Arab Prize puts Steven Seagal on a par with Anita Tsoi

As the singer told ZD, it all started with a call and an invitation that she received just a few days before the ceremony, being, as they say, neither sleep nor spirit. The dumbfounded Anita was told that they would like to give her an award, since the jury of the ceremony, when choosing potential laureates, “was surprised to find Ms. Tsoi’s songs and clips on the Internet, which they really liked, and when they began to study the singer’s biography in detail, they impressed not only by her creative, but also public charitable activities. We decided that this year, for the first time in history, the award will also be given to a representative from Russia.” They explained that this is not a musical award, but an award for personal achievements in the profession and social activities for the benefit of improving people’s living conditions. The ceremony is held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Mahra Bint Al Maktoum, the first lady of the emirate, who herself was a DIAFA laureate in her time. But they still asked to sing during the awards, since the singer …

Pinching her limbs, Anita rushed feverishly to pack her knapsack on the road, and recruited her son Sergei to help – both as a support group (which turned out to be very handy, since the shiny statuette turned out to be unbearable, and her son wore it for her mother), and as an adviser-translator. “So I speak English well, but my speech had to be flawless in grammar, and Serezha speaks the language perfectly.” As a result, a touching speech, where the artist compared what was happening with a fairy tale and urged to believe in love, including in your work (“thanks to which each of us has achieved great heights in the profession”), was met by the guests of the ceremony extremely favorably, and everyone asked Sergey who he has “this beauty” – a girlfriend or wife. “My Mom” (“My Mom”), the son proudly replied to his astonished counterpart.

The ceremony was attended by celebrities mainly from Arab and other Islamic countries, but each time the organizers expand the geography of participants. This year, in addition to Russia, laureates from France, the Philippines, India, China and the United States were chosen from the non-Islamic world. The United States was represented by actor Steven Seagal, he also received the coveted DIAFA. “And I thought that Seagal had been a citizen of Russia for a long time,” Anita laughed maliciously. The former superstar is known for his quirks, in particular for collecting exotic passports – in addition to the Russian one, he also has a Serbian one. In America, by the way, no tantrums are thrown about this, they are not stigmatized as a “foreign agent”, they are not threatened with a criminal case, they are not driven out of the country, and the comical Mr. Biceps safely and relaxedly represented his main homeland at DIAFA.

“There were all: sheikhs, princes, princesses,” Anita shares her impressions, “an open place with a gorgeous view of the bay, an incredible multi-level design of the hall, and on the other side is the center of Dubai with skyscrapers. A transparent stage with an absolutely incredible view. Luxurious tables. Immediately warned that no alcohol. True, alcohol was already poured at the afterparty for those who wished.

The award was very long. The Arabs are in no hurry. I was very nervous because there was no timing, no clarifications. They just said: you walk the red carpet, give interviews, sit down at the tables of winners, and when they call you, go out, get an award, give a speech, sing. First, representatives of the Arab countries were awarded, then – other Islamic states, and only then – the rest. Russia closed the award, it turned out that I acted as a big star, which was very honorable.

About ten supporters from Russia were allowed into the fan zone. I posted on my social network that I was flying for the award. And the support was very nice. There was a girl – probably a fashion model – in a snow-white dress with a train in the form of a Russian flag. Unusual and beautiful. She came up to me and said: “There are 10 of us here. May I take a picture with you? We are so happy that our artist is receiving the award. We’ve come to support you.” It was very nice.

For my award for the video profile, they chose frames from the clip “Take care of me”, where I skate. Apparently, in their opinion, this best reflected Russia – figure skating. They told me how famous and popular I am (according to the DIAFA award, Anita Tsoi’s debut album “Flight” (1997) became the “best seller of all time” in the artist’s homeland. — Note. “ZD”) and what charitable programs I am engaged in.

Least of all at this award, to be honest, they knew, of course, me. Or better to say – no one knew me at all from all these guests from the Arab world. And in the beginning, when I went on the red carpet, the press did not interview me. When the stars that this audience knew walked, they were intercepted, the fuss began. But after I received the award and performed, sang “The Fifth Ocean”, all the press rushed to us, when we were already going out, a real pandemonium began. They said: “Sorry, we didn’t know you were from Russia.” They confused me because there was also a famous TV star from China, and they thought that I was also from there.

Everyone admired the song, the voice: great voice, great singer, great song, amazing speech (great voice, great singer, great song, wonderful speech) … Such exclamations were heard. They asked why she chose such a dress for the award. And there, of course, there were such beauties! The East is a pompous business. Everyone sparkled with jewelry, dresses, necklines, by the way! Not shy at all. It seemed to me that I also look very cool, and although I deliberately refused the neckline, I was not mistaken either. Bright orange dress (from Valentino. — Note. “ZD”) symbolizes the sun of Dubai, I said. Everyone noted that this is a very fashionable look of the season. Well, I didn’t disappoint with jewelry, I was wearing a set from Graff, the most expensive jewelry in the world …

They asked a lot about charity and whether I would have a duet with an Arab performer. It is very difficult to get to this award, and everyone was very surprised that Russia was there. They were interested if I plan to come to the Emirates with my concerts. I said that everything is possible in this life, looking at the DIAFA award, which I did not think, did not guess that I would receive and find myself in this whole story. It was very pleasant and excellent communication. We really made a splash with our performance, it’s true, and it was very cool … “- Anita concluded, noting that Dubai has become a real cultural Klondike, “where very cool performers come to big venues.” Soon, for example, the Weeknd super show will take place …

The award was personally presented to Mrs. Tsoi by the founder and president of DIAFA, Michel Daher, who had not awarded anyone before, and even greeted in Russian: “Good luck!”

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It is curious and funny that at this very moment, on the other side of the city’s Dubai Creek, Philip Kirkorov was performing at the Russian festival “Sail”. That evening, in fact, Nikolai Baskov was supposed to perform, but at the last moment, instead of the Golden Nightingale of Russia, without declaring war, the king of pop invaded. Baskov was annexed. Apparently, he got stuck in duets with Shaman…

There was also the Leningrad group, the Artik and Asti duet, and for some reason a very gloomy Lolita, who, in the absence of the disgraced Morgenstern (recognized as a foreign agent), sang his songs herself. Courage of the highest flight! Philip languidly cheered up the assembled vacationers with the chant “We are Russians”, shaming everyone who “forbids Russians”. It is unlikely, of course, that they meant “cancelled” (or even directly prohibited) in their own homeland Pugacheva, Makarevich (recognized as a foreign agent), Grebenshchikov, DDT, Oksimiron (recognized as a foreign agent), Zemfira, Galkin (recognized as a foreign agent), Noise MS, Nogu Svelo, Face (recognized as a foreign agent), Bi-2, Anacondaz, Splin and other Russian artists from among the top cultural music fund of the country …

And “ZD” remembered how a few years ago on the same “Sail”, when the festival was still held on a grand scale, after the first branch with the participation of Anita Tsoi (then her show “Your A” thundered), Kirkorov came out (his show “DruGoy” also thundered ”) and, grimacing in disgust, attacked the organizers: they say, what the hell, why didn’t they wash the stage “after some incomprehensible artist.” The barin was very angry.

And here they were again side by side, practically in the same place and at one o’clock – only on opposite sides of the Dubai Creek. One is with princes, princesses and a television audience of hundreds of millions, the other is at a festival for tipsy revelers hiding in the desert…