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Happy Birthday Dimash <3
He is 32 today. ^_^ Which seems like the perfect opportunity to post something I have been meaning to post ever since the Winter Olympics...
Under a cut, cause I think it'll get long. <3
I love figure skating (I mean - who doesn't), but this one made me sit up. I tried to find a video of just Mikhail Shaidorov's programme, but it was difficult so here is the BBC's coverage. Michael's starts at 5:10.
So, the music he is skating to is Dimash's 2017 performance of Confessa and The Diva Dance on I Am Singer:
Sidebar: It should be noted that at around the halfway point of The Diva Dance recording that Michael is skating to, it switches to the official version from The Fifth Element. This is very disorienting if you know Dimash's performance, since the sudden switch to autotune/synthetic editing is jarring. I'm presuming they did it to fit with the skating programme, so as to make the song long enough. (NB: Dimash has sung The Diva Dance several times. If you watch the performance above, please be aware that he has sung it better.)
It should also be noted that Michael is clearly an absolute delightful person. Here is a video of him from the gala:
2026 Olympic Winter Games Exhibition Gala (Kung Fu Fighting)
(Or: Olympic gold medal winner skates in panda costume. I LOVE him. Literal cinnamon roll.)
~
Of course it makes all the sense in the world for Michael to use a song sung by a fellow Kazakh, and Dimash (as always supportive of his countrymen) went on Instagram to congratulate Michael. Story on Dimash News here - please go read, it's lovely. <3 I will just pull out a couple of lines (not the ones about buying him an car - which he did, after carefully selecting a car manufactured *in* Kazakhstan and visiting the factory):
You did not let down Denis, the pride of our country, my friend, your brother, whom our nation sadly lost.
You fulfilled your duty to him, to the country, and to the people with honor and at the highest level.
The Denis that Dimash is referring to is Denis Ten, a young, talented and trailblazing Kazakhstani figure skater (follow the link to see his accomplishments), who was a personal friend of Dimash's (Denis was only one year older). Denis was murdered in 2018, and the country still mourns and honours him.
Here is Dimash performing SOS in Denis' honour at his Arnau concert in 2019. At one point we see a segment of Denis singing, and also his mother in the audience. The video cuts out after the end of the song, but she was given flowers when the song came to an end.
~
In more recent news, Dimash, who is UN Migration Goodwill Ambassador, this week visited Cox’s Bazar, the world’s largest refugee camp. Dimash News has several pieces on his, I will just link to this one:
Cultural Heritage and Music: Dimash Meets Rohingya Community Musicians in Cox’s Bazar
Dimash also posted a message on Instagram, which is really sweet. LOTS of kids.
You can donate here. <3
~
Finally, then last last year, 14 young Virtuosos from The Virtuosos Talent Show, adapted Dimash's song 'Omir' for orchestra, and offered this recording as 'a heartfelt birthday gift and tribute to Dimash Qudaibergen’s artistry, inspiration, and the incredible community of Dears around the world'.
('Virtuosos is a classical music talent show with a unique format, focusing on discovering young classical talent and then giving the talented youngsters a chance to develop and progress in a way that few others have'. Dimash has been a judge on the show for the last few years, he is incredibly supportive of young talent and has even set up a children's music competition in Kazakhstan.)
~
There are so many terrible things happening in the world, so it is good to remember that there are also good and talented people out there, helping others and creating beauty. ❤️🎶
Dimash Masterpost
Under a cut, cause I think it'll get long. <3
I love figure skating (I mean - who doesn't), but this one made me sit up. I tried to find a video of just Mikhail Shaidorov's programme, but it was difficult so here is the BBC's coverage. Michael's starts at 5:10.
So, the music he is skating to is Dimash's 2017 performance of Confessa and The Diva Dance on I Am Singer:
Sidebar: It should be noted that at around the halfway point of The Diva Dance recording that Michael is skating to, it switches to the official version from The Fifth Element. This is very disorienting if you know Dimash's performance, since the sudden switch to autotune/synthetic editing is jarring. I'm presuming they did it to fit with the skating programme, so as to make the song long enough. (NB: Dimash has sung The Diva Dance several times. If you watch the performance above, please be aware that he has sung it better.)
It should also be noted that Michael is clearly an absolute delightful person. Here is a video of him from the gala:
2026 Olympic Winter Games Exhibition Gala (Kung Fu Fighting)
(Or: Olympic gold medal winner skates in panda costume. I LOVE him. Literal cinnamon roll.)
~
Of course it makes all the sense in the world for Michael to use a song sung by a fellow Kazakh, and Dimash (as always supportive of his countrymen) went on Instagram to congratulate Michael. Story on Dimash News here - please go read, it's lovely. <3 I will just pull out a couple of lines (not the ones about buying him an car - which he did, after carefully selecting a car manufactured *in* Kazakhstan and visiting the factory):
You did not let down Denis, the pride of our country, my friend, your brother, whom our nation sadly lost.
You fulfilled your duty to him, to the country, and to the people with honor and at the highest level.
The Denis that Dimash is referring to is Denis Ten, a young, talented and trailblazing Kazakhstani figure skater (follow the link to see his accomplishments), who was a personal friend of Dimash's (Denis was only one year older). Denis was murdered in 2018, and the country still mourns and honours him.
Here is Dimash performing SOS in Denis' honour at his Arnau concert in 2019. At one point we see a segment of Denis singing, and also his mother in the audience. The video cuts out after the end of the song, but she was given flowers when the song came to an end.
~
In more recent news, Dimash, who is UN Migration Goodwill Ambassador, this week visited Cox’s Bazar, the world’s largest refugee camp. Dimash News has several pieces on his, I will just link to this one:
Cultural Heritage and Music: Dimash Meets Rohingya Community Musicians in Cox’s Bazar
Dimash also posted a message on Instagram, which is really sweet. LOTS of kids.
You can donate here. <3
~
Finally, then last last year, 14 young Virtuosos from The Virtuosos Talent Show, adapted Dimash's song 'Omir' for orchestra, and offered this recording as 'a heartfelt birthday gift and tribute to Dimash Qudaibergen’s artistry, inspiration, and the incredible community of Dears around the world'.
('Virtuosos is a classical music talent show with a unique format, focusing on discovering young classical talent and then giving the talented youngsters a chance to develop and progress in a way that few others have'. Dimash has been a judge on the show for the last few years, he is incredibly supportive of young talent and has even set up a children's music competition in Kazakhstan.)
~
There are so many terrible things happening in the world, so it is good to remember that there are also good and talented people out there, helping others and creating beauty. ❤️🎶
Dimash Masterpost