Raymond Pauls Opens Up About a Rift with Alla Pugacheva
Raymond Pauls, a renowned composer and author of many songs performed by Alla Pugacheva, reflects on a period of disagreement with the iconic artist. The anecdote first surfaced through a discussion on aif.ru, where Pauls recounts the events with candor.
Pauls recalls the moment when Alla visited Riga. He chose not to attend the concert, not because he doubted the performance but because he believed in the importance of courtesy. He could have bought a ticket and joined the audience, yet he preferred not to assume an uninvited position. He explained that showing up without an invitation can come off as disrespectful in show business, a sentiment he held firmly in that era.
Beyond that initial friction, Pauls notes that Pugacheva frequently voiced criticisms about him and lyricist Ilya Reznik. One instance involved the lyric of a new song, It’s Not Evening Yet, It’s Not Evening Yet. The singer reportedly felt the words signaled the end of his career, an interpretation that outraged the contributors. In the wake of this disagreement, Reznik and Pauls chose to distance themselves from Pugacheva and instead focus their energies on supporting Laima Vaikule’s rising career. The move was described as a strategic pivot that reshaped their professional paths and collaborations for years to come. (cite: aif.ru)
Looking back, Pauls expresses a mature perspective on the entire episode. He states that the past cannot be rewritten and that the situation, in his view, simply happened. With time, the tension softened as both sides moved forward, and the lessons from that period became part of his broader artistic journey. The reflective tone underscores a common theme in the music world: disputes can become chapters that eventually fade into the narrative rather than defining it. (cite: aif.ru)
Meanwhile, Alla Pugacheva continued to release music that kept her at the forefront of pop culture. The artist’s late-career works, including a recent release titled I’m Crying, demonstrated her ongoing influence and ability to reinvent within the industry. This ongoing evolution serves as a counterpoint to the earlier conflicts discussed by Pauls and Reznik, illustrating how collaborations and rivalries can coexist with continued artistic productivity. (cite: aif.ru)