Вирус
«Унесённые ветром» is a Russian pop group founded in 1997 by composer and songwriter Dmitry Chizhov and singer Tatyana Morozova. The group became widely known in the late 1990s thanks to the songs «Полтергейст» («Страшно сидеть одной») and «Какао-какао». Its repertoire also includes «Американцы», «Ела рыбу», «Давай наливай», «Пупсик», «Мой милый ангел», «Вернись» and other songs.
The music of «Унесённых ветром» was built primarily around dance-pop, eurodisco and stylized Russian pop. Serious romantic lyrics existed alongside deliberately simple and ironic songs, while Russian-language adaptations of foreign compositions became an important part of the repertoire. Dmitry Chizhov has remained the project’s principal songwriter and musical director throughout its history.
Dmitry Chizhov before «Унесённых ветром»
By the time the group was created, Dmitry Chizhov already had substantial experience in popular music. In the late 1980s he worked as a guitarist, was associated with the group «Мираж», and in 1988 founded the band «Колледж» together with guitarist Igor Ponomaryov.
In «Колледж», Chizhov performed as lead singer and principal songwriter. The project recorded several albums, and some of the material created during that period later found a new life in the repertoire of other artists.
Chizhov’s songs were included, in particular, in the repertoire of Marina Khlebnikova. Among his best-known works for the singer are «Чашка кофею», «Полоска взлётная» and «Рай в шалаше». Some songs from the «Колледж» period were later also performed by Tatyana Morozova.
Formation of «Унесённых ветром»
Dmitry Chizhov and Tatyana Morozova created the new project in 1997. Morozova became the main vocalist and the public face of the group, while Chizhov served as composer, lyricist, producer and musician.
Other performers and dancers could appear around the central duo in live programs, so the stage lineup changed over time. However, the first major period in the history of «Унесённых ветром» is associated specifically with Tatyana Morozova’s voice and Dmitry Chizhov’s songs.
«Полтергейст» and the first success
The first song to bring the group widespread recognition was «Полтергейст», also known as «Страшно сидеть одной».
Already in 1997, «Унесённые ветром» received the «Золотой граммофон» award for the song. This happened before the release of the debut full-length album and became the new project’s first major success.
The album «Полтергейст» appeared in 1998. The group began appearing regularly on television music programs, while its songs received radio airplay.
The «Серебряная калоша» episode
In 1998, «Полтергейст» was among the works recognized by the satirical «Серебряная калоша» awards in a category related to musical plagiarism.
The composition was compared with Marina Khlebnikova’s hit «Чашка кофею». The unusual aspect of the situation was that Dmitry Chizhov was the author of both songs.
The story later appeared regularly in biographies of «Унесённых ветром», although it is more accurate to view it as a curious episode from the history of Russian pop music in the 1990s rather than as a proven case of the group appropriating someone else’s work.
«Какао-какао»
The defining signature song of «Унесённых ветром» became «Какао-какао». The composition appeared in the late 1990s and was included on the group’s second album, «Унесённые ветром — Том 2», released in 1999.
Its repetitive chorus, dance rhythm and deliberately uncomplicated lyrics made the song stand out sharply from conventional romantic pop. «Какао-какао» received extensive radio airplay and became the main song with which the group would still be associated decades later.
In 1999, the group performed «Какао-какао» at the «Песня года» festival.
«Американцы» and foreign adaptations
Russian-language versions of foreign songs formed a distinct direction in the repertoire of «Унесённых ветром».
One of the best known is «Американцы», based on Midnight Dancer by the German group Arabesque. The original was released in 1980.
The group’s repertoire also included «Ела рыбу», a Russian-language adaptation of Yellow River, best known in the version by the British band Christie.
Such adaptations suited the project’s aesthetic well: a recognizable foreign melody received new Russian lyrics, often built around humorous or everyday situations.
«Том 3»
In 2000, the third studio album, «Унесённые ветром — Том 3», was released.
By then, the group had already formed a recognizable formula: electronic dance arrangements, female vocals, repetitive choruses and a combination of romantic material with songs based on humor and theatrical pop presentation.
