The band has always successfully broken prejudices and clichés - in clothing, interviews, stage performance and above all in music. "A concert in space, well, that's just another cliché, that belief that such a thing is not possible today. It is possible, and we will prove it."
As if there was something prophetic in the name of the last CD and tour of the Russian group Na Na. It was two years ago, and the title track was called "Na Na above the country". The CD cover shows the band members floating in orbit above the globe. At the end of last month, the Russian Minister of Culture Mikhail Shvidkoi, in a letter to the head of the Russian space program, Yuri Koptev, said that he supports the Na Na group's initiative to allow them to be the first band in space: "It is necessary to work on the popularization of space exploration in order to continue generational continuity and to direct the young generations of Russians towards the space program."
Minister Shvidko's letter is a response to the initiative of the manager of the Na Na group, Bari Alibasov, the man who ten years ago created them in the image of the American boy bands, a pop group made up of cute boys who must know how to sing, play and dance, and above all, break the hearts of girls from 12 to 16 years old. Na Na does one, and the second, and the third and the fourth quite successfully, and is about to start conquering the American pop market, because there is little left to conquer in Russia.
DIRECTION - KOSMOS: Bari Alibasov's bleached hair highlights even more the face of a fifty-year-old man, somewhat tired of success... White animal furs cover leather armchairs and a sofa in a very luxuriously decorated apartment. Very beautiful and very young secretaries come in from time to time, bring some papers, receive new assignments and leave. Alibasov does not hide his displeasure that the journalists broke the secret that he successfully hid for 18 months: "We wanted to bring the matter almost to the end, and only then to announce it, but you journalists..." The guys from the Na Na group join in regularly and very politely and cordially they greet All four passed the medical examinations mandatory for any candidate to become a cosmonaut, or at least a space tourist. Singer and drummer Pasha says that he is a little afraid: "I want to go into space, but... I don't care." You know, I'm afraid of heights even in airplanes, but on the other hand, every boy's dream is to fly into space!"
Guitarist Vlad, however, is full of enthusiasm: "I really like the idea and this will be a new experience in my life." You know, I like to go to dangerous places, I like life on the edge of the abyss!" Bari Alibasov says that he is not the least bit afraid: "Well, you don't think I'm going up there, it doesn't cross my mind!" And isn't he? fear that he might lose his friends, his best business investment? "Oh no, the boys have already been to places no normal person goes!" They performed in Chechnya, played in Yugoslavia during the NATO bombing, played in Georgia, and found themselves in Azerbaijan during civil unrest. Armed guerrillas ran across the stage in Baku!"
Alibasov is convinced that his boys deserve to go into space. "Music is what unites all of humanity, which recognizes no borders." And it's time for musicians to be among the first in space. Bassist Slava says that Na Na should be the first, because he plays music from all climates, with all possible influences. From rock, through Russian or Ukrainian folk songs, to oriental songs performed in Farsi. Vlad laughs when asked if such an honor does not perhaps belong to one Luciano Pavarotti. "Well, you're welcome. If he can pass his medical, I don't mind!”
HOW MUCH ZA PAVAROTIA: But there is also a price! Considering the elegant performance of the world's most popular tenor, it is possible that the Russian Aeronautics and Space Agency would ask Pavarotti to pay double the tariff. Currently, the cost of catapulting into space is 20 million dollars. And there are as many candidates, especially after the spring expedition of the first space tourist, American millionaire Dennis Tito. The head of the press service of the Space Agency, Sergey Gorbunov, says that there are companies, and even individuals, who would rent ten places at a time. "Place is the main problem," says Gorbunov. "In principle, a Na Na concert in space, in the International Space Station, is quite possible. But there is a question of space at the station, and that is something we have to negotiate with our partners. I can already tell you that something like that is out of the question for at least another two years."
Considering the price and location, Na Na intends, if the plans come true, to send one member of the band into space, and with the help of technology, he plays up there and the rest of the band down here. All proceeds would go to charity. It remains unclear what the whole thing would look like technologically, since the signal from space lags at least a few seconds behind what is happening here on Earth. But there is time to find a solution for that as well. The main question is whether the Americans will agree to all this. They were first foamed at the mouth this spring, and then bloody, when one of their citizens paid the Russians 20 million dollars to become the first man in space. NASA complained vehemently that Tito (Denis, not Josip) was bothering them, that he was a risk to the safety of the crew on the space station, that he was interfering with scientific research and the like. The Russians rejected all criticism and included Tito (Denis) in their quota of cosmonauts that they have the right to send to the station. Despite the scattered sixth bank, Tito passed all medical examinations and a one-year course for cosmonauts. If any of the guys from Na Na want to go down that road, they're going to have to hang up their guitar (drums or whatever) for at least six months. That's how long the minimum preparation for a stay in space takes. Sergey Gorbunov says that you should learn everything from the fire drill to how to use the toilet: "A spaceship is not a train, so you can jump off whenever you want!"
Obstacles as much as you want, but Na Na are optimists. The fourth member of the band Vova says that he does not recognize any obstacles. "We want it, therefore - and we will succeed." We will, we can and we must, as some previous generations would have said. Vova adds that his band has always successfully broken prejudices and clichés - in clothing, interviews, stage performance and above all, music. "A concert in space, well, that's just another cliché, that belief that such a thing is not possible today." It's possible, and we'll prove it.” Faced with this kind of determination, will NASA be able to resist? The Russians, of course, are glad that one of their own wants to be the first, and it's not out of place to irritate the Americans a little, right?
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Vučić is not defending the state, but himself from the state. With a drum on his back and a guitar in his hands, this man-orchestra performs two or three of the same songs without hearing, with falsifications and falling out of rhythm. His government and politics are like that. In short - dangerous for the environment
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