Green Grey Russian-speaking Pop-rock band from Ukraine Country: Ukraine

Biography of Green Grey

Green Grey is a Russian-speaking pop-rock band from Ukraine that was founded in Kiev in the spring of 1992. Initially, the band played upbeat youth music, which was a mix of various styles and musical genres such as funk, rock, and trip-hop, supported by their own arrangements. The band members referred to their style as "Ukr-pop," drawing parallels to "Brit-pop." Over time, the lineup of the band changed several times, with only the music composer and main ideologist of the group, Diesel (Andrey Yatsenko), remaining from the original members. In 1994, vocalist Murik (Dmitry Muravitsky) joined the group, and together with Diesel, he became the main member of the group, leading them to success.

They achieved numerous accolades and recognition throughout their career. In 1993, they won the Grand Prix at the "Zhivoy Zvuk" festival. In 1994, they were awarded a special prize by MTV at the "Belye Nochi" festival in St. Petersburg, after which the group regularly attended the MTV Music Awards. In 1996, Green Grey won the Grand Prix at the Moscow festival "Pokolenie." In 1998, they were recognized as the best alternative group in Ukraine, and in 1999, as the best rock group.

The band has released several albums, including "Green Grey" (1997), "550 MF" (550 Meters of Funk) (2000), "Emigrant" (2002), "Dve Epokhi" (Two Epochs) (2003), "The Best" (2003), and "Metamorfoza" (Metamorphosis) (2005). Murik also released a solo album titled "MRK - Zvezda s Nebes" (Star from the Sky) in 2007.

Green Grey is best known for their music videos, including "Pod Dozhdem" (Under the Rain), "Masskva, ili Kuda My Edem na Limo" (Moscow, or Where Are We Going by Limo), "Emigrant," "Tolko Nochyu" (Only at Night), "Vse Budet Khorosho" (Everything Will Be Fine), "Mazafaka," "Vesna 8go Dnya" (Spring of the 8th Day) feat. Detsl, "Nashe Pravo" (Our Right), "Solntse i Luna" (Sun and Moon), "Stereosistema" (Stereo System), "Vse Proshlo" (Everything Has Passed), "Trideo" feat. Sister Siren, and "Tot Den" (That Day).

Their song "Mazafaka" combined with SWV's "Can We" featuring Missy Elliott is considered one of the first examples of the bastard pop (mash-up) style. In the summer of 2005, Diesel and Murik launched a socio-political initiative called "Nashe Pravo" (Our Right), aimed at protecting the Russian-speaking population of Ukraine, including musicians, from discrimination based on language. The campaign was financed by the Social-Democratic Party of Ukraine (united) (SDPU(o)). Green Grey was the first Ukrainian band to attend the MTV awards ceremony and sign a contract with Pepsi-Cola (1996). They were also pioneers in performing live with a DJ, creating spectacular shows with special effects, pyrotechnics, and stage transformations.

Their first hit song, "Pod Dozhdem" (Under the Rain), arranged by Vasily Tkach, was voted the song of the year at the Kiev "Parade of Hit Parades" for two consecutive years. The controversial hit song "Mazafaka" was among the first songs played on the radio station "Nashe Radio" at the beginning of its broadcast. This composition was dedicated to a friend of the band who was in the hospital.

Green Grey has performed in Ukraine and abroad, sharing the stage with bands such as The Prodigy, Whitesnake, Faith no more, A-HA, Snap!, Run D.M.C., C&C Music Factory, Lenny Kravitz, and others.

To celebrate Kiev Day on May 31, 2009, Murik (Dmitry Muravitsky) wrote a song titled "Zachekay" (Wait) for Sofia Rotaru.