“15 years ago looked at me big eyes. Now this is no more”. Interview Of Yulia Samoilova
March 12 it became known that Russia at the contest “Eurovision” (it will be held from 9 to 13 may in Kiev) will present singer Yulia Samoilova. She participated in the project of TV channel “Russia”, “factor a” and spoke at the opening ceremony of the Paralympic games in Sochi in 2014 (Samoilov wheelchair — she is diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy).
In 2015 Samoylova sang at the concert in Kerch, in the Crimea, she entered Russian territory, thus violating the Ukrainian law on the territorial integrity of the country. Let her in this regard, in Kiev, is not yet clear — the security Service of Ukraine conducts checks. The journalist of “Medusa,” Alexander Sulima spoke with Julia Samojlovoj.
Julia Samoylova
How do you know that will participate at “Eurovision”?
— I got a call in late February and invited to participate, more precisely, to sing at the Eurovision song contest. I was very pleased. My first thought: “wow! Finally I wait.” And we began to do.
— That you go to Kiev, it was decided in February?
Somewhere in the beginning of March.
— Sometimes participant of “Eurovision” selected by audience vote. How was the selection this year?
I don’t know, I just called. I’m not in any competitions did not participate.
The song “the Flame Is Burning”, which Julia Samoilov will perform at the Eurovision song contest – 2017
— When you first heard the song, which will act?
— Around the same time and I was invited to the contest. I took the song, and I started to slowly make out with the teacher in English. There’s a whole story.
What’s the story?
Let’s say I English do not know. At the school where I studied, unfortunately, was not the teacher. He appeared only at the end of my studies, and over the last two years, that was the first time it did. I almost did not fit in the head.
— What you are working with a teacher now?
— On pronunciation. When I read the text, but as soon as I begin to propagate — the song has such specificity that the couplets need to quickly speak and propagate I have and the trouble begins. But for training I still have almost two months, I think they’ll make it.
— Have you always doing music, and if I understand correctly, you even the group was?
— Yes, absolutely. Our group was called “Terra Nova”. I don’t even remember how old I was when I created it. I gathered the material, gathered the guys who were all older than me, and arranged an audition. Chose those who will be playing in my band, and I chose the best of the best. It was a cool times.
— What was music?
— Rock music. We can say, an alternative rock / Russian rock is quite heavy music.
— That means you are more drawn to this musical direction? Or pulling at the time, and now tastes have changed?
— Me and pulling and pulling until now. But to sing what I sing now, for me. I am very flexible. But and full music lover I call myself I can’t.
You, as someone who for a long time watching Eurovision, how do you evaluate your song: it was made to please the same as you fans of the contest or does it have something unorthodox?
Nothing informal in it. This song is for everyone. I think it would be funny if they gave me a mega-trendy song, it would be for me neorganichno and add up all the puzzles. It all fits, and I think the results will be very good. I really liked what was done the authors.
Julia, after it became known that you go to Eurovision, press and social media have become quite to discuss the details of your biography. When it comes to describing the reasons for your illness, begin differences. Please tell us more about that.
— I was born completely healthy. I had the highest score among those who were born that day. Everything was great. I well developed, have already started to stand up. And then, when I was 11 months, I was vaccinated against polio, and to get up I stopped: my mom picks me up, and I have weak legs. Mom immediately ran out, and she said: “Mother do not worry, 3-4 days will run again.” But this did not happen. Started to go to all the hospitals started to treat me from everything. And I was just melting before our eyes. When I was four years old, his parents wrote a written waiver of all shots, from all vaccinations. I think it saved my life.
Julia Samoylova
— How is the name of your diagnosis?
— Amyotrophy Of Werding-Hoffman. But generally in my life I made different diagnoses, don’t remember exactly, I had something to do with not digging.
Note The “Medusa”. With the disease of werdnig-Hoffman, which is also called spinal muscular atrophy, symptoms may be different: some children in the first months of life seem healthy, then they get weaker but the disease can develop much more slowly than in the case if the symptoms were from birth. Spinal muscular atrophy develops due to specific mutations in genes; this occurs regardless of external factors. Among the complications of the polio vaccinations there is no risk of development of genetic diseases. People with spinal muscular atrophy should do all vaccinations on the calendar.
— It is not a hereditary disease?
— When I was 13 years old, my parents went to Moscow in Russian-American center to donate blood and to check whether it is real disease genetic. And mom and dad didn’t find anything similar. It is unclear what kind of disease.
For all this time and failed to understand it?
— The fact of the matter is that there. The idea guys with this disease, unfortunately, very often sick to their problems. In girls problems with the development of the female, I had no such problems, thank God. Maybe I just got lucky. Still write that children with this diagnosis, too soft hands. And I’m just skinny, and I have a very strong curvature of the spine — everything else I get sick very rarely. PAH-PAH, so as not to jinx it.
— That is you are not fully confident in the accuracy of diagnosis with which you live?
— Yes, because if you read about this disease, there are fears: every year, almost every second, all the muscles die and the person eventually cannot breathe or swallow, nothing. I like everything stopped.
Is your condition stable?
Yes.
— Is there a way to improve it is there any treatment?
— I recently had surgery in Finland. The doctors confirmed my diagnosis, by all outward appearances, it’s very similar to spinal amyotrophy of Werding-Hoffman. At the moment the disease is incurable, can only maintain this state, in fact, than I was in October and started. I made a very serious spinal surgery. Say, something did, but it is not yet sold, it is still testing.
— And doctors in Finland have confirmed that the disease developed after vaccination?
