IZHEVSK, November 7. /TASS/. Buranovo Grannies, or Buranovskiye Babushki as they are known in Russian, an ethno-pop group of retired women from Russia’s Udmurtia that gained international fame after participating in the Baku-hosted Eurovision Song Contest in 2012, started constructing a retirement home in their native village of Buranovo, the group’s artistic director Olga Tuktareva told TASS on Wednesday.
According to Tuktareva, the project’s idea belongs to the village priest, and the group decided to contribute. "We are donating our earnings to the construction of a home for lonely seniors," she said.
She added that the shelter would be constructed near a local church, which the group had also helped to build. In September of this year, they set a foundation for the building slated to accommodate 20 people. "People who wish to move here are already calling us and asking questions," Tuktareva said.
According to her, the end of construction depends on the financing. "We don’t tour as much now, so we cannot donate a lot of money, which is why we expect that people will also help," Tuktareva stated.
New tunes
Despite lack of touring, the grannies continue to perform new songs. Earlier, the group performed a cover of Canadian singer Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. "We sing it in Russian and in Udmurt with the accompaniment of an acoustic guitar, like a prayer," Tuktareva explained. The grannies also perform South American indigenous songs and Azerbaijani folk music.
Tuktareva added that the Buranovo Grannies are still performing concerts. "Once a month, we meet with our fans in Buranovo, so everyone can come. We also perform for free. Sometimes I think that the grannies are still going strong because of these concerts, they do not give them a chance to give up," Tuktareva said.
The musical group gained international fame after participating in the Eurovision Song Contest that took place in Baku in 2012. The Udmurt seniors performed a song Party for Everybody, sung in several languages, which earned them second place. After their successful performance, the group set off on a world tour. They donated their concert fees to build a church in their hometown, which had been constructed in 2015.