Светлана Лобода

Svetlana Loboda (Ukrainian: Світлана Лобода, born 18 October 1982 in Kyiv, Ukraine) is a Ukrainian singer and composer. Loboda represented Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the song Be My Valentine! (Anti-Crisis Girl) and finished in 12th place with 76 points. Loboda, as a young girl, studied piano, conducting, variety and jazz vocal, and grew to have the experience of composer, leading role actress in a musical, TV host, designer, photographer, singer in Ukraine’s and CIS most popular girls band and finally a solo artist. From an early age Loboda showed a tendency for music and acting, making home musicals for her parents and relatives on family holidays. Therefore, it was not a difficult decision for her mother as to what special courses to enrol her daughter in to study. In the specialized music school, Loboda studied piano and at the same time mastered the art of singing and conducting. Having finished music school, Loboda continued with her music studies and entered the department of variety and jazz singing at the Kyiv Variety And Circus Academy. It was at this time she became a member of the band “Cappuccino”. In 2003 she participated in the casting for the first ever Ukrainian professional musical "The Equator", where she received the leading role of "Mirana". On December 28, 2003, she started a new band – “Catch”. Svetlane was the creator of the repertoire and stage costumes for the band. That was her first professional experience as composer and designer. In 2004 Loboda auditioned for the casting for “Nu Virgos” band, well known in Eastern Europe also having successful gigs in Japan . She won over nearly 500 rivals and became a new soloist of “Nu Virgos” (Also known as ВИА ГРА in Russia and Ukraine). Svetlana’s first appearance as a participant of the band was a performance in the contest show “Star Factory” (the Ukrainian and Russian version of “Pop Idol”). At the end of November 2004, Loboda together with Alexander Shyrkov and their company “S&A;music group Ltd” started her solo career and shot a music video “Cherno-Belaya Zima” (Black-and-white Winter) and in a year, in November 2005, she released her début album “Ty Ne Zabudesh” (You Won’t Forget). Loboda’s fourth single and video “Cherny Angel” (Black Angel) with Nadezhda Granovskaya (Nadezhda Meikher), Svetlana’s close friend and - incidentally - ex-participant of “VIA Gra”. In 2006, she worked as the presenter of the TV program “ShowMania” on the air of all-Ukrainian TV channel “Novyi Kanal” and in 2007 becomes the host of “Miss CIS” on “TET” TV channel. At the same time the singer started a tourist agency of her own named “Happy Vacations”. On October 2007, Loboda launched the exhibition of her own photo art-works dedicated to her trip to India. In Spring 2008, she released the album Ne Macho ("Not macho"). April 2008 saw the launch of her own fashion line wearing the name F*ck the macho. The scandalous, as it may seem, idea became the popular trend and stylish concept, expressing social protest against false glamorous trends and sticky stereotypes. Later on, in Autumn 2008, she tried her hand as the script writer for the music video Za chto ("For what"). In December 2008 the video came up on the Russian music channel MUZ TV. At the end of 2008 Loboda together with DJ Lutique produce new club track "By your side". The single reached the top of national charts and was also played internationally. In Spring 2009 “Be My Valentine” was presented on the Ukraine’s national pre-selection by Loboda in co-operation with “S&A;Music Group Ltd.” and her partner Alexander Shyrkov. On March 8, 2009 she received the highest points from both the viewers and professional jury and won the Ukrainian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia. Loboda competed in the second semi-final there and reached the final. The song finished in 12th place, with 76 points. Loboda stated that she wished to use her participation in the contest as a platform to speak out against domestic violence. She started the social initiative "No Family Crimes" and appeared in photographs with wounds and scars to highlight the issue of violence against women. The cog system, or as Loboda refers to it "The Hell Machine" she danced on has been taken back to Ukraine. Svetlana has said that she didn't want it to go to waste and it is apparently in her father's garage. "The pets play on it" She stated. Loboda has expressed her interest in representing Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 which will take place in Norway. To date Loboda has had 4 number 1's as a soloist in Ukraine, and 9 Top 10 hits. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.