At the same time, Dmitry Chizhov continued working with other artists, so certain songwriting and musical ideas from his different projects could overlap.
Filipp Kirkorov and «Пупсик»
One of the most notable collaborations by «Унесённых ветром» was the song «Пупсик».
In 2002, it was recorded by Filipp Kirkorov and Tatyana Morozova. The track was included on the group’s album «Полная версия».
A joint music video was produced for the song. Kirkorov’s participation made «Пупсик» one of the group’s most visible television performances of the early 2000s.
«Полная версия»
The album «Полная версия» was released in 2002. It continued the core direction of «Унесённых ветром», combining dance-pop with humorous Russian pop entertainment.
During this period, the group also appeared on television programs and large multi-artist concerts. Its history includes appearances at «Песня года», Alla Pugacheva’s «Рождественские встречи» and «О.С.П.-студия».
The retro period and «Любовное настроение»
In the mid-2000s, the group turned to classics of Soviet popular song.
In 2005, the album «Любовное настроение» was released, featuring the group’s own versions of well-known songs from different eras.
The repertoire included «Катюша», «Старый клён», «Ромашки» and other works reworked in the group’s own style.
This material broadened the live program: alongside «Какао-какао» and humorous dance numbers appeared songs aimed at audiences interested in Soviet pop and retro festivals.
«Лёгкий намёк» and «Звёздная линия»
In 2006, the group released the album «Лёгкий намёк», followed a year later by «Звёздная линия».
These releases completed the most intensive album period of the classic lineup: between 1998 and 2007, «Унесённые ветром» released seven main studio albums.
After that, new recordings appeared less frequently, while the established repertoire of the late 1990s and early 2000s played an increasingly important role in the group’s concert activity.
Tatyana Morozova and Dmitry Chizhov
The creative partnership between Morozova and Chizhov was also a family relationship for many years. They were married and had a daughter together.
After separating, the musicians continued collaborating professionally for some time. In digital materials from the early 2010s, Morozova was still presented as the lead singer of «Унесённых ветром», while Chizhov remained the author of her new songs.
Later, their professional paths finally separated.
«Влюблённые люди»
On February 18, 2014, the album «Влюблённые люди» was released on digital platforms. It contained ten tracks.
Among them:
- «Давай наливай»;
- «Закат на Ибице»;
- «Влюблённые люди»;
- «Свадебные кольца»;
- «Незабудка»;
- «День без любви»;
- «Это всё о тебе»;
- «Наливаем»;
- «Свадебный пикничок»;
- «Американцы (Remix)».
Dmitry Chizhov is credited in the digital credits as the composer and lyricist of several tracks, including «Наливаем».
Tatyana Morozova after the group
Later, Tatyana Morozova began developing her own career separately from «Унесённых ветром».
On her official resources, she is now described as a former lead singer of the group. In her solo concert program, Morozova continues performing songs associated with her time in the group, including «Какао» and «Полтергейст», while also releasing new material.
In 2025, she released her own single «Унесенные ветром», written by Andrey Aleksin. Despite the title, it is an independent Tatyana Morozova song rather than a return to the group.
Elena Astet
After Tatyana Morozova’s departure, Elena Astet became the project’s new vocalist.
The modern live version of «Унесённых ветром» is built around Dmitry Chizhov and Elena Astet. Chizhov performs as founder, songwriter and guitarist, while Astet handles the female vocal parts.
This lineup has represented the group in concert in recent years and continues to use the name «Унесённые ветром».
Return to the classic catalog
In the 2020s, the group began actively reissuing and updating material from its classic period.
In 2024, a new digital version of «Страшно сидеть одной» appeared, and in 2025 an updated recording of «Какао» was released.
In this way, songs from the late 1990s received modern masters, remixes and new versions designed for digital music platforms.
«Полтергейст 2.0»
On January 4, 2026, the album «Полтергейст 2.0» was released by United Music Group.
