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"Alsou" - this is the name of Alsou's debut russian album. This is how it looks in russian:

The album was released 16th of September 1999 by "Real Records" & became the best selling immediately. It was sold all over Russia & former Soviet Union countries. It's a pity but it's impossible to count the figure because of russian audio piracy. The extended version was released in 2001 with two new songs.

"Alsou" is the name of her english album too. There were different variants (e.g. "Before You Love Me"), but al last they took decision to call the album simply - "Alsou". The album was released in Russia only yet. It includes 14 tracks. The single from this album, "Before You Love Me" was released in Great Britain, Germany & other countries. Alsou's appearance on european music scene was suppotted by a promo company. The european release of "Alsou" should include all the 14 tracks from russian release plus two new songs - "So Close So Far" & "Pretty Face". The release of the second single "He Loves Me" was dated to November 2001, but the plans of "Universal" changed. Now the company announced about the new start of Alsou's international carrier & promises to release the european album in autumn 2002. The name probably will differ, so will the tracklist.

"Before You Love Me" - the first single from Alsou's english album. The video was shot by Tim Royes (Madonna, Janet Jackson, Five & Queen "We Will Rock You"). It is based on "The Matrix": leather clothes, unbelievable jumping etc. Alsou had long dance trainings a week before the video shooting. But now she says that's not her character in the video. Nevertheless she is not ashamed of "Before You Love Me". The song appeared in britain in March 2001. The video was rotated on MTV & The Box. Alsou gave an interview to PEPSI-Chart, to some britain magazines, had a chat at Lycos, performed at SMTV: Live, Richard and Judy's This Morning (ITV). 30th April the single was out. It made #27 in Official UK Singles Chart. June 2001 the single was released in Germany & other countries. You can see the animation from the video here.
"Break The Silence" - a romantic latin-styled song produced by Simon Franglen, the producer of "My Heart Will Go On".

Contract. When Alsou's songs appeared on the russian radios many foreign recording companies wanted to have a contract with her. 6 months long the lawyers of her father consulted with "Universal Music Russia" & at last Alsou signed a unique contract. She must record 7 english albums. The 1st is already released in Russia. Max Hole, the 1st vice-president of "Universal Music Eastern Europe": "Alsou is one of the brightest young stars of "Universal". I was charmed when I saw her & listened to her music. I'm happy of our long partnership, & our command will do everything to provide her such a wide popularity as we can." The term of contract is unlimited. According to its conditions, all the serious decisions should be taken with the concent of Alsou's parents. Some sources say that the sum of the cpntract is abou $1 mln. But Alsou's ex-producer Valery Belotserkovsky says he regrets signing the contract...
"Сosmopolitan" - the world famous magazine. The russian version had once Alsou on the title page. Earlier she said she would never be photographed naked, but... the reactiona of her parents was quite calm. Ralif Safin said: "Well, we hadn't such thinggs in our times..." You may see the cover here.

"Destiny's Child" - the favorite group of Alsou. She says she would give lots of things to get aquanted with those girls. When she was asked once what CD did she had in her discman, she answered it was the last single of "Destiny's Child".

Europe Music Awards (EMA) - the award of MTV which was taken by Alsou in November 2001. Russian MTV held an opinion poll & Alsou had won in it. The picture is here. The ceremony was held in Frankfurt, Germany. There Alsou met Mary J Blige, Craig David & other stars.
"Eurovision Song Contest" (ESC) - the annual music competition between the singers of european countries. Russia had never reached even the top 10 of the performers. The song "Solo" was the first english song recorded by Alsou in "Universal". When her producer called her to say she had won the national russian competition she laughed & said it was a nice joke. She had only 2 months to record an ideal version of song for radio & TV rotation. The rules of ESC are very serious - no more than 6 people on the stage, only live singing & the song shouldn't be released before the 1st of January this year. During the repetitions Alsou was very shy & even her voice trembled. All the totalizators showed that she wouldn't reach even the 6th place. But the result was sensational - she took the 2nd place & during the counting of results even reached the 1st place (few seconds only). The winners - Olsen Bros. used a computer voice (like Cher in "Believe") & it is prohibited by the rules. Nevertheless they took the prize. Alsou says she can't listen to her performance now because it was just awful. Well, many countries gave her maximum points (12) & that means the song was beloved. It reached some foreign charts.

"Friends" - the favorite TV series of Alsou. She has all the series on VHS. "It can always make a good mood," - she says. Her favourite character is Joe.

"Globen Arena" - the concert hall in Stockholm where the ESC was held. Alsou & all the russian delegation lived not far from the "Globen Arena" & it took only few minutes to get there to take part in repetition.

"Hasper's Bazaar" - just one more magazine which had Alsou on the cover.
"He Loves Me (He Loves Me Not)" - this song should have become the second single from Alsou's english album. But as the result of her conflict with "Universal" it was released but was promoted only in some countries (Spain, Poland, Chezh Republic). The video is very funny, it takes the inspiration from "Harry Potter". Alsou has read the magical book & began making tricks with a guy who behaves himself not gently.