[1] Performed by Pugacheva, the song became an international hit in Europe and Asia; it was the most popular single in Finland, Japan and Mongolia.
[2][3] While the Latvian lyrics have a domestic theme of maternal comfort and life's hardships, the Russian version tells a dramatic story of a poor artist's unrequited love.
Pugacheva's cover was written by Andrei Voznesensky,[4] who drew inspiration for the Russian lyrics from the life of Georgian painter Niko Pirosmani who allegedly once filled with flowers a square of a hotel where Marguerite de Sèvres, a French actress he had affection over, was staying.
[8] In 2010, the song Million Roses from Pugacheva’s repertoire was included in the 10 best songs of the 20th century in Eastern Europe according to the popular TV program “Property of the Republic” on Channel One; in 2014, Pugacheva performed Million Roses along with her other hits at the music festival in Jurmala.
Along with Pugacheva, the festival headliners in Jurmala were Ricky Martin, Il Volo, Ola, Alessandro Safina, and Lara Fabian.