Ani Lorak
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Ani Lorak (Ukrainian: Ані Лорак) is a successful Ukrainian singer and artist. She has twice appeared to be a strong front-runner to represent Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest, but ultimately failed to be selected on both occasions. Her narrow defeat in the 2005 national pre-selection competition was particularly controversial, given that the winners GreenJolly had, unlike her, not had to qualify for the final by winning one of the fifteen preliminary heats.
[edit] Biography
Ani Lorak, whose real name is Carolina Kuyek (Ukrainian: Кароліна Мирославівна Куєк), was born on September 27, 1978, in the city of Kitsman, Chernivtsi oblast in Ukraine.
Carolina showed her desire to become a singer at the age of four. At that point she had already decided what she wanted to achieve in her life. She performed at various school contests often, and in 1992 she won a popular competition "Pervotsvit". As a matter of fact, that's where she met her present producer Yury Falyosa. At the age of fourteen she signed her first professional contract.
Carolina became known as Ani Lorak in March 1995 when she took part in a contest at the television program "Morning Star" in Moscow, Russia. There was another Russian singer with the same name already enrolled in that competition. In order to save the situation, our Carolina had to read her name backwards. That's how her present name Ani Lorak has came into existence.
Ani Lorak moved to Kiev in 1995. By that time her name was well known in Ukrainian show business. Ani Lorak became even more popular after winning the "Big Apple Music 1996 Competition" in New York, USA. She became "Discovery of the Year" at the popular Ukrainian festival "Tavria Games" in 1996. The same year she released her first album "I Want to Fly". 1997 was the year full of hard work for Ani, as she continued recording new songs. Her two videos "The Model" and "My God" were filmed and the latter became a soundtrack to the movie " The Right to Choose". Her musical career was certainly under way.
In the spring of 1998 her new video 'I will be back" was created. In December Ani's second album "I will be back" was released. Mastering of this album took place in New York. Simultaneously her two music videos "O my love" and "A Stranger's City" were filmed to accompany her new album.
At the outset of 1999 she started extensive touring, performing in the US, France, Germany, Hungary, and her concerts took place in every major city of Ukraine. In 1999 she earned the title of "Zasluzhena Artystka Ukrainy" (Nationally Recognized Singer of Ukraine).
In the spring of 2000 Ani Lorak recorded advertising of the Chocolate "Korona" at London studio "Astoria". Singer met here with world-known British composers Burrie Guard and Josh Phillips. Further, Ani recorded in London new songs only for European music.
In 2004 Ani Lorak has become UN good will ambassador in Ukraine on HIV/AIDS. We cannot stay away from scaring spread of the virus in across our country - Ani Lorak supports UN activities in this sphere and calls all her fans to do the same.
