Laima Vaikule Essentials

Often called the "Russian Madonna", Laima Vaikule's career encompasses styles and eras. In the '80s, she performed with popular composers like Raimonds Pauls on witty, theatrical pop tunes. She subsequently ventured into cool jazz numbers like the elegantly restrained "Negribas Vairak", and bright dance-pop concoctions like "Vilcieni". As a singer, she's just as versatile, shifting from the seductive lilt of her nightclub work to the brassy storytelling of her traditional singalongs.