"Each of her songs is a 100% hit!
Her albums are bestsellers in Ukraine!
Her photos decorate the covers of the country’s most popular publications!
She is one of the Ukraine’s most actively touring singers! She is Ani Lorak!"

The Spin

Ani Lorak developed the desire to become a singer as early as at the age of four. At that time, she had already decided what she wanted to achieve in life. Ani Lorak often performed at various school vocal competitions. In 1992, she took part in the popular contest Pervotsvit [Cowslip] and became the winner. As a result, at the age of 14 she signed her first professional contract.

Ani Lorak became known as Ani Lorak in March 1995. She had to invent her stage name when she was participating in the contest of the Morning Star television program in Moscow. There was another Russian singer with the name Karolina, which is Ani Lorak’s real name, already enrolled in the competition, so our Karolina saved the situation having read her name backwards. That's how her present stage name Ani Lorak has come into existence.

The singer moved to Kyiv in 1995. By that time, the name of Ani Lorak became widely known in the Ukrainian show business. At the age of 19 she was awarded with title of the Honoured Artist of Ukraine, having become the youngest singer ever to get this rank. She is the winner of a great number of various prizes, has four Gold Discs according to the results of sales of the albums, winner of prestigious international and Ukrainian festivals and ratings, including the Morning Star television contest (Moscow, 1996), and the Grand Prix winner of the Big Apple Music 96, global competition of young singers in New York.

Ani Lorak has been repeatedly recognised as the Singer of the Year in Ukraine. Her credits include two solo shows on the country’s central stage, ten albums, one single, biographical film, and 23 videos. She is the most beautiful and sexy woman of Ukraine according to the results of polls by popular magazines. Her artistic self-realization goes far beyond singing. Ani Lorak is a brilliant actress. She played Fanchette in the musical film Crazy Day or the Marriage of Figaro, dubbed the Baby in the Norwegian animated film Karlson on the Roof (2006), and later, two characters at once, those of the Kitty and the Little Bee of the Estonian cartoon Lotte from Gadgetville (2007).

Ani Lorak provided support in publishing three books for children, they are How to Become a Star, How to Become a Princess,and How to Become a Culinary Star in 7 Days. The singer is also the producer of her own brand. She owns the Angel-Lounge restaurant in the centre of Kyiv.

Ani is a brilliant poet and composer. She spends a lot of time on charitable activities. In 2004 Ani Lorak has been a UN Goodwill Ambassador on HIV/AIDS in Ukraine. UNICEF and UN in Ukraine have awarded a commendation to Ani Lorak, for assistance and help to HIV positive citizens of Ukraine. In 2005, Ani Lorak was also conferred with the St. Stanislav Order of the 4th degree and the Officer’s Cross "for strengthening the international authority of Ukraine, for the high professionalism, great creative achievements, charity and adherence to the ideals of chivalry".

Ani Lorak worthily represents Ukraine on the global music market. She has given performances on the stages of England, the USA, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Turkey. And with the musical material making up her repertoire this won’t be so difficult to achieve: the high-quality and stylish sound, melodies performed in the best traditions of soul, funk, and pop-rock, as well as the wonderful lyrics. And, at the same time, there is the strong and tender, enchanting and unique voice of Ani Lorak.

The Singer
 
Ani is one of the definite lookers of 2008, and this always proves to be a voting boon with the sozzled male.

The woman of loose morals is going to set you on fire.

The Past
  
From the ridiculous to the sublime back to the ridiculous. Ukraine first entered the contest only four years back, when they sent a falsetto warbling peculiarity of a bloke called Alexander who belted out a shocking song standing next to a bright blue rotating groin. He got more points than him and the codpiece deserved, but the following year Ukraine made up for it. In what will be looked back on as the occasion Eurosong stepped up the pace, the performance of Ruslana blew Istanbul away. "Wild Dances" is now the goal to aim for in terms of nonsensical lyrics, toothy grins, costume, and most of all performance. The EBU have much to thank Ukraine for already, especially follwoing the red army pin-up Tina, whose assets bounced through Athens in great style, and Verka whose assets stayed firmly in pace secured by Soviet adhesive tape in Helsinki. Joys.

The Song

There's orange everywhere (the Dutch are beginning to get hot under the collar with this hijacking of their colour) on Ani's promo. Ani dons orange sequinned nothings and all men get hot under the collar, be it for the amount of sequins or Lorak's shapely thighs. In an ever desperate attempt at one-upmanship, Ani's she stage show will have the backing singers in translucent boxes. Why I do not know, but I suppose literally they are shady ladies. How clever of them. They need to be careful to avoid it turning into celebrity squares if you ask me. Lennie Bennett popping up, getting the question wrong, and being shouted at off camera by the voiceover man, Nick Jackson.

Overall

All in all it's passable, verging on decent. But when it comes to songs of this nature I have historicaly ignored the vot-gaining merits. Many Eurofans gave early strong backing for this one, but I put these opinions down to the strong recent showings of the Soviet breadbasket. I just couldn't see it troubling the top three until the rehearsals when she decided to pull off a good show that has thrust her back into the limelight. A guaranteed top ten, a probable top five, and maybe more.

   
 
 
   
     
 
 

Shady Lady

You’ve been my superstar
But it’s not what you are
You’ve been my superhero
Since I’ve lived in your shade
Every step that I made
Brought me nothing but zero

But I’m stayin’ alive
Now I’m changin’ my life
With a burning desire
No one knows who I am
But I don’t give a damn
Gonna set you on fire

Shady Lady I’m gonna strike like thunder
Are you ready I wanna make you wonder
Rollin’ steady I’m gonna make you shiver
My heart is burning now

Just take a look at me
Deep inside and you’ll see
All I kept under cover
There is one thing I bet
You’re about to regret
I’m no longer your lover

I’ve just turned one more page
I belong to the stage
Baby, don’t call me baby

Shady Lady I’m gonna strike like thunder
Are you ready I wanna make you wonder
Rollin’ steady I’m gonna make you shiver
My heart is burning now

I wanna light you up and leave you alone
I am a brand new star that you’ve never known
Shady Lady
Are you ready

Shady Lady I’m gonna strike like thunder
Are you ready I wanna make you wonder
Rollin’ steady I’m gonna make you shiver
My heart is burning now

Prediction Semi Final 2 3rd
Final 4th