— Yes, but why it happened, no one can say. Most likely, not everyone can do these shots. I was the only one attended by the immunologist, and he confirmed my suspicions. To find out whether a specific person this vaccine, it is necessary to do tests that are very expensive. (There’s no test that could predict the likelihood of severe complications from vaccination any person, but history taking and examination allow us to avoid some of the consequences. To carry out some research before vaccination is not recommended — approx. “Medusa”).
— Did you use the performance on “Eurovision”, including and to attract attention to people with this disease?
— Of course, because when I’m in this contest, I will see a large number of people. I initially went to the scene in order to show that nothing is impossible and that all people are capable of anything, no matter with the disease or without disease.
You got on TV after participating in the project “factor a”, as since then, has your life changed?
Yes, that’s me this project has opened the way. I was lucky that I noticed Alla. I’m glad my performance she liked. Since then I was invited to various concerts and broadcasts. “Factor a” is a Foundation of my career.
The final speech of Yulia Samoilova in the show “factor a”
— Did you have some kind of contract with the TV channel “Russia”?
— No contracts I did not have. I signed one page agreements with many channels for permission to use my videos and other materials.
— Tell us whether you participated in the concert, which took place on the territory of the Crimea?
— Yes, absolutely. I was in Kerch — the same as in any other city, I have sang. I don’t remember exactly what it was for a concert. In my opinion, some sort of sports theme. Ordinary concert, everything was in order, I don’t know that so touched this at all.
— It was organized by some Russian channel?
— I think not. No logos, I have not seen.
— So for you it was a pretty typical trip?
— Absolutely. It was easy, it was easy to reach, everything was great.
— Did you know then that they violate the law about the territorial integrity of Ukraine?
— Of course not, I was going there just like in any other city. Pure to sing, to please the people who get charged with new emotions. Maybe one day I’ll say, “Oh, why did you go to a Perm, you’re so bad!”. I don’t know, this is somehow all very strange. It does not fit in my head.
— The security service of Ukraine said that it would conduct in this case test. It somehow touched?
— No. I never got a call, did not ask. I usually call journalists to ask any questions.
— Have you discussed with the organizers of your trip on “the Eurovision” a situation in which you will not be allowed on the territory of Ukraine?
— No, I have not discussed. I hadn’t thought of that. I just prepared a song. I don’t know what will happen, so be it.
Whether in the spring of 2014 you wrote on his page in “Vkontakte”: “Those who are now entrenched in power in Kiev want to take Ukraine to the European Union and Ukraine need the EU to establish a hostile border with Russia” — and then deleted the account?
— To be honest, I don’t even understand the essence of these words. I, honestly, even such terms never expressed this theme not interested. I even can not write, for all his strong desire.
— If you’ve been following the discussion on the program “Minute of fame”? How about the fact that came from the lips of Vladimir Pozner and Renata Litvinova?
We live in a free country and have the right to Express any opinion, and similarly, we have the right to speak at any event. To me this whole situation seems ridiculous. On “Minute of glory” are dancers and circus performers, and all sorts of freaks. But if you take the case of Evgeny Smirnov, to comment on his dance was probably the person who understands dance. Although I understand that this competition is entertainment.
In our country people with disabilities have started recently show on TV. And people, I think it’s just, it’s not used. Not used to the fact that it is necessary to cut off the disease and specifically to assess talent.
But it seems to me that the situation will gradually change for the better. This is evident even in the reactions of people on the street. If 15 years ago they looked at me with big eyes, then no longer be the case.
— What do you think needs to change in the first place, so that people with disabilities feel more comfortable?
I was in many cities of Russia and can say that not everywhere we have good roads. There’s the usual man is not very comfortable to walk — may be leg break. In Moscow, in St. Petersburg, of course, easier. But if you go somewhere in the Outback, it’s all very sad. It would be great if the roads are put in order. In Sochi, that’s all made ramps, lifts — all super mom with a stroller can easily reach it, and the man himself in a wheelchair. In General, I think we need to start yourself first, to feel good about yourself so the others started to be good to you. Not require anything — no you don’t have to. If you claim yourself as an equal member of society, no need to shout, that all you have to.
— In a situation with Evgeny Smirnov a discussed including the words used by the jury for their review. Are there any correct and wrong words for people with disabilities, and how we can learn to pick them up?
— Of course, they are. For example, if we see a tall, gaunt man, we do not call him “tall”? To choose the right words is very important. Unpleasant, if full would be called “fat”. It is necessary to think before to say something. Russian language is very rich synonyms in it very much. For example, offends me the word “handicapped”. It somehow does not sound good. Or a cripple — I don’t feel like this. Man — is man. Someone fat, someone skinny, someone lame, someone, sorry, ass big, someone red, someone left handed, someone who can’t walk on his hands, someone can. Just so happened that the person is sick.
— Do you think that the conflict situation in the “Moment” happened, because the jury are unable to correctly formulate their criticism?
— I think the conflict could have been avoided. If I at all offended, most likely, to anything if it goes anywhere. I had a lot of cases, before the “Factor A” to this story when I said the disabled have no place on stage. If I got up and went home to sing karaoke songs at home for parents, I would not be here right now, I would not have chosen for the contest “Eurovision”. I say this not to offend Eugene, in any case, I understand his feelings, but most likely I would otherwise have done.
— What would you do?
— I would continue the competition and would have shown another room so everyone just went nuts and said, “wow-Wow-wow, we did not expect”.
Sasha Sulima
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Who is Julia Samoylova and why she will go to Eurovision-2017На Eurovision song contest-2017 in Kiev, Russia will be represented by Yulia Samoilova. She will perform with the song “the Flame Is Burning” in English.
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