actress Irina Medvedeva between 2004 and 2011, being married 2009–2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.km.ru/muzyka/2011/08/01/muzyka-v-rossii/ruslan-alekhno-razvoditsya-so-zvezdoi-filma-6-kadrov|script-title=ru:Певец Руслан Алехно разводится с Ириной Медведевой|trans-title=Ruslan Alekhno is breaking-up with Irina Medvedeva|website=Km.ru|language=ru|date=August 1, 2011|access-date=March 7, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://7days.ru/article/privatelife/ruslan-alekhno-ya-tak-lyubil-iru-chto-ne-mog-dyshat|author=Inna Fomina|script-title=ru:Руслан Алехно: "Я так любил Иру, что не мог дышать"|trans-title=Ruslan Alekhno: "I loved Ira so much that I couldn't breathe"|website=7days.ru|language=ru|page=1}} In 2016, Ruslan married again. His second wife is Yulia Alekhno. On 2017-03-31 a daughter Varvara was born from this marriage.{{cite web|url=https://mir24.tv/articles/16332814/ruslan-alehno-ya-poobeshchal-sebe-ne-zhenitsya-no-narushil-eto-obeshchanie|script-title=ru:Руслан Алехно: Я пообещал себе не жениться, но нарушил это обещание|trans-title=Ruslan Alekhno: I promised myself not to marry, but I broke this promise|website=mir24.tv|language=ru|date=October 29, 2018|access-date=October 30, 2018}}

Alekhno is an Eastern Orthodox believer. He prays every day and vows to go to mass every single Sunday.{{cite web |title=СЛОВО. ПЕВЕЦ РУСЛАН АЛЕХНО: МЕЧТА О МОНАШЕСТВЕ |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiGw-1XxnqE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/hiGw-1XxnqE |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|website=YouTube |publisher=Spas |access-date=4 May 2021}}{{cbignore}}

Although he was initially reluctant to speak about the 2020-2021 Belarusian protests, Alekhno later took part in the anti-protest song "Lyubimuyu ne otdayut".{{cite web |last1=Bunyankova |first1=Darya |last2=Malyshev |first2=Denis |title=«Нужно быть идиотом, чтобы отдать Родину»: певец Алехно объяснил участие в записи песни с цитатой Лукашенко |url=https://360tv.ru/news/mir/nuzhno-byt-idiotom-chtoby-otdat-rodinu-pevets-alehno-objasnil-uchastie-v-zapisi-pesni-s-tsitatoj-lukashenko/ |website=360tv.ru |date=September 18, 2020 |publisher=360 |access-date=4 May 2021}} He however refused to reveal on whom he had voted during the 2020 Belarusian presidential election.{{cite web |last1=Bobrova |first1=Irina |title=О съемках клипа на слова Лукашенко рассказал Алехно |url=https://www.mk.ru/politics/2020/09/18/o-semkakh-klipa-na-slova-lukashenko-rasskazal-alekhno.html |website=mk.ru |date=September 18, 2020 |publisher=Moskovskij Komsomolets |access-date=4 May 2021}} Alekhno is considered to be part of the inner circle of Alexander Lukashenko and was seen celebrating New Year's Eve with him in 2020.{{cite web |last1=Demskiy |first1=Sergey |title=Дмитрий Басков, Алена Ланская, Руслан Алехно, Арина Соболенко: кто поднял бокалы с Александром Лукашенко после записи новогоднего обращения |url=https://www.kp.ru/daily/27224.3/4347703/ |website=KP.by |publisher=Komsomolskaya Pravda |access-date=4 May 2021}} Alekhno criticised artists withdrawing from and boycotting the 2021 Slavianski Bazaar.{{cite web |title=Руслан Алехно назвал глупостью решение артистов не ехать на «Славянский базар» |url=https://news.tut.by/culture/724433.html |website=TUT.by |access-date=4 May 2021}}

Discography

=Albums=

Rano ili Pozdno (Sooner Or Later) (2005)
Hasta La Vista (2008)
Nasledie (Heritage) (2013)
Ruslan Alehno (2015)
Ya Podaryu Tebe Lyubov (I'll Give You My Love) (2017)
Moya Dusha (My Soul) (2019)

=Music Videos=

2005: "Neobyknovennaya" – Trio with Alexey Chumakov and Aleksandr Panayotov
2007: "Serdtse Zemli Moyei" – Duet with Irina Dorofeeva
2008: "Hasta La Vista"
2012: "Ne Zabyt"
2013: "Lyubimaya"
2014: "Heart of Glass" – Duet with Valeriya
2017: "Spasibo" (Thanks) — OST of movie Red Dog
2017: "Samaya Milaya" — Duet with Yaroslav Sumishevsky
2018: "Samaya-Samaya" (You're the most)
2019: "My Zhivyom" (We're living)

=Singles=

2005: "Neobiknovennaya" (Необыкновенная, Unusual Girl) – Trio with Alexey Chumakov and Aleksandr Panayotov
2007: "Serdtse Zemli Moyei" (Сердце Земли Моей, Heart of my Land) (duet with Irina Dorofeeva)
2008: "Hasta la Vista"
2009: "Mroja" (Dream){{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkmX2fgAppY|title=Mroja (Dream) by Ruslan Alehno|language=be|via=YouTube|date=December 13, 2006 |access-date=January 25, 2010}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}
2012: "Ne Zabyt'" (Не Забыть, Can't Be Forgotten)
2012: "My Ostanemsya" (Мы Останемся, We'll stay)
2013: "Lyubimaya" (Любимая, Beloved)
2014: "Serdtse Iz Stekla" (Сердце Из Стекла, Heart Of Glass") (feat Valeriya)

References

External links

{{Official website|http://alehno.ru/en/text/bio/}} {{in lang|en}}
{{IMDb name|5586718}}
[https://eurovision.tv/participant/ruslan-alehno Ruslan Alekhno Eurovision 2008 page]

{{Succession box|before=Dmitry Koldun
with Work Your Magic|title=Belarus in the Eurovision Song Contest|years=2008|after=Petr Elfimov
with Eyes That Never Lie}}