The 18-track release included:
- «Полтергейст»;
- «Горячий язычок»;
- «Амстердам-Лиссабон»;
- «Пять ярких звёзд»;
- «Девочка-робот»;
- «Букет цветов»;
- «Нежные руки»;
- «Любовь-мираж»;
- «Ты — мой воздух!»;
- «Золотая моя»;
- «Горю в огне»;
- «Розовое лето»;
- «История моей любви»;
- «Всё зря»;
- «До чего же красивая женщина»;
- «Прикольная роль»;
- «Родная»;
- «Комната в английском стиле».
The title emphasizes the release’s connection with the group’s first major hit, although «Полтергейст 2.0» is not simply a reissue of the debut album but a separate collection of material.
2026 releases
After the release of «Полтергейст 2.0», the group continued publishing individual recordings.
During 2026, the digital catalog added «Давай, наливай», new versions of «Какао-какао» and «Лёгкий намёк», as well as «Какао-какао (AI Remix)».
On August 11, 2026, the single «Чашка кофею» was released. Its title directly returns listeners to Marina Khlebnikova’s song, which had already been connected with Dmitry Chizhov and the early history of «Полтергейст» back in the 1990s.
«Унесённые ветром» today
As of 2026, «Унесённые ветром» remains an active live project. The name is currently represented on stage by Dmitry Chizhov and Elena Astet.
The group appears primarily in retro programs, festivals and concerts devoted to Russian pop music of the 1990s and 2000s, while continuing to release new versions of older material.
Tatyana Morozova performs separately and is officially presented as a former lead singer of the group.
Musical style
The music of «Унесённых ветром» can most accurately be described as Russian pop and eurodisco with elements of dance-oriented variety music.
The group’s classic recordings are based on programmed rhythm sections, synthesizers, simple memorable melodies and female vocals. Some tracks show a clear influence from European disco of the 1970s and 1980s.
A distinctive feature of the project is the combination of conventional lyrical songs with deliberately playful material. The titles and plots of «Какао-какао», «Ела рыбу», «Давай наливай» and «Пупсик» intentionally work with everyday imagery and repetitive phrases.
At the same time, the discography contains plenty of more traditional romantic pop material, including «Мой милый ангел», «Вернись», «Влюблённые люди», «Незабудка» and other songs.
Dmitry Chizhov as a songwriter
Unlike many producer-driven pop projects of the 1990s, where songwriting teams changed constantly, «Унесённые ветром» was closely associated with one composer from the very beginning.
Dmitry Chizhov wrote a significant part of the group’s repertoire while also creating songs for other performers.
His name is associated with songs performed by Marina Khlebnikova, Filipp Kirkorov, Natali, Viktor Saltykov, Alexander Aivazov and other Russian pop artists.
Chizhov’s songwriting style helps explain the noticeable stylistic similarities between a number of songs by different performers from the late 1980s through the 2000s.
Television
The peak of television activity for «Унесённых ветром» came in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The group appeared in music and entertainment programs including:
- «Песня года»;
- «Рождественские встречи» by Alla Pugacheva;
- «О.С.П.-студия»;
- other multi-artist concert and television projects of the era.
Television, together with radio airplay, helped «Какао-какао» and «Полтергейст» reach far beyond club and concert audiences.
Discography
- «Полтергейст» — 1998;
- «Унесённые ветром — Том 2» — 1999;
- «Унесённые ветром — Том 3» — 2000;
- «Полная версия» — 2002;
- «Любовное настроение» — 2005;
- «Лёгкий намёк» — 2006;
- «Звёздная линия» — 2007;
- «Влюблённые люди» — 2014;
- «Полтергейст 2.0» — 2026.
Significance of the group
«Унесённые ветром» belongs to the characteristic pop projects of the Russian music scene of the second half of the 1990s, when radio, music television and large multi-artist festivals could make a single distinctive song nationally recognizable in a very short time.
For the group, that song was «Какао-какао». However, its history is not limited to one hit: over the following years, several albums were released, a collaboration with Filipp Kirkorov was created, adaptations of foreign songs were recorded, and a substantial live repertoire was formed.
After the period with Tatyana Morozova ended, the project did not cease to exist. Dmitry Chizhov continued working under the name «Унесённые ветром» with Elena Astet, while in 2025–2026 the group noticeably increased its digital activity again, reissuing classic songs and releasing new material.
