Rasputina Responds to Vaikule’s Russia Comments in Interview
Singer Masha Rasputina voiced strong reaction in a recent interview with aif.ru, addressing remarks made by Latvian artist Laima Vaikule about Russia. Rasputina found Vaikule’s assertion that she eeds the entire Unionelt as a rude statement and said it left a sour impression about the dialogue surrounding her homeland.
In Rasputina’s view, Vaikule’s words carried a sting. The singer recalled that Vaikule rose to prominence during the Soviet era and suggested that Vaikule contributed songs that were widely embraced across the USSR. Rasputina questioned the motive behind such a claim and urged listeners to consider the context of the statement, which she described as lacking tact and sensitivity.
Rasputina also highlighted what she viewed as an inconsistency in Vaikuleoundations for popularity. She noted that in the Baltic states, Vaikule reportedly faced challenges with concert fees, while large promoters later credited her rise to fame. Rasputina asked why someone who benefited from opportunities in that era would publicly criticize the very audience and country that helped establish Vaikule’s reputation, characterizing the remarks as surprising and ill advised.
Vaikule later argued that releasing her music in 2022 constituted a way of eeding the USSR and Russiarom a modern platform, and she mentioned receiving a relatively modest share for some performances in large stadiums. She stated that she earned only a small amount for performing before tens of thousands of spectators, suggesting that the financial rewards did not match the scale of the crowds at those events.
Earlier in the year, Rasputina had recalled a separate controversy involving Philip Kirkorov and a disapproving reaction to one of her songs. The anecdote underscored a broader pattern in the music scene where artists publicly comment on each otherrames of reference and the legacy of the era in which many gained their fame. The exchange between Rasputina and Vaikule sits at the intersection of national memory, cultural pride, and the economics of performing art, illustrating how public statements by musicians can ignite debate about historical relationships and the ongoing impact of past eras on contemporary popularity.
Observers note that such exchanges reveal the fragility of soft power in the post Soviet cultural space, where artists frequently navigate a mix of loyalty to audiences, personal reputations, and the evolving meaning of fame across borders. Whether the focus is on lyric choices, concert earnings, or the responsibility of public figures when discussing national identity, the episode demonstrates how blunt commentary can spark discussion about who helped shape a musicianrom region and era and who continues to influence their legacy today.