Singer Alla Pugacheva responded to statements made by her colleague Stas Mikhailov, saying that artists who leave the stage would end up kneeling before Russia. She recorded a message in a deliberately hoarse, weathered voice, addressing Mikhailov directly.
“Stasik Mikhailov, what is going on with you? It is I, the quiet singer, the veteran Alla Pugacheva. I would bow before you, but my legs have not kept up with time. Why the fear?,” she said in a tone meant to provoke reflection rather than mere bravado.
“Normal people won’t return there, so go ahead and make money while you can. And if I come back, God willing, I will speak my mind,” she added, a reminder of the public role she has played for decades.
On March 5, Mikhailov gave an interview to Komsomolskaya Pravda in which he claimed that artists who criticized Russia had acted not quite correctly, suggesting that their stance was out of step with the country’s expectations.
The journalist asked whether Pugacheva had had a chance to hear her latest song and whether she might consider releasing new material soon. Mikhailov shot back at artists who left Russia with criticism, saying he had not listened to the track and suggesting a lack of engagement with current works.
“Every artist is made by the people. The artist himself is nothing. The truth is that people bought tickets to the concert, and that is what confirms the artist’s presence. People love it—that is the reality,” he stated, underscoring the connection between the stage and the audience.
According to Mikhailov, show business stars who fail to recognize that Russia helped shape their public recognition risk fading as individuals. He predicted that some would still end up kneeling and standing beside Russia, symbolically kissing its feet, as a reflection of the enduring bond between the nation and its performers.
“In Times of Need”
Stas Namin, founder and producer of the Gorky Park group, commented that Pugacheva now lives under tougher conditions than before her departure. He described a difficult situation and said he had visited the artist in Israel shortly before the ongoing dispute began, speaking at a press conference in TASS.
Namin suggested that under the present circumstances it might be better for the artist to remain in the country where she built her career. He also noted that the decision to leave Russia was influenced not by Pugacheva alone but by her partner Maxim Galkin, who has faced scrutiny in Russia as a foreign agent.
“Now he faces a special situation—he is living with a new kind of responsibility and emotion. The decision largely came from Maxim, and it is not something that should break the family,” Namin stated, expressing hope for stability amid controversy.
New Song
On March 3, a new song appeared, with lyrics co-written by Konstantin Gubin. It marked a return to the recording studio after a five year gap. In the new piece, the singer tells her chosen one not to worry for her, describing a sense of calm and a willingness to stay true to the relationship, even as time moves forward. One line emphasizes acceptance of fate and a recognition that certain changes cannot be forced.
On the same day, news spread that additional new material would follow around the singer’s upcoming milestone birthday, with the artist turning 75 on April 15. A note of gratitude was shared with the collaborators—Konstantin Gubin for the music and Alla for the heartfelt lyrics—and fans were wished a happy holiday, with a call to keep singing.
There was mention of a public reaction, including responses from Philip Kirkorov, who had previously been involved in a different sensational episode at a club, welcoming the release of the new song on social networks. Shortly after, posts about the composition appeared from accounts associated with Pugacheva’s former husband, though some were later removed. In the spring of 2022, Pugacheva and Galkin visited Israel with their children, and since then, the comedian has not returned to Russia. The diva herself has visited her hometown several times, most recently in late 2023, reflecting on the enduring ties to her roots and audience.