Alsou Ralifovna /Rälif qızı/ Abramova (Tatar: Alsu Rälif qızı Abramova, Russian: Алсу́ Рали́фовна Абрамова), better known as just Alsou (Russian: Алсу́), is a popular Tatar-Russian singer.

Alsou was born in Bugulma, Tatarstan, Russia on June 27, 1983. Her father, Ralif Rafilovich /Räfil ulı/ Safin is a businessman and a member of the Federal Council, the upper chamber of the Russian parliament. Her mother, Razia Iskhakovna /İsxaq qızı/ Safina, is an architect. Alsou has two brothers, Renard and Marat (no relation to Marat Safin).

Alsou took second place at the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 with the song Solo. She performed it again at Congratulations, the 50th anniversary Eurovision concert in Copenhagen, Denmark, in October 2005

Background

Alsou was traveling much around the world when she was little. She had visited Denmark, Canada, USA and at the age of 10 she was living in London, where she entered the prestige MPW College to study architecture and design.

One time at a summer camp in Sweden Alsou was convinced by her girlfriend to sing "I Will Always Love You" at the camp's talent show. She was a big fan of Whitney Houston and had all her CDs. Later on, she sang "I Will Always Love You" and "My Heart Will Go On" at her brother's wedding. In summer 1998 a good friend of Alsou's family, who had heard her magical voice and adored it, offered to introduce Alsou to the Russian producer Valery Belotserkovsky. The producer thought she was great.

So Alsou was introduced to the Russian composers and singers Alexander Shevchenko & Vadim Baikovwho that beacame huge fans of hers. The work on the songs began, but Valery couldn't find the song for a loud debut.

At last his search finished: Belotserkovsky managed to convince Alexander Shevchenko to give Alsou a retro-styled ballad called "Zimniy Son" ("Winter Dream"), which was actually written by Shevchenko for himself. Belotserkovsky felt intuitively that this song could attract the wide audience.

Currently Alsou has plans to release a International Album dubbed "Inspired" which features songs like "Always On My Mind",I Don't Wanna Fall In Love Again" & Duet with Hip-Hop star Nelly called "Wish I Didn't Know.